# Nelda Dunmore — Murder in the Gunroom character guide

> Nelda Dunmore in Murder in the Gunroom by H. Beam Piper.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Nelda

**First appearance:** 0003-ii

## Snapshot

Fred Dunmore's strident wife, whose shrieking matches with her husband and brother-in-law turn the Fleming library into a nightly battlefield.

## Who they are

Nelda is one of the loudest voices in the Fleming household's running war over the estate, trading vituperation with her husband Fred and with Humphrey Goode while Gladys tries to keep her modulated tone. Her shrieks carry all the way up the spiral stairway to the gunroom, where Rand can hear the family tearing at itself over money and blame. That open hostility makes the household a nest of motives, and it gives Rand a front-row seat to the resentments that could have gotten Lane Fleming killed.

## Relationships

### [Jeff Rand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/jeff_rand)

_social_

Nelda Dunmore, Fred's wife, is a nervous acquaintance who provides Jeff Rand with reluctant but useful information about her husband's dealings.

### [Jeff Rand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/jeff_rand)

_social_

Nelda Dunmore, Fred's wife, is a nervous acquaintance who provides Jeff Rand with reluctant but useful information about her husband's dealings.

### [Jeff Rand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/jeff_rand)

_social_

Nelda Dunmore, Fred's wife, is a nervous acquaintance who provides Jeff Rand with reluctant but useful information about her husband's dealings.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/i)

Stepdaughter of Lane Fleming; co-owner of the collection, supports her husband Fred's handling of the sale.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/vi)

Initially hostile and distrustful of Rand, but apologizes after learning the collection's true value. She flirts with Rand and escorts him to the gunroom.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/viii)

Defends Rand's assessment, kicks her husband under the table, and supports the women's united front.

### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/xvi)

Angrily confronts Goode and her husband Fred about the suicide rumors.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/chapters/xvii)

Present at breakfast and later confronts Walters angrily after his confession.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters/nelda_dunmore
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_gunroom_se/characters