# Ernest Shandon — Murder in the Maze character guide > Ernest Shandon in Murder in the Maze by J. J. Connington. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Ernest, Shandon, friend Ernest **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-hackleton-case ## Snapshot A nervous, self-pitying survivor of the maze attack whose lost cigar-case and thirst for whisky make him both pitiable and faintly suspicious. ## Who they are Ernest Shandon has already been shot at once in the Maze, and he intends to make sure it does not happen again, even if that means letting his nephew call him a coward. He clings to his decanter, mourns his missing cigar-case, and fusses over trifles while real violence circles the house. His jittery self-preservation and convenient memory lapses give the investigation one of its most uncomfortable witnesses. ## Relationships ### [Sir Clinton Driffield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/sir_clinton_driffield) _rivalry_ Ernest Shandon is a primary suspect and antagonist, clashing frequently with Sir Clinton's investigative efforts. ### [Wendover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/wendover) _rivalry_ Ernest Shandon and Wendover are often at odds, with Wendover suspicious of Ernest's motives. ### [Arthur Hawkhurst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/arthur_hawkhurst) _rivalry_ Arthur Hawkhurst and Ernest Shandon are bitter rivals, each suspecting the other of wrongdoing. ### [Mr. Stenness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/mr_stenness) _rivalry_ Ernest Shandon and Mr. Stenness are often in conflict, with Stenness distrusting Ernest's actions. ### [Roger Shandon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/roger_shandon) _family_ Ernest and Roger Shandon are brothers, but their relationship is fraught with tension and suspicion. ### [Neville Shandon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/neville_shandon) _family_ Ernest and Neville Shandon are relatives, possibly cousins, with a strained and competitive dynamic. ### [Sylvia Hawkhurst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/sylvia_hawkhurst) _romantic_ Ernest Shandon and Sylvia Hawkhurst have a flirtatious and possibly secretive romantic involvement. ### [Sir Clinton Driffield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/sir_clinton_driffield) _rivalry_ Ernest Shandon is a primary suspect and antagonist, clashing frequently with Sir Clinton's investigative efforts. ### [Wendover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/wendover) _rivalry_ Ernest Shandon and Wendover are often at odds, with Wendover suspicious of Ernest's motives. ### [Sir Clinton Driffield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/sir_clinton_driffield) _rivalry_ Ernest Shandon is a primary suspect and antagonist, clashing frequently with Sir Clinton's investigative efforts. ### [Sylvia Hawkhurst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/sylvia_hawkhurst) _romantic_ Ernest Shandon and Sylvia Hawkhurst have a flirtatious and possibly secretive romantic involvement. ### [Mr. Stenness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/mr_stenness) _rivalry_ Ernest Shandon and Mr. Stenness are often in conflict, with Stenness distrusting Ernest's actions. ## In the story ### [I: The Hackleton Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/i-the-hackleton-case) The younger, idle brother who lives as a parasite at Whistlefield, showing little interest in family affairs. ### [The Evidence in the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/v-the-evidence-in-the-case) Arrives late, expresses shock at the murders, and gives a vague alibi involving a nail in his boot. ### [VII: The Pot of Curare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/vii-the-pot-of-curare) Newly appointed executor of Roger's will; reluctantly agrees to lend the curare pot to Sir Clinton. ### [IX: The Burglary at Whistlefield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/ix-the-burglary-at-whistlefield) Nervously recounts discovering the burglary; admits he went to bed without calling the police. ### [X: The Third Attack in the Maze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/x-the-third-attack-in-the-maze) Reports an attempted murder on himself; is in a state of nervous collapse and seeks reassurance. ### [XI: The Squire's Theories](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xi-the-squire-s-theories) Criticized by Sir Clinton for his cowardice; his cigar-case is found in the Maze and kept secret. ### [The Fourth Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xii-the-fourth-attack) Shows extreme cowardice; refuses to go outside and drinks whisky to calm his nerves. ### [The Dart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xiii-the-dart) Wendover briefly suspects Ernest Shandon based on his actions during the bridge party, but Sir Clinton dismisses the theory, pointing out inconsistencies. ### [The Forged Cheque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xiv-the-forged-cheque) Receives a confidential phone call from Sir Clinton asking him to keep Stenness under observation. ### [XVI: The Last Attack in the Maze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xvi-the-last-attack-in-the-maze) Shows extreme cowardice, refusing to go to the Maze at night to retrieve his cigar-case; drinks heavily; is confused by Sir Clinton's hints about the scandal and the arrest. ### [XVII: The Siege in the Maze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xvii-the-siege-in-the-maze) The murderer, trapped in the Maze, dies by suicide after being overwhelmed by sulphur fumes and gunfire. ### [XVIII: The Truth of the Matter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xviii-the-truth-of-the-matter) Revealed as the murderer who killed his brothers and faked an attack on himself. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/ernest_shandon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters