# Howard Torrance — Murder in the Maze character guide

> Howard Torrance in Murder in the Maze by J. J. Connington.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Torrance, Howard, Torrance, Mr. Howard Torrance, young Torrance

**First appearance:** 0002-iii-the-immediate-results

## Snapshot

A restless young man whose surplus of physical energy drives him into the maze for a casual game — and into the heart of a murder investigation.

## Who they are

Howard Torrance cannot sit still; he treats idleness as a mortal sin and badgers Vera Forrest into one scheme after another until they settle on racing through the old maze by the boathouse. His boyish competitiveness and easy charm make him likable, but they also place him near the scene when the shooting begins. Whether he is an innocent witness or something more occupies the investigators through the early stages of the case.

## Relationships

### [Vera Forrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/vera_forrest)

_romantic_

Howard Torrance and Vera Forrest are lovers, with a passionate but strained relationship.

### [Vera Forrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/vera_forrest)

_romantic_

Howard Torrance and Vera Forrest are lovers, with a passionate but strained relationship.

### [Vera Forrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/vera_forrest)

_romantic_

Howard Torrance and Vera Forrest are lovers, with a passionate but strained relationship.

## In the story

### [The Affair in the Maze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/ii-the-affair-in-the-maze)

Discovers Roger Shandon's body, shouts for help, and tries to guide Vera out of the maze.

### [III: The Immediate Results](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/iii-the-immediate-results)

Emerges from the Maze, joins Stenness to guard the body, and examines the scene for clues.

### [IV: The Chief Constable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/iv-the-chief-constable)

A guest at the house; present in the Maze during the murder and later explains the murderer's winding path.

### [The Evidence in the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/v-the-evidence-in-the-case)

Describes finding Neville Shandon's body at 3:52 and his time in the Maze with Vera.

### [VIII: Opportunity, Method, and Motive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/viii-opportunity-method-and-motive)

Discussed as a possible suspect: he was in the Maze at the time of the murder, could have hidden an airgun, and might have been Hackleton's tool. Wendover speculates about his motive.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/howard_torrance
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters