# Sylvia Hawkhurst — Murder in the Maze character guide

> Sylvia Hawkhurst in Murder in the Maze by J. J. Connington.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sylvia, Miss Sylvia, Poor Sylvia

**First appearance:** 0001-ii-the-affair-in-the-maze

## Snapshot

A young woman of Whistlefield whose quiet composure and honest grief steady the household even as violence dismantles everything she knew.

## Who they are

Sylvia Hawkhurst returns from an afternoon's pleasure to learn that two of her uncles have been murdered, and her shaken but unpretentious response reveals a girl trying to hold her world together. She admits she was never fond of the dead men, yet the intrusion of violence into her family leaves her dazed and unable to pretend the world is unchanged. Her presence gives the investigation a human center, and her movements that afternoon become one of the case's quiet threads.

## Relationships

### [Sir Clinton Driffield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/sir_clinton_driffield)

_psychological_

Sylvia Hawkhurst is a manipulative figure who tries to influence Sir Clinton's investigation for her own ends.

### [Ernest Shandon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/ernest_shandon)

_romantic_

Ernest Shandon and Sylvia Hawkhurst have a flirtatious and possibly secretive romantic involvement.

### [Wendover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/wendover)

_psychological_

Sylvia Hawkhurst manipulates Wendover, using charm and deceit to further her agenda.

### [Sir Clinton Driffield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/sir_clinton_driffield)

_psychological_

Sylvia Hawkhurst is a manipulative figure who tries to influence Sir Clinton's investigation for her own ends.

### [Ernest Shandon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/ernest_shandon)

_romantic_

Ernest Shandon and Sylvia Hawkhurst have a flirtatious and possibly secretive romantic involvement.

### [Wendover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/wendover)

_psychological_

Sylvia Hawkhurst manipulates Wendover, using charm and deceit to further her agenda.

### [Sir Clinton Driffield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/sir_clinton_driffield)

_psychological_

Sylvia Hawkhurst is a manipulative figure who tries to influence Sir Clinton's investigation for her own ends.

### [Wendover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/wendover)

_psychological_

Sylvia Hawkhurst manipulates Wendover, using charm and deceit to further her agenda.

### [Ernest Shandon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/characters/ernest_shandon)

_romantic_

Ernest Shandon and Sylvia Hawkhurst have a flirtatious and possibly secretive romantic involvement.

## In the story

### [I: The Hackleton Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/i-the-hackleton-case)

Niece of the Shandons, manages the household and is lively and popular.

### [VII: The Pot of Curare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/vii-the-pot-of-curare)

Shocked by the murders; cooperates with Wendover and leads them to the museum; expresses her unease.

### [The Fourth Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xii-the-fourth-attack)

Shot with a poisoned dart; wounded but alive due to her watch-bracelet chain.

### [The Dart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xiii-the-dart)

Sylvia is gravely wounded by the dart; her condition worsens overnight, and Dr. Ardsley holds little hope for her recovery.

### [The Forged Cheque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xiv-the-forged-cheque)

Reported dead by Dr. Ardsley at the end of the chapter.

### [XV: The Secretary's Affairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_in_the_maze_se/chapters/xv-the-secretary-s-affairs)

Mentioned as the object of Stenness's love; her death is the catalyst for his confession.

## Links

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