# Roger Riderhood — Our Mutual Friend character guide

> Roger Riderhood in Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Riderhood, Mr. Riderhood, Rogue Riderhood, the Rogue

**First appearance:** 0013-xiii-tracking-the-bird-of-prey

## Snapshot

A thieving waterman and informer known as Rogue Riderhood, who trades in other people's secrets and lives by threatening anyone he can corner.

## Who they are

Riderhood haunts the riverside pubs and lock-houses where watermen drink, cadging pints and picking up the scraps of gossip that he can sell or use. He is the kind of man who accuses others of crimes he has committed himself, and his feud with Gaffer Hexam and later with Bradley Headstone gives the novel its most poisonous strand of blackmail. His menace is small-scale and relentless, the human face of the river's criminal underside.

## Relationships

### [Bradley Headstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/bradley_headstone)

_rivalry_

Bradley Headstone, a jealous schoolmaster, and Roger Riderhood, a river rat, become deadly enemies after Riderhood discovers Headstone's murderous secret.

### [Bradley Headstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/bradley_headstone)

_rivalry_

Bradley Headstone, a jealous schoolmaster, and Roger Riderhood, a river rat, become deadly enemies after Riderhood discovers Headstone's murderous secret.

### [Bradley Headstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/bradley_headstone)

_rivalry_

Bradley Headstone, a jealous schoolmaster, and Roger Riderhood, a river rat, become deadly enemies after Riderhood discovers Headstone's murderous secret.

## In the story

### [On the Look Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/i-on-the-look-out)

A squinting, opportunistic river scavenger who tries to ingratiate himself with Gaffer as a 'pardner,' but is angrily dismissed.

### [Cut Adrift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vi-cut-adrift)

Mentioned as the source of accusations against Gaffer Hexam; Lizzie suspects he may have committed the Harmon murder.

### [The Sweat of an Honest Man's Brow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xii-the-sweat-of-an-honest-man-s-brow)

Informs on Gaffer Hexam, claiming Hexam confessed to murder; seeks the reward money.

### [XIII: Tracking the Bird of Prey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiii-tracking-the-bird-of-prey)

Acts as the informant and guide for the stakeout; reports finding his own boat adrift with signs of struggle.

### [The Bird of Prey Brought Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xiv-the-bird-of-prey-brought-down)

Leads the search; discovers Gaffer's boat and later reacts with shock when the body is identified.

### [More Birds of Prey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xii-more-birds-of-prey)

Dwells in Limehouse Hole; confronted by a mysterious visitor about his false accusation against Gaffer Hexam.

### [The Same Respected Friend in More Aspects Than One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/iii-the-same-respected-friend-in-more-aspects-than-one)

Rescued from drowning after a steamer accident; initially unconscious, then revives with a surly and unrepentant demeanor.

### [In the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xi-in-the-dark)

Encountered by Bradley; he has grievances against Wrayburn and Lightwood and agrees to spy for Bradley.

### [I: Setting Traps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/i-setting-traps)

Sets a trap for Bradley Headstone by wearing a red neckerchief; observes Headstone's obsessive behavior and collaborates with him.

### [Better to Be Abel Than Cain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/vii-better-to-be-abel-than-cain)

Harbors Bradley at the lock-house, observes his torn clothes and spots, and deduces his involvement in an attack; later releases him but remains a lurking threat.

### [XV: What Was Caught in the Traps That Were Set](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/xv-what-was-caught-in-the-traps-that-were-set)

Confronts Bradley with evidence of the attack; blackmails him; insists on a full settlement.

### [Postscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/postscript)

Mentioned as inspecting Bradley Headstone's red neckerchief while he lay asleep, unharmed in the accident.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters/roger_riderhood
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/characters