Character guide

Tommy Beresford

major

Also known as Mrs. Thomas Beresford, Mrs. Beresford, Tommy, Mrs. Tommy, Beresford, Old Tommy

Tommy runs the International Detective Agency under the borrowed name Theodore Blunt, a cover arranged by British Intelligence and shared with his wife, Tuppence. Bound to a chair and threatened with vitriol, he refuses to be rattled, trading flippant literary allusions for time while his captor demands a missing letter. His cheerful nerve and instinct for playing a part make him the steady, unshakeable center of the couple's increasingly dangerous cases.

Tuppence Beresford

major

Also known as Tuppence, little Tuppence, Dear Tuppence

When Mr. Carter dangles a secret assignment, Tuppence's eyes sparkle before he has finished the sentence, and she is already volunteering for whatever comes next. She plays confidential secretary Miss Robinson in the office, but her real gift is skepticism: she dismisses a client's tale of obscure alkaloids as a plant and names the culprit Clubfoot on the spot. Her restless curiosity keeps the agency's cases from being taken at face value.

Albert

supporting

Also known as Bertram

Albert serves tea as a Long Island butler one moment and slouches as a sweets-eating office boy the next, playing each part to perfection. He ushers clients in and out of the International Detective Agency and is trusted enough to be left holding the outer office while Tommy and Tuppence work inside. His easy disguises and unshakeable loyalty make him the quiet hinge on which the agency's daily theater turns.

Mr. Carter

supporting

Also known as Carter

Mr. Carter arrives at the Beresfords' home with a newspaper advertisement and a proposal: take over the failing International Detective Agency for six months and run it as they please. His instructions are precise, watch for blue letters with Russian stamps and the number 16, but his manner is playful, and he admits he simply fancied the work might amuse Mrs. Tommy. He sets the whole adventure in motion while keeping his own hands conspicuously clean.

Theodore Blunt

supporting

Also known as Mr. Theodore Blunt, Mr. Blunt, Blunt, the real Mr. Blunt, the original Mr. Blunt, the new Mr. Blunt, Theodore

Theodore Blunt ran the International Detective Agency until his indiscretions brought Scotland Yard down on him, and he is now detained at His Majesty's expense, refusing to tell the authorities half of what they want to know. His foreign business dealings, especially the blue Russian-stamped letters, are exactly what Intelligence wants traced. His shadow hangs over every case the Beresfords take, since clients still arrive expecting the man whose name is on the door.

Detective Inspector Dymchurch

supporting

Also known as Inspector Dymchurch, Dymchurch

Dymchurch presents himself as a solid Scotland Yard man, even volunteering to investigate whether the new Mr. Blunt is a spy. But when the mask comes off, his accent and manner transform entirely into those of a well-educated foreigner, and he coolly directs his ruffian Coggins to unpack a box of vitriol and heated irons. His double game turns a routine inquiry into a test of Tommy's nerve and gives the early arc its first real taste of danger.

Captain Sessle

supporting

Also known as Sessle, Captain Anthony Sessle, Anthony, Anthony Sessle

Sessle came into money, retired from the army, and went into insurance with the Hollabys; everyone who knew him called him the last man on earth you'd suspect of being a crook. Yet he died on the golf course after a meeting with a tall woman in brown, and his game collapsed from the seventh tee on — a two-handicap man suddenly playing like a child. His murder is the case that teaches Tommy and Tuppence to distrust the obvious clue: the hat pin that seems to point at a woman.

Gilda Glen

supporting

Also known as Miss Gilda Glen, Miss Glen, Gilda

Gilda keeps a latch key to her sister's house and comes and goes as she pleases, indifferent to the household she disturbs. When she arrives home at eight minutes past six, a man rushes up the stairs after her, a cry is heard, and she is found on the sofa in black and ermine, her skull crushed — not strangled, as someone had loudly threatened. Her death turns a routine inquiry into the agency's first murder, and the question of who was waiting for her upstairs drives the early investigation.

Detective Inspector Marriot

supporting

Also known as Marriot, Inspector Marriot, Scotland Yard

Marriot is the Yard contact Tommy and Tuppence believe they are working alongside, and his authority lends the amateur pair a legitimacy they badly need. But his name is precisely the kind of currency a clever adversary can spend: when a foreign agent wants Tommy's confidence, he simply announces himself as Inspector Marriot and is believed. The real inspector's shadow over the early cases keeps the reader asking who, in this book of aliases and agencies, is actually on the side of the law.

Mrs. Honeycott

minor

A client of the detective agency, involved in the affair of the pink pearl.

Montgomery Jones

minor

Also known as Jones, Mr. Montgomery Jones, Mr. Jones, poor Montgomery Jones

A young man who gets entangled in the affairs of the detective agency.

Lois Hargreaves

minor

Also known as Miss Hargreaves, Miss Lois Hargreaves, Lois, Miss Lois

A young woman involved in the case of the sinister stranger.

Sir Arthur Merivale

minor

Also known as Sir Arthur, Arthur

A wealthy gentleman who appears in the case of the missing lady.

Marguerite Laidlaw

minor

Also known as Marguerite, Laidlaw, the lovely Marguerite

A beautiful woman connected to the Laidlaw family and a case.

James Reilly

minor

Also known as Reilly

A man who appears in the case of the man in the mist.

Mervyn Estcourt

minor

Also known as Estcourt

An actor involved in the case of the missing lady.

Lady Laura Barton

minor

Also known as Lady Laura, Laura

A lady involved in the case of the crackler.

Monica Deane

minor

Also known as Miss Monica Deane, Miss Deane, Monica, Darling Monica

A young woman who appears in the case of the crackler.

Elise

minor

Also known as Mademoiselle Elise, Mademoiselle

A French maid or companion involved in a case.

Dr. Charles Bower

minor

Also known as Charles, Bower, Dr. Bower

A doctor involved in the case of the crackler.

Mr. Hollaby

minor

Also known as Hollaby, Mr. Hollaby senior, old Hollaby, Neither Mr. Hollaby

A man connected to the case of the crackler.

Miss Logan

minor

A woman who appears in the case of the crackler.

Colonel Kingston Bruce

minor

Also known as Colonel, Kingston Bruce

A military man connected to the case of the crackler.

Doris Evans

minor

Also known as one Doris Evans, Evans

A woman who appears in the Sunningdale mystery.

Mr. Beresford Blunt

minor

Also known as Mr. Blunt, Blunt, the brilliant Mr. Blunt, Mr. Beresford

A relative of Theodore Blunt, involved in the detective agency.

Beatrice Kingston Bruce

minor

Also known as Beatrice

A relative of the Kingston Bruces, appears in a case.

Francis Haviland

minor

Also known as Francis, brother Francis

Tuppence's brother, mentioned in the story.

Doctor Horriston

minor

Also known as Dr. Horriston, Horriston

A doctor who appears in a case.

Hannah

minor

A maid in the Honeycott household, with a secret connection to the case.

Dennis Radclyffe

minor

Also known as Dennis, Radclyffe

A young man connected to the missing lady case.

Una Drake

minor

Also known as Una, Miss Una Drake, Miss Drake, A Miss Drake

A young woman who is the subject of a case.

Mrs. Hamilton Betts

minor

Also known as the Hamilton Betts, the Betts, Mrs. Betts

A wealthy American woman who appears in a case.

Mr. Rennie

minor

A man who appears in the case of the crackler.

Kingston Bruce

minor

Also known as Miss Kingston Bruce

A person connected to the case of the crackler.

Mr. le Marchant

minor

Also known as le Marchant

A man who appears in the case of the crackler.

Randolph Wilmott

minor

Also known as Mr. Randolph Wilmott, Mr. Wilmott, Wilmott

A man involved in the case of the crackler.

Miss Robinson

minor

A woman who appears in a case.

Lady Susan Clonray

minor

Also known as Lady Susan, Susan

A lady involved in the case of the crackler.

Dr. Burton

minor

Also known as Burton, Probably Dr. Burton

A doctor who appears in a case.

Captain Hale

minor

Also known as Hale, young Hale, Bingo Hale, Bingo

A young captain involved in the Sunningdale mystery.

Coggins

minor

Also known as friend Coggins, the brutal Coggins, kind Coggins

A man who appears in the Sunningdale mystery.

Major Laidlaw

minor

A military man connected to the Sunningdale mystery.

Ellen

minor

A maid or servant in a household involved in a case.

Gabriel Stavansson

minor

Also known as Mr. Stavansson, Stavansson

A man involved in the Sunningdale mystery.

Miss Cicely March

minor

Also known as March, Miss March, Cicely March

A woman who appears in the Sunningdale mystery.

Mrs. Cortlandt Van Snyder

minor

Also known as Mrs. Van Snyder

A wealthy American woman who appears in a case.

Mrs. Sessle

minor

Also known as Sessle

The wife of Captain Sessle, involved in the missing lady case.

Mary Chilcott

minor

Also known as Mary

A woman who appears in the house of lurking death.

Miss Chilcott

minor

Also known as a Miss Chilcott

A woman connected to the house of lurking death.

St. Vincent

minor

Also known as Mr. St. Vincent, Young St. Vincent, young St. Vincent, Lawrence St. Vincent

A young man involved in the house of lurking death.

Mrs. Kingston Bruce

minor

The wife of Colonel Kingston Bruce, appears in a case.

Mr. Reilly

minor

A man who appears in a case.

Watson

minor

A name used as an alias or reference in a case.

Mr. Hamilton Betts

minor

Also known as Mr. Betts, the Betts

The husband of Mrs. Hamilton Betts, appears in a case.

Jimmy Faulkener

minor

Also known as young Faulkener, Jimmy, Captain Jimmy Faulkener

A young captain who appears in a case.

Aunt Lucy

minor

Also known as Dear Lucy, Poor Lucy

An elderly relative mentioned in a case.

Crockett

minor

Also known as the faithful Crockett

A loyal servant who appears in a case.

Janet Smith

minor

Also known as Smith, Janet

A woman who appears in a case.

Bulger

minor

Also known as Good old Bulger

A friend or associate mentioned in a case.

Lady Radclyffe

minor

Also known as old Lady Radclyffe

An elderly lady connected to the Radclyffe family.

Senator Westerham

minor

Also known as Westerham, Mr. Ralph Westerham, Mr. Westerham

An American senator involved in the ambassador's boots case.

Hermione Crane

minor

Also known as Hermione, Hermy

A woman who appears in a case.

Mrs. Laidlaw

minor

Also known as Amongst Mrs. Laidlaw

The wife of Major Laidlaw, appears in a case.

Dr. O'Neill

minor

A doctor who appears in a case.

Richards

minor

Also known as friend Richards

A man who appears in a case.

Eileen O'Hara

minor

Also known as Miss Eileen O’Hara, Eileen, O’Hara, Miss O’Hara

A young woman who appears in a case.

Desmond

minor

A man who appears in a case.

Vassily

minor

A man who appears in the ambassador's boots case.

Mrs. Leigh Gordon

minor

A woman who appears in a case.

Miss Ganges

minor

A woman who appears in a case.

Oglander

minor

Also known as Mrs. Oglander

A person who appears in a case.

Lady Merivale

minor

The wife of Sir Arthur Merivale, appears in a case.

Lord Leconbury

minor

Also known as Leconbury

A lord who appears in a case.

Esther Quant

minor

A woman who appears in a case.

Captain Radclyffe

minor

Also known as A Captain Radclyffe

A military man connected to the Radclyffe family.

Dicky Rice

minor

Also known as Dicky, Mr. Rice, Rice

A man who appears in a case.

Miss Sheringham

minor

Also known as Roger Sheringham

A person who appears in a case.

Gregor Feodorsky

minor

Also known as Feodorsky, Gregory

A man who appears in the ambassador's boots case.

Carl Bauer

minor

Also known as Carl

A man who appears in a case.

Old Brady

minor

Also known as Dr. Brady, Brady

A doctor who appears in a case.

Mr. Marvell

minor

A man who appears in a case.

Major Barnard

minor

Also known as a Major Barnard, Barnard

A military man who appears in a case.

Mr. Lecky

minor

Also known as Lecky

A man who appears in a case.

Gerald

minor

A man who appears in a case.

Madame Violette

minor

Also known as Violette, Madame

A woman who appears in a case.

Alice Cummings

minor

Also known as Alice

A woman who appears in a case.

McCarty

minor

A man who appears in a case.

Gladys Hill

minor

Also known as Hill

A woman who appears in a case.

Margee

minor

A woman who appears in a case.

Old Mrs. Holloway

minor

An elderly woman who appears in a case.

Miss Marjory Leicester

minor

Also known as Miss Leicester

A woman who appears in a case.

Mr. Partridge

minor

A man who appears in a case.