Red Harvest · Character

Reno Starkey

A sallow, horse-faced gangster who trades alibis and favors with the narrator while angling to come out on top of Personville's war.

major

Also known as Reno, Reno ’ ) Starkey

First appearance: red harvest

As a major figure in Red Harvest, Reno Starkey is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Recently released on bail; celebrates at the Silver Arrow, is ambushed, and rescued by the narrator and Dinah.

In the storyXVII: RenoOpen this moment free

See Reno Starkey in XVII: Reno Book page

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Reno is a rival to Whisper and a survivor of the Willsson shootout, and he gives the narrator a false alibi for the night of Dinah Brand's murder in exchange for a future claim on the narrator's loyalty. He is blunt about his motives: he needs friends because he expects to be sitting in with Whisper and Pete the Finn before long, and he wants to be sure he doesn't get the sour end of the deal. His willingness to bargain with the Op shows how fluid and self-interested Personville's alliances have become.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Reno Starkey sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Reno Starkey in red harvest

Character Web

10 connections

A slice of how Reno Starkey sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Underworld enforcers and rivals
Protagonist

+5 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this scene, the emotional peak occurs when Dinah Brand, in a fury, physically attacks the Continental Op af…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

The Narrator
rivalry · negative
Reno Starkey, a ruthless gangster, and the Narrator are professional adversaries who… How this plays out →
Noonan
rivalry · negative
The Narrator
rivalry · negative
Reno Starkey, a ruthless gangster, and the Narrator are professional adversaries who… How this plays out →
The Narrator
rivalry · negative
Reno Starkey, a ruthless gangster, and the Narrator are professional adversaries who… How this plays out →
Noonan
rivalry · negative
Noonan
rivalry · negative

The Narrator
Reno Starkey, a ruthless gangster, and the Narrator are professional adversaries who engage in a tense, violent competition for control of the city's underworld.
Noonan
Noonan and Reno Starkey are rival power brokers in the city's criminal hierarchy, each vying for control and often working at cross-purposes.
The Narrator
Reno Starkey, a ruthless gangster, and the Narrator are professional adversaries who engage in a tense, violent competition for control of the city's underworld.
The Narrator
Reno Starkey, a ruthless gangster, and the Narrator are professional adversaries who engage in a tense, violent competition for control of the city's underworld.
Noonan
Noonan and Reno Starkey are rival power brokers in the city's criminal hierarchy, each vying for control and often working at cross-purposes.
Noonan
Noonan and Reno Starkey are rival power brokers in the city's criminal hierarchy, each vying for control and often working at cross-purposes.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Reno Starkey in red harvest

In the story

Reno Starkey appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XVII: Reno
Recently released on bail; celebrates at the Silver Arrow, is ambushed, and rescued by the narrator and Dinah.
XIX: The Peace Conference
Sits stolidly as the Narrator exposes his role in the bank robbery and the murder of Lew Yard.
XX: Laudanum
Calls to inform the narrator that Noonan has been shot dead by Whisper Thaler.
XXI: The Seventeenth Murder
Provides the narrator with an alibi in exchange for future loyalty; discusses the power shift with McGraw as acting chief.
Wanted
Proposes a truce with Whisper to attack Pete the Finn, then learns Whisper is dead.
XXV: Whiskeytown
Leads the assault on Pete the Finn's hideout, orchestrates the bombing, and personally executes Pete.
XXVII: Warehouses
Kills Whisper Thaler, confesses to murdering Dinah Brand, and dies from his wounds.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Reno Starkey unlock in the free preview.

See Reno Starkey in red harvest

See Reno Starkey in XVII: Reno