# Miss Climpson — Strong Poison character guide

> Miss Climpson in Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Miss Katharine Climpson, a Miss Climpson, Miss Kitty Climpson, Climpson, Kate

**First appearance:** 0001-ii

## Snapshot

A sharp-eyed spinster with a gift for reading mantelpiece photographs and nursing-home gossip, she serves as Lord Peter's most unlikely and effective field agent.

## Who they are

Miss Climpson runs a typing bureau that is not quite a typing bureau, placing intelligent women in positions where their observations prove invaluable. Her ability to deduce a stranger's entire history from a silver frame and a bunch of narcissus makes her indispensable to Wimsey's methods. Beneath her gossipy manner lies a disciplined investigator who can sit through a séance and note every detail worth noting.

## In the story

### [The Hung Jury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/iii)

The elderly spinster juror who held out against conviction, causing the deadlock.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/iv)

Juror who held out for acquittal, described as a tough, elderly woman with a militant High Church conscience.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/v)

Hosts Wimsey in her private office; discusses motives for murder and the nature of her establishment.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/vii)

Contacted by Wimsey to arrange placement of a female clerk in Urquhart's office for intelligence gathering.

### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xv)

Is tasked by Wimsey to travel to Windle and investigate Mrs. Wrayburn's will and household.

### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xvi)

Arrives in Windle and begins investigating Mrs. Wrayburn; writes a detailed letter to Wimsey about her progress.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xvii)

Conducts an undercover investigation, posing as a spiritualist to gather information from Miss Booth.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xviii)

Returns late from a séance, defends her involvement with spiritualism, and later discovers the will with Miss Booth.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xix)

Steams open the will envelope, reads its contents, and reseals it; writes a detailed letter to Lord Peter about her discovery.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters/miss_climpson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/characters