# Miss Murchison — Strong Poison character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** XIII Miss Murchison, Murchison

**First appearance:** 0001-ii

## Snapshot

A plain, efficient secretary of thirty-eight, she trades the wreckage of a financier's office for undercover work in a solicitor's files.

## Who they are

Miss Murchison spent twelve years in a financier's office before the juggler's eggs all smashed and she found herself jobless at thirty-seven. Her advertisement brought her to Miss Climpson's bureau and, eventually, to Lord Peter's flat, where she accepts crumpets and a dangerous assignment with the same composure. Her unremarkable appearance and well-regulated heart make her the perfect agent to work unnoticed inside Mr. Urquhart's office.

## In the story

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

Briefly seen as a typist in Urquhart's office, recognized by Wimsey as one of Miss Climpson's operatives.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xi)

Sends a note to Wimsey about her new job at Urquhart's office and hints at suspicious financial activities.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xiii)

Visits Lord Peter's flat for the first time; receives lock-picking instruction from Bill Rumm; is tasked with opening a deed box to find the real will.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xiv)

Searches the Wrayburn deed box, finds the Deed of Trust and letter, and uses picklocks to open it.

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

Is congratulated by Wimsey and taken to a special lunch at Rules; returns late to Mr. Urquhart's office, forgetting to return the skeleton keys.

### [The Arsenic Test](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xx)

Provides the envelope containing arsenic from Urquhart's office, and witnesses the test results.

## Links

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