# Amelia Butterworth — That Affair Next Door character guide > Amelia Butterworth in That Affair Next Door by Anna Katharine Green. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Butterworth, Butterworth, Amelia, Miss Amelia, a Butterworth, Miss Amelia Butterworth, Dear Miss Butterworth, O Miss Butterworth **First appearance:** 0000-book-i-miss-butterworth-s-window ## Snapshot A self-possessed spinster whom men call a wooden image, she turns her formidable curiosity and sharpened instincts on a murder the police cannot solve. ## Who they are Amelia Butterworth belongs to the comfortable, watchful class of unmarried women who see everything and are credited with feeling nothing — a reputation she quietly exploits. When a young woman dies in the Van Burnam mansion, her neighborly vigilance hardens into something closer to vocation, and she inserts herself into the case with more nerve than the professionals. Her running contest of wits with Mr. Gryce, and her willingness to nurse a feverish suspect while secretly hunting for a scar, make her the reader's sharpest and most entertaining guide through the mystery's early tangles. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/mr_gryce) _friendship_ Amelia and Mr. Gryce are investigative allies, with Amelia often assisting Gryce in solving mysteries through her keen observations. ### [Mrs. Howard Van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/mrs_howard_van_burnam) _social_ Amelia is a nosy neighbor and acquaintance of Mrs. Howard Van Burnam, observing her with suspicion and curiosity. ### [Louise Van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/louise_van_burnam) _social_ Amelia interacts with Louise Van Burnam as a curious neighbor and potential witness in the case. ### [Ruth Oliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/ruth_oliver) _friendship_ Amelia and Ruth Oliver are confidantes, with Ruth often sharing information and supporting Amelia's sleuthing. ### [Franklin Van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/franklin_van_burnam) _social_ Amelia observes and questions Franklin Van Burnam as a person of interest in the neighborhood mystery. ### [Randolph Stone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/randolph_stone) _social_ Amelia encounters Randolph Stone as a peripheral figure in the Van Burnam circle, often exchanging observations. ### [Lena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/lena) _professional_ Lena is likely a servant or maid in Amelia's household, with Amelia giving her instructions and gathering gossip. ### [Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/mr_gryce) _friendship_ Amelia and Mr. Gryce are investigative allies, with Amelia often assisting Gryce in solving mysteries through her keen observations. ### [Louise Van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/louise_van_burnam) _social_ Amelia interacts with Louise Van Burnam as a curious neighbor and potential witness in the case. ### [Randolph Stone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/randolph_stone) _social_ Amelia encounters Randolph Stone as a peripheral figure in the Van Burnam circle, often exchanging observations. ### [Ruth Oliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/ruth_oliver) _friendship_ Amelia and Ruth Oliver are confidantes, with Ruth often sharing information and supporting Amelia's sleuthing. ### [Lena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/lena) _professional_ Lena is likely a servant or maid in Amelia's household, with Amelia giving her instructions and gathering gossip. ## In the story ### [Book I: Miss Butterworth’s Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/book-i-miss-butterworth-s-window) The narrator and central observer, a wealthy spinster who takes an interest in the events at the Van Burnam house. ### [A Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/i-a-discovery) The narrator and amateur detective; she investigates the scene, questions the scrub-woman, and insists on entering the house. ### [Questions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/ii-questions) Narrates the chapter, recounts her observations, and asserts her social importance. ### [III: Amelia Discovers Herself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/iii-amelia-discovers-herself) Takes center stage as a confident witness, using sharp deduction to analyze the victim's clothing and contradict assumptions. ### [IV: Silas van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/iv-silas-van-burnam) Remains at the scene out of a sense of duty and curiosity, offers to host the Van Burnam daughters. ### [V: “This Is No One I Know.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/v-this-is-no-one-i-know) Narrator and host to the Van Burnam sisters; observes the events from her window and later describes the identification scene. ### [VII: Mr. Gryce Discovers Miss Amelia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/vii-mr-gryce-discovers-miss-amelia) Visits Mr. Gryce to exchange information and offers her observations about the house-cleaner's suspicious manner. ### [VIII: The Misses van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/viii-the-misses-van-burnam) Narrator; reads the newspaper accounts, interacts with the Van Burnam sisters and Mr. Gryce, and continues her nocturnal surveillance. ### [IX: Developments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/ix-developments) Attends the inquest as a key witness, observing the proceedings and noting the reactions of others. ### [X: Important Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/x-important-evidence) Called as a witness at the inquest; describes the couple she saw entering the Van Burnam house and expresses doubt about identifying the man. ### [The Order Clerk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xi-the-order-clerk) Narrates the chapter, observing the inquest with keen interest and forming her own judgments about the witnesses and jury. ### [XII: The Keys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xii-the-keys) Present at the inquest, observing proceedings and muttering about 'James Pope, his mark!' ### [XIII: Howard van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xiii-howard-van-burnam) Narrates the chapter; observes the proceedings from her seat in the courtroom, noting the reactions of the Van Burnam family and Mr. Gryce. ### [A Serious Admission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xiv-a-serious-admission) Observes the proceedings, troubled by Howard's emotion and her own sympathies; notes his changed appearance. ### [XV: A Reluctant Witness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xv-a-reluctant-witness) Narrates the chapter, observing the proceedings and the reactions of others, including her own restrained curiosity about Randolph Stone. ### [Book II: The Windings of a Labyrinth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/book-ii-the-windings-of-a-labyrinth) The amateur detective driving the investigation, conducting interviews and placing advertisements. ### [XVI: Cogitations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xvi-cogitations) The narrator and central consciousness of the chapter; she cogitates alone, reviews her old notes, and resists popular opinion about Howard's guilt. ### [Butterworth Versus Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xvii-butterworth-versus-gryce) Engages in a verbal duel with Mr. Gryce, asserting her own observations and intuition about the case, and declares herself his rival. ### [The Little Pincushion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xviii-the-little-pincushion) Leaves the courtroom gratified by the verdict, later receives the Van Burnam sisters and begins her own investigation into Howard's arrest. ### [A Decided Step Forward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xix-a-decided-step-forward) Takes a decisive step forward by secretly interviewing Mrs. Boppert to gather facts about the murder. ### [Miss Butterworth’s Theory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xx-miss-butterworth-s-theory) Develops and articulates her theory of the crime, reasoning through the evidence and challenging the official narrative. ### [A Shrewd Conjecture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxi-a-shrewd-conjecture) Devises the advertisement and letter, conducts a midnight investigation with Lena. ### [XXII: A Blank Card](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxii-a-blank-card) Receives a blank card and a letter from Miss Ferguson, then interviews Mrs. Desberger to find the mysterious young woman. ### [XXIII: Ruth Oliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxiii-ruth-oliver) Visits Miss Althorpe to investigate Ruth Oliver; uses deception and careful questioning to confirm her suspicions. ### [A House of Cards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxiv-a-house-of-cards) Narrator and investigator; tends to the patient, reflects on her own independence, and confronts the collapse of her theory. ### [XXV: “The Rings! Where Are the Rings?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxv-the-rings-where-are-the-rings) The narrator and detective; she examines the patient's shoe, discovers hidden money, and rethinks the case. ### [A Tilt with Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxvi-a-tilt-with-mr-gryce) Visits Mr. Gryce to probe his knowledge of the rings, then searches for the rings around the city. ### [Found](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxvii-found) Narrator and detective; searches frantically for Ruth Oliver and ultimately finds her at the Chinaman's laundry. ### [XXVIII: Taken Aback](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxviii-taken-aback) Narrator and amateur investigator; cares for the sick patient and feels proud of her discoveries, but is taken aback by Gryce's letter. ### [Book III: The Girl in Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/book-iii-the-girl-in-gray) The amateur detective driving the investigation, keenly observing and interviewing suspects. ### [XXIX: Amelia Becomes Peremptory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxix-amelia-becomes-peremptory) Assertive and shrewd, she demands reciprocity from the police before sharing her evidence. ### [The Matter as Stated by Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxx-the-matter-as-stated-by-mr-gryce) Amelia listens as Mr. Gryce reveals his theory and methods, realizing her own suspicions were shared by the detective. ### [Some Fine Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxi-some-fine-work) Engages in a strategic exchange with Mr. Gryce, withholding information about Ruth Oliver while pressing for more details. ### [XXXII: Iconoclasm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxii-iconoclasm) Delivers her groundbreaking theory that a woman committed the murder, recounting her investigations and evidence. ### [Known, Known, All Known.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxiii-known-known-all-known) Accompanies Mr. Gryce to visit Ruth Oliver and observes the interrogation. ### [Exactly Half-Past Three](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxiv-exactly-half-past-three) Agrees to help Miss Althorpe with wedding preparations, tends to Ruth Oliver, and suspects Ruth is a married woman shielding her husband. ### [A Ruse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxv-a-ruse) Narrator and participant in the ruse; she supports Ruth Oliver and observes the test. ### [Book IV: The End of a Great Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/book-iv-the-end-of-a-great-mystery) Central figure in unraveling the mystery, present at the conclusion. ### [A White Satin Gown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxviii-a-white-satin-gown) Narrator and participant; reluctantly helps Ruth Oliver buy a white satin gown under Mr. Gryce's orders. ### [As the Clock Struck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xl-as-the-clock-struck) Narrator and observer at the wedding; she recognizes Ruth Oliver and Mr. Gryce. ### [XLI: Secret History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xli-secret-history) Mentioned as having a conversation with Miss Althorpe that Ruth Oliver overheard. ### [With Miss Butterworth's Compliments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xlii-with-miss-butterworth-s-compliments) Narrates the chapter, reflecting on the resolution and her role in the case. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/endnotes) Author of the endnotes, offering corrections and commentary. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/amelia_butterworth - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters