# Franklin Van Burnam — That Affair Next Door character guide > Franklin Van Burnam in That Affair Next Door by Anna Katharine Green. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Van Burnam, Franklin, young Mr. Van Burnam, Mr. Franklin Van Burnam, Mr. Franklin, the younger Mr. Van Burnam, young Mr. Van Burnam⁠—Franklin **First appearance:** 0004-iv-silas-van-burnam ## Snapshot The younger Van Burnam brother, whose composure under suspicion is so complete that even the police cannot decide whether it hides guilt or something stranger. ## Who they are Franklin Van Burnam moves through the inquiry with the family's collective indifference, offering the authorities nothing they can use. Gryce confesses himself baffled: every passion in the case seems to ignite at the sight of Howard, yet nothing fits, and the brothers' coolness when confronted undermines the neat theory of guilt. Whether Franklin is protecting a brother, hiding his own knowledge, or simply being a Van Burnam, his silence becomes one of the case's most stubborn walls. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/mr_gryce) _professional_ Franklin Van Burnam is a suspect interviewed by Mr. Gryce during the murder investigation. ### [Mrs. Howard Van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/mrs_howard_van_burnam) _family_ Franklin Van Burnam is the brother of Mrs. Howard Van Burnam's deceased husband, and their relationship is fraught with suspicion and conflict. ### [Louise Van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/louise_van_burnam) _family_ Franklin and Louise Van Burnam are siblings, bound by family loyalty but also by shared secrets regarding the crime. ### [Amelia Butterworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/amelia_butterworth) _social_ Amelia observes and questions Franklin Van Burnam as a person of interest in the neighborhood mystery. ### [Coroner Dahl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/coroner_dahl) _professional_ Coroner Dahl interrogates Franklin Van Burnam as part of the official inquest into the death. ### [Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/mr_gryce) _professional_ Franklin Van Burnam is a suspect interviewed by Mr. Gryce during the murder investigation. ### [Coroner Dahl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/coroner_dahl) _professional_ Coroner Dahl interrogates Franklin Van Burnam as part of the official inquest into the death. ### [Mr. Gryce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/mr_gryce) _professional_ Franklin Van Burnam is a suspect interviewed by Mr. Gryce during the murder investigation. ### [Mrs. Howard Van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/mrs_howard_van_burnam) _family_ Franklin Van Burnam is the brother of Mrs. Howard Van Burnam's deceased husband, and their relationship is fraught with suspicion and conflict. ### [Mrs. Howard Van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/mrs_howard_van_burnam) _family_ Franklin Van Burnam is the brother of Mrs. Howard Van Burnam's deceased husband, and their relationship is fraught with suspicion and conflict. ### [Coroner Dahl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/coroner_dahl) _professional_ Coroner Dahl interrogates Franklin Van Burnam as part of the official inquest into the death. ### [Louise Van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/louise_van_burnam) _family_ Franklin and Louise Van Burnam are siblings, bound by family loyalty but also by shared secrets regarding the crime. ## 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) Another Van Burnam son, whose actions are scrutinized by Miss Butterworth. ### [Questions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/ii-questions) Mentioned as the son who sent word to prepare the house. ### [IV: Silas van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/iv-silas-van-burnam) Tries to manage his father's temper and prevent him from speaking too freely; accepts Amelia's offer to host his sisters. ### [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) Elder brother who whispers to Howard, prompting him to look again at the body; shows concern. ### [New Facts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/vi-new-facts) Shows emotion and curiosity about the murder method, asking if the victim was throttled or stabbed. ### [VIII: The Misses van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/viii-the-misses-van-burnam) Brother of Caroline and Isabella; arrives to take his sisters away, speaks privately with them about Amelia's stinginess. ### [XII: The Keys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xii-the-keys) Testifies about lending keys to Howard, the family's disapproval of the marriage, and his inability to identify the body. ### [XIII: Howard van Burnam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xiii-howard-van-burnam) Supports his brother Howard during the testimony; shows a troubled countenance. ### [A Serious Admission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xiv-a-serious-admission) Enters with Howard, arm in arm, supporting his brother. ### [XV: A Reluctant Witness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xv-a-reluctant-witness) Present in the courtroom, receives Howard back with strange looks of mingled hope and disbelief. ### [The Little Pincushion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xviii-the-little-pincushion) Present when Howard was arrested; mentioned as possibly smoking and reading novels, but not the one found. ### [XXVIII: Taken Aback](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxviii-taken-aback) Accused of the murder and to be taken into custody, despite Miss Butterworth's lack of evidence against him. ### [Book III: The Girl in Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/book-iii-the-girl-in-gray) Howard's brother, whose testimony and behavior add complexity to the case. ### [XXIX: Amelia Becomes Peremptory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxix-amelia-becomes-peremptory) Implied to be the focus of new police evidence; rings found in his desk. ### [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) Franklin is identified as the man who accompanied the victim into the house and posed as Mr. James Pope at the hotel. ### [Some Fine Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxi-some-fine-work) The primary suspect in the murder, with evidence mounting against him including possession of the keys and the discovery of the rings. ### [XXXII: Iconoclasm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxii-iconoclasm) Cleared of suspicion by Amelia's argument that the letter and rings were planted by Ruth Oliver. ### [Known, Known, All Known.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxiii-known-known-all-known) Revealed by Mr. Gryce as the man who accompanied Ruth Oliver into the house and was with her at the Hotel D⸺. ### [A Ruse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxv-a-ruse) Occupant of the first carriage; Ruth shows no reaction to him. ### [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) Brother of Howard, involved in the family drama. ### [Two Weeks!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xxxvii-two-weeks) Considered as possibly the one who truly affected Ruth; his indifference is noted. ### [With Miss Butterworth's Compliments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/xlii-with-miss-butterworth-s-compliments) Confesses to Miss Butterworth his actions and motives during the tragedy, including his attempts to keep his brother and sister-in-law apart. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/chapters/endnotes) Mistakenly identified as the man entering the adjoining house on the night of the murder. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters/franklin_van_burnam - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/that_affair_next_door_se/characters