The Benson Murder Case · Character

Alvin Benson

A wealthy, womanizing stockbroker whose charm and cruelty made him both a social fixture and a target, found shot in his own home.

major

Also known as Benson, Mr. Benson, Alvin, Al, good old Al, Mr. Alvin Benson

First appearance: ii at the scene of the crime

As a major figure in The Benson Murder Case, Alvin Benson is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Well-known Wall Street broker and man-about-town, who was mysteriously murdered in his home.

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Benson is the murder victim, a man whose fortune and appetites — for money and for other men's women — made him widely disliked. His treatment of his secretary and his financial dealings with clients like Miss St. Clair supply the case with motives and resentments. Though dead before the story begins, his character is reconstructed through the testimony of those he wronged, making him the gravitational center of the mystery.

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See Alvin Benson in ii at the scene of the crime

Character Web

30 connections

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

Relationship types

Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Protagonist
Supporting Cast
Core Investigation Team

+25 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This chapter marks the dramatic climax because it presents the most intense psychological confrontation yet: C…

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Relationships

Philo Vance
rivalry · negative
Alvin Benson and Philo Vance are intellectual adversaries, with Benson's murder being the… How this plays out →
John Markham
rivalry · negative
Captain Philip Leacock
rivalry · negative
Major Anthony Benson
family · negative
Leander Pfyfe
psychological · negative
Ernest Heath
rivalry · negative
Muriel St. Clair
romantic · negative
Anna Platz
professional · negative
Philo Vance
rivalry · negative
Alvin Benson and Philo Vance are intellectual adversaries, with Benson's murder being the… How this plays out →
John Markham
rivalry · negative
Ernest Heath
rivalry · negative
Captain Philip Leacock
rivalry · negative

Philo Vance
Alvin Benson and Philo Vance are intellectual adversaries, with Benson's murder being the central mystery that Vance is determined to unravel.
John Markham
Alvin Benson, a known blackmailer and social manipulator, is the victim whose death Markham investigates, creating an adversarial posthumous relationship.
Captain Philip Leacock
Alvin Benson's criminal activities put him in direct conflict with Captain Leacock, who is tasked with investigating his murder.
Major Anthony Benson
Alvin and Anthony Benson are brothers, though their relationship is strained by Alvin's scandalous lifestyle and Anthony's rigid military code.
Leander Pfyfe
Alvin Benson blackmailed Leander Pfyfe, creating a relationship of victim and manipulator that ultimately leads to murder.
Ernest Heath
Alvin Benson's criminal record and abrasive personality put him at odds with Sergeant Heath, who is investigating his murder.
Muriel St. Clair
Alvin Benson was romantically pursuing Muriel St. Clair, though she was repulsed by his advances and his blackmailing nature.
Anna Platz
Anna Platz is Alvin Benson's housekeeper, who endures his abusive treatment and becomes a key witness after his death.
Philo Vance
Alvin Benson and Philo Vance are intellectual adversaries, with Benson's murder being the central mystery that Vance is determined to unravel.
John Markham
Alvin Benson, a known blackmailer and social manipulator, is the victim whose death Markham investigates, creating an adversarial posthumous relationship.
Ernest Heath
Alvin Benson's criminal record and abrasive personality put him at odds with Sergeant Heath, who is investigating his murder.
Captain Philip Leacock
Alvin Benson's criminal activities put him in direct conflict with Captain Leacock, who is tasked with investigating his murder.

Relationship notes

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

See Alvin Benson in ii at the scene of the crime

In the story

Alvin Benson appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Characters of the Book
Well-known Wall Street broker and man-about-town, who was mysteriously murdered in his home.
The Benson Murder Case
The murder victim, whose body is discovered in his home, setting the plot in motion.
VI: Vance Offers an Opinion
The murder victim; his death is the subject of the investigation discussed.
XXIII: Checking an Alibi
The murder victim; his death is referenced as the reason for the investigation and the Major's potential motive.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Alvin Benson unlock in the free preview.

See Alvin Benson in ii at the scene of the crime

See Alvin Benson in Characters of the Book