The Big Bow Mystery · Character

Denzil Cantercot

A shabby poet and penny-a-liner whose verses and grudges circulate through Bow, he knows too many secrets for a man with so little money.

major

Also known as Mr. Denzil Cantercot, Mr. Cantercot, Cantercot

First appearance: i

As a major figure in The Big Bow Mystery, Denzil Cantercot is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Called as a witness; he was on his way to Grodman's house when called to fetch the police, but did not go upstairs.

In the storyIIOpen this moment free

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Cantercot scrapes a living by his pen while nursing grander literary ambitions, and his threadbare pride makes him both pitiable and unpredictable. He moves between the labor circles around Arthur Constant and the darker corners where resentment festers, and his tangled private life keeps pulling him toward trouble. When suspicion begins to settle on him, the question of what this poet actually did becomes as pressing as the murder itself.

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See Denzil Cantercot in i

Character Web

15 connections

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

Relationship types

Rivalry
Friendship
Social
Other

Character groups

Protagonist
Central Mystery Characters

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Narrative arc

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

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

In this excerpt, the emotional and psychological peak occurs as Grodman, the apparent leader of the agitation…

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Relationships

Edward Wimp
rivalry · negative
Wimp suspects Cantercot of the murder and relentlessly pursues him, creating a tense… How this plays out →
Peter Crowl
friendship · positive
Tom Mortlake
social · ambivalent
Mrs. Drabdump
social · ambivalent
Jessie Dymond
social · ambivalent
Tom Mortlake
social · ambivalent
Peter Crowl
friendship · positive
Jessie Dymond
social · ambivalent
Edward Wimp
rivalry · negative
Wimp suspects Cantercot of the murder and relentlessly pursues him, creating a tense… How this plays out →
Edward Wimp
rivalry · negative
Wimp suspects Cantercot of the murder and relentlessly pursues him, creating a tense… How this plays out →
Mrs. Drabdump
social · ambivalent
Peter Crowl
friendship · positive

Edward Wimp
Wimp suspects Cantercot of the murder and relentlessly pursues him, creating a tense adversarial dynamic.
Peter Crowl
Crowl, a journalist, collaborates with Cantercot on writing and shares a camaraderie of the trade.
Tom Mortlake
They are acquaintances connected through the lodging house and the murder case, with no deep bond.
Mrs. Drabdump
Cantercot is a lodger in Mrs. Drabdump's house, leading to frequent but superficial interactions.
Jessie Dymond
Cantercot knows Jessie through the lodging house circle, but their interactions are limited and casual.
Tom Mortlake
They are acquaintances connected through the lodging house and the murder case, with no deep bond.
Peter Crowl
Crowl, a journalist, collaborates with Cantercot on writing and shares a camaraderie of the trade.
Jessie Dymond
Cantercot knows Jessie through the lodging house circle, but their interactions are limited and casual.
Edward Wimp
Wimp suspects Cantercot of the murder and relentlessly pursues him, creating a tense adversarial dynamic.
Edward Wimp
Wimp suspects Cantercot of the murder and relentlessly pursues him, creating a tense adversarial dynamic.
Mrs. Drabdump
Cantercot is a lodger in Mrs. Drabdump's house, leading to frequent but superficial interactions.
Peter Crowl
Crowl, a journalist, collaborates with Cantercot on writing and shares a camaraderie of the trade.

Relationship notes

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

See Denzil Cantercot in i

In the story

Denzil Cantercot appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II
Called as a witness; he was on his way to Grodman's house when called to fetch the police, but did not go upstairs.
V
Visits Grodman, argues about his epic poem and writer's cramp, then returns to the Crowl home where he is confronted about unpaid board.
VI
Visits Wimp to sell information about Mortlake's missing sweetheart, then visits Grodman; desperate for money and drinks heavily.
VII
Discussed at dinner; Grodman falsely claims Denzil has an alibi. Later seen at Crowl's house arguing about beauty.
VIII
Returns after a three-day absence, disheveled; he attends the unveiling by claiming to be press.
The Riot at the Unveiling
Helps Mortlake escape during the riot, later recounts the story to Crowl.
The Trial of Tom Mortlake
Testifies for the prosecution, but his memory is uncertain; he compares Jessie Dymond to Joan of Arc.
Chapter XI
Fears Grodman's threats of arrest for bigamy; is coerced into helping the agitation.

Chapter companion notes

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