# Carter Woodman — The Brooklyn Murders character guide > Carter Woodman in The Brooklyn Murders by G. D. H. Cole. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Woodman, Mr. Carter Woodman, Mr. Woodman **First appearance:** 0000-i-a-family-celebration ## Snapshot The Brooklyn family's shrewd solicitor, who controls the purse strings and knows more about the altered will than he will ever say aloud. ## Who they are Carter Woodman arrives at the Byron Club late at night to find Walter Brooklyn desperate for money, and his dry remark that Walter's idea of living 'runs away with the money' shows a man comfortable wielding the family's financial leash. He is bound by Sir Vernon's instructions to refuse advances, yet the new circumstances after the murders leave him calculating what loyalty is worth. His presence in the case matters because he sits at the intersection of the will, the debts, and the secrets each Brooklyn is hiding from the others. ## Relationships ### [Joan Cowper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/joan_cowper) _professional_ Carter is Joan's trusted colleague and fellow detective, working closely to solve the murders. ### [Walter Brooklyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/walter_brooklyn) _rivalry_ Carter suspects Walter of being involved in the crimes, leading to tense confrontations. ### [Robert Ellery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/robert_ellery) _friendship_ Carter and Robert are old friends who often share information and support each other's investigations. ### [Charis Lang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/charis_lang) _psychological_ Carter is obsessed with protecting Charis, whom he sees as a vulnerable victim of her family's dark past. ### [Sir Vernon Brooklyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/sir_vernon_brooklyn) _rivalry_ Carter openly challenges Sir Vernon's authority and suspects him of orchestrating the crimes. ### [Joan Cowper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/joan_cowper) _professional_ Carter is Joan's trusted colleague and fellow detective, working closely to solve the murders. ### [Robert Ellery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/robert_ellery) _friendship_ Carter and Robert are old friends who often share information and support each other's investigations. ### [Walter Brooklyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/walter_brooklyn) _rivalry_ Carter suspects Walter of being involved in the crimes, leading to tense confrontations. ### [Charis Lang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/charis_lang) _psychological_ Carter is obsessed with protecting Charis, whom he sees as a vulnerable victim of her family's dark past. ### [Sir Vernon Brooklyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/sir_vernon_brooklyn) _rivalry_ Carter openly challenges Sir Vernon's authority and suspects him of orchestrating the crimes. ### [Joan Cowper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/joan_cowper) _professional_ Carter is Joan's trusted colleague and fellow detective, working closely to solve the murders. ### [Charis Lang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/charis_lang) _psychological_ Carter is obsessed with protecting Charis, whom he sees as a vulnerable victim of her family's dark past. ## In the story ### [A Pause for Reflection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/vi-a-pause-for-reflection) Inspector Blaikie visits Woodman at his office to gather information about the family and the victims. Woodman is described as vigorous and athletic, a successful solicitor with a large practice. ### [The Case Against Walter Brooklyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/vii-the-case-against-walter-brooklyn) Provided information to Inspector Blaikie about Walter Brooklyn's financial motives and character. ### [Walter Brooklyn’s Explanation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/ix-walter-brooklyn-s-explanation) Mentioned as the first person Walter Brooklyn visited on Tuesday afternoon at his office in Lincoln's Inn. ### [X: Charis Lang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/x-charis-lang) Sir Vernon's lawyer. He confirms Walter Brooklyn's financial troubles and his attempts to get money from Prinsep, but cannot shed light on Walter's dealings with Charis Lang. ### [XI: Joan Takes Up the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xi-joan-takes-up-the-case) Reluctantly shares police evidence against Walter Brooklyn with Joan, but believes Walter may be guilty. ### [An Arrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xiii-an-arrest) Gives evidence at the inquest but, warned by the inspector, says nothing to implicate Walter Brooklyn. ### [Mainly a Love Scene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xiv-mainly-a-love-scene) Mentioned as someone who failed to help Joan; she contrasts him with Ellery, who is more willing to assist. ### [A Link in the Chain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xvi-a-link-in-the-chain) Mentioned as a potential source of information for Thomas; seen by Walter at Liskeard House. ### [XVIII: The Case for the Defence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xviii-the-case-for-the-defence) Family lawyer who meets with Thomas but refuses to implicate innocent persons in the defense strategy. ### [XXV: Raising the Wind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxv-raising-the-wind) Interviewed by Inspector Blaikie about Sir Vernon's will; reveals he is next of kin after Walter Brooklyn. ### [Two Men Strike a Bargain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxvi-two-men-strike-a-bargain) Proposes and drafts a deal with Walter Brooklyn to secure half of Walter's inheritance and become his heir, leveraging his knowledge of Sir Vernon's will. ### [Robert Ellery’s Idea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxvii-robert-ellery-s-idea) Ellery's prime suspect; believed to have motive to inherit Sir Vernon's fortune and control of the Corporation; alibi is questioned. ### [The Superintendent’s Theory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxviii-the-superintendent-s-theory) Suspect: Wilson argues he planted the stick and the note, and stands to gain from Walter Brooklyn's removal. ### [XXIX: The Lie of the Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxix-the-lie-of-the-land) Subject of Ellery's investigation; his alibi is shown to be false through the discovery of a possible unobserved exit and Ba Pu's testimony. ### [A Letter and Its Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxx-a-letter-and-its-consequences) Revealed to have attempted to raise £60,000 on the security of his and Walter Brooklyn's expectations; cut out of the new will. ### [XXXI: A Button in a Bag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxxi-a-button-in-a-bag) Suspect; his rooms and office are searched; his photograph is shown to staff; his movements are analyzed. ### [Sir John Bunnery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxxii-sir-john-bunnery) Revealed to be bankrupt and to have attempted to raise money under false pretenses; suspected of murder. ### [On the Tiles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxxiii-on-the-tiles) Under financial strain from heavy speculation in oil shares; suspected by police of murder. ### [The Stable-Yard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-stable-yard) Subject of Joan and Ellery's investigation; suspected of entering Liskeard House via the coach-yard on the night of the murder. ### [An Order for Bulbs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxxv-an-order-for-bulbs) Present in his office with Joan and Ellery, under suspicion due to the handwriting on the scrap of paper. ### [An Afternoon Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxxvi-an-afternoon-call) The murderer; admits his crimes, then shoots himself when trapped. ### [A Happy Ending](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxxvii-a-happy-ending) Commits suicide after being confronted with the evidence; his financial difficulties and guilt are revealed. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/carter_woodman - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters