# Sir Vernon Brooklyn — The Brooklyn Murders character guide

> Sir Vernon Brooklyn in The Brooklyn Murders by G. D. H. Cole.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Sir Vernon, old Sir Vernon, Vernon Brooklyn, Vernon

**First appearance:** 0000-i-a-family-celebration

## Snapshot

The ailing patriarch whose fortune and failing health turn every relative into a potential suspect long before anyone is actually killed.

## Who they are

Sir Vernon Brooklyn lies unconscious upstairs at Liskeard House while his brother Walter paces below, praying the old man will die before he can alter his will again. Too feeble to have struck the savage blows himself, he nonetheless holds the power that motivates everyone around him—his money, his favor, his impending death. His condition is the clock ticking beneath the whole mystery: any shock could kill him, and the murders have already delivered several.

## Relationships

### [Joan Cowper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/joan_cowper)

_professional_

Joan interviews Sir Vernon as a key witness and potential suspect in the Brooklyn family case.

### [Walter Brooklyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/walter_brooklyn)

_family_

Sir Vernon is Walter's domineering father, and their relationship is marked by resentment and power struggles.

### [Carter Woodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/carter_woodman)

_rivalry_

Carter openly challenges Sir Vernon's authority and suspects him of orchestrating the crimes.

### [John Prinsep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/john_prinsep)

_family_

John is Sir Vernon's illegitimate son, and their relationship is fraught with blackmail and manipulation.

### [Carter Woodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/carter_woodman)

_rivalry_

Carter openly challenges Sir Vernon's authority and suspects him of orchestrating the crimes.

### [Walter Brooklyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/walter_brooklyn)

_family_

Sir Vernon is Walter's domineering father, and their relationship is marked by resentment and power struggles.

### [Joan Cowper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/joan_cowper)

_professional_

Joan interviews Sir Vernon as a key witness and potential suspect in the Brooklyn family case.

### [Joan Cowper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/joan_cowper)

_professional_

Joan interviews Sir Vernon as a key witness and potential suspect in the Brooklyn family case.

### [Carter Woodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/carter_woodman)

_rivalry_

Carter openly challenges Sir Vernon's authority and suspects him of orchestrating the crimes.

### [John Prinsep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/john_prinsep)

_family_

John is Sir Vernon's illegitimate son, and their relationship is fraught with blackmail and manipulation.

## In the story

### [I: A Family Celebration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/i-a-family-celebration)

Patriarch celebrating his birthday; determined to see Joan marry John Prinsep and plans to announce his will.

### [II: Sir Vernon’s Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/ii-sir-vernon-s-will)

Hosts the birthday dinner and reads his will, expressing irritation when Joan refuses to marry John Prinsep.

### [IV: What Joan Found in the Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/iv-what-joan-found-in-the-garden)

Informed by Joan of Prinsep's death; remains in bed.

### [The Spaniard Does His Bit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxii-the-spaniard-does-his-bit)

Informed about George's death; his condition worsens and he demands to see the police.

### [XXV: Raising the Wind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxv-raising-the-wind)

Mentioned as being very ill; his will is a key point of discussion regarding inheritance.

### [Two Men Strike a Bargain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxvi-two-men-strike-a-bargain)

Lies critically ill at Liskeard House; his condition is reported as grave but not hopeless, and any shock would be fatal.

### [Robert Ellery’s Idea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxvii-robert-ellery-s-idea)

Lying at death's door; Joan speculates he may change his will to favor Woodman.

### [A Letter and Its Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxx-a-letter-and-its-consequences)

Ill but angered by the letter; dictates a new will leaving his fortune to Joan and cutting out Carter Woodman.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters/sir_vernon_brooklyn
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/characters