# Doctor Lindquist — The Canary Murder Case character guide

> Doctor Lindquist in The Canary Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lindquist, Doctor Ambroise Lindquist, Ambroise

**First appearance:** 0006-iii-the-murder

## Snapshot

A testy physician with a sanitarium, an alibi about a comatose patient, and a temper that flares the moment anyone asks where he was Monday night.

## Who they are

Doctor Lindquist bristles at Markham's questions like a man with something to hide, then retreats behind a letter offering a convenient alibi: he was attending a patient too ill to be questioned. His contempt for the investigation and his theatrical outrage mark him as either a pompous innocent or a calculating liar, and Vance deliberately spooks him about the night nurse to see which way he'll jump. His evasions keep the case's human unknowns — the motives, the secret errands, the sub-rosa peccadilloes — squarely in play.

## Relationships

### [John F.-X. Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/characters/john_f_x_markham)

_professional_

Dr. Lindquist, the medical examiner, provides forensic evidence and expert testimony to Markham during the case.

### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance)

_professional_

Lindquist respects Vance's intellect and cooperates with him, though he finds Vance's methods unorthodox.

### [John F.-X. Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/characters/john_f_x_markham)

_professional_

Dr. Lindquist, the medical examiner, provides forensic evidence and expert testimony to Markham during the case.

### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance)

_professional_

Lindquist respects Vance's intellect and cooperates with him, though he finds Vance's methods unorthodox.

### [John F.-X. Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/characters/john_f_x_markham)

_professional_

Dr. Lindquist, the medical examiner, provides forensic evidence and expert testimony to Markham during the case.

### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance)

_professional_

Lindquist respects Vance's intellect and cooperates with him, though he finds Vance's methods unorthodox.

## In the story

### [X: A Forced Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters/x-a-forced-interview)

Mentioned by Cleaver as a doctor who visited Odell frequently and may have useful information; not present in the chapter.

### [XI: Seeking Information](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters/xi-seeking-information)

Initially evasive and paternalistic, but becomes violently angry when asked for his alibi, revealing hidden fear and instability.

### [XII: Circumstantial Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters/xii-circumstantial-evidence)

Markham orders a background check on him due to his treatment of Odell and suspected hidden knowledge.

### [An Erstwhile Gallant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters/xiii-an-erstwhile-gallant)

Sends a letter providing an alibi for the night of the murder.

### [Four Possibilities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters/xv-four-possibilities)

One of the four suspects; a physician with a shady past and an alibi that may be genuine.

### [The Doctor Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters/xix-the-doctor-explains)

Questioned about his threat to Margaret Odell and his alibi; provides Mrs. Anna Breedon as witness but avoids mentioning the night nurse.

### [XXI: A Contradiction in Dates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters/xxi-a-contradiction-in-dates)

Mentioned by Cleaver as having been seen near Odell's apartment on the night of the murder.

### [XXII: A Telephone Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/chapters/xxii-a-telephone-call)

Arrives to confess he lied about his alibi; admits he was outside Odell's apartment on the night of the murder.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/characters/doctor_lindquist
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_canary_murder_case_se/characters