The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes · Character
Ian Murdoch
A mathematics coach at a boys' school, brilliant and unpopular, whose cold precision and foreign manner make him the easiest man in the building to accuse.
supporting
Also known as Murdoch, Mr. Murdoch, Mr. Ian Murdoch
First appearance: The Adventure of the Lion's Mane
As a supporting figure in The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, Ian Murdoch is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Mathematics master at The Gables; initially suspected due to his secret love for Maud Bellamy and his strained relationship with McPherson; later exonerated.
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Murdoch teaches mathematics at a respectable school where his sharp tongue and un-English reserve have earned him few friends among staff or students. When a death occurs on the grounds, his odd habits and his known…
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The fuller portrait of Ian Murdoch sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Ian Murdoch in The Adventure of the Lion's ManeCharacter Web
10 connectionsA slice of how Ian Murdoch sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Professional
- Other
Character groups
- Shoscombe Old Place suspects
- Protagonist
+5 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it reveals the story’s central emotional and psychological peak…
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Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Harold Stackhurst
professional · negative
Harold Stackhurst is a school headmaster and Ian Murdoch is a teacher, with a tense… How this plays out →
- Harold Stackhurst
professional · negative
Harold Stackhurst is a school headmaster and Ian Murdoch is a teacher, with a tense… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
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See Ian Murdoch in The Adventure of the Lion's ManeIn the story
Ian Murdoch appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
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See Ian Murdoch in The Adventure of the Lion's Mane