# Lady Riversreade — The Charing Cross Mystery character guide

> Lady Riversreade in The Charing Cross Mystery by J. S. Fletcher.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Riversreade

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-last-train-east

## Snapshot

A handsome, capable aristocrat whose cool composure and unexplained visitors make her the most watchable figure in the case.

## Who they are

Lady Riversreade runs a charitable Home with the efficiency of someone used to command, yet her private dealings remain opaque even to those closest to her. She receives Dr. Baseverie twice in secret, shows no visible distress afterward, and tells her staff nothing about why. Major Penteney hovers at her side with an interest that may be romantic or protective, and the contrast between her public poise and her private meetings gives the mystery its most unsettling thread.

## Relationships

### [Rhona Hannaford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/characters/rhona_hannaford)

_family_

Lady Riversreade and Rhona Hannaford are likely mother and daughter, with frequent interactions suggesting close familial ties.

### [Rhona Hannaford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/characters/rhona_hannaford)

_family_

Lady Riversreade and Rhona Hannaford are likely mother and daughter, with frequent interactions suggesting close familial ties.

## In the story

### [Black Velvet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/vii-black-velvet)

Identified as the woman in the photograph; wealthy widow of Sir John Riversreade; wears a black velvet band on her right wrist, linking her to Mrs. Whittingham.

### [IX: The Medicine Bottle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/ix-the-medicine-bottle)

Subject of investigation; hires Rhona as secretary for her Home.

### [X: The Mysterious Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/x-the-mysterious-visitor)

Becomes unusually taciturn and upset after meeting with Baseverie; later goes to town without explanation.

### [XI: Lady Riversreade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/xi-lady-riversreade)

Emerges from St. Mary's Mansions at dawn after being followed from Vivian's Night Club.

### [Alias Madame Listorelle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/xii-alias-madame-listorelle)

Lady Riversreade is seen leaving the flats early in the morning and is later identified as the tenant of flat twenty-six under the name Madame Listorelle.

### [XIII: Who Was She?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-who-was-she)

The woman Matherfield pursued; she is suspected of being the former Mrs. Whittingham and of planning to flee to New York, but she disappears before boarding the ship.

### [XV: Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/xv-revelations)

Cleared of being Mrs. Whittingham; her solicitors issued the reward advertisement.

### [XVI: Still More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-still-more)

Twin sister of Madame Listorelle; was approached by Baseverie and told to pay £30,000 to silence the blackmailers about the Sellithwaite affair.

### [XIX: The London Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-london-road)

Reports the kidnapping of her sister and secretary; recognizes Hetherwick from Victoria Station.

### [XX: Converging Tracks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/xx-converging-tracks)

Mentioned as the sister of Madame Listorelle; her secretary was kidnapped.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/characters/lady_riversreade
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/characters