# Joan Merrill — The Cheyne Mystery character guide > Joan Merrill in The Cheyne Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Merrill, Miss Joan Merrill, Joan **First appearance:** 0006-vii-miss-joan-merrill ## Snapshot A young woman drawn into the conspirators' orbit, whose disappearance raises the stakes and turns Cheyne's puzzle into something he cannot afford to lose. ## Who they are Joan is taken by Sime and his associates under a ruse—likely told Cheyne has been in an accident and is asking for her—and held drugged and helpless at a house in London. French, walking back to the Yard, quietly reckons her chances are poor, which tells the reader how ruthless the gang has become. Her fate becomes the emotional engine of the middle of the book: Cheyne's hunt stops being about documents and pride and starts being about a person he loves. ## Relationships ### [Maxwell Cheyne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/maxwell_cheyne) _romantic_ Joan and Maxwell share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting a central love story. ### [Inspector French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/inspector_french) _professional_ Inspector French interacts with Joan Merrill as part of his investigation, likely questioning or protecting her. ### [Susan Dangle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/susan_dangle) _friendship_ Joan Merrill and Susan Dangle are friends or close companions, likely supporting each other. ### [Mr. Speedwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/mr_speedwell) _friendship_ Joan Merrill and Mr. Speedwell are friends or allies, likely cooperating in the story's events. ### [Maxwell Cheyne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/maxwell_cheyne) _romantic_ Joan and Maxwell share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting a central love story. ### [Inspector French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/inspector_french) _professional_ Inspector French interacts with Joan Merrill as part of his investigation, likely questioning or protecting her. ### [Mr. Speedwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/mr_speedwell) _friendship_ Joan Merrill and Mr. Speedwell are friends or allies, likely cooperating in the story's events. ### [Maxwell Cheyne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/maxwell_cheyne) _romantic_ Joan and Maxwell share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting a central love story. ### [Susan Dangle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/susan_dangle) _friendship_ Joan Merrill and Susan Dangle are friends or close companions, likely supporting each other. ### [Susan Dangle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/susan_dangle) _friendship_ Joan Merrill and Susan Dangle are friends or close companions, likely supporting each other. ## In the story ### [VII: Miss Joan Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/vii-miss-joan-merrill) Rescues Cheyne from the roadside, takes him to the hospital, and later agrees to join him in his investigation. ### [A Council of War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/viii-a-council-of-war) Reveals her background as an orphaned artist living alone, supports Cheyne's efforts, suggests hiring the private detective, and warns against the dangers of breaking into the house. ### [Mr. Speedwell Plays His Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/ix-mr-speedwell-plays-his-hand) Listens to Cheyne's story, expresses distrust of Speedwell, and agrees to accompany Cheyne to Wembley. ### [X: The New Firm Gets Busy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/x-the-new-firm-gets-busy) Assists Cheyne by acting as lookout and later fails to return to her studio, causing Cheyne to worry. ### [XI: Otto Schulz's Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xi-otto-schulz-s-secret) Joan is reported by Dangle to have twisted her ankle while retrieving the tracing and is now held by the gang at an undisclosed location as leverage. ### [XII: In the Enemy's Lair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xii-in-the-enemy-s-lair) Mentioned as being in the gang's power; Cheyne agrees to cooperate to ensure her safety. ### [XIII: Inspector French Takes Charge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-inspector-french-takes-charge) Missing and feared in danger; her safety is the primary concern of the investigation. ### [XIV: The Clue of the Clay-Marked Shoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-the-clue-of-the-clay-marked-shoe) Her shoes with clay marks are found in her room, confirming she climbed the bank at Wembley. ### [XV: The Torn Hotel Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xv-the-torn-hotel-bill) Seen leaving her flat with two men on the night of her disappearance; presumed kidnapped. ### [A Tale of Two Cities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-a-tale-of-two-cities) Mentioned as having returned to her rooms that night and possibly seen at Waterloo Station with Susan and Sime. ### [XVIII: A Visitor from India](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-a-visitor-from-india) Joan is referenced as having photographed the tracing before her abduction and is reported to be alive and aboard the L'Escaut. ### [XIX: The Message of the Tracing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-message-of-the-tracing) Mentioned as being held captive on Merkel's boat; her rescue is the primary motivation for the expedition. ### [XX: The Goal of the L'Escaut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xx-the-goal-of-the-l-escaut) Recounts her captivity aboard the L'Escaut, including drugging, polite jailers, and Blessington's unwanted attention; fears for Cheyne's safety. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/joan_merrill - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters