# Rachel Innes — The Circular Staircase character guide > Rachel Innes in The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Unknown, Aunt Rachel, Aunt Ray, O Aunt Ray, Poor Aunt Ray, Ray, Rachel **First appearance:** 0000-i-i-take-a-country-house ## Snapshot A sharp-tongued spinster who rents a country house for a quiet summer and gets ghosts, gunshots, and a corpse instead. ## Who they are Rachel Innes narrates with the dry wit of a woman who has learned to take cooks on faith and detectives with a grain of salt. She is fiercely protective of her nephew Halsey and niece Gertrude, yet her curiosity keeps pulling her past the yawning blackness of the circular staircase when prudence says stay put. Her running battle of wits with Mr. Jamieson—she hoards clues, he probes—makes her the reader's skeptical, indispensable guide through Sunnyside's deepening mystery. ## In the story ### [I: I Take a Country House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/i-i-take-a-country-house) The narrator and protagonist, a middle-aged spinster who rents Sunnyside and becomes involved in mysterious events. ### [II: A Link Cuff-Button](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/ii-a-link-cuff-button) Narrator and protagonist; she investigates the strange occurrences and finds the cufflink. ### [III: Mr. John Bailey Appears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/iii-mr-john-bailey-appears) Hosts dinner, knits slippers, investigates the cufflink, and discovers the body. ### [Where Is Halsey?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/iv-where-is-halsey) Narrator; discovers the revolver and the missing cufflink; questions Halsey's whereabouts. ### [V: Gertrude's Engagement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/v-gertrude-s-engagement) Provides a carefully worded statement to the coroner, omitting details about Halsey and Jack. Later questions Gertrude's story and reflects on the mysteries. ### [VI: In the East Corridor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/vi-in-the-east-corridor) Rachel interviews Mr. Harton, views the body, and later confronts Mr. Jamieson about the clues. She accompanies him to the east corridor and discovers the clothes chute. ### [VII: A Sprained Ankle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/vii-a-sprained-ankle) Investigates the locked laundry room and discovers a mysterious bag at the lodge. ### [VIII: The Other Half of the Line](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/viii-the-other-half-of-the-line) Questioned by Jamieson about the figure on the veranda and the missing cufflink; confronts Rosie about the stolen dishes. ### [IX: Just Like a Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/ix-just-like-a-girl) Confronts Halsey about his involvement, reveals finding the revolver, and struggles to uncover the truth. ### [X: The Traders’ Bank](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/x-the-traders-bank) Rachel is skeptical of Jack Bailey's innocence and insists on proof before believing him. ### [XI: Halsey Makes a Capture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xi-halsey-makes-a-capture) Strolls with Halsey and Gertrude, discusses the murder and bank failure with Jamieson, then reenacts the crime scene with Halsey and witnesses the intruder's escape. ### [XII: One Mystery for Another](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xii-one-mystery-for-another) Confronts Mrs. Watson, investigates the lodge, and discovers Louise Armstrong hiding there. ### [XIII: Louise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xiii-louise) Receives Mrs. Fitzhugh's call about Louise, decides to protect Louise's secret, and later speaks with Louise about her refusal to marry Halsey. ### [An Eggnog and a Telegram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xiv-an-eggnog-and-a-telegram) Narrator and protagonist; manages the household, cares for Louise, and investigates the engagement rumor. ### [XV: Liddy Gives the Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xv-liddy-gives-the-alarm) Rachel comforts Halsey, investigates the nighttime noises, and discovers Louise is missing. ### [XVI: In the Early Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xvi-in-the-early-morning) Discovers Louise missing, helps revive her, decides to move Alex into the east wing, and attends the inquest. ### [XVII: A Hint of Scandal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xvii-a-hint-of-scandal) Attends the inquest, refuses to give up Sunnyside, and informs Louise Armstrong of her stepbrother's death. ### [XVIII: A Hole in the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xviii-a-hole-in-the-wall) Rachel brings Mr. Jamieson to Sunnyside, investigates the hole in the trunk-room wall, and is distracted by a phone call from Anna Whitcomb. ### [XIX: Concerning Thomas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xix-concerning-thomas) Discusses the inquest with Mr. Jamieson, receives Louise's warning, and leads the search for Thomas. ### [XX: Doctor Walker’s Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xx-doctor-walker-s-warning) Rachel stands firm against Doctor Walker's warning, insisting she will remain at Sunnyside to clear the mystery. ### [Fourteen Elm Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxi-fourteen-elm-street) Reflects on the investigation, interviews the minister, and later accompanies Jamieson to Mrs. Tate's to investigate Lucien Wallace. ### [XXII: A Ladder Out of Place](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxii-a-ladder-out-of-place) Narrates the chapter, observes Gertrude's movements, interrogates Mary Anne about the ladder, and grows increasingly nervous. ### [XXIII: While the Stables Burned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxiii-while-the-stables-burned) Rachel takes charge during the fire, investigates the east entry, and fires a revolver at an intruder, showing her courage and resourcefulness. ### [XXIV: Flinders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxiv-flinders) Investigates the fire and shooting, questions Doctor Walker and Doctor Stewart, and worries about Gertrude's health. ### [XXV: A Visit from Louise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxv-a-visit-from-louise) Rachel tries to calm the household after Eliza's fright and later receives Louise's urgent visit, attempting to maintain composure. ### [XXVI: Halsey's Disappearance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxvi-halsey-s-disappearance) Frantically searches for Halsey, visits Louise Armstrong, and learns of Warner's overheard conversation. ### [XXVII: Who Is Nina Carrington?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxvii-who-is-nina-carrington) Endures four days of suspense, confronts Doctor Walker, deduces Nina Carrington's identity, and visits Mrs. Tate. ### [XXVIII: A Tramp and the Toothache](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxviii-a-tramp-and-the-toothache) Narrates her conflicting suspicions about Jack Bailey, Gertrude, and others; receives news about Halsey's watch and the tramp's story; feels weak and dizzy. ### [XXIX: A Scrap of Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxix-a-scrap-of-paper) Keeps to her bed, tormented by Gertrude's nighttime absence and the familiar voice of the stranger she encountered. She later meets with Mr. Jamieson and Riggs, piecing together clues. ### [XXX: When Churchyards Yawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxx-when-churchyards-yawn) Participates in the nighttime exhumation, showing courage and curiosity despite her fear. ### [XXXI: Between Two Fireplaces](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxxi-between-two-fireplaces) Rachel investigates the trunk-room and discovers a hidden space between the walls, theorizing about the conspiracy and the secret chamber. ### [XXXII: Anne Watson’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxxii-anne-watson-s-story) Visits Mrs. Watson at the Charity Hospital and hears her deathbed confession. ### [At the Foot of the Stairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxxiii-at-the-foot-of-the-stairs) Investigates the trunk-room, discovers the secret mantel door, becomes trapped in the hidden room, and confronts an intruder. ### [The Odds and Ends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-odds-and-ends) Narrates the final revelations, reflects on the summer's events, and plans to rent a new house. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/narrator - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters