# John Lexman — The Clue of the Twisted Candle character guide > John Lexman in The Clue of the Twisted Candle by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lexman, Mr. Lexman, John, old Lexman **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A celebrated writer of mystery stories whose own life becomes one, Lexman is drawn into a conspiracy he cannot narrate his way out of. ## Who they are Lexman is the popular novelist whose books T. X. Meredith's circle reads, a man of curious, deliberate speech who has traveled through lawless hill villages and witnessed punishments no English drawing room would credit. His friendship with Kara introduced him to Vassalaro, and his planned lecture before sailing to America becomes an occasion charged with dread. Caught between his professional instinct to dissect a crime and the human cost of living inside one, he is both the story's victim and its reluctant interpreter. ## Relationships ### [T. X. Meredith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/t_x_meredith) _friendship_ John Lexman and T. X. Meredith share a close, trusting friendship, with Meredith working to protect Lexman and uncover the truth. ### [Mr. Kara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/mr_kara) _rivalry_ John Lexman is a victim and adversary of Mr. Kara, who manipulates and threatens Lexman's life and family. ### [Grace Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/grace_lexman) _family_ Grace and John Lexman are married, sharing a loving and supportive family bond despite the external threats. ### [Sir George Haley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/sir_george_haley) _friendship_ John Lexman and Sir George Haley are friends or close acquaintances, with Haley likely supporting Lexman during his ordeal. ### [T. X. Meredith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/t_x_meredith) _friendship_ John Lexman and T. X. Meredith share a close, trusting friendship, with Meredith working to protect Lexman and uncover the truth. ### [Mr. Kara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/mr_kara) _rivalry_ John Lexman is a victim and adversary of Mr. Kara, who manipulates and threatens Lexman's life and family. ### [T. X. Meredith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/t_x_meredith) _friendship_ John Lexman and T. X. Meredith share a close, trusting friendship, with Meredith working to protect Lexman and uncover the truth. ### [Mr. Kara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/mr_kara) _rivalry_ John Lexman is a victim and adversary of Mr. Kara, who manipulates and threatens Lexman's life and family. ### [Sir George Haley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/sir_george_haley) _friendship_ John Lexman and Sir George Haley are friends or close acquaintances, with Haley likely supporting Lexman during his ordeal. ### [Grace Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/grace_lexman) _family_ Grace and John Lexman are married, sharing a loving and supportive family bond despite the external threats. ### [Sir George Haley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/sir_george_haley) _friendship_ John Lexman and Sir George Haley are friends or close acquaintances, with Haley likely supporting Lexman during his ordeal. ### [Grace Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/grace_lexman) _family_ Grace and John Lexman are married, sharing a loving and supportive family bond despite the external threats. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/i) Hosts Kara for dinner; discusses his mystery novels and financial troubles with Vassalaro; lies to Grace about his reason for going out. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/ii) Friend of T. X., recently involved in a Romanian gold swindle and appears financially troubled; calls T. X. to report that he has shot and killed a man. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/iii) Gives his account of the shooting, is visibly shaken and remorseful, and is later charged with murder. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned as the recipient of a threatening letter from Vassalaro, which Kara denies knowing about. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/v) Serving a fifteen-year sentence; T. X. remains determined to find evidence for his pardon. ### [The Escape from Dartmoor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/vi) Serving a life sentence for murder at Dartmoor, he is assigned to paint a cottage and is unexpectedly rescued by a warder's plan, escaping via car and monoplane. ### [The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/vii) Escapes from Dartmoor prison via aeroplane before his release order arrives. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned as escaped from Dartmoor and vanished; T. X. believes he is hiding with his wife. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xi) Writes to T. X. announcing his return and intention to surrender; reports his wife's death. ### [The Return of John Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xiii) Lexman returns to London, surrenders to police, and expresses no grief over Kara's potential fate. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xv) Meets T. X. for lunch, expresses vehement hatred for Kara, and reveals that Kara tortured and killed his wife. ### [The Twisted Candle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xvii) Dines with T. X. and provides insights about Gathercole's character and habits. ### [T. X. and Belinda Mary's Mysterious Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xviii) Mentioned as the writer of mystery stories who is going to America and wants to give a lecture before leaving. ### [The Clue of the Twisted Candle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xix) Agrees to lecture at Belinda Mary's house, promising to reveal the killer's identity. ### [The Gathering of Experts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xx) Arrives looking tired but cheerful, lays notes on a table, and begins his presentation. ### [The Narrative of John Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xxi-the-narrative-of-john-lexman) Narrates his entire ordeal, including his imprisonment, torture, and escape. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xxii) Narrates his escape from Salvolio and his murder of Kara. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xxiii) Delivers his full narrative to the police and is ultimately pardoned for Kara's murder. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/john_lexman - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters