# T. X. Meredith — The Clue of the Twisted Candle character guide > T. X. Meredith in The Clue of the Twisted Candle by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Meredith, Thomas Xavier Meredith, Tommy, Thomas Xavier **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A detective with a comedian's tongue and a criminologist's intuition, T. X. Meredith is the shrewd, restless mind the whole case turns on. ## Who they are Thomas Xavier Meredith—Tommy to his friends, Mr. Meredith to the young woman who refuses to be one—is a police officer whose intuition Signor Paulo Coselli called abnormal. He is friend enough to John Lexman to hear his theories, and investigator enough to reconstruct the locked room in Cadogan Square with a stopwatch, alone, three times over. His easy banter with Belinda Mary Bartholomew and his growing gravity as the case resists him make him the reader's companion through every false trail. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Kara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/mr_kara) _rivalry_ Mr. Kara and T. X. Meredith are locked in a tense adversarial struggle, with Kara as the master criminal and Meredith as the detective determined to stop him. ### [John Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/john_lexman) _friendship_ John Lexman and T. X. Meredith share a close, trusting friendship, with Meredith working to protect Lexman and uncover the truth. ### [Grace Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/grace_lexman) _friendship_ Grace Lexman and T. X. Meredith are allies and friends, with Meredith supporting her through the crisis involving her husband. ### [Sir George Haley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/sir_george_haley) _professional_ Sir George Haley and T. X. Meredith have a professional relationship, likely as superior or colleague in official capacities. ### [Belinda Mary Bartholomew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/belinda_mary_bartholomew) _social_ Belinda Mary Bartholomew and T. X. Meredith are acquaintances, likely through social circles or the investigation. ### [The Greek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/the_greek) _rivalry_ T. X. Meredith and The Greek are adversaries, with The Greek likely being a criminal associate of Mr. Kara. ### [Lady Bartholomew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/lady_bartholomew) _social_ Lady Bartholomew and T. X. Meredith are social acquaintances, likely from the same upper-class circles. ### [Mr. Kara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/mr_kara) _rivalry_ Mr. Kara and T. X. Meredith are locked in a tense adversarial struggle, with Kara as the master criminal and Meredith as the detective determined to stop him. ### [John Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/john_lexman) _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_ Mr. Kara and T. X. Meredith are locked in a tense adversarial struggle, with Kara as the master criminal and Meredith as the detective determined to stop him. ### [Belinda Mary Bartholomew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/belinda_mary_bartholomew) _social_ Belinda Mary Bartholomew and T. X. Meredith are acquaintances, likely through social circles or the investigation. ### [Sir George Haley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/sir_george_haley) _professional_ Sir George Haley and T. X. Meredith have a professional relationship, likely as superior or colleague in official capacities. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/i) Mentioned by Lexman as a friend from Caius and a member of the Criminal Investigation Department. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/ii) Assistant Commissioner of Police, known for his flippant and unconventional methods; berates Mansus, discusses Kara with Sir George, and receives a distress call from John Lexman. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/iii) Investigates the case, interviews Grace, searches the scene, and realizes the evidence against Lexman is heavily stacked. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/iv) Interrogates Kara with sharp questioning and reveals detailed knowledge of Kara's movements. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/v) Continues investigating Lexman's case, searching for the missing revolver and discovering a hidden packet in Vassalaro's second lodgings. ### [The Escape from Dartmoor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/vi) Indirectly referenced as the influence behind Lexman's potential transfer to Parkhurst, a prisoner's paradise. ### [The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/vii) Obtains release order and travels to Dartmoor, only to find Lexman has escaped. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/viii) Reflects on the Lexman case, visits Kara, and uncovers a vitriol weapon. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xi) Receives Lexman's letter, interviews Mrs. Cassley, visits Kara, and prepares for Lexman's surrender. ### [The Return of John Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xiii) T. X. welcomes Lexman back and leads the investigation into Kara's death. ### [The Cellar Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xiv) Leads the investigation, discovers the bloody scissors and the dead dog, and conceals the evidence to protect Belinda Mary. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xv) Reports to the Chief Commissioner, investigates the murder, and lunches with John Lexman to discuss the case. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xvi) Interrogates Belinda Mary, shows her the bloody evidence, secures her promise to meet on demand, and later surprises her at her father's house. ### [The Twisted Candle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xvii) Investigates the murder by recreating conditions in Kara's bedroom; consults John Lexman and interrogates Fred Fisher. ### [T. X. and Belinda Mary's Mysterious Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xviii) Sits at his desk, preoccupied; engages warmly with Belinda Mary, teasing her about her secret; reveals John Lexman's plan to give a lecture before leaving for America. ### [The Clue of the Twisted Candle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xix) Arranges Lexman's lecture location and interrogates Hussein Effendi about the murder weapon. ### [The Gathering of Experts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xx) Introduces Belinda Mary to the assembled crime experts. ### [The Narrative of John Lexman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xxi-the-narrative-of-john-lexman) Present during Lexman's narrative; Lexman addresses him directly. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xxii) Present during Lexman's narrative, listening intently. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xxiii) Explains the flaw in Lexman's story about Gathercole's missing arm and supports the decision to pardon Lexman. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/characters/t_x_meredith - 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