# Mr. Bendelow — The D’Arblay Mystery character guide

> Mr. Bendelow in The D’Arblay Mystery by R. Austin Freeman.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Simon Bendelow, Mr. Simon Bendelow, Bendelow

**First appearance:** 0003-iv-mr-bendelow

## Snapshot

A dead man whose will, cremation, and disputed identity turn a simple murder case into a puzzle of who was really buried.

## Who they are

Bendelow exists in the story chiefly as a name on a will, a set of witnesses, and a pot of bone-ash, yet his absence drives everything. Thorndyke's refusal to accept the easy identification of the deceased, and his insistence on testing the two spinster witnesses, expose the case's central deception. The question of who Bendelow really was, and whether the man cremated was him at all, becomes the hinge on which the investigation turns.

## Relationships

### [Dr. Thorndyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/dr_thorndyke)

_professional_

Thorndyke and Bendelow interact as legal and financial professionals involved in the D'Arblay estate.

### [Marion D'Arblay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/marion_d_arblay)

_professional_

Marion D'Arblay consults Mr. Bendelow as her family solicitor regarding legal matters.

### [Jonathan Crile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/jonathan_crile)

_professional_

Jonathan Crile and Mr. Bendelow have business dealings, possibly related to the D'Arblay estate.

### [Detective-Superintendent Miller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/detective_superintendent_miller)

_professional_

Miller coordinates with Bendelow as a source of information about the D'Arblay family affairs.

### [Mr. Morris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/mr_morris)

_professional_

Bendelow and Morris interact as legal and business associates in the D'Arblay estate matters.

### [Sarah Elizabeth Morris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/sarah_elizabeth_morris)

_professional_

Bendelow deals with Sarah Elizabeth Morris as a client or witness in legal proceedings.

### [Dr. Thorndyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/dr_thorndyke)

_professional_

Thorndyke and Bendelow interact as legal and financial professionals involved in the D'Arblay estate.

### [Detective-Superintendent Miller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/detective_superintendent_miller)

_professional_

Miller coordinates with Bendelow as a source of information about the D'Arblay family affairs.

### [Sarah Elizabeth Morris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/sarah_elizabeth_morris)

_professional_

Bendelow deals with Sarah Elizabeth Morris as a client or witness in legal proceedings.

### [Marion D'Arblay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/marion_d_arblay)

_professional_

Marion D'Arblay consults Mr. Bendelow as her family solicitor regarding legal matters.

### [Dr. Thorndyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/dr_thorndyke)

_professional_

Thorndyke and Bendelow interact as legal and financial professionals involved in the D'Arblay estate.

### [Marion D'Arblay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/marion_d_arblay)

_professional_

Marion D'Arblay consults Mr. Bendelow as her family solicitor regarding legal matters.

## In the story

### [Mr. Bendelow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/iv-mr-bendelow)

Terminal cancer patient, heavily emaciated and under the influence of morphia; examined by Gray.

### [Simon Bendelow, Deceased](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/viii-simon-bendelow-deceased)

Deceased patient; his body is examined for cremation certification.

### [A Narrow Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-a-narrow-escape)

Gray notes that the photograph resembles Bendelow before his illness and death.

### [Thorndyke Disentangles the Threads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/xix-thorndyke-disentangles-the-threads)

Referred to as the villain; Thorndyke discusses his motives and actions, including the attempted murder of Stephen and Marion.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/mr_bendelow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters