The Dead Letter · Character

Leesy Sullivan

A dying woman with a fierce Irish temper and a secret she guards like a lioness, she loves a child not her own and fears a man she will not name.

supporting

Also known as Leesy, Sullivan, this Leesy Sullivan

First appearance: Moreland Villa

As a supporting figure in The Dead Letter, Leesy Sullivan is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Found in a state of despair at the Moreland villa; her aunt describes her as ailing and deeply affected by the murder.

In the storyMoreland VillaOpen this moment free

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Leesy Sullivan is the keeper of Nora and of a history she has confessed to no one but God and Mr. Burton. Her health is failing, her days numbered, and her one care is what will become of the child she has raised. She…

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Character Web

14 connections

A slice of how Leesy Sullivan sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Other

Character groups

Central mystery characters
Protagonist

+9 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because the narrator experiences an intense emotional and psychological pe…

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Relationships

Eleanor Argyll
friendship · positive
Eleanor and Leesy Sullivan are close friends, with many interactions indicating a… How this plays out →
Eleanor Argyll
friendship · positive
Eleanor and Leesy Sullivan are close friends, with many interactions indicating a… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Leesy Sullivan in Moreland Villa

In the story

Leesy Sullivan appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Moreland Villa
Found in a state of despair at the Moreland villa; her aunt describes her as ailing and deeply affected by the murder.
Mr. Burton, the Detective
The sewing-girl under suspicion; absent from work and boardinghouse, has a mysterious visitor with a child.
VIII: The Haunted Grave
Seen fleeing from Henry's grave with a child; remains elusive, having taken the child and disappeared.
The Night in Moreland Villa
Traced to Blankville; believed to be hiding, possibly connected to the haunting.
The Shadow Assumes Shape
Believed by Burton to be hiding in Moreland Villa; described as a woman of intense love and emotional power, possibly connected to Henry Moreland's murder.
I: The Letter
Living quietly in the city, ill with consumption, supported by Mr. Burton; her child is healthy and pretty.
Now for Home Again
Mentioned as the object of Burton's anxiety; he fears she may be dead before they reach New York.
VIII: The Ripe Hour
Dying but agrees to travel to Blankville to testify; loved Henry Moreland and rejected George Thorley.
Joining the Missing Links
Dies peacefully after seeing little Nora; her love for Henry Moreland is revealed.

Chapter companion notes

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See Leesy Sullivan in Moreland Villa