# Derek Burtell — The Footsteps at the Lock character guide > Derek Burtell in The Footsteps at the Lock by Ronald A. Knox. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Derek, Mr. Burtell, Mr. Derek Burtell, the elder Burtell, old man Burtell **First appearance:** 0002-i-two-cousins ## Who they are The elder Burtell cousin, whose vanishing at Shipcote Lock turns a quiet river holiday into a case of suspected murder and a fifty-thousand-pound inheritance. ## Relationships ### [Nigel Burtell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/nigel_burtell) _family_ Derek and Nigel are brothers, likely with a complex dynamic involving rivalry and loyalty. ### [Miles Bredon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/miles_bredon) _professional_ Derek Burtell and Miles Bredon interact frequently, likely as part of a shared investigation or business matter. ### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/mr_leyland) _professional_ Derek Burtell and Mr. Leyland have a professional relationship, possibly involving legal or financial matters. ### [Aunt Alma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/aunt_alma) _family_ Aunt Alma is Derek's aunt, likely a maternal or paternal relative with a caring or meddling role. ### [Mr. Erasmus Quirk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/mr_erasmus_quirk) _rivalry_ Derek Burtell and Erasmus Quirk are likely opponents, with Quirk possibly threatening Derek's interests. ### [Charles Burtell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/charles_burtell) _family_ Charles and Derek Burtell are likely brothers or close relatives, with a possibly strained relationship. ### [Dr. Simmonds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/dr_simmonds) _professional_ Derek Burtell and Dr. Simmonds have a professional relationship, likely as doctor and patient or medical consultant. ### [Miles Bredon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/miles_bredon) _professional_ Derek Burtell and Miles Bredon interact frequently, likely as part of a shared investigation or business matter. ### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/mr_leyland) _professional_ Derek Burtell and Mr. Leyland have a professional relationship, possibly involving legal or financial matters. ### [Nigel Burtell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/nigel_burtell) _family_ Derek and Nigel are brothers, likely with a complex dynamic involving rivalry and loyalty. ### [Mr. Erasmus Quirk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/mr_erasmus_quirk) _rivalry_ Derek Burtell and Erasmus Quirk are likely opponents, with Quirk possibly threatening Derek's interests. ### [Nigel Burtell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/nigel_burtell) _family_ Derek and Nigel are brothers, likely with a complex dynamic involving rivalry and loyalty. ## In the story ### [I: Two Cousins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/i-two-cousins) The elder cousin, dissolute and unimaginative, awaiting his inheritance and struggling with debt and health. ### [II: Shipcote Lock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/ii-shipcote-lock) Lying in the canoe, indifferent to the scenery, wearing a Homburg hat. ### [III: The Canoe Adrift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/iii-the-canoe-adrift) The missing canoeist; his hat and damaged canoe are found, but he is not located. ### [IV: The Indescribable Has Its Doubts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/iv-the-indescribable-has-its-doubts) The missing insured person, whose canoe was found empty with a hole in the bottom. ### [VI: The Archimedes Touch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/vi-the-archimedes-touch) The missing cousin; Bredon is focused on what he has been up to. ### [VII: The Camera Cannot Lie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/vii-the-camera-cannot-lie) The subject of the final photograph, appearing dead or drugged in the canoe. ### [IX: Nigel Goes Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/ix-nigel-goes-down) The missing cousin; his disappearance is the central mystery. ### [X: Discordant Notes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/x-discordant-notes) His portrait is widely circulated in newspapers; false sightings occur at Aberdeen, Enniskillen, and Bucharest. ### [Mr. Erasmus Quirk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xi-mr-erasmus-quirk) The missing man whose wallets and notes are found; Quirk questions whether he actually slept at Millington Bridge. ### [XII: The Secret of the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xii-the-secret-of-the-island) Victim; presumed dead, body hidden on Shipcote Island. ### [XIII: Pursued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xiii-pursued) Discussed as the elder cousin who may have fled from enemies or been kidnapped. ### [XIV: The Man in the Punt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xiv-the-man-in-the-punt) The victim; his body was moved and disposed of by the accomplice. ### [XV: A New Legacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xv-a-new-legacy) The primary heir under the new will; his fate remains unknown. ### [XIX: The Story Nigel Told](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xix-the-story-nigel-told) The instigator of the disappearance plan, described as a drug user and clever schemer. ### [XXII: Another Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xxii-another-story) Mentioned as the elder nephew and heir, presumed dead. ### [XXIV: Backed Both Ways](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xxiv-backed-both-ways) Revealed as the mastermind behind the deception, using drugs to craft an elaborate plan. ### [XXV: A Postscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xxv-a-postscript) Found in a Belgian hospital, dying from drug use; marries a French girl and asks Nigel to retrieve his hidden drugs. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/derek_burtell - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters