# Ada Greene — The Greene Murder Case character guide > Ada Greene in The Greene Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Ada, Miss Ada, little Ada **First appearance:** 0004-i-a-double-tragedy ## Snapshot The youngest Greene daughter, timid and isolated within her own family, whose quiet presence becomes the emotional fault line of the murder investigation. ## Who they are Ada is the overlooked youngest child in a household of wealth, resentment, and barely concealed hostility. Her siblings treat her with suspicion and contempt, and Sibella openly accuses her of wanting the family fortune for herself. When violence strikes the mansion, Ada's vulnerability and the family's readiness to blame her expose the poisonous dynamics that make the Greenes as dangerous to each other as any intruder. ## Relationships ### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance) _friendship_ Ada trusts and confides in Vance, seeing him as a protector and ally amid the family turmoil. ### [Sibella Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/sibella_greene) _family_ Ada and Sibella are sisters, but their relationship is strained by jealousy and suspicion. ### [Doctor Von Blon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/doctor_von_blon) _friendship_ Ada has a cordial, trusting relationship with Von Blon, who cares for her health and well-being. ### [Rex Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/rex_greene) _family_ Ada is protective of her younger brother Rex, who is frail and often victimized by the family's dysfunction. ### [Ernest Heath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/ernest_heath) _friendship_ Ada cooperates with Heath and appreciates his straightforward, protective demeanor during the investigation. ### [Chester Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/chester_greene) _family_ Ada and Chester are siblings, but Chester bullies and dominates Ada, creating a hostile dynamic. ### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance) _friendship_ Ada trusts and confides in Vance, seeing him as a protector and ally amid the family turmoil. ### [Ernest Heath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/ernest_heath) _friendship_ Ada cooperates with Heath and appreciates his straightforward, protective demeanor during the investigation. ### [Doctor Von Blon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/doctor_von_blon) _friendship_ Ada has a cordial, trusting relationship with Von Blon, who cares for her health and well-being. ### [Sibella Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/sibella_greene) _family_ Ada and Sibella are sisters, but their relationship is strained by jealousy and suspicion. ### [Sibella Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/sibella_greene) _family_ Ada and Sibella are sisters, but their relationship is strained by jealousy and suspicion. ### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance) _friendship_ Ada trusts and confides in Vance, seeing him as a protector and ally amid the family turmoil. ## In the story ### [The Greene Murder Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/the-greene-murder-case) A central figure in the family dynamics. ### [I: A Double Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/i-a-double-tragedy) Youngest adopted daughter; shot and wounded, with a chance of recovery. ### [The Investigation Opens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/ii-the-investigation-opens) One of the victims; she was shot from behind and is unconscious but expected to be questioned later. ### [VI: An Accusation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/vi-an-accusation) The wounded victim, interviewed in her bed; recounts the attack with fear and hesitation. ### [A Motor Ride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xii-a-motor-ride) Still recovering from poisoning, with her arm in a sling. She appears farouche when approached by Vance. ### [XIII: The Third Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xiii-the-third-tragedy) Visits Markham's office to reveal that Rex heard the shot and something else that terrified him, and asks Markham to question Rex away from the house. ### [XIV: Footprints on the Carpet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xiv-footprints-on-the-carpet) Reluctantly returns to the mansion, feeling responsible for Rex's death; is sent to her room to rest. ### [Two Wills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xvii-two-wills) Mentioned as a possible legatee under the will; her fingerprints were found in Rex's room; the will allows her to marry and live elsewhere without losing inheritance since she is not Tobias's biological child. ### [XIX: Sherry and Paralysis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xix-sherry-and-paralysis) Reveals she saw her mother walking near the library door late at night, holding a key, despite her paralysis. ### [XX: The Fourth Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xx-the-fourth-tragedy) Ada is poisoned with morphine in her bouillon but survives thanks to Doctor Drumm's prompt treatment. She is expected to be questioned the next day. ### [XXI: A Depleted Household](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxi-a-depleted-household) Recovered from poisoning; recounts drinking bouillon and feeling ill; expresses fear after learning of her mother's death. ### [XXII: The Shadowy Figure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxii-the-shadowy-figure) The key witness who saw a figure in the hall wearing her mother's shawl; Vance believes her identification was influenced by fear. ### [XXIII: The Missing Fact](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxiii-the-missing-fact) Mentioned in the summary of past crimes as a victim of the first double shooting. ### [A Mysterious Trip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxiv-a-mysterious-trip) Referenced in Sproot's recollection of the night she was shot; the window in her room was open. ### [XXV: The Capture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxv-the-capture) Revealed as the murderer; attempts to shoot Vance but is disarmed and handcuffed. ### [XXVI: The Astounding Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxvi-the-astounding-truth) Revealed as the murderer; driven by hatred, jealousy, and a desire for freedom, she used knowledge from Gross's manual to commit the crimes. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/endnotes) Noted as having taken cyanide tablets from Doctor Von Blon's darkroom and as being cared for by Mrs. Mannheim after Mannheim's promise from Tobias. ### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations) Her bedroom is illustrated in the floor plans. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/ada_greene - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters