# Chester Greene — The Greene Murder Case character guide > Chester Greene in The Greene Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Greene, Chester, Mr. Chester Greene, Mr. Greene **First appearance:** 0004-i-a-double-tragedy ## Snapshot The eldest Greene son, a pampered idler whose nervous evasions and vague dread of the family mansion mask something he cannot bring himself to name. ## Who they are Chester arrives at Markham's office pleading for a personal investigation, insisting the burglar story is wrong but unable to say why, his hands shaking as he lights one Russian cigarette after another. He is soft, overemphatic in dress, and visibly unheartbroken by the tragedy, a man whose fear seems to run deeper than grief. His refusal to accept the official theory plants the first seed of doubt that the Greene deaths are not random, and his evasions make him both a suspect and a warning. ## Relationships ### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance) _rivalry_ Chester is hostile and antagonistic toward Vance, viewing him as an intrusive outsider in the Greene family affairs. ### [Doctor Von Blon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/doctor_von_blon) _social_ Chester and Von Blon are acquaintances through the Greene household, with Chester often dismissive of the doctor. ### [Sibella Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/sibella_greene) _family_ Chester and Sibella are siblings, but their relationship is competitive and fraught with mutual distrust. ### [Ada Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/ada_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) _rivalry_ Chester is hostile and antagonistic toward Vance, viewing him as an intrusive outsider in the Greene family affairs. ### [Sibella Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/sibella_greene) _family_ Chester and Sibella are siblings, but their relationship is competitive and fraught with mutual distrust. ### [Doctor Von Blon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/doctor_von_blon) _social_ Chester and Von Blon are acquaintances through the Greene household, with Chester often dismissive of the doctor. ### [Ada Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/ada_greene) _family_ Ada and Chester are siblings, but Chester bullies and dominates Ada, creating a hostile dynamic. ### [Sibella Greene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/sibella_greene) _family_ Chester and Sibella are siblings, but their relationship is competitive and fraught with mutual distrust. ### [Doctor Von Blon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/doctor_von_blon) _social_ Chester and Von Blon are acquaintances through the Greene household, with Chester often dismissive of the doctor. ### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance) _rivalry_ Chester is hostile and antagonistic toward Vance, viewing him as an intrusive outsider in the Greene family affairs. ## In the story ### [The Greene Murder Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/the-greene-murder-case) Seeks help from Markham regarding the family situation. ### [I: A Double Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/i-a-double-tragedy) Elder son of the Greene family; scheduled to meet with Markham to discuss the shooting at the mansion. ### [The Investigation Opens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/ii-the-investigation-opens) Visits Markham to request a personal investigation, displaying nervousness and a vague fear that contradicts the burglar theory. He is described as pampered and evasive, and he reports a missing revolver from his desk. ### [At the Greene Mansion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/iii-at-the-greene-mansion) Greets the party, provides information about the servants and house layout, and reluctantly participates in the reenactment. ### [IV: The Missing Revolver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/iv-the-missing-revolver) Apologizes for his mother's behavior, retrieves the servants, and reports his revolver missing, though he dismisses its importance. ### [V: Homicidal Possibilities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/v-homicidal-possibilities) Chester is present during the interview, growing angry when Sibella admits to searching his desk. He confirms the revolver is missing and admits he searched Sibella's room for it. ### [VI: An Accusation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/vi-an-accusation) Present during the interview; confirms his revolver is a .32 Smith & Wesson and is told to escort Sibella out. ### [Vance Argues the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/vii-vance-argues-the-case) Mentioned in Vance's analysis as having suspiciously sought Markham's help and possibly secreted the missing revolver. ### [VIII: The Second Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/viii-the-second-tragedy) Chester is found dead in his bedroom, shot through the heart at close range around 11:30 p.m. He is the second victim in the Greene mansion. ### [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 second murder. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/endnotes) Referenced indirectly in the context of the Greene family events. ### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations) His bedroom is illustrated in the floor plans. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/chester_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