# Mrs. Tobias Greene — The Greene Murder Case character guide

> Mrs. Tobias Greene in The Greene Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mrs. Greene, old Tobias Greene, Tobias Greene

**First appearance:** 0004-i-a-double-tragedy

## Who they are

The bedridden matriarch whose fortune built the Greene mansion and whose grip on the household persists long after illness has confined her to its upper rooms.

## In the story

### [Characters of the Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/characters-of-the-book)

Mistress of the Greene mansion.

### [At the Greene Mansion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/iii-at-the-greene-mansion)

Complains from her bed about her paralysis and the police presence, displaying a manipulative and self-pitying demeanor.

### [IX: The Three Bullets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/ix-the-three-bullets)

Shows callousness and self-pity regarding her son's murder, complaining about the disturbance.

### [A Painful Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xi-a-painful-interview)

Displays cruel satisfaction at her children's murders, showing unrelenting hatred and self-pity.

### [A Motor Ride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xii-a-motor-ride)

Confined to the house by paralysis; reads all newspaper accounts of the murders. Vance pays his respects and asks about her spinal pains.

### [XV: The Murderer in the House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xv-the-murderer-in-the-house)

The invalid mother; hostile and uncooperative, claims she can give no information despite being awake.

### [XVIII: In the Locked Library](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-locked-library)

Fiercely opposes entry into the library, but capitulates after Markham's bluff; reveals the key's location.

### [XIX: Sherry and Paralysis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xix-sherry-and-paralysis)

Allegedly seen walking by Ada, contradicting her paralysis; the subject of the medical discussion.

### [XXVI: The Astounding Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/chapters/xxvi-the-astounding-truth)

The final victim; Ada poisoned her with strychnine, and her death was made to appear as a suicide.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_greene_murder_case_se/characters/mrs_tobias_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