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The House Without a Key · Character

Arlene Compton

A glamorous woman staying at the Reef and Palm hotel.

minor

Also known as Mrs. Compton, Mrs. Arlene Compton

First appearance: ix at the reef and palm

Arlene Compton shows up with force in XII: Tom Brade the Blackbirder. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Interrogated by Hallet; admits she lied earlier and recounts the events of the night of the murder.
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In XII: Tom Brade the Blackbirder: Interrogated by Hallet; admits she lied earlier and recounts the events of the night of the…

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See Arlene Compton in ix at the reef and palm

Character Web

12 connections

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

JQJohn Quincy Wi…SLSteve LeatherbeeBWBarbara Winter…AWAmos WinterslipMMMiss Minerva W…ACArlene Compton

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Primary suspects and investigators
  • Protagonist

+7 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

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

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because John Quincy’s smug pride in his "detective work" and the threateni…

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In the story

Arlene Compton appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Arlene Compton unlock in the free preview.

See Arlene Compton in ix at the reef and palm
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