# Dan Winterslip — The House Without a Key character guide

> Dan Winterslip in The House Without a Key by Earl Derr Biggers.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Winterslip, Mr. Daniel Winterslip, Mr. Dan, Cousin Dan

**First appearance:** 0001-the-house-without-a-key

## Snapshot

The wealthy, scandal-tinged patriarch of the Hawaiian Winterslips, whose charm and forbidden appetites made him a legend long before someone stabbed him through the heart.

## Who they are

Dan lived lavishly, made his own laws, and left a trail of whispers that the family would rather bury with him. In his last weeks a cable from Roger shattered his composure, and he paced his lanai like something cornered. His murder forces the Winterslips to confront the indiscretions they spent decades pretending not to see.

## In the story

### [The House Without a Key](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/the-house-without-a-key)

Uncle Dan is the target of threatening letters and is portrayed as a man with a mysterious past.

### [I: Kona Weather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/i-kona-weather)

Greets Miss Minerva at his property, shows off his home, discusses his daughter Barbara, and welcomes the news of John Quincy's visit.

### [Midnight on Russian Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/iii-midnight-on-russian-hill)

Mentioned as the owner of the Russian Hill house; his letter requests a discreet errand from Roger and John Quincy.

### [V: The Blood of the Winterslips](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/v-the-blood-of-the-winterslips)

Revealed through Reverend Upton's story as a former blackbirder who gave up the trade after a missionary's influence.

### [Beyond the Bamboo Curtain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/vi-beyond-the-bamboo-curtain)

Found dead on the lanai, entangled in his torn mosquito netting with a crimson trail on his pajamas.

### [VII: Enter Charlie Chan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/vii-enter-charlie-chan)

Found murdered on his lanai; his past and recent behavior are discussed.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/characters/dan_winterslip
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/characters