# Miss Minerva Winterslip — The House Without a Key character guide > Miss Minerva Winterslip in The House Without a Key by Earl Derr Biggers. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Minerva, Miss Minerva, Aunt Minerva **First appearance:** 0001-the-house-without-a-key ## Snapshot A sharp-tongued Beacon Street spinster who came to Hawaii for six weeks and stayed ten months, discovering a gypsy streak she never suspected. ## Who they are Minerva presides over the household with Boston propriety and an unexpectedly tender eye for island beauty, torn between packing her trunks and watching one more sunset. When Dan is killed she refuses Amos's moralizing and takes charge, insisting the family investigate before the police drag its secrets into daylight. Her brisk competence and willingness to face the Widow of Waikiki herself make her far more than a maiden aunt. ## Relationships ### [John Quincy Winterslip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/characters/john_quincy_winterslip) _family_ Miss Minerva is John Quincy's aunt, a stern but caring matriarch who advises him. ### [Amos Winterslip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/characters/amos_winterslip) _family_ Amos and Miss Minerva are siblings, with a relationship marked by conflict and concern. ### [John Quincy Winterslip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/characters/john_quincy_winterslip) _family_ Miss Minerva is John Quincy's aunt, a stern but caring matriarch who advises him. ### [John Quincy Winterslip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/characters/john_quincy_winterslip) _family_ Miss Minerva is John Quincy's aunt, a stern but caring matriarch who advises him. ### [Amos Winterslip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/characters/amos_winterslip) _family_ Amos and Miss Minerva are siblings, with a relationship marked by conflict and concern. ### [Amos Winterslip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/characters/amos_winterslip) _family_ Amos and Miss Minerva are siblings, with a relationship marked by conflict and concern. ## 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) Aunt Minerva greets John Quincy and expresses concern over the threatening letters. ### [I: Kona Weather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/i-kona-weather) Walking on Waikiki Beach, reflecting on the beauty of the tropics and her prolonged stay in Hawaii; visits Dan Winterslip's home and learns of John Quincy's impending arrival. ### [Midnight on Russian Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/iii-midnight-on-russian-hill) Mentioned by Captain Cope as a charming young woman he knew in Honolulu; currently staying with Dan in Honolulu. ### [IV: A Friend of Tim's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/iv-a-friend-of-tim-s) Mentioned by Madame Maynard as an acquaintance. ### [Beyond the Bamboo Curtain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/vi-beyond-the-bamboo-curtain) Attends a luau, returns late, discovers an intruder in the dark living room, and later finds Dan Winterslip murdered. ### [VII: Enter Charlie Chan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/vii-enter-charlie-chan) Discovers Dan's body, calls Amos, and gives a detailed account of the evening to Captain Hallet. ### [VIII: Steamer Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/viii-steamer-day) Meets John Quincy at the dock, later insists he accompany the police, and is praised by Captain Hallet for her sharp mind. ### [X: A Newspaper Ripped in Anger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/x-a-newspaper-ripped-in-anger) Paces with battle light in her eyes after reporter interviews, discusses Egan, discovers the torn newspaper corner, and sends John Quincy to give it to Charlie Chan. ### [XI: The Tree of Jewels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xi-the-tree-of-jewels) Hosts a family conference with Amos, reveals she withheld the brooch from police, and later confesses to Charlie Chan. ### [XIII: The Luggage in Room Nineteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xiii-the-luggage-in-room-nineteen) Discusses the murder with John Quincy, reveals she wrote to Boston newspapers to suppress homicide details, and expresses curiosity about the police station events. ### [XIV: What Kaohla Carried](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xiv-what-kaohla-carried) Impatient with the investigation, criticizes Hallet's efforts, and dismisses John Quincy's interest in San Francisco as a passing fancy. ### [The Return of Captain Cope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xvi-the-return-of-captain-cope) Debates Dan's morality with John Quincy, plans to tell Amos and Barbara about Brade. ### [Night Life in Honolulu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xvii-night-life-in-honolulu) Present at dinner; disapproves of Barbara getting John Quincy invitations to fleet parties. ### [The Story of Lau Ho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xx-the-story-of-lau-ho) Shows John Quincy the newspaper; urges him to go home; sarcastic about Captain Hallet; smiles approvingly at John Quincy's defiance. ### [The Stone Walls Crumble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xxi-the-stone-walls-crumble) Retires early with a book, leaving John Quincy to puzzle alone on Tuesday evening. ### [The Light Streams Through](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xxii-the-light-streams-through) Provides crucial testimony identifying the wristwatch with the damaged numeral two from the night of the murder. ### [XXIII: Moonlight at the Crossroads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xxiii-moonlight-at-the-crossroads) Rides with John Quincy, discusses Barbara's broken engagement, and learns of John Quincy's love for Carlota Egan. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/characters/miss_minerva_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