# John Martin — The Jade God character guide > John Martin in The Jade God by Alan Sullivan. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Martin, Fetch Martin **First appearance:** 0002-iii-the-man-from-the-east ## Snapshot Beech Lodge's gruff gardener, an old Eastern trader whose careful lies about his past crack whenever Perkins or the jade god is mentioned. ## Who they are Martin tends the Lady Hillingdons and Richmonds with a tradesman's competence, but his mottled face and clenched fingers betray a tension his master reads easily. Twice proven a liar about whether he has met the mysterious peddler before, he stiffens at any mention of Eastern languages or of Perkins, insisting she is best left alone. His hidden history with the Orient makes him the story's most watchful and dangerous presence in the early arc. ## Relationships ### [Perkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/perkins) _professional_ John Martin and Perkins have a frequent, likely employer-servant or colleague dynamic, with Perkins being a central figure in the household. ### [Sergeant Burke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/sergeant_burke) _professional_ John Martin and Sergeant Burke have a professional relationship, likely involving law enforcement or investigation. ### [The Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/the_woman) _romantic_ John Martin and The Woman have a romantic or deeply personal connection, given their frequent interactions. ### [Jean Millicent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/jean_millicent) _romantic_ Jean Millicent and John Martin have a romantic or courtship relationship, indicated by their frequent interactions. ### [Edith Derrick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/edith_derrick) _family_ Edith Derrick and John Martin are likely family members, possibly cousins or in-laws, given their frequent contact. ### [Perkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/perkins) _professional_ John Martin and Perkins have a frequent, likely employer-servant or colleague dynamic, with Perkins being a central figure in the household. ### [Edith Derrick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/edith_derrick) _family_ Edith Derrick and John Martin are likely family members, possibly cousins or in-laws, given their frequent contact. ### [Sergeant Burke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/sergeant_burke) _professional_ John Martin and Sergeant Burke have a professional relationship, likely involving law enforcement or investigation. ### [Perkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/perkins) _professional_ John Martin and Perkins have a frequent, likely employer-servant or colleague dynamic, with Perkins being a central figure in the household. ### [Jean Millicent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/jean_millicent) _romantic_ Jean Millicent and John Martin have a romantic or courtship relationship, indicated by their frequent interactions. ### [The Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/the_woman) _romantic_ John Martin and The Woman have a romantic or deeply personal connection, given their frequent interactions. ### [The Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/the_woman) _romantic_ John Martin and The Woman have a romantic or deeply personal connection, given their frequent interactions. ## In the story ### [IV: Jean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/iv-jean) Martin is seen in the garden with shears, and Jean recognizes him; he is now employed by Derrick. ### [V: The Paper-Knife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/v-the-paper-knife) Mentioned as the gardener who returned from Burma and Canada, claiming he 'had to come,' and is observed examining the desk. ### [VI: God—Or Devil?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/vi-god-or-devil) Newly returned from Burma, receives viewless signals, and is a suspect in the murder. ### [VII: A Mysterious Peddler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/vii-a-mysterious-peddler) Martin is visibly tense and fearful during Derrick's questioning, lies about knowing the peddler, and shows desperation when the Millicent case is mentioned. ### [VIII: The Power of the Unknown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/viii-the-power-of-the-unknown) Martin is now in jail charged with complicity in Millicent's murder; he stares at the peddler's body. ### [XI: A Strange Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/xi-a-strange-confession) Confesses his perjury and the truth about his wife's actions, driven by the jade god's influence. ### [XII: “I Love You!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/xii-i-love-you) Returns to Beech Lodge looking like a changed man, with a new gravity; touches his cap to Derrick but does not speak. ### [XIII: The Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/xiii-the-sacrifice) Has left Beech Lodge, leaving a note saying he is going back, likely to the Orient, and declining his wages. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/john_martin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters