# Mr. John Derrick — The Jade God character guide

> Mr. John Derrick in The Jade God by Alan Sullivan.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Derrick, Derrick

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-old-house

## Snapshot

The novelist who takes Beech Lodge and finds himself probing his gardener's lies, the jade god's pull, and a dead man's portrait that seems to speak.

## Who they are

Derrick came to Beech Lodge for quiet and a novel, and instead inherited a study where a murdered man's presence lingers and a hidden panel yields an image from Burma. He matches wits with Martin over flower beds and Hindustani, pockets a wax copy of the god, and stages a dangerous reconstruction in the dead man's chair. His restless curiosity and willingness to chance what is not his drive the story's central investigation.

## In the story

### [I: The Old House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/i-the-old-house)

Feels a strong, inexplicable pull to Beech Lodge and senses the presence of the previous owner, Millicent. He believes the house has chosen him.

### [II: Perkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/ii-perkins)

Derrick becomes increasingly attuned to the supernatural atmosphere of Beech Lodge. He experiences visions and vibrations, and feels a growing conviction that he is meant to uncover the mystery of Millicent's death.

### [III: The Man from the East](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/iii-the-man-from-the-east)

Struggles with writing, feels compelled by Millicent's study and portrait, interviews the returned gardener.

### [IV: Jean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/iv-jean)

Derrick is the new tenant of Beech Lodge, feels a mysterious connection to the house, and discusses the unfolding events with Jean.

### [V: The Paper-Knife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/v-the-paper-knife)

Visits Sergeant Burke to discuss the Millicent case, presents the paper-knife, and shares his observations about Martin and Perkins.

### [VI: God—Or Devil?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/vi-god-or-devil)

Shows the jade god to Sergeant Burke, proposes an inductive method for the case, reflects on the four key figures, and gives Edith a bangle from the peddler.

### [VII: A Mysterious Peddler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/vii-a-mysterious-peddler)

Derrick retrieves the jade god, creates a wax copy, and arms himself. He interrogates Martin about the peddler and the Millicent murder, then visits Sergeant Burke to report a planned robbery.

### [VIII: The Power of the Unknown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/viii-the-power-of-the-unknown)

Derrick reveals Martin's charge to Edith, then succumbs to the jade god's hypnotic influence before being interrupted by Sergeant Burke.

### [IX: The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/ix-the-escape)

Visits the Millicents to recount his discoveries and proposes a plan to recreate the murder scene.

### [XI: A Strange Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/xi-a-strange-confession)

Visits Martin in jail, questions him, and ultimately frees him.

### [XII: “I Love You!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/xii-i-love-you)

Returns from Bamberley jail, shares limited details with Edith, then visits the Millicents to discuss the jade image and his relationship with Jean.

### [XIII: The Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/xiii-the-sacrifice)

Destroys the jade god with a hammer, feels a splinter in his thumb, and later asks for Jean's hand in marriage.

### [XIV: A Broken Tile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/chapters/xiv-a-broken-tile)

Enters the study as the inventory is completed; confirms he remembers when the tile was broken.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters/mr_derrick
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jade_god_se/characters