# Barbara Shannon — The Layton Court Mystery character guide

> Barbara Shannon in The Layton Court Mystery by Anthony Berkeley.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Barbara, young Barbara

**First appearance:** 0001-the-layton-court-mystery

## Snapshot

A quick-witted young guest at Layton Court whose easy charm and sharp instincts make her more observer than ornament in a house gone suddenly wrong.

## Who they are

Barbara is one of the cheerful young people Mr. Stanworth has gathered for his summer party, and her mother, Mrs. Shannon, is an old friend of Lady Stanworth's. She is lively and direct, with a characterful little face and a habit of cutting short the men's bloodthirsty talk with a shiver and a change of subject. Her presence keeps the social texture of Layton Court alive, and her alertness to the people around her makes her a quiet counterweight to the men who think they are doing the detecting.

## Relationships

### [Roger Sheringham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters/roger_sheringham)

_romantic_

Barbara Shannon and Roger Sheringham share a flirtatious, romantic tension, with Barbara often teasing and challenging him.

### [Alexander Grierson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters/alexander_grierson)

_friendship_

Alexander Grierson and Barbara Shannon are friendly and respectful companions, often discussing the case together.

### [Lady Stanworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters/lady_stanworth)

_family_

Barbara Shannon is Lady Stanworth's niece, and they share a warm, affectionate family bond.

### [Roger Sheringham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters/roger_sheringham)

_romantic_

Barbara Shannon and Roger Sheringham share a flirtatious, romantic tension, with Barbara often teasing and challenging him.

### [Alexander Grierson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters/alexander_grierson)

_friendship_

Alexander Grierson and Barbara Shannon are friendly and respectful companions, often discussing the case together.

### [Roger Sheringham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters/roger_sheringham)

_romantic_

Barbara Shannon and Roger Sheringham share a flirtatious, romantic tension, with Barbara often teasing and challenging him.

### [Alexander Grierson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters/alexander_grierson)

_friendship_

Alexander Grierson and Barbara Shannon are friendly and respectful companions, often discussing the case together.

### [Lady Stanworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters/lady_stanworth)

_family_

Barbara Shannon is Lady Stanworth's niece, and they share a warm, affectionate family bond.

## In the story

### [I: Eight O’Clock in the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/chapters/i-eight-o-clock-in-the-morning)

A small, slight girl with fair hair and gray eyes, showing strength of character; she approaches Alec with grave news and traces of tears.

### [II: An Interrupted Breakfast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/chapters/ii-an-interrupted-breakfast)

A pretty young woman, daughter of Mrs. Shannon; engages in tennis discussion with Roger and shows strained naturalness after a tiff with Alec.

### [VII: The Vase That Wasn’t](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/chapters/vii-the-vase-that-wasn-t)

Meets Alec in the garden, alludes to a secret unrelated to the murder, and postpones their discussion.

### [XVIII: What the Settee Had to Tell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-what-the-settee-had-to-tell)

Mentioned as Alec's former fiancée; the engagement has been postponed.

### [XXVIII: What Really Did Happen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/chapters/xxviii-what-really-did-happen)

Victim of Stanworth's blackmail; she bravely refused his demands and broke off her engagement to Alec.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters/barbara_shannon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/characters