# Colonel Race — The Man in the Brown Suit character guide > Colonel Race in The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** The Colonel, Colonel Race, Race **First appearance:** 0004-ii ## Who they are A big-game hunter with a secret-service reputation who watches the shipboard cast too carefully for any of it to be chance. ## Relationships ### [Anne Beddingfeld](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/anne_beddingfeld) _friendship_ Anne and Colonel Race develop a strong alliance based on mutual trust and shared investigative goals. ### [Sir Eustace Pedler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/sir_eustace_pedler) _professional_ Colonel Race and Sir Eustace interact as fellow travelers and gentlemen, but Race secretly investigates him. ### [Harry Rayburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/harry_rayburn) _friendship_ Colonel Race eventually allies with Harry after realizing he is innocent and shares common goals. ### [Guy Pagett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/guy_pagett) _professional_ Race and Pagett interact as fellow passengers and in the context of the investigation, with Race keeping his distance. ### [Mrs. Clarence Blair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/mrs_clarence_blair) _social_ Colonel Race and Mrs. Blair are polite acquaintances aboard the ship. ### [Nadina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/nadina) _rivalry_ Colonel Race pursues Nadina as a key suspect in the murder and diamond theft. ### [Anne Beddingfeld](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/anne_beddingfeld) _friendship_ Anne and Colonel Race develop a strong alliance based on mutual trust and shared investigative goals. ### [Anne Beddingfeld](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/anne_beddingfeld) _friendship_ Anne and Colonel Race develop a strong alliance based on mutual trust and shared investigative goals. ### [Harry Rayburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/harry_rayburn) _friendship_ Colonel Race eventually allies with Harry after realizing he is innocent and shares common goals. ### [Sir Eustace Pedler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/sir_eustace_pedler) _professional_ Colonel Race and Sir Eustace interact as fellow travelers and gentlemen, but Race secretly investigates him. ### [Nadina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/nadina) _rivalry_ Colonel Race pursues Nadina as a key suspect in the murder and diamond theft. ### [Mrs. Clarence Blair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/mrs_clarence_blair) _social_ Colonel Race and Mrs. Blair are polite acquaintances aboard the ship. ## In the story ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/ix) A tall, soldierly man who accompanies Mrs. Blair and joins her in conversation with Anne. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xi) Colonel Race dances with Anne, engages in archaeological conversation, and makes deliberate mistakes that lead Anne to suspect he is testing her knowledge. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xii) Described as a taciturn, strong silent man; attached to Mrs. Blair; suspected secret service agent. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xiii) Refuses to dress up, tells lion stories and the diamond theft story, reveals he is Sir Laurence Eardsley's next of kin. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xiv) Mentioned as a possible confidant; later referenced as having knowledge of Nadina and espionage. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xv) Discussed as a possible secret service agent and heir to Sir Laurence Eardsley; his story about diamonds is seen as a test. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xvi) Tells Anne that Lucas was reported killed in the war; his knowledge of the diamond case is noted. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xvii) Mentioned as a passenger whose cabin is near Pedler's; Pedler inadvertently invited him to Rhodesia. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xix) Referred to as 'the Colonel' by Chichester, who gives orders regarding Anne. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xx) Mentioned as a possible suspect; Suzanne defends him, noting his secret service connections. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxi) Colonel Race is on the observation platform with Suzanne; he expresses surprise at Anne's appearance and later sharpens Miss Pettigrew's pencil. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxii) Traveling with the party; tells stories on the observation platform and discusses police suspicions that Rayburn may be heading to Rhodesia. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxiii) Mentioned as a powerful protector; Anne and Suzanne discuss the mysterious 'Colonel' as the master criminal. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxiv) Accompanies Anne to the Matoppos and later to the falls; his personality feels overpowering when alone with Anne. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxv) Mentioned as part of the hotel party Anne was with before her fall. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxvi) Mentioned as the mysterious 'Colonel' who orchestrated the diamond theft and framing. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxvii) Suspected by Harry of being the Colonel; noted as being in South Africa during the Kimberley robbery and possibly using camouflage. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxviii) Returns from a stroll and immediately organizes a search for Anne; is deeply upset by her disappearance. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxix) Meets Pedler in Johannesburg, reveals Harry Rayburn's alias and his own feelings for Anne, and is puzzled by Anne's location. ### [Chapter: The Telegram and Pagett's Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxx) Referred to in Suzanne's suspicion and in the coded telegram as 'Eric'. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxxii) Mentioned by Sir Eustace as a possible romantic interest for Anne and as someone whose movements were questioned. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxxiii) Leads the raid on Sir Eustace's house, arriving with his men to capture the villain. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxxiv) Visits Anne at the farm; informs her of Sir Eustace's escape and reveals Harry's real name. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxxv) Reveals Harry's true identity and then leaves; later suggests reopening the Eardsley villa; is implied to love Anne. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/chapters/xxxvi) Mentioned by Suzanne as wanting to argue about Harry renouncing the fortune, and as administering the estate for Harry. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters/colonel_race - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_brown_suit_se/characters