# Inspector Grant — The Man in the Queue character guide > Inspector Grant in The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Grant, Mr. Grant, Superintendent Barker **First appearance:** 0000-i-murder ## Snapshot A C.I.D. inspector who trusts spadework over luck, Grant hunts a queue murderer while nursing an unpolicelike weakness for the actress Ray Marcable. ## Who they are Grant moves through London's boarding houses and railway termini with the patience of a man who knows luck closes most cases and hates admitting it. His gorge rises at a killer who stabs from behind, yet his own heart misbehaves at a photograph of Ray Marcable, a weakness he resents as fiercely as any alibi. As evidence tightens around Lamont, Grant's unease grows, and his willingness to doubt a clean case is what keeps the investigation honest. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Everett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/mrs_everett) _professional_ Inspector Grant interacts frequently with Mrs. Everett as a key witness or person of interest in the murder investigation. ### [Bert Sorrell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/bert_sorrell) _rivalry_ Bert Sorrell is a suspect who clashes with Inspector Grant, creating tension and opposition during the investigation. ### [Gerald Lamont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/gerald_lamont) _professional_ Gerald Lamont is a suspect interviewed by Inspector Grant, maintaining a formal and cautious interaction. ### [Ray Marcable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/ray_marcable) _professional_ Ray Marcable is a suspect or associate questioned by Inspector Grant, with a dynamic of suspicion and inquiry. ### [Mr. Drysdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/mr_drysdale) _professional_ Mr. Drysdale is a colleague or informant assisting Inspector Grant with the investigation. ### [Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/williams) _professional_ Williams is a subordinate or colleague working under Inspector Grant's direction in the police force. ### [Laury Murray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/laury_murray) _professional_ Laury Murray is a person of interest interviewed by Inspector Grant during the murder investigation. ### [The Levantine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/the_levantine) _professional_ The Levantine is a suspect or witness questioned by Inspector Grant, with an air of mystery and suspicion. ### [Raoul Legarde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/raoul_legarde) _professional_ Raoul Legarde is a suspect or associate interviewed by Inspector Grant, maintaining a formal investigative dynamic. ### [Rosie Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/rosie_markham) _professional_ Rosie Markham is a witness or person of interest questioned by Inspector Grant in the course of the case. ### [James Ratcliffe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/james_ratcliffe) _professional_ James Ratcliffe is a suspect or witness interviewed by Inspector Grant, with a formal investigative relationship. ### [Logan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/logan) _professional_ Logan is a colleague or subordinate assisting Inspector Grant in police work. ## In the story ### [II: Inspector Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/ii-inspector-grant) Assigned to investigate the theatre-queue murder; interviews witnesses and examines evidence. ### [III: Danny Miller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/iii-danny-miller) Awakens on the third day of the investigation, frustrated by lack of progress. He interviews Danny Miller and attends the inquest, observing the witnesses with a sardonic eye. ### [IV: Raoul Legarde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/iv-raoul-legarde) Receives the anonymous burial money, dines with Williams, senses he is being watched, and interviews Legarde, issuing a warrant for a left-handed suspect. ### [V: Danny Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/v-danny-again) Travels to Nottingham to investigate the dead man's tie, interviews a shop assistant and Mr. Yeudall, and feels a hunch that the key to the case awaits him back at the Yard. ### [VI: The Levantine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/vi-the-levantine) Dines at the restaurant, spots and chases the Levantine in the Strand, then strategizes about the man's whereabouts. ### [VII: Things Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/vii-things-move) Visits Sorrell's office, hears a stealthy sound, and spends Sunday managing the manhunt from his desk. ### [Mrs. Everett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/viii-mrs-everett) Visits Mrs. Everett to investigate Sorrell's disappearance; obtains photographs and identifies Lamont as the man from the Strand. ### [IX: Grant Gets More Information Than He Expected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/ix-grant-gets-more-information-than-he-expected) Feels complacent about the case but is humiliated when he discovers Mrs. Everett's fingerprints on Lamont's door, realizing he trusted her too easily. ### [X: The Burst to the North](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/x-the-burst-to-the-north) Travels to Carninnish to pursue the suspect, studies maps, and endures the mail-car journey. ### [XI: Carninnish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/xi-carninnish) Disguised as a fisherman, Grant surveils the manse and secures an invitation to tea from Mr. Logan. ### [Capture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/xii-capture) Arrests Lamont after a chase across the moor and a dive into a loch; explains the truth to Miss Dinmont. ### [XIII: Marking Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/xiii-marking-time) Grant is uneasy despite the case being nearly complete; he takes Lamont's fingerprints and reflects on the investigation. ### [XIV: The Statement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/xiv-the-statement) Takes Lamont's statement, reflects on the case's plausibility, and resolves to investigate Sorrell's luggage and re-interview Mrs. Everett. ### [XV: The Brooch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/xv-the-brooch) Returns to the Yard, discusses the case with Barker, interviews Mrs. Everett, and plans to visit Mrs. Ratcliffe. ### [XVI: Miss Dinmont Assists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/xvi-miss-dinmont-assists) Seeks Miss Dinmont's opinion on Mrs. Ratcliffe; testifies at Lamont's hearing; proposes a trip to Eastbourne with Miss Dinmont as his cousin. ### [Solution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/xvii-solution) Disconsolate and obsessed, Grant fixates on the pearl brooch as the key to the case, doubting the official theory and considering resignation. ### [Solution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/xvii-solution) Dismisses Mrs. Wallis's confession as insufficient, pressing for proof and a motive, and suggests Grant has 'nerves' and needs a holiday. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/xviii-conclusion) Reflects on the case, acknowledges his mistakes, and plans a holiday to Hampshire. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/inspector_grant - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters