# James Ratcliffe — The Man in the Queue character guide

> James Ratcliffe in The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Jimmy, Mrs. James Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe

**First appearance:** 0000-i-murder

## Snapshot

A man whose wife becomes the object of Grant's Eastbourne expedition, lending his name to a household the inspector must approach with caution and a borrowed cousin.

## Who they are

James Ratcliffe exists at the edge of the case as a husband whose wife, Margaret, holds a clue Grant cannot afford to spook. His presence shadows the Eastbourne plan: Grant borrows a woman companion precisely so that Mrs. Ratcliffe will read him as off duty rather than official. The marriage is the fragile surface across which the investigation must move without cracking it.

## Relationships

### [Inspector Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/inspector_grant)

_professional_

James Ratcliffe is a suspect or witness interviewed by Inspector Grant, with a formal investigative relationship.

### [Inspector Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/inspector_grant)

_professional_

James Ratcliffe is a suspect or witness interviewed by Inspector Grant, with a formal investigative relationship.

### [Inspector Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/inspector_grant)

_professional_

James Ratcliffe is a suspect or witness interviewed by Inspector Grant, with a formal investigative relationship.

## In the story

### [I: Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/i-murder)

Referred to as 'Jimmy,' part of the prosperous suburban couple detained after the murder; he tries to calm his hysterical wife.

### [III: Danny Miller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/iii-danny-miller)

A householder and witness at the inquest, described as hating publicity but determined to do his duty. He stood behind the victim in the queue.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/characters/james_ratcliffe
- 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