The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes · Character
Colonel Barclay
A decorated colonel found dead in his own home, whose respectable public face conceals a past that refuses to stay buried.
supporting
Also known as James Barclay, James, Colonel James Barclay, Barclay, Sergeant Barclay, Sergeant James Barclay
First appearance: The Crooked Man
As a supporting figure in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, Colonel Barclay is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The deceased; his death is investigated, and his past betrayal of Wood is uncovered.
Colonel Barclay is the kind of man whose reputation precedes him into every room: soldier, husband, pillar of the community. But his marriage to a younger, striking woman carries an undercurrent of strain, and the locked-room circumstances of his death make his private life the real crime scene. Holmes must read the man through the household he left behind, where every servant and every silence has something to say.
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Character Web
6 connectionsA slice of how Colonel Barclay sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Yellow Face secret
- Silver Blaze case
+1 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this excerpt, the narrative climax is marked by Watson’s psychological peak of self-conscious frustration a…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingIn the story
Colonel Barclay appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
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See Colonel Barclay in The Crooked Man