# Mr. Ashton — The Middle of Things character guide

> Mr. Ashton in The Middle of Things by J. S. Fletcher.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Ashton, John Ashton, Mr. John Ashton

**First appearance:** 0000-i-faced-with-reality

## Snapshot

A reserved, well-travelled man whose murder opens the novel and whose hidden past turns out to be the case's true subject.

## Who they are

Ashton kept a comfortable house, took his wards on motor-rides, and told them almost nothing about himself — no callers, no club, no explanation for his solitary nights in the City. That reticence is exactly what makes his death so fertile: he knew the missing Lord Marketstoke, held papers that could prove a claim, and may have been more than a guardian to the girl in his care. The question of who he really was, and why he was killed, is the engine of everything that follows.

## In the story

### [II: Number Seven in the Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/ii-number-seven-in-the-square)

Found dead in a passage, stabbed through the heart and robbed; identified as a recent resident of number seven Markendale Square.

### [News from Arcadia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/viii-news-from-arcadia)

Revealed to have stayed at the Ellingham Arms in Marketstoke for several days, spending time at the church and Ellingham Park.

### [IX: Looking Backward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/ix-looking-backward)

The murdered man; Mrs. Summers speculates that he may have been Lord Marketstoke, based on his visit to Marketstoke and his behavior.

### [X: The Parish Register](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/x-the-parish-register)

The deceased man at the center of the mystery; discussed extensively as possibly being the missing Lord Marketstoke, based on physical resemblance and behavior.

### [XI: What Happened in Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xi-what-happened-in-paris)

The murdered man; Armitstead recounts meeting him in Paris and seeing him with the muffled man.

### [The Japanese Cabinet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xiii-the-japanese-cabinet)

The murdered man; his portrait is recognized by the landlord, and his house is searched for clues.

### [XIV: The Ellingham Motto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xiv-the-ellingham-motto)

Deceased; his possession of the letters and locket suggests he knew the secret of Avice's identity.

### [The Outhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xvi-the-outhouse)

His stolen watch and ring are found in the shed; his purse is notably missing.

### [XVII: The Claimant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xvii-the-claimant)

Mentioned as having made secret investigations at Marketstoke and as the guardian of Avice Wickham; his murder is linked to the papers now produced by the claimant.

### [XXI: The Marseilles Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxi-the-marseilles-meeting)

Deceased; revealed to have been the confidant of Lord Marketstoke and guardian of the secret papers.

### [XXIII: Is This Man Right?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxiii-is-this-man-right)

The murdered man; the papers in question were allegedly in his possession until recently.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_ashton
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters