# Anne Protheroe — The Murder at the Vicarage character guide

> Anne Protheroe in The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Anne, Poor old Protheroe, old Protheroe

**First appearance:** 0001-the-murder-at-the-vicarage

## Snapshot

Colonel Protheroe's unhappy young wife, in love with Lawrence Redding, who lies about a pistol and becomes the investigation's most anguished suspect.

## Who they are

Anne has endured years of her husband's bluster and meanness, and her affair with Redding is the one bright thing in a suffocating life. When Protheroe is found dead in the vicar's study, she tells the police she has no pistol — a lie the valet's evidence and Miss Marple's sharp eyes will expose. Her composure, her loyalty to Redding, and her evident strain make her both sympathetic and deeply suspicious.

## Relationships

### [Lawrence Redding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/lawrence_redding)

_romantic_

Anne and Lawrence are secret lovers, their affair being the central motive for the murder.

### [Lawrence Redding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/lawrence_redding)

_romantic_

Anne and Lawrence are secret lovers, their affair being the central motive for the murder.

### [Lawrence Redding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/lawrence_redding)

_romantic_

Anne and Lawrence are secret lovers, their affair being the central motive for the murder.

## In the story

### [The Murder at the Vicarage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/the-murder-at-the-vicarage)

Also confesses to the murder, creating a mystery.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/iii)

Confesses her love for Lawrence and her misery in her marriage to the narrator.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as Lawrence's lover; the narrator worries about her situation and promises to look after her.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/vi)

Anne is visited by Griselda after the arrest; she appears quiet and terrified, not grief-stricken.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/viii)

Confesses to the murder, claiming she shot her husband, but lies about the pistol's origin.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/ix)

Reported to have confessed to the murder, but Miss Marple doubts her story based on observations of her movements and lack of a weapon.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xi)

Discussed as a potential victim of a framing plot; her movements are corroborated by Miss Hartnell.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xii)

Reenacts her movements for the police; denies having Lawrence's pistol and confirms her secret meetings with him.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xvi)

Mentioned as possibly remembering the shot; the narrator visits her to discuss funeral arrangements.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xviii)

Gives evidence at the inquest about her last sighting of her husband.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxii)

Shows the vicar the exaggerated newspaper article and the slashed portrait found in the attic, expressing concern.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxiii)

Confirms to the narrator that Colonel Protheroe had arranged for a valuation of Old Hall's contents.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxvi)

Present at the evening service.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxvii)

Mentioned as having remarked at the time that the handwriting was not like her husband's.

### [Miss Marple's Revelation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxx)

Identified as the actual shooter, acting under Lawrence Redding's influence and using a silencer to avoid detection.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxxii)

Confirmed as accomplice; overheard conversation with Lawrence leads to arrest.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/anne_protheroe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters