# Colonel Protheroe — The Murder at the Vicarage character guide

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

**Role:** major

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

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

## Snapshot

The pompous, opinionated churchwarden whose talent for making enemies is so thorough that his murder feels less like a crime than a public service.

## Who they are

Colonel Protheroe is the local landowner whose bullying manner has alienated his wife, his daughter, his tenants, and half the parish — including the vicar, who says so out loud over boiled beef. He is the kind of man who corrects an archaeologist on his own subject and calls it authority. When he is found shot in the vicar's study, the mystery is not why someone wanted him dead, but which of the many candidates actually did it.

## 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)

Found murdered in the vicarage study.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/i)

The unpopular Colonel, mentioned as the target of the Vicar's murder wish and as a churchwarden causing trouble over accounts.

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

Mentioned as a harsh husband; Lawrence wishes someone would kill him, and he is said to have started out in the car.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/v)

Found dead in the Vicarage study, shot through the head.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xv)

Mentioned as the victim; his interview with Mrs. Lestrange and his threats against Archer are discussed.

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

Mentioned as the victim; his movements on Wednesday evening are discussed.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xix)

Deceased; his angry words during the argument with Mrs. Lestrange are recounted by Gladys.

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

The victim; his unfinished letter is revealed to be a forgery.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/colonel_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