The Murder at the Vicarage · Character

Lawrence Redding

A charming young artist carrying on a discreet affair with Anne Protheroe, whose careless habit of leaving his pistol on a shelf makes him the obvious suspect.

major

Also known as Mr. Redding, young Lawrence Redding, young Mr. Redding, Mr. Lawrence Redding

First appearance: The Murder at the Vicarage

As a major figure in The Murder at the Vicarage, Lawrence Redding is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Confesses to the murder of Colonel Protheroe.

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Redding paints in the modern style, acts, shoots, and tells a first-rate story — everything the village expects an artist not to be. He is desperately in love with Anne Protheroe and has promised the vicar he will leave St. Mary Mead, but the murder intervenes before he can. His pistol, his affair, and his panicked behavior on the night of the crime make him the case's most conspicuous loose end.

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Character Web

20 connections

A slice of how Lawrence Redding sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Other

Character groups

Primary suspects and investigators
Village community and background figures
Protagonist
Minor supporting characters

+15 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Miss Marple’s quiet rebuttal—comparing Raymond West’s metaphor of a “stagnant pool” to his own writing—marks t…

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Relationships

Anne Protheroe
romantic · positive
Anne and Lawrence are secret lovers, their affair being the central motive for the murder. How this plays out →
Dr. Haydock
friendship · positive
Anne Protheroe
romantic · positive
Anne and Lawrence are secret lovers, their affair being the central motive for the murder. How this plays out →
Anne Protheroe
romantic · positive
Anne and Lawrence are secret lovers, their affair being the central motive for the murder. How this plays out →
Dr. Haydock
friendship · positive
Dr. Haydock
friendship · positive

Anne Protheroe
Anne and Lawrence are secret lovers, their affair being the central motive for the murder.
Dr. Haydock
Dr. Haydock is a friend and supporter of Lawrence, providing medical and personal advice.
Anne Protheroe
Anne and Lawrence are secret lovers, their affair being the central motive for the murder.
Anne Protheroe
Anne and Lawrence are secret lovers, their affair being the central motive for the murder.
Dr. Haydock
Dr. Haydock is a friend and supporter of Lawrence, providing medical and personal advice.
Dr. Haydock
Dr. Haydock is a friend and supporter of Lawrence, providing medical and personal advice.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Lawrence Redding appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Murder at the Vicarage
Confesses to the murder of Colonel Protheroe.
III
Caught kissing Anne Protheroe in the studio.
IV
Confesses his affair with Anne Protheroe to the narrator and agrees to leave St. Mary Mead to protect her.
V
Seen leaving the Vicarage gate in a distraught state, acting strangely.
VII
Redding is discussed as having confessed to the murder but his timeline is disputed by Haydock.
VIII
Confesses to the murder but gives inconsistent answers about the clock and the pistol.
IX
Observed by Miss Marple entering the studio with Anne Protheroe and later leaving cheerfully; his confession is also questioned.
XII
Interrogated by Colonel Melchett; confesses his false confession and his discovery of Protheroe's body.
XVI
Visits Miss Marple with a rock as a peace offering; searches the woods for clues; expresses determination to solve the case for Anne's sake.
XVIII
Gives evidence at the inquest, identifying the pistol as his.
XIX
Narrates his investigation at Old Hall, following Miss Marple's advice, and expresses fear of being suspected forever.
XXIV
Mentioned as having visited Hawes the previous night, and as the subject of Griselda's past affection.
Miss Marple's Revelation
Revealed as the mastermind behind the murder, using Anne Protheroe as the shooter and orchestrating a complex alibi and false confession.
XXXII
Arrested after being caught speaking with Anne Protheroe at Old Hall.

Chapter companion notes

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