# Lawrence Redding — The Murder at the Vicarage character guide

> Lawrence Redding in The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** major

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

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

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Anne Protheroe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/anne_protheroe)

_romantic_

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

### [Dr. Haydock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/dr_haydock)

_friendship_

Dr. Haydock is a friend and supporter of Lawrence, providing medical and personal advice.

### [Anne Protheroe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/anne_protheroe)

_romantic_

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

### [Anne Protheroe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/anne_protheroe)

_romantic_

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

### [Dr. Haydock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/dr_haydock)

_friendship_

Dr. Haydock is a friend and supporter of Lawrence, providing medical and personal advice.

### [Dr. Haydock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/dr_haydock)

_friendship_

Dr. Haydock is a friend and supporter of Lawrence, providing medical and personal advice.

## 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)

Confesses to the murder of Colonel Protheroe.

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

Caught kissing Anne Protheroe in the studio.

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

Confesses his affair with Anne Protheroe to the narrator and agrees to leave St. Mary Mead to protect her.

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

Seen leaving the Vicarage gate in a distraught state, acting strangely.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/vii)

Redding is discussed as having confessed to the murder but his timeline is disputed by Haydock.

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

Confesses to the murder but gives inconsistent answers about the clock and the pistol.

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

Observed by Miss Marple entering the studio with Anne Protheroe and later leaving cheerfully; his confession is also questioned.

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

Interrogated by Colonel Melchett; confesses his false confession and his discovery of Protheroe's body.

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

Gives evidence at the inquest, identifying the pistol as his.

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

Narrates his investigation at Old Hall, following Miss Marple's advice, and expresses fear of being suspected forever.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxiv)

Mentioned as having visited Hawes the previous night, and as the subject of Griselda's past affection.

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

Revealed as the mastermind behind the murder, using Anne Protheroe as the shooter and orchestrating a complex alibi and false confession.

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

Arrested after being caught speaking with Anne Protheroe at Old Hall.

## Links

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