# Harold Merefield — The Murders in Praed Street character guide

> Harold Merefield in The Murders in Praed Street by John Rhode.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Harold

**First appearance:** 0014-xiii-enter-dr-priestley

## Snapshot

Dr. Priestley's quiet secretary, present at the elbow of the investigation and privy to the professor's methods, moods, and unspoken calculations.

## Who they are

Harold Merefield serves as Dr. Priestley's secretary and is introduced to visitors as a matter of course, a steady presence in the professor's study while theories are tested and witnesses interviewed. He occupies the useful position of a man who hears everything and says little, giving readers a grounded view of Priestley's deductive process. His loyalty and discretion make him a natural conduit for the clues that accumulate around the Praed Street case.

## Relationships

### [Inspector Hanslet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/characters/inspector_hanslet)

_professional_

Harold assists Inspector Hanslet with clerical or investigative tasks.

### [Inspector Hanslet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/characters/inspector_hanslet)

_professional_

Harold assists Inspector Hanslet with clerical or investigative tasks.

### [Inspector Hanslet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/characters/inspector_hanslet)

_professional_

Harold assists Inspector Hanslet with clerical or investigative tasks.

## In the story

### [XIII: Enter Dr. Priestley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/chapters/xiii-enter-dr-priestley)

Dr. Priestley's secretary, who is relieved to have finished the manuscript and hopes for a change of occupation.

### [XIV: The Morlandson Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/chapters/xiv-the-morlandson-trial)

Carries out research at the British Museum, makes notes on the trial, and is unsettled by Priestley's ominous remarks about death.

### [Corfe Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/chapters/xvi-corfe-castle)

Left in London with secret instructions and a cover story; entrusted with a coded communication system.

### [XIX: A Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/chapters/xix-a-discovery)

Receives instructions from Priestley and accompanies Hanslet to Corfe Castle.

### [Mr. Ludgrove's Invitation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/chapters/xx-mr-ludgrove-s-invitation)

Present as Priestley's secretary during Ludgrove's visit.

### [XXIII: The Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/chapters/xxiii-the-will)

Reads the confession aloud for Dr. Priestley.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/characters/harold_merefield
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murders_in_praed_street_se/characters