# Dr. Jervis — The Mystery of 31, New Inn character guide

> Dr. Jervis in The Mystery of 31, New Inn by R. Austin Freeman.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Jervis

**First appearance:** 0002-the-mystery-of-31-new-inn

## Snapshot

A struggling Kennington locum whose late-night call to a nameless patient pulls him out of shabby obscurity and into Thorndyke's orbit as witness and narrator.

## Who they are

Jervis begins the book in a ground-floor consulting-room near Walworth, mud on his boots and a pipe he cannot yet smoke, covering another doctor's practice for pay. The Weiss summons — a note with no address, a cabman messenger, a patient he is not allowed to properly see — offends both his medical instincts and his curiosity, and he suspects poison almost from the first visit. His skepticism and his willingness to act on it are what carry the reader into the case before Thorndyke ever appears.

## In the story

### [The Mystery of 31, New Inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/the-mystery-of-31-new-inn)

Called to attend the mysterious patient at 31, New Inn; assists Thorndyke in the investigation.

### [The Mysterious Patient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/i-the-mysterious-patient)

The narrator and protagonist, a general practitioner who is called to attend a mysterious patient and later seeks Thorndyke's advice.

### [Thorndyke Devises a Scheme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/ii-thorndyke-devises-a-scheme)

Visits Thorndyke, accepts his offer to become junior, and seeks advice on the mysterious patient case.

### [A Chiel's Amang Ye Takin' Notes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/iii-a-chiel-s-amang-ye-takin-notes)

Narrator and protagonist; prepares and uses Thorndyke's tracking apparatus, treats the poisoned patient, and observes the housekeeper's strange behavior.

### [IV: The Official View](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/iv-the-official-view)

Jervis reports the poisoning case to the police and is later consumed by epidemic work, delaying his departure to join Thorndyke.

### [Jeffrey Blackmore's Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/v-jeffrey-blackmore-s-will)

Joins Thorndyke as his assistant; attends the lunch and observes the discussion.

### [VII: The Cuneiform Inscription](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/vii-the-cuneiform-inscription)

Assists Thorndyke in searching the room, questions Thorndyke's approach, and reflects on the apparent impossibility of the case.

### [The Track Chart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/viii-the-track-chart)

Jervis recounts his earlier experiences in detail, provides the compass-bearing notes, and assists Thorndyke in plotting the chart.

### [The House of Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/ix-the-house-of-mystery)

Accompanies Thorndyke, assists in examining the house, and is warned to avoid being followed.

### [The Hunter Hunted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/x-the-hunter-hunted)

Narrator and protagonist; reflects on the evidence from the house of mystery, visits Kensington, attends a matinee, and encounters a suspicious woman in a teashop.

### [XI: The Blackmore Case Reviewed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xi-the-blackmore-case-reviewed)

Narrator and protagonist; struggles to concentrate on the Blackmore case due to his preoccupation with the Kennington Lane mystery.

### [The Portrait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xii-the-portrait)

Narrates the chapter, assists Polton with photographs, compares signatures, identifies Graves from the photograph, and is tasked by Thorndyke to analyze evidence from the empty house.

### [The Statement of Samuel Wilkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xiii-the-statement-of-samuel-wilkins)

Narrates the chapter; examines the spectacles and reed pieces, reflects on Thorndyke's abilities, and is fooled by Polton's disguise.

### [Thorndyke Lays the Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xiv-thorndyke-lays-the-mine)

Narrates the chapter, expresses bewilderment at Thorndyke's claim, but maintains confidence in his colleague.

### [Thorndyke Explodes the Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xv-thorndyke-explodes-the-mine)

Present during the exposition; his earlier adventures are recounted as part of the evidence.

### [An Exposition and a Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xvi-an-exposition-and-a-tragedy)

Identifies the portrait of Graves and provides key observations about Weiss's spectacles and the carriage.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/dr_jervis
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters