# John Thorndyke — The Mystery of 31, New Inn character guide > John Thorndyke in The Mystery of 31, New Inn by R. Austin Freeman. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Thorndyke, Dr. Thorndyke, John Evelyn Thorndyke **First appearance:** 0002-the-mystery-of-31-new-inn ## Snapshot Medical jurist and detective whose quiet certainty turns impossible legal puzzles into demonstrable fact, and whose methods make him the last man a forger wants on the case. ## Who they are Thorndyke occupies a peculiar professional borderland — physician, lawyer, and something closer to a scientist of crime — and lawyers like Marchmont and Winwood treat his conclusions with a mixture of reverence and alarm. When he writes that the second Blackmore will is a forgery, the claim seems absurd on its face, yet no one who knows him can dismiss it. His role in the early arc is to plant a conclusion the reader cannot yet imagine proving, and to make the proving of it the whole pleasure of the book. ## Relationships ### [Jeffrey Blackmore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/jeffrey_blackmore) _professional_ Jeffrey Blackmore is a client and key figure in the mystery, consulting Thorndyke as a detective. ### [Stephen Blackmore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/stephen_blackmore) _professional_ Stephen Blackmore is a client and suspect, with Thorndyke investigating his case. ### [Winwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/winwood) _professional_ Winwood is a witness or associate in the case, interacting with Thorndyke during the investigation. ### [Polton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/polton) _professional_ Polton is Thorndyke's laboratory assistant and technician, supporting his forensic work. ### [Samuel Wilkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/samuel_wilkins) _professional_ Samuel Wilkins is a minor witness or servant who provides information to Thorndyke. ### [Jeffrey Blackmore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/jeffrey_blackmore) _professional_ Jeffrey Blackmore is a client and key figure in the mystery, consulting Thorndyke as a detective. ### [Stephen Blackmore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/stephen_blackmore) _professional_ Stephen Blackmore is a client and suspect, with Thorndyke investigating his case. ### [Winwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/winwood) _professional_ Winwood is a witness or associate in the case, interacting with Thorndyke during the investigation. ### [Polton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/polton) _professional_ Polton is Thorndyke's laboratory assistant and technician, supporting his forensic work. ### [Stephen Blackmore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/stephen_blackmore) _professional_ Stephen Blackmore is a client and suspect, with Thorndyke investigating his case. ### [Jeffrey Blackmore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/jeffrey_blackmore) _professional_ Jeffrey Blackmore is a client and key figure in the mystery, consulting Thorndyke as a detective. ### [Winwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/winwood) _professional_ Winwood is a witness or associate in the case, interacting with Thorndyke during the investigation. ## 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) Devises a tracking scheme and leads the investigation into the mysterious patient and the events at New Inn. ### [The Mysterious Patient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/i-the-mysterious-patient) Mentioned as Jervis's old friend and an eminent authority on Medical Jurisprudence, whom Jervis plans to consult. ### [Thorndyke Devises a Scheme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/ii-thorndyke-devises-a-scheme) Welcomes Jervis, renews his offer of partnership, and devises a tracking scheme to locate the secret house. ### [Jeffrey Blackmore's Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/v-jeffrey-blackmore-s-will) Welcomes Jervis as his permanent colleague; leads the inquiry into Jeffrey Blackmore's will during lunch. ### [VI: Jeffrey Blackmore, Deceased](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/vi-jeffrey-blackmore-deceased) Listens to the evidence and begins questioning Stephen Blackmore about his uncle's personal details and habits. ### [VII: The Cuneiform Inscription](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/vii-the-cuneiform-inscription) Leads the inspection of Jeffrey Blackmore's chambers, collecting physical evidence and explaining his method of keeping an open mind. ### [The Track Chart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/viii-the-track-chart) Thorndyke listens to Jervis's detailed narrative, plots the track chart, and deduces the location of Weiss's house using scientific methods. ### [The House of Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/ix-the-house-of-mystery) Leads the investigation of the house, deduces the nature of the fastenings, and vows to find the perpetrator of the crime. ### [The Hunter Hunted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/x-the-hunter-hunted) Referenced as being well pleased with the results of the search; Jervis recalls his words of warning. ### [XI: The Blackmore Case Reviewed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xi-the-blackmore-case-reviewed) Mentor and legal expert; discusses the case with Jervis and arranges to photograph Jeffrey Blackmore's cheques. ### [The Portrait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xii-the-portrait) Directs the investigation, analyzes signature photographs, reveals the photograph of Graves, and discusses the Kennington case with Jervis. ### [The Statement of Samuel Wilkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xiii-the-statement-of-samuel-wilkins) Interviews Samuel Wilkins, devises a demonstration with Polton to teach Jervis about disguise, and has already identified Mr. Graves from the evidence. ### [Thorndyke Lays the Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xiv-thorndyke-lays-the-mine) Announces his conclusion that the second will is a forgery and lays plans to present his evidence. ### [Thorndyke Explodes the Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xv-thorndyke-explodes-the-mine) Presents the evidence to the lawyers, systematically revealing the new facts that expose the will as a forgery. ### [An Exposition and a Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xvi-an-exposition-and-a-tragedy) Presents the full exposition of the case, detailing forensic evidence and the conspiracy. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/john_thorndyke - 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