# Barthorpe — The Paradise Mystery character guide

> Barthorpe in The Paradise Mystery by J. S. Fletcher.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Simpson Harker, Mr. Harker, Harker, old Harker, old Simpson Harker

**First appearance:** 0000-i-only-the-guardian

## Snapshot

An elderly Leicestershire clergyman who married Mary Bewery to John Brake, and who remembers the wedding, the prison cell, and the questions nobody asked.

## Who they are

Mr. Gilwaters, the former vicar of Braden Medworth, is the quiet archive of the story's deepest past: he married Mary Bewery to John Brake, watched Ransford stand as best man, and later visited Brake in a prison cell after a ten-year sentence. His memory of who was expected to marry whom, and his surprise at the name Ransford, gives Bryce the thread he has been pulling. He matters because he turns rumor into documented history.

## Relationships

### [Mary Bewery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/mary_bewery)

_romantic_

Barthorpe is a persistent suitor of Mary, showing romantic interest and frequent attempts to win her favor.

### [John Brake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/john_brake)

_rivalry_

Barthorpe and John Brake are romantic rivals for Mary's affection, leading to tension and competition.

### [Mary Bewery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/mary_bewery)

_romantic_

Barthorpe is a persistent suitor of Mary, showing romantic interest and frequent attempts to win her favor.

### [Mary Bewery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/mary_bewery)

_romantic_

Barthorpe is a persistent suitor of Mary, showing romantic interest and frequent attempts to win her favor.

### [John Brake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/john_brake)

_rivalry_

Barthorpe and John Brake are romantic rivals for Mary's affection, leading to tension and competition.

## In the story

### [By Misadventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/vi-by-misadventure)

Simpson Harker sits silently in court, later peers at the History of Barthorpe found in Braden's suitcase, and remarks to Bryce about the doctor's presence when the book was found.

### [The Double Trail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/vii-the-double-trail)

Mentioned as the destination of Bryce's investigation; a market-town in Leicestershire.

### [The Best Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/viii-the-best-man)

Reveals himself as retired detective Simpson Harker; secretly meets with the local police superintendent to arrange surveillance of Bryce.

### [XIII: Bryce Is Asked a Question](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-bryce-is-asked-a-question)

Meets Bryce near Paradise and invites him to his home, where he privately asks what Bryce did with a scrap of paper taken from Braden's purse.

### [From the Past](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-from-the-past)

Simpson Harker reveals his past as the detective who arrested John Brake, and describes his recent meeting with Braden and his sighting of Glassdale.

### [The Double Offer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xv-the-double-offer)

Reveals his theory about Glassdale's connection to the Duke of Saxonsteade and advises Bryce to explore the tomb.

### [Beforehand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-beforehand)

Harker deduces that the search is for the stolen Saxonsteade diamonds and that Glassdale likely informed the Duke.

### [XVII: To Be Shadowed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-to-be-shadowed)

Referred to as 'old Harker' by Dick; Bryce fetched him to observe the digging.

### [Surprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-surprise)

Revealed by Bryce to be Harker Simpson, a retired detective from Scotland Yard, previously thought to be a retired tradesman.

### [XIX: The Subtlety of the Devil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-subtlety-of-the-devil)

Barthorpe (Simpson Harker) is mentioned as the detective who arrested Brake and can provide information about the case.

### [The Saxonsteade Arms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxi-the-saxonsteade-arms)

Glassdale, the man Bryce seeks; he is staying at the inn under the alias Mr. Gordon and provides information about Brake's past.

### [The Other Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxvi-the-other-man)

Simpson Harker travels with Ransford; present during the revelations.

### [The Guarded Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxvii-the-guarded-secret)

Referred to as Harker; meets Ransford in London to help clarify the bank matter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/barthorpe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters