# Inspector Mitchington — The Paradise Mystery character guide > Inspector Mitchington in The Paradise Mystery by J. S. Fletcher. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mitchington, Mr. Mitchington, Surprise Mitchington **First appearance:** 0000-i-only-the-guardian ## Snapshot Wrychester's police inspector, nicknamed Surprise Mitchington, doggedly sifts rumor, tavern talk, and masonry gossip for the truth about the Paradise death. ## Who they are Mitchington is the official inquiry's steady center, trading information with Bryce while trying to separate Varner's stubborn eyewitness claim from Collishaw's drunken hints. He is neither fool nor genius, but a working policeman who knows how quickly a small city turns speculation into fact. His willingness to share what he has heard pulls the reader deeper into the case's widening circle of suspicion. ## Relationships ### [Mary Bewery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/mary_bewery) _professional_ Inspector Mitchington regularly interviews Mary as part of his investigation, treating her as both a witness and a person of interest. ### [Dr. Mark Ransford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/dr_mark_ransford) _professional_ Dr. Ransford and Inspector Mitchington collaborate on the investigation, though Ransford's motives are suspect. ### [Mr. Jettison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/mr_jettison) _professional_ Inspector Mitchington questions Mr. Jettison as a potential suspect or witness in the case. ### [Collishaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/collishaw) _professional_ Collishaw assists Inspector Mitchington with local knowledge and access to the Bewery household. ### [Mary Bewery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/mary_bewery) _professional_ Inspector Mitchington regularly interviews Mary as part of his investigation, treating her as both a witness and a person of interest. ### [Mary Bewery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/mary_bewery) _professional_ Inspector Mitchington regularly interviews Mary as part of his investigation, treating her as both a witness and a person of interest. ### [Collishaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/collishaw) _professional_ Collishaw assists Inspector Mitchington with local knowledge and access to the Bewery household. ### [Dr. Mark Ransford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/dr_mark_ransford) _professional_ Dr. Ransford and Inspector Mitchington collaborate on the investigation, though Ransford's motives are suspect. ### [Dr. Mark Ransford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/dr_mark_ransford) _professional_ Dr. Ransford and Inspector Mitchington collaborate on the investigation, though Ransford's motives are suspect. ### [Mr. Jettison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/mr_jettison) _professional_ Inspector Mitchington questions Mr. Jettison as a potential suspect or witness in the case. ### [Mr. Jettison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/characters/mr_jettison) _professional_ Inspector Mitchington questions Mr. Jettison as a potential suspect or witness in the case. ## In the story ### [St. Wrytha’s Stair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/iii-st-wrytha-s-stair) Mitchington arrives at the scene of the death, questions Varner, and orders a search of the clerestory gallery. ### [The Room at the Mitre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/iv-the-room-at-the-mitre) Leads the investigation at the Mitre, examines the deceased's belongings, and notes the newness and Parisian origin of the items. ### [XI: The Back Room](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xi-the-back-room) Mitchington visits Bryce, sharing his suspicions about the case, including Collishaw's hints and Braden's mysterious two-hour absence. ### [XII: Murder of the Mason’s Labourer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xii-murder-of-the-mason-s-labourer) Investigates Collishaw's death, shares suspicions about Ransford, and secures evidence. ### [XIII: Bryce Is Asked a Question](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-bryce-is-asked-a-question) Mentioned as having shared his suspicions about Ransford with Bryce, and as being in possession of a box of pills Ransford gave Collishaw. ### [The Double Offer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xv-the-double-offer) Brings the reward handbills to Bryce and expresses confusion about the competing offers. ### [Beforehand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-beforehand) Mitchington is present at the excavation in Paradise, directing the search alongside the Duke and a mason. ### [XVII: To Be Shadowed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-to-be-shadowed) Visits Ransford with Detective-Sergeant Jettison, reveals the identity of Braden as John Brake, and asks for Ransford's help. ### [Surprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-surprise) Mitchington brings Jettison to Bryce's house, shares news of the jewel discovery, and is startled by Bryce's revelation about Harker's true identity. ### [XIX: The Subtlety of the Devil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-subtlety-of-the-devil) Mitchington listens to Bryce's theory and is surprised by the revelations about Brake and Ransford. ### [XX: Jettison Takes a Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xx-jettison-takes-a-hand) Reports on Ransford and Bryce's whereabouts, discusses theories with Jettison, and receives the telegram from Ransford. ### [The Unexpected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxiii-the-unexpected) Mentioned as leading the police investigation against Ransford. ### [The Old Well House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxv-the-old-well-house) Mitchington appears at the end of the chapter, leading a group toward the well-house, interrupting Bryce and Folliot's conversation. ### [The Other Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxvi-the-other-man) Leads the investigation; confronts Fladgate and later arrests Folliot. ## 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