# Lance O'Leary — The Patient in Room 18 character guide

> Lance O'Leary in The Patient in Room 18 by Mignon G. Eberhart.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** O'Leary, Mr. O'Leary

**First appearance:** 0001-the-patient-in-room-18

## Snapshot

A sharp-eyed detective who treats each fresh death as another piece of the same puzzle, and says little about what he already suspects.

## Who they are

O'Leary works the hospital corridors with the weary patience of a man who has learned that important things get forgotten and that keys vanish at convenient hours. He badgers Miss Keate about the missing south-door key, then shuts himself in the inner office to think, linking the crimes to the radium and to whoever slipped through the south wing at midnight. His willingness to suspect doctors, nurses, and neighbors alike keeps the investigation moving even as it strains the nerves of everyone around him.

## In the story

### [III: Dr. Letheny Does Not Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/iii-dr-letheny-does-not-return)

A detective with clear gray eyes and a calm demeanor, he questions Keate about the night's events.

### [IV: A Yellow Slicker and Other Problems](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/iv-a-yellow-slicker-and-other-problems)

Informs Keate of Dr. Letheny's death and the fractured skull; asks for her help; leaves policemen on duty.

### [V: A Lapis Cuff Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/v-a-lapis-cuff-link)

Detective who interviews Keate, reveals key evidence, and discusses Corole's background.

### [VII: The Disappearing Key and Part of an Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/vii-the-disappearing-key-and-part-of-an-inquest)

Mentioned as the person Sarah intends to tell about the key and the open door.

### [A Gold Sequin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/viii-a-gold-sequin)

Mentioned as controlling the inquest; Sarah Keate plans to give him the sequin.

### [Under the Barberry Bush](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/ix-under-the-barberry-bush)

Finds the hypodermic syringe under the barberry bush; confronts Maida about the syringe substitution; discusses multiple suspects with Sarah.

### [By the Light of a Match](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xi-by-the-light-of-a-match)

Mentioned as having talked to Corole; Sarah plans to inform him of Higgins's story.

### [Room 18 Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xii-room-18-again)

Arrives after gunshot; directs Maida to restore power and Keate to guard the door.

### [The Radium Appears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xiii-the-radium-appears)

Leads the investigation, shares his theory linking the three murders to the radium, and questions Miss Keate about the timing of events.

### [XIV: A Matter of Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xiv-a-matter-of-evidence)

Conducts interrogations; is attacked and found unconscious; continues investigation despite injury.

### [XV: Corole Is Moved to Candour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xv-corole-is-moved-to-candour)

Interrogates Corole about the radium and the events of the night of Louis's death.

### [XVI: The Red Light Above the Door](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xvi-the-red-light-above-the-door)

Reveals Corole hid radium in Room 18; plans to retrieve it at night.

### [O'Leary Tells a Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xvii-o-leary-tells-a-story)

Leads the operation, captures Hajek and Gainsay, and reveals the full story of the crimes.

### [XVIII: O’Leary Revises His Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xviii-o-leary-revises-his-story)

Explains his detective work and the trap set for Dr. Balman; shows weariness and regret over Balman's downfall.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/lance_oleary
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters