# Colonel Gethryn — The Rasp character guide

> Colonel Gethryn in The Rasp by Philip MacDonald.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Superintendent Boyd, Boyd, Old Bloodhound Boyd

**First appearance:** 0005-ii

## Snapshot

A stolid Scotland Yard man who lays out the case against Deacon with grim satisfaction, and can't quite decide whether his old friend Gethryn is mad or onto something.

## Who they are

Boyd is the official investigator, methodical and a little proud of a case he considers 'easy,' and he walks Gethryn through the locked-room problem, the open window, and the wood-rasp with the air of a man who has already closed the file. He is loyal enough to share the fingerprint enlargements and to ask Gethryn to keep quiet about them, and honest enough to admit the case has a nasty, puzzling feel. His friction with Gethryn — the sane law versus the mad amateur — gives the early investigation its productive tension.

## Relationships

### [Anthony Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/anthony_gethryn)

_family_

Colonel Gethryn is Anthony Gethryn's father, and they have a close familial bond with frequent interactions.

### [Sir Arthur Digby-Coates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/sir_arthur_digby_coates)

_social_

Colonel Gethryn and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates are acquaintances or friends, with interactions suggesting a social connection.

### [Mr. Deacon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/mr_deacon)

_social_

Colonel Gethryn and Mr. Deacon are social acquaintances, interacting within the story's social framework.

### [Anthony Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/anthony_gethryn)

_family_

Colonel Gethryn is Anthony Gethryn's father, and they have a close familial bond with frequent interactions.

### [Sir Arthur Digby-Coates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/sir_arthur_digby_coates)

_social_

Colonel Gethryn and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates are acquaintances or friends, with interactions suggesting a social connection.

### [Anthony Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/anthony_gethryn)

_family_

Colonel Gethryn is Anthony Gethryn's father, and they have a close familial bond with frequent interactions.

### [Sir Arthur Digby-Coates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/sir_arthur_digby_coates)

_social_

Colonel Gethryn and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates are acquaintances or friends, with interactions suggesting a social connection.

### [Mr. Deacon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/mr_deacon)

_social_

Colonel Gethryn and Mr. Deacon are social acquaintances, interacting within the story's social framework.

### [Mr. Deacon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/mr_deacon)

_social_

Colonel Gethryn and Mr. Deacon are social acquaintances, interacting within the story's social framework.

## In the story

### [II: Anthony Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii-anthony-gethryn)

Anthony's father; a hunting country gentleman and brilliant mathematician.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii)

Recognized by Superintendent Boyd; Anthony is referred to as Colonel Gethryn.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/iii)

Referred to as 'Colonel' by Boyd; Anthony is the same person, acting as the amateur detective.

### [IV: Study](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/iv-study)

Referred to as 'Boyd', the inspector who accompanies Anthony, assists in the investigation, and discusses the evidence.

### [The Lady of the Sandal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/v-the-lady-of-the-sandal)

Mentioned as Boyd, the detective who continues questioning at Abbotshall.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as Boyd, who has gone into the house for further questioning.

### [Secretary and the Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/vi-secretary-and-the-sister)

Referred to as Superintendent Boyd; excitedly informs Anthony of the maid's changed story and Deacon's broken alibi.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/i)

Superintendent Boyd, who presents the case against Deacon and is confident in the evidence.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as 'Boyd' who suspects Deacon based on fingerprints and other clues.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned by Margaret as the one who will be pleased they caught the murderer.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii)

Present at the inquest as Superintendent Boyd; attempts to address Anthony but finds him gone.

### [The Bow and Arrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/xi-the-bow-and-arrow)

Referred to as 'Boyd' in the chapter; he accompanies Anthony to the police station, provides fingerprint photographs, and agrees to help Anthony.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced in the endnote as being too modest.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/colonel_gethryn
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters