# Stanley Pyke — The Sea Mystery character guide

> Stanley Pyke in The Sea Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Pyke, Stanley Pyke, Mr. Stanley, Mr. Stanley Pyke, poor Stanley, Stanley

**First appearance:** 0004-v-messrs-berlyn-and-pyke

## Snapshot

The jolly, pleasant-mannered junior partner of Berlyn & Pyke, whose disappearance on a Dartmoor night turns a firm's tragedy into a murder inquiry.

## Who they are

Pyke lodged in Ashburton, was well liked, easy to please, and not stingy, the sort of man whose absence leaves a landlord puzzled rather than alarmed. He dined early the night he vanished, gave his usual instructions about the door and his supper, and walked out into a story that would consume the town. French keeps circling the possibility that Pyke and Berlyn were rivals in more than business, and the question of why a murderer would bother to crate a body rather than sink it in a mire becomes one of his sharpest tests of the case.

## In the story

### [V: Messrs. Berlyn and Pyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/v-messrs-berlyn-and-pyke)

Technical travelling representative at Veda Works; disappeared with Charles Berlyn on August 15th.

### [The Despatch of the Crate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/vi-the-despatch-of-the-crate)

Mentioned as one of the men who lost their lives on the night in question, central to the case.

### [IX: A Step Forward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/ix-a-step-forward)

Deceased; described as jolly and pleasant; his body is identified by a birthmark.

### [X: London’s Further Contribution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/x-london-s-further-contribution)

Mentioned as the murder victim; Mrs. Berlyn recalls his birthmark and describes him as jolly and kind.

### [XI: John Gurney, Night Watchman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xi-john-gurney-night-watchman)

French believes Stanley Pyke's body was placed in the crate at the works on the night Gurney was drugged and asleep.

### [XII: The Duplicator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xii-the-duplicator)

Mentioned in Beer's testimony as having a secret meeting with Mrs. Berlyn.

### [Blackmail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xv-blackmail)

Victim; his coat was recovered from the well.

### [XVII: “Danger!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-danger)

Mentioned as a possible victim; French theorizes he was murdered by Mrs. Berlyn and Jefferson Pyke.

### [XVIII: On Hampstead Heath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-on-hampstead-heath)

Pyke is shadowed by French to Hampstead Heath, where he meets Mrs. Berlyn and discusses helping Charles Berlyn.

### [XIX: The Bitterness of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-bitterness-of-death)

Fugitive suspect; fled with a suitcase; described as wearing a fawn coat and soft hat.

### [XX: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/chapters/xx-conclusion)

Arrested after being knocked unconscious; masterminded the murder of Berlyn and impersonated his cousin Jefferson to marry Phyllis and gain the inheritance.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/characters/mr_pyke
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_mystery_se/characters