# Gus Montrose — The Shore Road Mystery character guide > Gus Montrose in The Shore Road Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Detective Smuff, Smuff, Montrose, Gus, Evidently Montrose **First appearance:** 0006-vii-gus-montrose ## Snapshot A heavy-booted, snarling member of the car-theft gang, Gus Montrose is the voice in the cave that turns a hiding game into a trap. ## Who they are Gus is one of the thieves operating out of the hidden cave and tunnels off Shore Road, the man who shouts for Sam and refuses to charge armed boys in the dark. He's cautious where his partners are bold, and that caution buys Frank and Joe precious minutes. He matters because he's the human face of the ring the Hardy boys are trying to break—not a mastermind, just a man who doesn't want to get shot. ## Relationships ### [Frank Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/frank_hardy) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose is a suspicious character frequently at odds with Frank, often under scrutiny for criminal activity. ### [Joe Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/joe_hardy) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose is also antagonistic toward Joe, viewing the Hardy brothers as threats. ### [Jack Dodd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/jack_dodd) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose and Jack Dodd are in conflict, with Gus possibly threatening Jack. ### [Mr. Dodd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/mr_dodd) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose has a tense, adversarial relationship with Mr. Dodd. ### [Chet Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/chet_morton) _rivalry_ Chet is wary of Gus Montrose, viewing him as a shady character. ### [Sam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/sam) _professional_ Sam is likely an associate or accomplice of Gus Montrose, involved in his schemes. ### [Frank Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/frank_hardy) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose is a suspicious character frequently at odds with Frank, often under scrutiny for criminal activity. ### [Joe Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/joe_hardy) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose is also antagonistic toward Joe, viewing the Hardy brothers as threats. ### [Frank Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/frank_hardy) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose is a suspicious character frequently at odds with Frank, often under scrutiny for criminal activity. ### [Jack Dodd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/jack_dodd) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose and Jack Dodd are in conflict, with Gus possibly threatening Jack. ### [Jack Dodd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/jack_dodd) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose and Jack Dodd are in conflict, with Gus possibly threatening Jack. ### [Mr. Dodd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/mr_dodd) _rivalry_ Gus Montrose has a tense, adversarial relationship with Mr. Dodd. ## In the story ### [Under Suspicion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/iii-under-suspicion) Mentioned as a former hired hand who was dismissed after a quarrel and might have framed the Dodds. ### [On the Shore Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/vi-on-the-shore-road) Detective Smuff arrives at the Dodd farm, questions Jack, and discusses the lack of leads on the stolen cars. ### [Gus Montrose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/vii-gus-montrose) Spotted briefly in the woods; matches the description of a thin, hook-nosed man the tramps mentioned. ### [Gus Montrose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/vii-gus-montrose) Warns the boys against searching the woods, then leaves in his car. ### [The Missing Truck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/viii-the-missing-truck) Flees from the boys in the woods and is suspected of being involved in the car thefts. ### [In the Locker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-in-the-locker) Gus is spotted trudging along Shore Road at night, and Frank suspects he may be involved in the car thefts. ### [Montrose Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-montrose-again) Seen on Shore Road with a villainous-looking companion, raising suspicion. ### [The Suspect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/xv-the-suspect) Confronts the Hardy boys for following him, acts suspiciously. ### [The Auto Thieves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-the-auto-thieves) Identified by his voice as a member of the auto theft ring, revealing his criminal involvement. ### [Captured](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/xix-captured) Revealed as a key member of the auto theft gang; brags about intimidating the Hardy boys and is exultant when they are trapped. ### [Tables Turned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/xx-tables-turned) Leader of the auto thieves, recognizes the Hardy boys and orders them tied up; plans to move the cars out early. ### [The Roundup](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/xxii-the-roundup) Captured and handcuffed, he blames the Hardy boys for his downfall. ### [The Mystery Solved](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/chapters/xxiii-the-mystery-solved) Confesses to his role in the car thefts and explains how the fishing rod ended up in the stolen car. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters/gus_montrose - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shore_road_mystery_se/characters