Character guide

Leslie Maughan

major

Also known as Miss Leslie Maughan, Miss Maughan, Leslie, Maughan

A young woman policeman whose cool nerve and sharp eye pull her into a case where a convict, a gun, and a missing child all point the same way.

Peter Dawlish

major

Also known as Mr. Dawlish, Dawlish, Mr. Peter Dawlish

Fresh out of Dartmoor in a scarecrow's suit, this educated ex-convict trades his prison-made clothes for a seat by Leslie Maughan's fire and a second chance.

Princess Anita Bellini

major

Also known as Anita, Princess Bellini, Anita Bellini, Princess Anita

Six feet of Eton-cropped, monocled aristocracy who rescued Greta Gurden from the chorus and now runs her life with the same ruthless grip.

Jane Raytham

supporting

Also known as Raytham, Jane

A well-dressed, unhappy wife who burns a policewoman's card in the fire rather than tell what she knows about her husband's affairs.

Greta Gurden

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Gurden, Gurden, Mrs. Greta Gurden

A gushing, carmined journalist who edits Mayfair Gossip and lives on a seven-and-a-half income, forever afraid of missing something.

Mr. Coldwell

supporting

Also known as Coldwell, Chief Inspector Coldwell, Inspector Coldwell

A Chief Inspector with a callous eye for rubber clubs and forged telegrams, who works the case with the patience of a man who has seen it all.

Lady Raytham

supporting

Also known as dear Lady Raytham, the new Lady Raytham

At twenty-eight, Lady Raytham has the austere, purposeful face of a woman built to defend a castle — yet on this sleet-grey February evening she is uncertain and irritable, closer to fear than she has ever been. Her husband Raytham wires from Constantinople that he is pushing on to Basra and Bushire, and his four apologies for missing April read like a life sentence. Her watchful butler Druze, the guests she has summoned to tea, and the shadows she half-expects to see take shape in the fog all point to a woman whose ordered world is quietly coming apart.

Mrs. Inglethorne

minor

Also known as Evidently Mrs. Inglethorne, the unhealthy-looking Mrs. Inglethorne

A minor character described as unhealthy-looking.

Lucretia Brown

minor

Also known as Lucretia, the shocked Lucretia, the indignant Lucretia

A woman who reacts strongly to events, possibly a servant.

Anthony Druze

supporting

Also known as Druze, Anthony

Druze moves through Lady Raytham's saloon with soft-footed precision, head bent to catch her slightest whisper, a quizzical smile never quite leaving his eyes. He is the household's most trusted servant and its most attentive observer, and the reader is invited to wonder what, exactly, he is watching for. His quiet presence at the edges of Lady Raytham's isolation anchors the novel's early atmosphere of domestic menace.

Elizabeth Dawlish

minor

Also known as Elizabeth Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning

A woman possibly related to Peter Dawlish.

Donald Dawlish

minor

Also known as old Donald Dawlish, Mrs. Dawlish, Donald, Poor old Donald

An older relative of Peter Dawlish, possibly deceased.

Dr. Elford Wesley

minor

Also known as old Dr. Wesley, Dr. Wesley

An elderly doctor in the story.

Margaret Dawlish

minor

Also known as Margaret

A woman with the Dawlish surname.

Lord Everreed

minor

Also known as Everreed

A titled nobleman appearing in the story.

Mrs. Hobbs

minor

Also known as The obedient Mrs. Hobbs, Hobbs

A servant or housekeeper described as obedient.

Arthur Druze

minor

Also known as poor Druze, Arthur, Miss or Mrs. Druze

Another Druze family member, possibly in distress.

Martha Druze

minor

Also known as Martha, Druze

A female member of the Druze household.

Old Mr. Wesley

minor

Also known as old Mr. Wesley

An older gentleman, possibly related to Dr. Wesley.

Jane Dawlish

minor

Also known as Jane

A woman with the surname Dawlish, possibly Peter's relative.

Martha

minor

Also known as Miss Martha

A woman referred to as Miss Martha, possibly a servant.

Mr. Druze

minor

Also known as Mr. Druze drunk, Mr. Druze sober

A man with alternating states of intoxication.

Alice Druze

minor

Also known as Alice Mary Druze, Alice

A female member of the Druze family.

Annie Druze

minor

Also known as Annie Emily Druze, Annie

Another female Druze relative.

Belinda

minor

A minor character, possibly a maid or friend.

Diga Nagara

minor

A character with an exotic name, possibly a foreign visitor.

Lord Raytham

minor

A titled male member of the Raytham family.