# Miles Bredon — The Three Taps character guide > Miles Bredon in The Three Taps by Ronald A. Knox. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Bredon, Mr. Bredon **First appearance:** 0001-the-three-taps ## Snapshot An insurance detective who plays patience while suspects scurry past his window, convinced the cards and the case will both come out right. ## Who they are Bredon arrives at the Load of Mischief to determine whether a heavily insured death was suicide — which would void the policy — or something the company must pay for. He is imperturbable to the point of laziness, absorbed in solitaire while Scotland Yard bustles outside, yet his mind is quietly closing its nets around the truth. His running commentary with Angela turns the investigation into a domestic comedy of deduction, and his willingness to sit still while others move is precisely what makes him dangerous. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Brinkman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_brinkman) _professional_ Miles Bredon, as an investigator, interacts frequently with Mr. Brinkman, likely a key figure in the case or employer. ### [Angela Bredon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/angela_bredon) _family_ Angela and Miles Bredon are married, sharing a close familial bond and likely working together on the investigation. ### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_leyland) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Mr. Leyland interact frequently in a professional capacity, likely as investigator and subject or colleague. ### [Mr. Mottram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_mottram) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Mr. Mottram interact in a professional context, likely related to the investigation or business matters. ### [Mr. Pulteney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_pulteney) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Mr. Pulteney have a professional relationship, possibly as investigator and suspect or colleague. ### [Mr. Eames](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_eames) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Mr. Eames interact professionally, likely as investigator and subject or colleague. ### [Mr. Brinkman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_brinkman) _professional_ Miles Bredon, as an investigator, interacts frequently with Mr. Brinkman, likely a key figure in the case or employer. ### [Angela Bredon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/angela_bredon) _family_ Angela and Miles Bredon are married, sharing a close familial bond and likely working together on the investigation. ### [Mr. Mottram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_mottram) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Mr. Mottram interact in a professional context, likely related to the investigation or business matters. ### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_leyland) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Mr. Leyland interact frequently in a professional capacity, likely as investigator and subject or colleague. ### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_leyland) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Mr. Leyland interact frequently in a professional capacity, likely as investigator and subject or colleague. ### [Mr. Pulteney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/mr_pulteney) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Mr. Pulteney have a professional relationship, possibly as investigator and suspect or colleague. ## In the story ### [The Three Taps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/the-three-taps) Arrives at Chilthorpe to investigate Mottram's death. ### [II: The Detective Malgré Lui](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/ii-the-detective-malgr-lui) Introduced as the Indescribable's private detective, a large, good-humoured, slightly lethargic man in his early thirties. He is playing patience when the call comes in, and he correctly interprets Angela's phone conversation. ### [III: At the Load of Mischief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/iii-at-the-load-of-mischief) Arrives at the Load of Mischief with Angela; his spirits have risen after receiving a letter from the company about Mottram's offer. He is irritated by the generic inn atmosphere and examines the visitors' book, noting the anomaly in Mottram's signature. ### [IV: The Bedroom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/iv-the-bedroom) Arrives at the inn with Angela, meets Inspector Leyland, and examines the death scene, debating the nature of Mottram's death. ### [V: Supper, and Mr. Brinkman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/v-supper-and-mr-brinkman) Questions Brinkman about Mottram's death, the locked room, and the insurance claim. ### [VI: An Ear at the Keyhole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/vi-an-ear-at-the-keyhole) Debates suicide theory with Angela, examines door, suspects eavesdropper, warns Leyland. ### [VII: From Leyland’s Notebook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/vii-from-leyland-s-notebook) Referenced as the one Leyland bet with and whose views on suicide he seeks to counter; his suggestion about the match is dismissed. ### [VIII: The Bishop at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/viii-the-bishop-at-home) Visits the Bishop of Pullford under the alias Mr. Brendan to investigate Mottram's death. ### [IX: The Late Rector of Hipley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/ix-the-late-rector-of-hipley) Dines with the Bishop and clergy, learns about Mottram's will and Eames's past, visits Mottram's house. ### [X: The Bet Doubled](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/x-the-bet-doubled) Doubles the bet with Leyland and presents his theory that Simmonds murdered Mottram to inherit the Euthanasia money. ### [XI: The Generalship of Angela](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xi-the-generalship-of-angela) Enlists Angela's help to investigate the cigarette brand; participates in the blindfold tasting game as part of the plan. ### [XII: The Makings of a Trap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xii-the-makings-of-a-trap) Bredon is uneasy about the deceptive trap they plan to set for Brinkman, but agrees to help Leyland. ### [XIII: A Morning with the Haberdasher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xiii-a-morning-with-the-haberdasher) Stages a conversation with Leyland for Brinkman's benefit, then visits Simmonds's shop to observe him. ### [XIV: Bredon Is Taken for a Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xiv-bredon-is-taken-for-a-walk) Returns from shopping and discusses his failed interrogation of Simmonds; later accepts Brinkman's invitation for a walk, hoping for a disclosure. ### [XV: A Scrap of Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xv-a-scrap-of-paper) Discusses the burnt will fragment with Leyland, theorizing that Simmonds burned it after murdering Mottram. Reveals Angela told him Simmonds knew about the codicil. ### [XVI: A Visitor from Pullford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xvi-a-visitor-from-pullford) Greets Eames, discusses the will and his theory of double bluff with Angela. ### [XVII: Mysterious Behaviour of the Old Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xvii-mysterious-behaviour-of-the-old-gentleman) Investigates the eavesdropper with Angela and Eames, suspects Pulteney. ### [XVIII: The Barmaid Is Brought to Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xviii-the-barmaid-is-brought-to-book) Deduces that Emmeline's story was fabricated and that Brinkman is now the prime suspect. ### [XIX: How Leyland Spent the Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xix-how-leyland-spent-the-evening) Plays patience at his window as lookout, refusing to join the cinema party. ### [XX: How Bredon Spent the Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xx-how-bredon-spent-the-evening) Plays patience by the window, keeps watch, retrieves blown cards, and has a breakthrough in the detective mystery. ### [XXII: At a Standstill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxii-at-a-standstill) Defends his theory and admits to possibly tipping off Brinkman by retrieving his fallen cards from the street. ### [XXIII: Leyland’s Account of It All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxiii-leyland-s-account-of-it-all) Listens to Leyland's account and points out a critical flaw regarding the gas tap marks. ### [XXIV: Mottram’s Account of It All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxiv-mottram-s-account-of-it-all) Deduces that Mottram's suicide letter was copied, and concludes the death was an accident, not suicide. ### [XXV: Bredon's Account of It All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxv-bredon-s-account-of-it-all) Reveals the solution to the mystery, explaining the accident and Brinkman's role. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters/miles_bredon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_taps_se/characters