The Valley of Fear · Character

White Mason

The bustling Sussex detective who hands Holmes a case so strange he calls it 'most remarkable,' and watches his deductions like a village doctor before a Harley Street specialist.

supporting

Also known as Mr. White Mason

First appearance: The People of the Drama

As a supporting figure in The Valley of Fear, White Mason is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Local officer who sent a letter to MacDonald describing the case as a 'snorter' and inviting Holmes.

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White Mason is the local policeman who takes charge of the Birlstone tragedy, brisk, genial, and delighted to have snared the great Holmes for his puzzle. He works the small details with pride — the hammer, the sawed-off shotgun, the wired triggers — but knows his limits, gazing at Holmes 'as the little village practitioner looks at the Harley Street specialist.' His eager, methodical presence grounds the investigation's early hours and gives Holmes the raw material to unravel.

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See White Mason in The People of the Drama

Character Web

9 connections

A slice of how White Mason sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Birlstone Manor Investigation
Vermissa Valley Scowrers

+4 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This chapter marks the dramatic climax because McMurdo’s psychological peak of confidence and integration into…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Sherlock Holmes
professional · positive
White Mason is a local detective who collaborates with Holmes on the Birlstone case,… How this plays out →
Sherlock Holmes
professional · positive
White Mason is a local detective who collaborates with Holmes on the Birlstone case,… How this plays out →
Sherlock Holmes
professional · positive
White Mason is a local detective who collaborates with Holmes on the Birlstone case,… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See White Mason in The People of the Drama

In the story

White Mason appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II: Sherlock Holmes Discourses
Local officer who sent a letter to MacDonald describing the case as a 'snorter' and inviting Holmes.
Darkness
The Sussex detective who meets Holmes and Watson at the station, briefs them on the case, and leads the investigation at Birlstone.
The People of the Drama
Leads the questioning of the household witnesses, inviting Ames to give his account first.
VI: A Dawning Light
Listens to Holmes's alternative theory and expresses skepticism about Mrs. Douglas's possible connection to an American assassin.
The Solution
Defers to MacDonald's judgment and agrees to Holmes's plan despite his confusion.

Chapter companion notes

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See White Mason in The People of the Drama

See White Mason in II: Sherlock Holmes Discourses