# Mordaunt Reeves — The Viaduct Murder character guide > Mordaunt Reeves in The Viaduct Murder by Ronald A. Knox. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Reeves, XIX Mordaunt Reeves **First appearance:** 0002-the-viaduct-murder ## Who they are The sharp-witted investigator who punctures every theory with logic, insisting that observation and inference are two very different things. ## Relationships ### [Gordon Davenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/gordon_davenant) _friendship_ Gordon and Mordaunt are close friends and frequent companions, often working together to solve the mystery. ### [Mr. Carmichael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mr_carmichael) _professional_ Mordaunt and Mr. Carmichael have a collegial professional relationship, often discussing case details and evidence. ### [Marryatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/marryatt) _friendship_ Marryatt and Mordaunt are friendly allies, frequently collaborating on inquiries and supporting each other. ### [Old Brotherhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/old_brotherhood) _social_ Mordaunt and Old Brotherhood have a polite but somewhat formal social acquaintance within their shared community. ### [Miss Rendall-Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/miss_rendall_smith) _friendship_ Miss Rendall-Smith and Mordaunt are friendly acquaintances, with Mordaunt showing protective concern for her. ### [Mr. Masterman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mr_masterman) _professional_ Mordaunt and Mr. Masterman have a professional relationship, likely as colleagues or fellow experts in the investigation. ### [Colonel Steele](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/colonel_steele) _rivalry_ Colonel Steele and Mordaunt are often at odds, with Steele's authoritarian manner clashing with Mordaunt's methods. ### [Sergeant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/sergeant) _professional_ Mordaunt works with the Sergeant as a law enforcement contact, exchanging official information and coordinating efforts. ### [Gordon Davenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/gordon_davenant) _friendship_ Gordon and Mordaunt are close friends and frequent companions, often working together to solve the mystery. ### [Old Brotherhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/old_brotherhood) _social_ Mordaunt and Old Brotherhood have a polite but somewhat formal social acquaintance within their shared community. ### [Gordon Davenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/gordon_davenant) _friendship_ Gordon and Mordaunt are close friends and frequent companions, often working together to solve the mystery. ### [Marryatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/marryatt) _friendship_ Marryatt and Mordaunt are friendly allies, frequently collaborating on inquiries and supporting each other. ## In the story ### [The Viaduct Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/the-viaduct-murder) Involved in the initial examination and debate about the death. ### [I: The Paston Oatvile Dormy-House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/i-the-paston-oatvile-dormy-house) Leads the discussion on detection and inference, argues for suspicion and against relying on character or simple answers. ### [II: In the Rough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/ii-in-the-rough) Discovers the body with Gordon, examines the corpse, and later returns to the dormy-house. ### [III: Piecing It Together](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/iii-piecing-it-together) Leads the analysis of the cipher and evidence; proposes the book cipher theory and plans to investigate Brotherhood's bungalow. ### [IV: Endless Clues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/iv-endless-clues) Leads the morning investigation, posing as a Daily Mail reporter to interview Mrs. Bramston. ### [V: On the Railway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/v-on-the-railway) Investigates the railway embankment, discusses murder theory, retrieves a book from a porter, and attempts to decode a cipher message. ### [VI: The Movements of Mr. Davenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/vi-the-movements-of-mr-davenant) Reeves discusses the case with Gordon, Marryatt, and Carmichael, and shares his observations about Davenant. ### [VII: Carmichael’s Account of It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/vii-carmichael-s-account-of-it) Expresses shock and self-reproach at not seeing the double identity. ### [VIII: The Inquest, and a Fresh Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/viii-the-inquest-and-a-fresh-clue) Attends the inquest, reflects on the proceedings, and later discusses the case with the others. He is determined to pursue the mystery despite the suicide verdict. ### [The Animated Picture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/ix-the-animated-picture) Leads the investigation, insists on confronting Miss Rendall-Smith despite moral qualms; observes the photograph's apparent change. ### [X: In Which a Book Is More Communicative Than a Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/x-in-which-a-book-is-more-communicative-than-a-lady) Visits Miss Rendall-Smith with the photograph; later discovers the cipher has gone missing from his room. ### [XI: A Funeral and a Vigil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xi-a-funeral-and-a-vigil) Discovers the cipher has been moved and returns to his room; agrees to participate in the night vigil. ### [XII: A Search with Piano Accompaniment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xii-a-search-with-piano-accompaniment) Plays piano loudly to cover the search, provides information about neighboring rooms. ### [XIII: The Man in the Passage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xiii-the-man-in-the-passage) Plays the piano as a cover, accompanies Gordon into the passage with the electric torch. ### [XIV: A Chase, Ending with a Surprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xiv-a-chase-ending-with-a-surprise) Drives the car in the pursuit and collaborates with the police. ### [Gordon Takes the Opportunity to Philosophize](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xv-gordon-takes-the-opportunity-to-philosophize) Reeves discusses the legal weaknesses of the case against Davenant and speculates on innocent explanations for his behavior. ### [XVI: Reeves Promises to Do His Best](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xvi-reeves-promises-to-do-his-best) Reeves agrees to help Miss Rendall-Smith, takes notes on her story, and promises to do his best to prove Davenant's innocence. ### [By Which Train?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xvii-by-which-train) Leads the discussion, re-examining evidence and developing a new theory about the ticket and watches. ### [XVIII: The Holmes Method](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xviii-the-holmes-method) Discovers the cipher book missing from his room; participates in the deduction of the thief's identity. ### [XIX: Mordaunt Reeves Talks to Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xix-mordaunt-reeves-talks-to-himself) The central figure of the chapter, Reeves engages in solitary reflection and investigation, talking to himself as he reconstructs the murder scenario and later visits Miss Rendall-Smith. ### [Proof at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xx-proof-at-last) Reeves presents his detailed case against Marryatt, including the deciphering of the washing-list and the plan to test Marryatt with the stick. ### [XXI: The Test](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxi-the-test) Sets up the trap with Gordon, observes Marryatt's terrified reaction, and debates the next steps. ### [XXII: In the Fog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxii-in-the-fog) Reeves confronts Marryatt through a speaking tube, laying out the entire murder plot and demanding a confession. ### [Marryatt Breaks the Pledge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxiii-marryatt-breaks-the-pledge) Reeves is dazed after learning of Davenant's confession and is distressed by Marryatt's flight; he later feels relief when Marryatt returns. ### [Gordon Offers the Consolation of Philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxiv-gordon-offers-the-consolation-of-philosophy) Listens to Gordon's explanations and is persuaded to abandon his detective theories, deciding to devote himself to 'the Game'. ### [The Dull Facts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxv-the-dull-facts) Now reformed, has forsworn detective work, succeeded in doing the ninth in four, and is called 'the Converted Detective' by Carmichael. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mordaunt_reeves - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters