# Agatha Dawson — Unnatural Death character guide

> Agatha Dawson in Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Miss Dawson, Agatha Dawson, Miss Agatha Dawson, old Miss Dawson, the Dawson

**First appearance:** 0001-i-overheard

## Snapshot

An elderly woman of stubbornly old-fashioned notions about property, whose quiet death sets the whole case in motion before the book has properly begun.

## Who they are

Miss Dawson could never be made to understand why the law should give her money to anyone but her niece, and she distrusted the whole business of wills and lawyers. Her solicitor found her mind clear but hopelessly unlegal, and urged her to settle her affairs before an operation. Her death, sudden and unexplained, is the loose thread that Wimsey cannot leave alone.

## In the story

### [I: Overheard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/i-overheard)

The deceased elderly patient, wealthy and averse to making a will, who suspected poisoning and died suddenly.

### [A Bit Mental](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/iv-a-bit-mental)

Deceased patient; showed no fear of Nurse Philliter but had hysterical attacks after receiving legal papers, claiming 'they were trying to kill her before her time.'

### [VIII: Concerning Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/viii-concerning-crime)

The deceased; her inheritance from Clara Whittaker and her relationship with Mary are central to the motive discussion.

### [IX: The Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/ix-the-will)

The deceased old lady; described as nervous, eccentric, and in great pain, kept under morphia, with her mind giving way in October, rambling about hunting and asking 'Have they passed it yet, Nurse?'

### [X: The Will Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/x-the-will-again)

Deceased; the quarrel involved her distress over a typewritten document and her subsequent illness.

### [A Tale of Two Spinsters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xii-a-tale-of-two-spinsters)

Recalled as a determined and strong-willed woman who chose spinsterhood and lived with Clara Whittaker.

### [XIII: Hallelujah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xiii-hallelujah)

Deceased; remembered as the only surviving family member who kindly provided an allowance to Rev. Hallelujah Dawson.

### [XIV: Sharp Quillets of the Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xiv-sharp-quillets-of-the-law)

The deceased; her death in November 1925 rather than later is central to the legal motive discussion.

### [XVII: The Country Lawyer's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xvii-the-country-lawyer-s-story)

Deceased; described as averse to making a will due to superstitious fear of death, and not particularly sensible about legal matters.

### [Part III: The Medico-Legal Problem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/part-iii-the-medico-legal-problem)

The deceased, whose death is the subject of the medico-legal problem.

### [Genealogical Table](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/genealogical-table)

Deceased, central figure in the inheritance line.

### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations)

Her bedroom layout is illustrated, showing a mirror through which maids could observe her signing documents.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters/agatha_dawson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/unnatural_death_se/characters