Continental Op Stories · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Continental Op Stories by Dashiell Hammett.
The Continental Op
major
Also known as Unknown, me, I, myself, mine
The unnamed detective narrator of the Continental Detective Agency, solving cases across multiple stories.
Colonel Einarson
major
Also known as Einarson, this Colonel Einarson, An Einarson
A key figure in a Central American revolution plot, manipulating events behind the scenes.
Jack Counihan
major
Also known as Jack, Counihan
A slick operator involved in political intrigue and murder, often at odds with the Op.
Jacob Ledwich
major
Also known as Ledwich, Jake, Jake Ledwich, this Ledwich
A wealthy and influential man whose death triggers a complex investigation.
Bernard Gilmore
supporting
Also known as Bernard, Gilmore, Bernie
A suspect in a murder case, entangled with family secrets and financial schemes.
Burke Pangburn
supporting
Also known as Burke Pangburn, Mr. Pangburn, Pangburn, Burke, Mr. Burke Pangburn
A shady lawyer involved in crooked dealings and political corruption.
Babe McCloor
supporting
Also known as Babe, McCloor
A tough gangster and enforcer, often involved in violent confrontations.
Stanley Gorham
supporting
Also known as Stan, Stanley Tennant, Tennant
A man caught up in a web of blackmail and murder, with a hidden past.
Tom Carey
supporting
Also known as Tom, Thomas, Carey, Tommy, Tom - Tom Carey
A detective or operative working alongside the Op in various cases.
Cara Kenbrook
supporting
Also known as Cara Kenbrook, Miss Cara Kenbrook, Miss Kenbrook, Cara
A mysterious woman with a connection to a major crime, often a focal point of investigation.
Lionel Grantham
supporting
Also known as Lionel Grantham, Grantham, this Lionel Grantham, Lionel, The Grantham, young Grantham, Lionel the First
A young man involved in a revolutionary plot, seeking power and adventure.
Red O'Leary
supporting
Also known as Red, O'Leary
A criminal with a fiery temper, often clashing with the Op and other crooks.
Joe Wales
supporting
Also known as Joe Wales, Wales, Joseph Wales, Holy Joe, Joe, Holy Joe Wales, That damned Holy Joe
A religious fanatic and criminal, known as 'Holy Joe,' involved in a murder case.
Theodore Kavalov
supporting
Also known as Kavalov, Mr. Kavalov
A foreign agent or diplomat involved in international intrigue and murder.
The Whosis Kid
supporting
Also known as the Whosis Kid, The Kid, The Whosis Kid, Kid, the Kid
A young, dangerous gunman and thief, a recurring antagonist.
Peery
supporting
Also known as Peery
A detective or police officer who assists the Op on several cases.
Bluepoint Vance
supporting
Also known as Bluepoint Vance, Facing Vance, Vance, Bluepoint
A criminal with a distinctive name, involved in various underworld activities.
Pat Reddy
supporting
Also known as IX, Pat Reddy, Pat, Reddy, IX Pat Reddy, Paddy
A police detective or operative, often working with or against the Op.
Detective Sergeant O'Gar
supporting
Also known as O'Gar, Detective Sergeant O'Gar
A police sergeant who collaborates with the Op on investigations.
Angel Grace Cardigan
supporting
Also known as this Angel Grace Cardigan, Angel Grace, Grace Cardigan, Angel Grace Cardigan, Angel, The Angel, the Angel, Angel Grace vagged
A beautiful and enigmatic woman, often a suspect or victim in crimes.
Hugh Sherry
supporting
Also known as Hugh Sherry, Sherry, VII Sherry, Hugh
A man involved in a complex case of theft and murder.
Dick Foley
supporting
Also known as Dick, Rick, Foley
A fellow operative from the Continental Detective Agency, a colleague of the Op.
Big Flora
supporting
Also known as Big Flora, Flora, This Big Flora, Big Flora Brace, Flora Brace
A large, imposing woman involved in criminal activities.
Guy Cudner
supporting
Also known as Guy Cudner, This Guy Cudner, Cudner
A suspect in a murder investigation, with a shady background.
Porky Grout
supporting
Also known as Porky ' Grout, Porky, This Porky Grout, Porky Grout, this Porky Grout, Grout
A criminal informant or low-level thug, often providing information.
Daniel Rathbone
supporting
Also known as Dan, Daniel Rathbone, Rathbone
A man whose murder sets off a chain of events in a story.
Harvey Gatewood
supporting
Also known as Harvey Gatewood, Gatewood
A wealthy and powerful man, often a target or suspect in crimes.
Lillian Shan
supporting
Also known as Lillian Shan
A woman involved in a case of murder and intrigue in Chinatown.
Billie
minor
Also known as Poor Billie, Billie, Dear old Billie
A character who meets a tragic end, often a victim of violence.
Mr. Hook
minor
Also known as Hook, Mr. Hook
A criminal or shady figure operating in the underworld.
Joseph Clane
minor
Also known as Joseph Clane, Clane
A wealthy man whose death is investigated by the Op.
Sue Hambleton
minor
Also known as Sue, the Hambleton, Sue Hambleton, old man Hambleton, Old man Hambleton, Hambleton
A woman involved in a family dispute over inheritance and murder.
Bardell
minor
Also known as Bardell, Mr. Bardell, Fat Bardell, fat Bardell
A corpulent criminal or informant, often providing comic relief.
Tai Choon
minor
Also known as Tai, Presently Tai, Tai Choon, Tai Choon Tau
A Chinese character involved in the Chinatown underworld.
Norman Ashcraft
minor
Also known as Norman Ashcraft, Mrs. Ashcraft, Ashcraft, This Ashcraft, this Ashcraft, this Mrs. Ashcraft, Mrs. Norman Ashcraft, Norman
A man and his wife involved in a case of blackmail and murder.
Chang Li Ching
minor
Also known as Chang Li Ching, Chang, So Chang
A powerful Chinese figure in the criminal underworld.
Vasilije Djudakovich
minor
Also known as Vasilije Djudakovich, Djudakovich, This Vasilije Djudakovich, Vasilije
A foreign revolutionary involved in a plot to overthrow a government.
Mrs. Gilmore
minor
Also known as Mrs. Gilmore, Gilmore
The wife of Bernard Gilmore, involved in family secrets.
Ogburn
minor
Also known as Ogburn, ÄúAnd Ogburn
A detective or police officer working on a case.
Jack Garthorne
minor
Also known as Garthorne, Jack Garthorne, young Jack, the startled Garthorne
A young man caught up in a murder investigation.
Kelly
minor
Also known as Kelly, big Kelly, VIII Kelly, VIII
A large, intimidating criminal or enforcer.
Inés Almad
minor
Also known as Mrs. Inés Almad, Inés, Almad, Inés Almad, Mrs. Almad, Inés the scary
A frightening and mysterious woman involved in criminal activities.
Madden Dexter
minor
Also known as Madden, Madden Dexter, Dexter
A wealthy man whose family is embroiled in a murder case.
Thornburgh
minor
Also known as Thornburgh, This fellow Thornburgh, Mr. Thornburgh
A suspicious character involved in a criminal scheme.
Audrey Gatewood
minor
Also known as Audrey, Gatewood, Audrey Gatewood
The daughter of Harvey Gatewood, involved in a love affair and murder.
Mrs. Gungen
minor
Also known as Mrs. Gungen, Gungen
A woman involved in a case of blackmail and murder.
John Boyd
minor
Also known as John Boyd, Boyd
A detective or operative working with the Op.
Kewpie Gooseneck
minor
Also known as Kewpie, Gooseneck, Kewpie bump Gooseneck
A criminal with a distinctive nickname, involved in theft.
Papadopoulos
minor
Also known as Papadopoulos, this Papadopoulos
A foreign character involved in a criminal enterprise.
Hsiu Hsiu
minor
Also known as Hsiu Hsiu
A Chinese woman involved in the Chinatown underworld.
Mrs. Ringgo
minor
Also known as Ringgo, Mrs. Ringgo
A woman involved in a case of murder and family secrets.
Mr. Zumwalt
minor
Also known as Mr. Zumwalt, Zumwalt
A wealthy man whose death is investigated.
Vance Richmond
minor
Also known as Vance Richmond, Richmond, V Vance Richmond, V, Vance
A man involved in a complex case of theft and murder.
Slim Vogel
minor
Also known as Slim Vogel, Vogel, Slim, poor old Slim
A criminal who meets a tragic end.
Charles Gantvoort
minor
Also known as Charles Gantvoort, Gantvoort, didnвАЩt kill Gantvoort, Charles
A man whose murder is a central mystery in a story.
Bob Teal
minor
Also known as Bob Teal, Bob, Teal
A fellow operative from the Continental Detective Agency.
Jeffrey Main
minor
Also known as Jeffrey Main, dear Jeffrey, Jeffrey, Main
A man involved in a love triangle and murder.
Mr. Axford
minor
Also known as Mr. Axford, Axford
A police officer or detective assisting in investigations.
The Whistler
minor
Also known as The Whistler, Whistler
A mysterious criminal known for whistling, a recurring figure.
Edouard Maurois
minor
Also known as Edouard Maurois, this Maurois, Maurois, Edouard
A Frenchman involved in a criminal scheme.
Black Marcus
minor
Also known as Black, Black Marcus, Marcus
A criminal with a dark complexion, involved in underworld activities.
Nancy Regan
minor
Also known as Nancy Regan, Nancy
A woman involved in a case of murder and intrigue.
Captain Sherry
minor
Also known as Sherry, Captain Sherry
A police captain involved in investigations.
Mark Nisbet
minor
Also known as Mark Nisbet, Nisbet, That Nisbet, Mark, Marcus
A man involved in a case of blackmail and murder.
Romaine Frankl
minor
Also known as Romaine Frankl, Romaine
A woman involved in a romantic subplot and criminal activities.
Raymond Elwood
minor
Also known as Raymond Elwood, this Raymond Elwood, Elwood, Usually Elwood, Raymond, the Elwood
A man whose death is investigated by the Op.
Mickey Linehan
minor
Also known as Mickey Linehan, Mickey, Linehan
A fellow operative from the Continental Detective Agency.
Mrs. Main
minor
Also known as Main, Mrs. Main
The wife of Jeffrey Main, involved in a love triangle.
Dick Moley
minor
Also known as Dick Moley, Moley
A detective or operative working on a case.
Ross Orrett
minor
Also known as Ross Orrett, Orrett, brother Orrett, Ross
A religious figure or brother involved in a case.
Creda Dexter
minor
Also known as Creda Dexter, Creda DexterвАЩs, Creda, The Creda Dexter
A woman involved in a family murder case.
Mrs. Estep
minor
Also known as Mrs. Estep, Estep, This Mrs. Estep, the Estep, the second Mrs. Estep, the first Mrs. Estep
A woman involved in a case of murder and family secrets.
Herbert Whitacre
minor
Also known as Whitacre, Brother Whitacre, Herbert Whitacre, Brother
A religious brother involved in a criminal investigation.
Hilary Gallaway
minor
Also known as Hilary Gallaway, Gallaway, Hilary, IV Hilary Gallaway, IV
A man involved in a case of theft and murder.
Mr. Kilcourse
minor
Also known as Mr. Kilcourse, Kilcourse
A man involved in a criminal scheme.
Mr. Tennant
minor
Also known as Mr. Tennant, Tennant
A man whose identity is tied to a murder case.
Gyp Rainey
minor
Also known as Gyp Rainey, Gyp, Rainey
A criminal involved in underworld activities.
George Dean
minor
Also known as George Dean, Dean
A man involved in a case of murder and intrigue.
Lieutenant Duff
minor
Also known as Lieutenant Duff, Duff
A police lieutenant involved in investigations.
Dr. Humbert Estep
minor
Also known as Dr. Estep, The real Dr. Estep, Dr. Humbert Estep, Humbert Estep, a Dr. Humbert Estep
A doctor involved in a case of murder and family secrets.
Bruno Gungen
minor
Also known as Gungen, Bruno Gungen
A man involved in a case of blackmail and murder.
Edward Bohannon
minor
Also known as Mr. Edward Bohannon, Ed Bohannon, Bohannon, Edward Bohannon, Ed
A man involved in a criminal investigation.
Clio Landes
minor
Also known as Clio Landes, Clio
A woman involved in a case of murder and intrigue.
