Red Harvest · Chapter
XI: The Swell Spoon explained
Dinah Brand reveals to the narrator that Max Thaler (Whisper) murdered Tim Noonan, the brother of Police Chief Noonan, at Mock Lake two years earlier.
What happens
Dinah Brand reveals to the narrator that Max Thaler (Whisper) murdered Tim Noonan, the brother of Police Chief Noonan, at Mock Lake two years earlier. She recounts the events in detail, describing how Myrtle Jennison witnessed the murder and heard Tim's dying accusation. Dinah explains how she and Myrtle bribed detective MacSwain to cover up the killing as a suicide. The narrator then visits Myrtle in the hospital, where she confirms the story and signs a written statement.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Manipulation
Dinah Brand and Myrtle Jennison orchestrate a cover-up of Tim Noonan's murder, bribing MacSwain to fabricate a suicide story and manipulating the truth to protect Max Thaler.
Corruption and Power
The bribery of a police detective and the subsequent cover-up highlight the systemic corruption in Personville, where power and money can subvert justice.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Listens to Dinah Brand's account of Tim Noonan's murder and later visits Myrtle Jennison in the hospital to obtain a signed statement.
- Dinah Brand
Provides the narrator with detailed information about the murder of Tim Noonan, including the bribery of MacSwain and Myrtle Jennison's involvement.
- Max Thaler
Revealed as the killer of Tim Noonan; Dinah describes his alibi and his relationship with Myrtle Jennison.
- Myrtle Jennison
Witness to Tim Noonan's murder; now dying in the hospital, she confirms the story and signs a statement for the narrator.
- MacSwain
The detective bribed by Myrtle and Dinah to cover up the murder as a suicide; later kicked off the force by Noonan.
Key passages
“If stirring things up is your system, I’ve got a swell spoon for you. Did you ever hear of Noonan’s brother Tim, the one who committed suicide out at Mock Lake a couple of years ago?”
Dinah offers the narrator a powerful piece of information to agitate the situation: the truth about Tim Noonan's supposed suicide.
Dinah introduces the key revelation of the chapter.
“Take the proof to him and he’ll be after Max like nobody’s business. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
Dinah suggests that if the narrator gives Chief Noonan evidence that Max killed his brother, Noonan will relentlessly pursue Max.
Dinah outlines the strategic value of the information.
“I pulled the covers up over her again and said: 'Thanks for this, Miss Jennison.' That’s all right. It’s nothing to me any more. Only—her puffy chin quivered—'it’s hell to die ugly as this.'”
After Myrtle signs the statement, the narrator covers her and thanks her; she responds with resignation, lamenting her disfigured appearance as she faces death.
Myrtle's poignant final words underscore her tragic condition.