Character guide

The Narrator

major

Also known as Unknown, I, me, my, myself, mine, your, you

An unnamed operative from the Continental Detective Agency, sent to clean up Personville.

Max Thaler

major

Also known as Whisper, Thaler, alias Whisper, Max, VI Whisper, The Maxwell, Whisper call

A bootlegger and gang leader known as Whisper, a key figure in Poisonville's underworld.

Dinah Brand

major

Also known as Dinah, Brand, III Dinah Brand, Miss Brand

A sharp, independent woman entangled with the city's criminals and the narrator.

Elihu Willsson

major

Also known as Mr. Willsson, old Elihu, Willsson, the Willsson, Elihu, Mr. Elihu Willsson, Old Elihu

The wealthy, ruthless industrialist who owns Personville and hires the Continental Op.

Reno Starkey

major

Also known as Reno, Reno ’ ) Starkey

A dangerous gangster and rival to Whisper, involved in the city's power struggles.

Dan Rolff

supporting

Also known as Dan, Rolff, Daniel Rolff

Dinah Brand's sickly, devoted companion and occasional helper to the narrator.

Noonan

supporting

Also known as fat Noonan, that fat Noonan, Tim, Tim Noonan, Presently Noonan, Noonan hisself

A corrupt police chief in Personville, often at odds with the narrator.

Donald Willsson

supporting

Also known as Don Willsson, Donald, Mr. Donald Willsson, young Mrs. Willsson, Willsson

Elihu's son, a reform-minded newspaper editor murdered early in the story.

Mickey Linehan

supporting

Also known as Mickey, Michael Linehan

A fellow Continental operative who assists the narrator in Personville.

Dick Foley

supporting

Also known as Dick, XX Laudanum Dick Foley

A Continental operative skilled in surveillance, sent to help the narrator.

Pete the Finn

supporting

Also known as Pete, the Finn, Finn

A gang leader and bootlegger, one of the city's criminal powers.

MacSwain

supporting

Also known as Bob MacSwain, This MacSwain, Bob, Detective Bob MacSwain, Detective MacSwain

A detective working for the Willsson interests, involved in the investigation.

Bill Quint

supporting

Also known as Bill, Quint

A labor organizer and former associate of the narrator, now a drunk.

Jerry Hooper

minor

Also known as Jerry, Chinless Jerry

A nervous, minor gangster who works for Whisper and later meets a bad end.

Kid Cooper

minor

Also known as Cooper

A young hoodlum and gunman, involved in the city's gang violence.

Myrtle Jennison

minor

Also known as Jennison, Myrtle, Miss Jennison

A woman connected to the criminal underworld, briefly involved with the narrator.

Charles Proctor Dawn

minor

Also known as Chuck, Mr. Charles Proctor Dawn, Dawn, this bird Dawn, the late Charles Proctor

A shady lawyer and fixer for the criminal element, later murdered.

McGraw

minor

A police officer or detective, often seen around the station.

Ike Bush

minor

Also known as Bush

A gangster and associate of Whisper, involved in bootlegging.

Peak Murry

minor

Also known as Murry, Peak, Know Peak Murry

A criminal and gunman, part of the city's violent underworld.

Young Albury

minor

Also known as Albury, young Albury, Robert Albury

A young man from a respectable family, drawn into the city's troubles.

Helen Albury

minor

Also known as Helen, Miss Helen Albury, Albury

Young Albury's sister, a respectable woman courted by the narrator.

Lew Yard

minor

Also known as Mrs. Lew Yard, Lew, Yard, the late Lew Yard

A powerful gangster and fence, one of the city's crime bosses.

Hank O'Marra

minor

Also known as O'Marra

A thug and enforcer for the criminal factions in Personville.

Big Nick

minor

Also known as Nick, The burly Nick

A burly gangster and associate of Whisper's crew.

Mr. Dritton

minor

Also known as Dritton

A lawyer or businessman briefly encountered by the narrator.

Al Kennedy

minor

Also known as Al

A minor criminal or associate of the underworld figures.

Shepp

minor

Also known as Detectives Shepp

A detective working for the police or Willsson interests.

Tommy Robins

minor

A minor character, possibly a criminal or informant.

Kid McLeod

minor

Also known as McLeod

A young gunman or hoodlum in the city's gangs.

Stanley Lewis

minor

Also known as Lew, Stanley, Lewis

A minor figure, possibly a lawyer or businessman.

Polly De Voto

minor

A woman briefly mentioned, possibly a singer or entertainer.

Yakima Shorty

minor

A minor gangster or criminal from out of town.

Blackie Whalen

minor

Also known as Blackie

A thug and enforcer for the criminal underworld.