British detective thrillers, whether in novels, films or on
PBS Masterpiece Mystery, are sometimes mystifying to non-Brits in an odd way.
For starts, there are all those acronyms: CID, MI5 MI6, all
the letters before the police officers’ names. Does everyone know that MI
stands for military intelligence? Or that the CID is Crime Investigation
Division? Or that the ranks of police officers ascend from PC or DC (police or
detective constable) through DS (detective sergeant) to DCI (detective chief
inspector)? Calling a DS a DC might cause offense.
If you are reading, as I am, Elizabeth George’s Inspector
Lynley books, you have the additional problem of figuring out which Lord or
Lady is up to whatever mischief, since sometimes the characters’ given names
are used and at other times they are called by their titles. Lord Asherton, for
instance, is DCI Lynley or simply Asherton, or Tommy to his friends.
Here is the cast of characters for Payment in Blood, the second of George's 19 Inspector Lynley books--very helpful when, on page 300 of some 430, you can't remember who Denton is (he's Lynley's servant.) Of course, you might prefer just to read the book or watch the video and assume that eventually everything will be understandable. But in the interest of de-mystifying some of the roles and titles, I give you the list of Cops and Nobles.
1. DCI Thomas Lynley, Eighth Earl of Asherton.
2. DC Barbara Havers, demoted from DS, Lynley’s partner.
Lives with her parents.
3. Lady Helen Clyde, daughter of the Tenth Earl of Hesfield (ongoing
love interest).
4. Simon Allcourt St. James, forensic scientist.
5. Deborah Cotter St. James, photographer, his wife,
daughter of his valet.
6. Francesca Gerrard, widow, owner of mansion on Loch
Achiemore, Scotland.
7. Philip, her late husband, buried on an island in the
Loch.
8. Stuart Rintoul, Lord Stinhurst, “Midas of the Theater”,
Francesca’s brother.
9. Marguerite, Countess of Stinhurst, his wife.
10. Alec Rintoul, deceased, their son, loved by No. 12.
11. Elizabeth Rintoul, their fortyish daughter.
12. Joy Sinclair, playwright (deceased), sister of No. 13,
cousin of No. 19, former lover of No. 16.
13. Irene Sinclair, former actress, previously married to No.
16.
14. Joanna Ellacourt, famous actress, married to No. 15.
15. David Sydeham, her husband and manager.
16. Robert Gabriel, famous actor, formerly married to No. 13,
now sleeping with No. 12 and many others.
17. Geoffrey Rintoul (deceased), brother of No. 8, grave
discovered in odd place.
18. Jeremy Vinney, journalist, drama critic for the Times.
19. Rhys Davies-Jones, theatrical director, presently lover
of No. 3. Prime suspect.
20. Gowan Kilbride, handyman at the mansion of No. 6.
21. Mary Agnes Campbell, maid at No. 6.
22. Hannah Darrow, deceased, subject of a book by No. 12.
23. John Darrow, publican, her husband.
24. Teddy Darrow, their son.
English police: Chief Superintendent Hiller; Superintendent Webberley,
Lynley’s superior; DC Raymond Plater (Mildenhall); DC Winston Nkata.
Scottish police: DI Ian Macaskin of the Strathclyde CID; DC
Kevin Lonan.
Military Intelligence: William Vassall, Sir Kenneth
Willingate, Sir Andrew Higgins.
Servants: Denton, Lynley’s valet. Caroline Shepherd, Lady Helen’s
maid. Cotter, valet to St. James (No. 4) and father of Deborah St. James (No.
5).
