Character Explanation
Flora Baumbach
Lives: 2C in Sunset Towers
Other Names: Baba
Partner: Turtle Wexler
Clue: SEA MOUNTAIN AM O
Position: Dress Maker
Habit: Talks about her child
What they look like: She is short and round, she has straight-cut steely hair,with bangs. She is 60 years old.
How other people see them: Grace Wexler looks down on her.
How they see themselves: She knows she is good at making clothes.
Opinion of other characters: She likes and admires Turtle by the end of the book.
Secrets: She made the wedding dress for Violet Westing, Sam Westing's daughter.
Theo Theodorakis
Lives: 2D in Sunset Towers
Other Names: None
Partner: Doug Hoo
Clue: HIS N ON TO THEE FOR
Position: Brother
Habit: He is constantly asking people to play chess.
What they look like: Theo is tall, with wide shoulders, a slim waste, and thick straight black hair.
How other people see them: He is seen as a loving, mature, and protective brother. He also seems a bit lonely.
How they see themselves: He sees himself as a good big brother. He also wants to become a writer.
Opinion of the other characters: After he found his clue, he thought Otis Amber was suspicious. He had his partner Doug follow Otis around the city.
Secret: He knows that Turtle went into the Westing house in the night of the murder. He also secretly likes Angela.
Christos Theodorakis
Lives: 2D in Sunset Towers
Other Names: Chris
Partner: D. Denton Deere
Clue: FOR PLAIN GRAIN SHED
Position: Bird-watcher
Habit: He stutters when he talks.
What they look like: He is 15 years old, and is confined to a wheelchair. He has curly hair and sky-blue eyes.
How other people see them: Some people see him as helpless.
How they see themselves: He sees himself as a good brother. Even though he suffers a disease, he does not see himself as a victim. He takes his bird studying seriously.
Opinion of the other characters: Likes Sydelle Pulaski as a friend
Secrets: Chris was the only person to see a limping person go into the Westing house after the "murder."
Sydelle Pulaski
Lives: 3C in Sunset Towers
Partner: Angela Wexler
Clue: GOOD GRACE FROM HOOD SPACIOUS
Position: Secretary to the President
Habit: Sydelle likes painting her crutches to match her outfits.
What they look like: She is not heavy, but she has wide hips.
How other people see them: Many people think that Sydelle can be annoying.
How they see themselves: She thinks of herself as a poor women that does not receive enough attention.
Opinion of other characters: Sydelle likes Chris's smile.
Secret: She has a fake limp on one foot. She also speaks polish.
Grace Windsor Wexler
Lives: 3D in Sunset Towers
Other names: Gracie Windkloppel
Partner: James Shin Hoo
Clue: FRUITED PURPLE WAVES FOR SEA
Position: Heiress
Habit: She likes designing her house. She likes to brag about her perfect and pretty Angela. She clicks her tongue when she does not like something.
What they look like: Grace has a fashionable, honey-blonde hairdo.
How other people see them: Angela thinks that she is bossy. Sydelle thinks that Grace is uppity
How they see themselves: She thinks that she is a good designer. She also thinks that she is a nice person.
Opinion of other characters: Grace thinks that Turtle is an ungrateful child, who is never satisfied, and always whining about something.
Secret: Her real last name is Windkloppel
Jake Wexler
Lives: 3D in Sunset Towers
Other names: None
Partner: Madame Hoo
Clue: OF AMERICA AND GOD ABOVE
Position: Standing or sitting when not lying down
Habit: None
What they look like: He has thinning, light brown hair.
How other people see them: Sandy called Jake the foot butcher.
How they see themselves: He sees himself as a good father.
Opinion of other characters: Jake loves Angela. He is always calling her by her nickname, Angie-pie.
Secrets: He secretly is a bookie.
Tabitha-Ruth Wexler
Lives: 3D in Sunset Towers
Other Names: Alice, and Turtle.
Partner: Flora Baumbach
Clue: SEA MOUNTAIN AM O
Position: Witch
Habit: Constantly kicking people in the shins when braid is pulled.
What they look like: Turtle is a skinny, one pig tailed girl, with dark brown, thick hair.
How other people see them: Everyone in the Sunset Towers except Sandy thinks Turtle is a pest.
How they see themselves: Turtle sees herself as a brave, independent, person.
Opinion of other characters: She secretly liked Doug Hoo.
Secrets: She went into the Westing house in the night of the murder.
Angela Wexler
Lives: 3D in Sunset Towers
Other names: Angie-pie
Partner: Sydelle Pulaski
Clue: GOOD GRACE FROM HOOD SPACIOUS
Position: None
Habit: Not respecting Turtle's things, like her red boots and her newspaper.
What they look like: Angela has long golden hair. She is very pretty and has pale blue eyes.
How other people see them: People think that Angela is perfect, helpless, and pretty.
How they see themselves: Angela feels misunderstood, and does not want to do everything that her mom tells her to do.
Opinion of other characters: She does not agree with every thing that her mom says but she still does every thinking that she says.
Secrets: She set off the first two bombs.
James Shin Hoo
Lives: 4C in Sunset Towers
Other names: Jimmy
Partner: Grace Wexler
Clue: FRUITED PURPLE WAVES FOR SEA
Position: Restaurateur
Habit: Telling his son to go study.
What they look like: He has shiny, straight black hair. Hoo has a smooth broad face and an ample stomach.
How other people see them: People see him as a constant complainer.
How they see themselves: He sees himself as the owner of his unsucceful restaurant.
Opinion of other characters: At the beginning of the book, he thinks that his son is lazy, and that Grace is a bigot.
Secrets: James is secretly an inventor.
Madame Sun Lin Hoo
Lives: 4C in Sunset Towers
Other Names: Madame Hoo
Partner: Jake Wexler
Clue: OF AMERICA AND GOD ABOVE
Position: Cook
Habit: Takes other peoples things.
What they look like: She is lovely and doll-like.
How other people see them: They see her as a lovely young wife.
How they see themselves: She sees herself as an immigrant from Hong Kong.
Opinion of other characters: She thinks Jake Wexler is nice.
Secrets: She stole her neighbors valuables to sell them and get money to go back to Hong Kong.
Douglas Hoo
Lives: 4C in Sunset Towers
Other names: Doug Hoo
Partner: Theo Theodorakis
Clue: HIS N ON TO THE FOR
Position: First in all-state high-school mile run
Habit: Practices running
What they look like: Doug is a slim and trim. Like Theo, Doug is also a high school senior.
How other people see them: People think that Doug is a fast runner.
How they see themselves: Doug thinks that he is a champion when it comes to running.
Opinion of other characters: Doug is suspicious off Otis, and gets annoyed with Turtle.
Secrets: He knew that Turtle went into the Westing house in the night of the Murder.
J.J. Ford
Lives: 4D in Sunset Towers
Other names: Josie-Jo Ford
Partner: Alexander McSouthers
Clue: SKIES AM SHINING BROTHER
Position: Judge, Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court
Habit: None
What they look like: She is a tall, black women with short-clipped hair with some grey. She is 49 years old.
How other people see them: Other people think that she is strong and knowledgeable,
How they see themselves: She thinks that she is very powerful.
Opinion of other characters: J.J. Ford thinks that Otis Amber is stupid.
Secrets: Sam Westing paid for her education.
D. Denton Deere
Lives: He might live in Racine.
Other names: none.
Partner: Chris Theodorakis
Clue: FOR PLAIN GRAIN SHED
Position: Intern, ST. Joseph’s Hospital, Department of plastic surgery
Habit: He likes to guess people's illnesses.
What they look like: Stringy, mouse-brown hair.
How other people see them: People think Deere as a helpful doctor.
How they see themselves: He thinks that he is helpful.
Opinion of other characters: He likes Angela.
Secrets: None
Alexander McSouthers
Lives: Westing House
Other Names: Sandy, Samuel Westing, Windy Windkloppel, and Julian R. Eastman
Partner: JJ Ford
Clue: SKIES AM SHINING BROTHER
Position: Doorman
Habit: Likes to gossip and tell rumors.
What they look like: He wears round steel framed glasses with tape in the middle. he also has a chipped front tooth. Age 65, born in Scotland and has a boxers face.
How other people see them: People think that he is always making up lies.
How they see themselves: Sandy thinks that he is very clever.
Opinion of other characters: Sandy wants to get revenge on Crow.
Secrets: He is Sam Westing
Berthe Erica Crow
Lives: Maid's apartment between 4c and 4d
Partner: Otis Amber
Clue: THEY ARE WITH THY BEAUTIFUL MAJESTIES
Position: Good Salvation Soup Kitchen
Habit: Crow is always talking about her religion
What they look like: Crow has faded hair, that is knotted in a tight bun. She is always wearing black. She is also tall.
How other people see them: Jake thought she must have been a handsome women when she was younger.
How they see themselves: Crow is lonley and probably feels guilty about what happened with her daughter.
Opinion of other characters: Crow likes Angela, because she looks like her daughter.
Secrets: She was Sam Westing's ex-wife.
Otis Amber
Other Names: None.
Lives: In basement of Green's grocery.
Partner: JJ Ford
Clue: THEY ARE WITH THY BEAUTIFUL MAJESTIES
Position: Deliverer
Habit: He is always saying the word “boom”
What they look like: Otis is wears an aviators helmet, but under it, he has gray hair. He also has a long, thin face, and a gray stubble. He is 62 years old.
How other people see them: J.J. Ford thinks that he is dumb.
How they see themselves: He knows that he is smart.
Opinion of other characters: Otis Amer likes Crow.
Secrets: Otis Amber is a Private Investigator.
Lives: 2C in Sunset Towers
Other Names: Baba
Partner: Turtle Wexler
Clue: SEA MOUNTAIN AM O
Position: Dress Maker
Habit: Talks about her child
What they look like: She is short and round, she has straight-cut steely hair,with bangs. She is 60 years old.
How other people see them: Grace Wexler looks down on her.
How they see themselves: She knows she is good at making clothes.
Opinion of other characters: She likes and admires Turtle by the end of the book.
Secrets: She made the wedding dress for Violet Westing, Sam Westing's daughter.
Theo Theodorakis
Lives: 2D in Sunset Towers
Other Names: None
Partner: Doug Hoo
Clue: HIS N ON TO THEE FOR
Position: Brother
Habit: He is constantly asking people to play chess.
What they look like: Theo is tall, with wide shoulders, a slim waste, and thick straight black hair.
How other people see them: He is seen as a loving, mature, and protective brother. He also seems a bit lonely.
How they see themselves: He sees himself as a good big brother. He also wants to become a writer.
Opinion of the other characters: After he found his clue, he thought Otis Amber was suspicious. He had his partner Doug follow Otis around the city.
Secret: He knows that Turtle went into the Westing house in the night of the murder. He also secretly likes Angela.
Christos Theodorakis
Lives: 2D in Sunset Towers
Other Names: Chris
Partner: D. Denton Deere
Clue: FOR PLAIN GRAIN SHED
Position: Bird-watcher
Habit: He stutters when he talks.
What they look like: He is 15 years old, and is confined to a wheelchair. He has curly hair and sky-blue eyes.
How other people see them: Some people see him as helpless.
How they see themselves: He sees himself as a good brother. Even though he suffers a disease, he does not see himself as a victim. He takes his bird studying seriously.
Opinion of the other characters: Likes Sydelle Pulaski as a friend
Secrets: Chris was the only person to see a limping person go into the Westing house after the "murder."
Sydelle Pulaski
Lives: 3C in Sunset Towers
Partner: Angela Wexler
Clue: GOOD GRACE FROM HOOD SPACIOUS
Position: Secretary to the President
Habit: Sydelle likes painting her crutches to match her outfits.
What they look like: She is not heavy, but she has wide hips.
How other people see them: Many people think that Sydelle can be annoying.
How they see themselves: She thinks of herself as a poor women that does not receive enough attention.
Opinion of other characters: Sydelle likes Chris's smile.
Secret: She has a fake limp on one foot. She also speaks polish.
Grace Windsor Wexler
Lives: 3D in Sunset Towers
Other names: Gracie Windkloppel
Partner: James Shin Hoo
Clue: FRUITED PURPLE WAVES FOR SEA
Position: Heiress
Habit: She likes designing her house. She likes to brag about her perfect and pretty Angela. She clicks her tongue when she does not like something.
What they look like: Grace has a fashionable, honey-blonde hairdo.
How other people see them: Angela thinks that she is bossy. Sydelle thinks that Grace is uppity
How they see themselves: She thinks that she is a good designer. She also thinks that she is a nice person.
Opinion of other characters: Grace thinks that Turtle is an ungrateful child, who is never satisfied, and always whining about something.
Secret: Her real last name is Windkloppel
Jake Wexler
Lives: 3D in Sunset Towers
Other names: None
Partner: Madame Hoo
Clue: OF AMERICA AND GOD ABOVE
Position: Standing or sitting when not lying down
Habit: None
What they look like: He has thinning, light brown hair.
How other people see them: Sandy called Jake the foot butcher.
How they see themselves: He sees himself as a good father.
Opinion of other characters: Jake loves Angela. He is always calling her by her nickname, Angie-pie.
Secrets: He secretly is a bookie.
Tabitha-Ruth Wexler
Lives: 3D in Sunset Towers
Other Names: Alice, and Turtle.
Partner: Flora Baumbach
Clue: SEA MOUNTAIN AM O
Position: Witch
Habit: Constantly kicking people in the shins when braid is pulled.
What they look like: Turtle is a skinny, one pig tailed girl, with dark brown, thick hair.
How other people see them: Everyone in the Sunset Towers except Sandy thinks Turtle is a pest.
How they see themselves: Turtle sees herself as a brave, independent, person.
Opinion of other characters: She secretly liked Doug Hoo.
Secrets: She went into the Westing house in the night of the murder.
Angela Wexler
Lives: 3D in Sunset Towers
Other names: Angie-pie
Partner: Sydelle Pulaski
Clue: GOOD GRACE FROM HOOD SPACIOUS
Position: None
Habit: Not respecting Turtle's things, like her red boots and her newspaper.
What they look like: Angela has long golden hair. She is very pretty and has pale blue eyes.
How other people see them: People think that Angela is perfect, helpless, and pretty.
How they see themselves: Angela feels misunderstood, and does not want to do everything that her mom tells her to do.
Opinion of other characters: She does not agree with every thing that her mom says but she still does every thinking that she says.
Secrets: She set off the first two bombs.
James Shin Hoo
Lives: 4C in Sunset Towers
Other names: Jimmy
Partner: Grace Wexler
Clue: FRUITED PURPLE WAVES FOR SEA
Position: Restaurateur
Habit: Telling his son to go study.
What they look like: He has shiny, straight black hair. Hoo has a smooth broad face and an ample stomach.
How other people see them: People see him as a constant complainer.
How they see themselves: He sees himself as the owner of his unsucceful restaurant.
Opinion of other characters: At the beginning of the book, he thinks that his son is lazy, and that Grace is a bigot.
Secrets: James is secretly an inventor.
Madame Sun Lin Hoo
Lives: 4C in Sunset Towers
Other Names: Madame Hoo
Partner: Jake Wexler
Clue: OF AMERICA AND GOD ABOVE
Position: Cook
Habit: Takes other peoples things.
What they look like: She is lovely and doll-like.
How other people see them: They see her as a lovely young wife.
How they see themselves: She sees herself as an immigrant from Hong Kong.
Opinion of other characters: She thinks Jake Wexler is nice.
Secrets: She stole her neighbors valuables to sell them and get money to go back to Hong Kong.
Douglas Hoo
Lives: 4C in Sunset Towers
Other names: Doug Hoo
Partner: Theo Theodorakis
Clue: HIS N ON TO THE FOR
Position: First in all-state high-school mile run
Habit: Practices running
What they look like: Doug is a slim and trim. Like Theo, Doug is also a high school senior.
How other people see them: People think that Doug is a fast runner.
How they see themselves: Doug thinks that he is a champion when it comes to running.
Opinion of other characters: Doug is suspicious off Otis, and gets annoyed with Turtle.
Secrets: He knew that Turtle went into the Westing house in the night of the Murder.
J.J. Ford
Lives: 4D in Sunset Towers
Other names: Josie-Jo Ford
Partner: Alexander McSouthers
Clue: SKIES AM SHINING BROTHER
Position: Judge, Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court
Habit: None
What they look like: She is a tall, black women with short-clipped hair with some grey. She is 49 years old.
How other people see them: Other people think that she is strong and knowledgeable,
How they see themselves: She thinks that she is very powerful.
Opinion of other characters: J.J. Ford thinks that Otis Amber is stupid.
Secrets: Sam Westing paid for her education.
D. Denton Deere
Lives: He might live in Racine.
Other names: none.
Partner: Chris Theodorakis
Clue: FOR PLAIN GRAIN SHED
Position: Intern, ST. Joseph’s Hospital, Department of plastic surgery
Habit: He likes to guess people's illnesses.
What they look like: Stringy, mouse-brown hair.
How other people see them: People think Deere as a helpful doctor.
How they see themselves: He thinks that he is helpful.
Opinion of other characters: He likes Angela.
Secrets: None
Alexander McSouthers
Lives: Westing House
Other Names: Sandy, Samuel Westing, Windy Windkloppel, and Julian R. Eastman
Partner: JJ Ford
Clue: SKIES AM SHINING BROTHER
Position: Doorman
Habit: Likes to gossip and tell rumors.
What they look like: He wears round steel framed glasses with tape in the middle. he also has a chipped front tooth. Age 65, born in Scotland and has a boxers face.
How other people see them: People think that he is always making up lies.
How they see themselves: Sandy thinks that he is very clever.
Opinion of other characters: Sandy wants to get revenge on Crow.
Secrets: He is Sam Westing
Berthe Erica Crow
Lives: Maid's apartment between 4c and 4d
Partner: Otis Amber
Clue: THEY ARE WITH THY BEAUTIFUL MAJESTIES
Position: Good Salvation Soup Kitchen
Habit: Crow is always talking about her religion
What they look like: Crow has faded hair, that is knotted in a tight bun. She is always wearing black. She is also tall.
How other people see them: Jake thought she must have been a handsome women when she was younger.
How they see themselves: Crow is lonley and probably feels guilty about what happened with her daughter.
Opinion of other characters: Crow likes Angela, because she looks like her daughter.
Secrets: She was Sam Westing's ex-wife.
Otis Amber
Other Names: None.
Lives: In basement of Green's grocery.
Partner: JJ Ford
Clue: THEY ARE WITH THY BEAUTIFUL MAJESTIES
Position: Deliverer
Habit: He is always saying the word “boom”
What they look like: Otis is wears an aviators helmet, but under it, he has gray hair. He also has a long, thin face, and a gray stubble. He is 62 years old.
How other people see them: J.J. Ford thinks that he is dumb.
How they see themselves: He knows that he is smart.
Opinion of other characters: Otis Amer likes Crow.
Secrets: Otis Amber is a Private Investigator.