An Unsuitable Job for a Woman

Cordelia is a sharp, determined detective who pursues the truth with relentless logic. She navigates social pretensions and class barriers to uncover the web of lies surrounding Mark's death. Her risk-taking moments, including a near-fatal attempt to recreate the suicide, demonstrate her commitment to solving the case.

Elizabeth exudes control and calm, masking a long history of secrets tied to Mark's birth and the Callendar legacy. She positions herself as a rational insider while subtly guiding investigations. In the end, she helps bring the truth to light and takes decisive action against James.

James is the patriarch whose obsession with the family name drives him to monstrous measures. He stages Mark's death as a humiliation to protect the estate, and his motive is powered by pride and control. He denies culpability until confronted by the unfolding evidence.

Isobel is Mark's university friend who initially resents Cordelia's investigation. She provides key recollections of Mark's death scene and the supposed lipstick traces, complicating the truth for Cordelia. Her testimony reveals layers of social posturing and fear of gossip.

Andrew acts as a trusted elder figure to Mark but harbors a protective and volatile side. He clashes with Cordelia and tries to derail the investigation. His pursuit of control ends with a fatal plunge into a river, a result of his clash with the truth.

Miss Markland is the cottage owner who discovers Mark's body and provides early clues. She anchors the scene of the tragedy and helps trigger Cordelia's inquiry. Her testimony offers the first critical puzzle pieces.

Mark is a gifted university student whose disappearance and death become the central mystery. Behind his outward success lies a complicated birth history that fuels the motive for murder. His body becomes the catalyst for a dramatic unraveling of a family's secrets.