Blind Spot

A disheveled, alcoholic novelist who resents market-driven changes to literature. He treats mysteries as potentially formulaic until pressed to improvise with a plot outline, revealing his volatile temperament. His impaired memory due to intoxication makes him rely on others to piece together the truth.

A suave, best-selling mystery writer who values logical solutions to crime and challenges Andrews' approach. He exerts subtle influence over the publisher and becomes entangled in the case, pushing Andrews to remember the ending. He is eventually implicated and dies after a confrontation with Applegate.

The detective who interrogates Andrews and pursues the truth behind Small’s murder. He follows a steady, procedural path and weighs motives, alibis, and contradictions. He ultimately arrests Andrews and confronts Harrison in the climactic sequence.

A publisher who pushes for higher profits and tighter contracts, ultimately becoming a target when he is murdered. His demand for a cash advance and control over authors ties him to the central conflict. His missing contract with Small undermines the alibi and fuels the investigation.

The night watchman who discovers the bartender’s murder and links the crime scene to the bar’s occupants. He serves as a crucial witness whose testimony helps reveal the timeline and potential culprits. His presence helps puncture alibis and keeps the investigation moving.

A reader who admires Andrews and arrives with a torn dress, forming a bond with him. She becomes a potential suspect in the bartender’s murder and has an ambiguous relationship with Andrews, which fuels the film’s tension. Her involvement hinges on a captured earring and misdirection.

A bar patron who overhears conversations about the plot and the murders. He is a potential witness whose death complicates the case and brings motive and opportunity into focus. His murder becomes a catalyst for the investigation’s turn toward Harrison.

A detective with a distinctive white hat who attends the crime scenes and interacts with Applegate. He serves as a supporting figure in the investigation and adds to the atmosphere of the case. His presence helps guide the pursuit of the truth through the film’s climax.