Portrait of Alison

A methodical police inspector who oversees the investigation into the murders and the diamond-smuggling plot. He interrogates suspects such as Tim and Jill, gradually uncovering that several major characters are involved in the network. His calm, persistent approach helps connect disparate clues, from the Chianti bottle to the photograph discrepancies.

An accomplished artist painting his favorite model, Jill, Tim becomes embroiled in a murder investigation after being commissioned to depict the dead daughter of a mysterious patron. He navigates a web of suspicion, as evidence like the erased portrait and a cryptic bottle casts doubt on his involvement. Tim is drawn into the diamond-smuggling intrigue while pursuing truth through his art.

A glamorous model who has moved on from her party lifestyle and is romantically linked with Tim and Henry. She becomes a focus of suspicion after Tim paints her and she is later found dead in his flat, a clue that drives the mystery. Jill’s disappearance and murder reveal layers of deception among the social elite involved in the case.

A film actress whose supposed death in a car crash triggers the investigation. She later reveals that the person killed was not her, and she holds critical knowledge about a diamond-smuggling ring connected to her father. Alison’s wit and moral resolve pull the narrative toward a confrontation with the criminals.

Henry is Jill’s fiancé, a seemingly respectable figure drawn into the tangled crime plot. He becomes a suspect as the mystery deepens, hinting at secrets beneath his polished exterior. His role underscores the theme that appearances can mask criminal complicity.