The File on Thelma Jordon

A seductive opportunist who engineers a murder plot and manipulates those around her to secure wealth. Clever, calculating, and morally flexible, she uses charm to mask her culpability until the final reveal. Her self-serving rationalizations crumble as the scheme unravels and her conscience begins to weigh in at the end.

An unhappy, drink-prone assistant district attorney who becomes entangled with Thelma. He undermines the prosecution to aid her, driven by a private moral compromise and ambition. By the story's end, he faces the consequences of his complicity and chooses a new path.

The district attorney who tries to prosecute Thelma, only to be undermined by personal interference and deception. His authority is challenged as the case devolves into doubt and manipulation. He embodies the legal establishment under pressure.

Wealthy, reclusive aunt whose murder triggers the central investigation. Her estate and secretive life create a backdrop of luxury and danger, motivating alliances and rivalries among the other characters.

The lover who jointly schemes with Thelma, his presence adds a dangerous romantic alliance that propels the plot to its deadly conclusions. His actions reveal calculating, self-serving traits.

The socialite wife of Cleve, whose relationships and family ties contribute to the web of secrets and potential motives. She embodies aristocratic social pressures and complicity.

The child of Cleve and Pamela, whose presence in the narrative underscores the impact of adult scheming on innocent bystanders and the stakes of truth.

A member of the Marshall family whose role highlights the dynamics of loyalty and exposure within a court-centered, high-stakes world.