The Butler Didn't Do It! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lawrence Wargrave, "And Then There Were None"

Justice Lawrence Wargrave is a character in Agatha Christie's novel "And Then There Were None." He is a retired judge known for his strict and authoritative demeanor. Throughout the story, it is revealed that Wargrave orchestrated the gathering of ten individuals on an isolated island, where each person is accused of a crime.

Wargrave himself is guilty of sentencing an innocent man to death, a crime he committed with the belief that the man was morally guilty, despite the lack of legal evidence. Wargrave's motive is rooted in his desire for justice and his fascination with carrying out what he sees as a perfect act of retribution. He meticulously plans the events on the island, ultimately revealing himself as the mastermind behind the deaths of the others, believing it to be his final and greatest judgement.

Answer: Martin Vanger, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

Martin Vanger is a character in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson. He is the CEO of the powerful Vanger Corporation, a family-owned business in Sweden. Outwardly, Martin appears to be a successful and respectable businessman, but it is later revealed that he has a dark and disturbing side. Martin is guilty of kidnapping, torturing, and murdering multiple women over the years, continuing a pattern of violence started by his father.

His crimes are driven by a twisted sense of power and control, as well as the abusive upbringing he endured. Despite his outward appearance, Martin is a cold and calculating individual who hides his true nature behind his corporate success.

Answer: Cora Smith, "The Postman Always Rings Twice"

Cora Smith is a character in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" by James M. Cain. She works at a small roadside diner, which she owns with her older husband, Nick. Unhappy with her life and feeling trapped in her marriage, Cora starts an affair with a drifter named Frank Chambers. Together, they plot to murder Nick and make it look like an accident. Their first attempt involves staging a car accident, but it fails.

Determined to be free of Nick, they later succeed by killing him with a wrench. Cora is driven by her desire to escape her unhappy marriage, gain control of the diner, and start a new life with Frank.

Answer: Colin Stanton, "The Bone Collector"

In the book "The Bone Collector", Colin Stanton (who changes his name to Peter Taylor) is a doctor who drives a taxi to trick his victims to their doom. In the past, he'd lost his family and blamed Lincoln Rhyme, the criminal investigator in charge of the case, for not fully examining a crime scene after their deaths. Disguising himself under the name Peter Taylor, Colin planned to kill Lincoln when they first met.

However, when he discovered that Lincoln actually wanted to die, he realized he needed a reason to keep him alive instead, tormenting him with the various crimes he committed and leaving clues behind.

Answer: Silas, "The Da Vinci Code"

Silas is a character in "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown who serves as a monk and assassin. He is a deeply devout member of the religious group Opus Dei and believes that his violent actions are justified by his faith.

Silas commits several murders and assaults throughout the novel, all in the name of protecting a secret that he believes is vital to the survival of the Church. His crimes are driven by his absolute belief that he is carrying out God's will, and he is manipulated by those who use his devotion to further their own agendas.

Answer: Teddy Daniels, "Shutter Island"

Teddy Daniels is the main character in "Shutter Island" by Dennis Lehane. He is a U.S. Marshal who arrives at Shutter Island, a mental institution, to investigate the disappearance of a patient. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Teddy is actually Andrew Laeddis, a former soldier who committed a tragic crime--he killed his wife after she drowned their three children in a fit of madness.

Teddy's mind has created the persona of a U.S. Marshal as a way to cope with the overwhelming guilt and trauma of his past. His crime was driven by his deep pain and inability to accept the horrors of what happened to his family.

Answer: Anton Chigurh, "No Country For Old Men"

Anton Chigurh is a character in "No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy. He is a ruthless hitman hired to retrieve a stolen bag of money. Chigurh is known for his cold, emotionless demeanor and his strict code of ethics, which he follows without question.

His crimes include numerous brutal murders, which he commits with a sense of inevitability, often deciding the fate of his victims with the flip of a coin. Chigurh's motive is not just about completing his job; he believes in fate and sees himself as an agent of destiny, making him a terrifying and unpredictable character in the novel.

Answer: George Harvey, "The Lovely Bones"

George Harvey is a character in "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold. He is a seemingly ordinary handyman who lives alone and keeps to himself, but beneath this exterior, he is a disturbed and dangerous man. George Harvey is a serial killer who preys on young girls, luring them into isolated places where he murders them.

His motive is rooted in his twisted, sadistic desires and a need to exert control and power over his victims. In the story, he kills the protagonist, Susie Salmon, which sets off the novel's exploration of grief, loss, and the impact of his crime on Susie's family and community.

Answer: Jack Stapleton, "The Hound of the Baskervilles"

Jack Stapleton is a character in "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He appears to be a friendly, harmless naturalist and entomologist living on the moors near Baskerville Hall. However, it is eventually revealed that Stapleton is the villain of the story. His real motive is to inherit the Baskerville family fortune, which he can only do by eliminating the current heir, Sir Henry Baskerville.

To achieve this, Stapleton uses a large, ferocious dog-covered in phosphorus to appear ghostly- to terrorize and try to kill Sir Henry, making it seem like the legendary curse of the Baskervilles is real. Stapleton's cunning and deceit make him a formidable adversary for Sherlock Holmes.

Answer: Eddie Mars, "The Big Sleep"

Eddie Mars is a character in "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler. He is a slick and dangerous racketeer who runs various illegal operations in Los Angeles. Eddie Mars is involved in blackmail, gambling, and other criminal activities, using his connections and influence to stay out of trouble.

He is extraordinarily greedy--he's always looking for ways to make more money, even if it means manipulating or hurting others. One of his key crimes in the novel is covering up the murder of his wife's lover to protect his own reputation and maintain control over his criminal empire.