Under Suspicion (Series) / Characters

The main and recurring characters of Under Suspicion. Be aware of potential spoilers.

open/close all folders

Fisher Blake Studios

Laurie Moran

Laurie Moran (nee Farley)

An investigative journalist and television producer; she is the lead producer and creator of Under Suspicion. Laurie has personal experience with an unsolved homicide; five years before the main events of the series, her husband was murdered in front of their son and the killer went unidentified for years.

Family Versus Career: It's occasionally brought up that Laurie feels guilty about working such long hours that she can't spend as much time with her son; she sometimes gets home so late he's already gone to bed and she tends to order take-out or rely on her father's cooking for meals. It doesn't help that Laurie's husband was killed when their son was only three, so she doesn't have him to help (her husband was also an ER doctor, so he would probably have worked even longer hours than her). When Laurie has to travel for work, she tries to arrange things so that Timmy can come with her without missing school, so she can at least spend some time with him. In this case, Timmy doesn't appear to be negatively affected by his mother's job (he actually thinks it's cool) and both he and his grandfather are happy to spend time together; it's mostly Laurie who frets about it.
Fourth-Date Marriage: She and her husband fell in love so fast, they got engaged within three months of meeting each other and are implied to have tied the knot not too long after that. Laurie says that she was so comfortable and happy with Greg, she didn't feel the need to wait because she was certain he was 'the one'.
Happily Married:
- She and her husband Greg were a very loving, tight-knit couple who fell so hard for each other they got engaged within three months of meeting. This makes it all the more awful that their lives together were cut short when Greg was murdered, with Laurie consequently having bittersweet feelings towards their marriage and debating if she could ever possibly find such happiness with someone else.
- By the end of the series, she marries Alex, her "second and last great love", and is overjoyed to be starting a new chapter of her life with him.
Indifferent Beauty: Laurie is aware that she's regarded as a beautiful woman, but she doesn't tend to pay too much attention to her appearance besides making herself look presentable. She keeps her hair in a neat, easy-to-style bob, rarely wears any make-up and prefers modest, classy clothes over anything flashy. The only time she really gets concerned about her appearance is when she's around her love interest Alex Buckley.
Intrepid Reporter: She may be a television producer, but she's also an investigative journalist first and foremost, with a passion for solving cold cases. She leaves no stone unturned in her investigations and occasionally gets herself into risky situations, including questioning people who may be killers one-on-one or being taken captive by the killer because She Knows Too Much.
Law of Inverse Fertility: Laurie recalls in All Dressed in White that she and Greg wanted to have children straight after getting married, but for over a year they were unsuccessful. They consulted doctors, who simply told Laurie that "these things take time"; it wasn't until Laurie stopped worrying about and actively trying to get pregnant that she finally got pregnant with their son. Laurie always pictured herself having three or four children, but as Greg was murdered when their son was a toddler and she never met anyone else before Alex, Timmy ended up an only child. Laurie thinks that while she loves Timmy with all her heart, she does sometimes regret not having the opportunity to have more children.
Let's Have Another Baby: She already has a son from her first marriage, but always wanted more children. While she and Alex are looking for a new apartment, Laurie likes that one of the apartments has an extra bedroom, as it could be a nursery if they decided to have a baby together. Although she doesn't explicitly bring it up with Alex, it's implied he's been thinking about it too and he agrees with her that the apartment is perfect for them. The series ends with them getting married and never confirms if they do have a child, though it's definitely on the cards.
The Maiden Name Debate: In Piece of My Heart, Laurie considers changing her surname from Moran to Buckley when she is planning her wedding to Alex, but she ultimately decides against it. She'd already changed her name from Farley to Moran when she married her first husband and is leery of changing it again, especially considering she's built her career as Laurie Moran and her son's surname is Moran. When she asks Alex if he minds her not taking his name, Alex says it never even occured to him that she would and that he doesn't consider it important.
Missing Mom: Her mother Eileen died of a heart attack a year after Laurie married Greg, never getting to meet her grandson. After Greg is murdered, the only family Laurie has is her father and son, though she starts to view Jerry, Grace and Alex as family too.
Past Experience Nightmare: After catching a red-eye plane from Los Angeles to New York in preparation for the show in The Cinderella Murder, Laurie falls asleep in her office and has a disturbing nightmare about the day her husband was murdered in front of their son (she didn't personally witness the murder, but she knows how it happened and has imagined it many times).
Team Mom: She's the oldest permanent member of her production team, having a decade on Jerry and Grace (Laurie is in her late 30s, they're in their mid-to-late 20s). Besides delegating tasks and mentoring them, she tends to remind the younger two to stay on track and not get carried away with crazy theories without evidence. She's also protective of them, ranging from glaring at a woman who looks judgementally at Grace's short skirt, to doing everything she can to catch the man who puts Jerry in hospital. For their part, Jerry and Grace greatly respect and care for Laurie beyond their job descriptions, showing their relationship goes beyond just that of co-workers.

Alex Buckley

Alexander "Alex" Buckley

A famous defense lawyer who serves as the host of Under Suspicion, questioning each of the show's participants to get to the truth of what happened. He's also Laurie's love interest.

Adoptive Peer Parent: He became his younger brother Andrew's legal guardian when he was twenty-one and Andrew was seventeen, after their parents both died within a few years of each other. As a result, the brothers are very close, with Andrew having a key to Alex's apartment and occasionally popping round to see him. Alex also empathizes with Laurie, who was left to raise her son by herself (albeit with help from her father) after her husband was murdered.
Deconfirmed Bachelor: Although Alex has dated many women over the years and has a reputation as a "man about the town", he's never settled into a long-term relationship. It's less because Alex isn't interested and more because he just hasn't found the right woman. Then he meets Laurie and quickly falls head over heels for her...trouble is, Laurie isn't sure if she feels the same and Alex isn't certain if she fully reciprocates either. They eventually get engaged, with several people remarking how pleasantly surprised they are, as they'd started to think Alex would be a bachelor forever.
Famed In-Story: He's considered a minor celebrity who frequently appears on television and in news articles, and even makes the odd red carpet appearance, thanks to his successful career as a defence attorney. Consequently, Brett Young thinks he'll be ideal as the host for Under Suspicion, because of both his cross-examination skills and his previous experience on TV (plus he's quite photogenic).
Good Lawyers, Good Clients: Zig-zagged; Alex is a good man, but he's defended some unsavoury people in court, remarking that he's had clients he's sure are guilty give "Oscar-worthy" performances on the stand. He believes all his clients have a right to legal defence and that it's his duty to defend them to the best of his ability, irrespective of their guilt. He has defended innocent people; one of the only times he gets angry with Laurie is when she won't stop investigating his client in The Sleeping Beauty Killer, forcing him to violate an NDA to defend himself; Alex snaps that his client is a genuinely good person who wasn't responsible for the legal trouble he was in. It also becomes a plot point in You Don't Own Me; Alex's successful defence of an investment banker who ran a Ponzi scheme could've derailed his appointment as a judge and inadvertently endangers Laurie when one of his clients' victims targets Laurie in revenge. Alex privately tells Laurie that he's one of the few clients he wishes was found guilty because of the lives he ruined, but the prosecution botched their case.
Good Stepmother: He becomes a good stepfather to Timmy after marrying his mother; they already had a close relationship and Timmy is thrilled that Alex is joining his family permanently. Even before getting engaged to Laurie, Alex had come to regard Timmy as a son and is happy to make it official, while also not trying to force a relationship or replace Timmy's deceased father.
Happily Married: By the end of the series, he marries Laurie, the first woman he loved deeply enough to want to settle down with her, and is overjoyed to be starting a new chapter of his life with her.
Hello, Attorney!: He's a skilled defence lawyer and is repeatedly noted to be a highly attractive man, getting a lot of female attention. He has eyes for no one but Laurie, though.
I Will Wait for You: Alex tells Laurie that he is willing to wait for her to be ready to love him, knowing she's still grieving for her late husband, but also wanting her to know he's serious about his feelings for her.
One Head Taller: Alex is about a head taller than Laurie; at five foot seven Laurie isn't short, but Alex is over six feet tall and so towers over her (and just about all the other characters).
Rank Up: He starts out as a defence attorney and gets nominated for a federal judgeship in the fifth book, Every Breath You Take. He finds out he narrowly won the position in the sixth book, You Don't Own Me, and is sworn in part way through. It becomes a plot point here because Laurie's stalker wants to move against her quickly, knowing that as a judge Alex's home (which he will be sharing with Laurie due to their impending marriage) will be fitted with tight security measures, making it far more difficult to get to her.
Romancing the Widow: He falls in love with Laurie, who he knows was widowed several years prior. Laurie's status as a widow does cause some issues, namely because Laurie is still working through her grief and trauma over her husband's death, causing her to keep Alex at arm's length even when they're dating. Alex understands, but still finds it upsetting and so starts putting distance between them for his own well-being, while still not giving up hope of a proper relationship. In the latter half of the series, Laurie finally sorts through her feelings and realises she is ready to be with Alex, prompting a marriage proposal.
Second Love: He officially becomes this for Laurie in Every Breath You Take, once she's finally sorted through all of her mixed feeling about him and her late husband. Laurie realises that falling in love with Alex and choosing to make a life with him isn't a betrayal of Greg, whom she thought of as her "soulmate", and that she is capable of loving someone that deeply again. Laurie even calls Alex her "second and last great love".
Tall, Dark, and Handsome: He's around 6'3", dark-haired and his good looks are frequently remarked upon.

Jerry Klein

One of Laurie's assistants and researchers for Under Suspicion, who is eventually promoted to assistant producer. He tends to handle the production design for the show.

Ambiguously Gay: Subtly done. While Laurie's romance with Alex is a recurring subplot and Grace is often mentioned dating or being attracted to men, Jerry's love life isn't mentioned and he never expresses any attraction to women (if he brings up women's appearances, he usually focuses on their clothes). While he and Grace are close, it's made clear their relationship is strictly platonic, with Jerry being completely unfazed by Grace leaning next to him with her cleavage on show. He seems enthusiastic about going to a male strip club for Laurie's bachelorette party (though this was set up as a joke by he, Charlotte and Grace). It's also mentioned he enjoys spending weekends at Fire Island, which is a popular LGBT hangout / vacation spot.
Gallows Humour: When Jerry finally regains consciousness after being badly beaten by an intruder and learns his attacker is still at large, he remarks that the worst part of it all is that his co-workers now know he "sneaks greasy fast-food" (the intruder broke in while Jerry was out picking up a hamburger).
Geek Physique: He's a geeky journalist who is described as having a slight, lanky build.
Momma's Boy: He's mentioned as having a close relationship with his mother and he clearly loves and respects her a great deal.
Near-Death Experience: In The Cinderella Murder, he is beaten to unconsciousness by cultist Steve Roman after he catches him rifling through the crew's things. Jerry is lucky to have survived (another of Steve's victims wasn't so fortunate) and is in a "coma-like state" for three days before waking up. He's hospitalised for the remainder of the novel, though by the epilogue two months later he's more-or-less fully recovered.
Plucky Comic Relief: While he also contributes to research and theorising, he often provides comic relief by making wisecracks and doing things like leaving print-outs mocking Brett's Mean Boss antics and labelling the folder containing creepy email correspondence as "Weirdos". He almost always has an upbeat and enthusiastic attitude.
Rank Up: It's mentioned several times he started out as an intern at Fisher Blake Studios while studying journalism and visual media at college. He got a full-time job as a production assistant after graduating. Following the first novel, he's promoted to assistant producer, being even more heavily involved in planning out the production of each episode.

Grace Garcia

Laurie's production assistant, who handles personal amenities and occasionally helps with research.

Big Beautiful Woman: She's described as "voluptuous" and curvy, and is regarded as highly attractive.
Big "NO!": She shouts out a panicked "No!" when she discovers Jerry lying injured on the floor in the second book, alerting Laurie and Alex that something is seriously wrong even before they themselves see the state Jerry is in.
Drives Like Crazy: Due to living in New York City, she doesn't get too many opportunities to drive at home, so she jumps at the chance to drive in Los Angeles in The Cinderella Murder. However, her lack of experience means she's a bit erratic and blasé, with a tendency to swerve about on the road and Laurie nervously reminding her to keep both hands on the wheel.
Hidden Depths:
- She's usually outspoken and self-confident (bordering on brash) and lets nothing and no one get her down...at least until Every Breath You Take, where she becomes a bit more subdued and vulnerable, all but admitting to Laurie she sometimes worries her co-workers don't always take her seriously and view her as little more than a secretary. Laurie reassures Grace that she values her highly and doesn't think she should have to change herself.
- In Piece of My Heart, after she and Laurie meet up with Julia Carver to discuss her wayward daughter, Grace remarks that if she had a mother who cared about her the way Julia does Summer, she'd be a lot more appreciative than Summer. This surprises Laurie, especially as she realises that while Grace has often talked about her older sister and her godmother in the past, she's never really mentioned either of her parents in the time they've worked together, though under the circumstances Laurie doesn't have time to dig deeper. The implication is that Grace's parents are either absent from her life and/or she doesn't have a good relationship with them.
Ms. Fanservice: She's an attractive young woman who tends to wear somewhat revealing outfits such as short skirts, low-cut tops and tight pants, as well as heavy make-up. It's also mentioned she goes on a lot of dates. Laurie thinks that while Grace's style is very different from her own more modest tastes, Grace always looks beautiful.
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Laurie notices in Every Breath You Take that Grace has started dressing in a far more modest and bland style than is typical and that she seems a bit subdued compared to her usual, bubbly self. Both Jerry and Grace herself bring up that Grace's sister suggested she would taken more "seriously" at work if she toned down her appearance, with it being all but stated Grace has been feeling like a glorified secretary (in the previous novel, Grace also ditched her latest boyfriend when he started demanding she change how she dressed). Laurie makes an effort to include Grace more in the episode's production and tells her that she is absolutely an vital member of the team, regardless of how she dresses. She also makes a mental note to ask Brett to give Grace a pay rise to reflect the importance of her role. The next day, Laurie is happy to note that Grace has returned to her usual style.
"Open!" Says Me: In The Cinderella Murder, when Jerry won't open the front door or answer their calls and they find the door is being blocked by something, Grace forces the door open with her shoulder, where upon she discovers a badly-wounded and unconscious Jerry slumped against the door.
Proud Beauty: Grace, in contrast to Laurie, always puts a lot of time and effort into her appearance, and likes to wear colourful and occasionally revealing outfits, flashy costume jewellery and lots of make-up. Laurie personally thinks Grace looks beautiful even without all the extra stuff, but as Grace is clearly comfortable and happy with the way she dresses, Laurie doesn't comment on it and occasionally defends her fashion choices to other people.

Brett Young

The head of Fisher Blake Studios and Laurie's boss. He frequently butts heads with Laurie and tends to be more interested in ratings than in helping people get closure, but is supportive as long as she's making good television.

Happily Married: Surprisingly given his abrasive personality, he and his wife have a happy relationship by all accounts; he's even willing to take constructive criticism from her regarding how he deals with his employees and Laurie believes his wife is the only person who can tell him what to do.
Mean Boss: He knows what it takes to make good TV but can be tyrannical towards his employees, especially Laurie. He has a tendency towards sarcasm and bluntness, and is very demanding towards Laurie and her team, wanting to rush out episodes as quickly as possible with little thought to the time and preparation needed to produce such a show. He makes it clear he cares more about ratings than ethical journalism, with Laurie having to find ways to pitch cold cases in a way that appeals to Brett. Laurie tends to dread having to meet with Brett to discuss the show, because it inevitably turns into her having to defend and justify everything she does from Brett's scathing criticisms. He mentions that his own wife has pointed out to him he doesn't give his employees enough positive reinforcement, with him making painfully forced attempts to be more encouraging.
Parental Fashion Veto: It's mentioned he had a meltdown when his teenaged daughter came back from a trip to Europe with her nose pierced.

Ryan Nichols

The attorney hired to replace Alex Buckley as the interviewer and host of Under Suspicion from The Sleeping Beauty Killer onwards.

Inferiority Superiority Complex: His behaviour during his first formal interview for the show indicates he has a case of this; he's initially quite nervous and overly-reliant on his notes, manages to handle the interview far more smoothly after getting a blunt yet encouraging pep talk from Laurie, then tries to thank her while simultaneously inserting jokes inflating his own ego. Overall, it gives the impression that Ryan's arrogance is a cover-up for his insecurities and his eagerness to prove he wasn't just hired because of his uncle's connections.
Jerkass Realization: In You Don't Own Me, Laurie points out she's noticed he's been less self-centered lately and Ryan even apologises to her for not always being a team player. Ryan explains his change in attitude was triggered by a girlfriend dumping him and giving him a scathing "Reason You Suck" Speech, calling him out for his selfishness and entitlement: "She said I was born on third base and go through life thinking I hit a triple". Ryan realised she was right and it humbled him to an extent (though not completely).
Nepotism: He mostly gets hired by Brett Young above all other candidates because his uncle is one of Brett's best friends. That said, Ryan is a genuinely talented lawyer and does make positive contributions when he really tries. It's also implied he feels a bit resentful that Laurie dismisses him as a mere nepotism hire, though he doesn't exactly help that perception by constantly sucking up to Brett.
Took a Level in Kindness: In You Don't Own Me, he's a lot more eager to help the team and take the initiative during the investigation, and he willingly takes direction from Laurie and listens to her opinions; while he's still a bit arrogant and insensitive at times, he's notably much less so than usual, with Laurie in particular taking note of this. Ryan admits that he came to realise he's been acting pretty selfish and egotistical (not just with the Under Suspicion team but in general), especially after an ex-girlfriend called him out, so he's trying to be a better person.

Moran/Farley family and friends

Leo Farley

Laurie's father; a former First Deputy Commissioner of the NYPD who retired to focus on his family after his son-in-law was murdered. He uses his police connections and detective skills to help Laurie's show.

Family Versus Career: He provides a rare male example. After his son-in-law was killed, Leo quit his job with the NYPD without hesitation to help support his daughter and grandson. He looks after Timmy while Laurie is working. Leo does miss police work and thinks he could've eventually made Police Commissioner if he hadn't retired, but tells himself that his family is more important. Now that Timmy is getting older and more independent, Leo also informally helps Laurie by doing detective work for her show, and has considered eventually becoming a private investigator. In the fourth book, he begins working with an anti-terrorism taskforce.
Honorary Uncle: Honorary grandfather, to be more specific. By the events of Piece of My Heart, he is set to become Johnny, Chloe and Emily Buckley's great-uncle-by-marriage, though they've taken to calling him "Grandpa Leo" (likely because their cousin Timmy calls him "Grandpa"); Leo quickly bonds with the children and is happy to take on a grandfatherly role to them.
I Coulda Been a Contender!: Downplayed; he muses that if he hadn't retired he could've made police commissioner of the NYPD and that he misses police work, but then tells himself that protecting his family is much more important to him. Getting the rank of First Deputy Commissioner is also still an impressive achievement and he remains highly respected by the police.
Parental Hypocrisy: When Leo tries to nudge Laurie into dating Alex and says that being a widow shouldn't have to get in the way in All Dressed in White, Laurie gets him to back off by lightly pointing out he's never met anyone else after her mother died and that she knows several women at their church who would appreciate her introducing them.
Shipper on Deck: Particularly from the second book onwards, he's not at all subtle in his support of Alex and Laurie as a couple. He tries to gently push Laurie to spend more time with Alex outside of work and open up emotionally to him. He tells his daughter that while he knows she loved Greg - whom he was deeply fond of as well - he doesn't want her to have to spend the rest of her life alone and that he doesn't think Greg would want that either.

Timmy Moran

Timothy "Timmy" Moran

Laurie's son and Leo's grandson, who witnessed his father's murder when he was three. He tends to accompany his mother when she travels for work and sometimes helps with the investigations in his own way.

Affectionate Nickname: His full name is Timothy, but he's rarely called this, with his family and most other characters calling him by his nickname of Timmy.
AM/FM Characterization: He's into jazz music, including taking up the trumpet and looking up videos of older jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong on Youtube so he can emulate them. Laurie notes it's unusual that Timmy - aged between 8 and 10 over the series - prefers jazz to modern pop music you typically hear on the radio, not that she's complaining; she's relieved she and her son have similar music tastes. It highlights Timmy's closeness to and admiration for his family; it also speaks to him being a bit more mature compared to most kids his age due to his unusual and at times traumatic childhood.
Disappeared Dad: His father Greg was killed in front of him when he was only three. Because of his young age at the time, Timmy has few memories of Greg, with his grandfather being the closest thing to a father he has. It's also the reason he becomes attached to Alex so quickly.
Family Eye Resemblance: Laurie notes that he has the same brown eyes as his late father.
Harmful to Minors: He's only three years old when he sees his father fatally shot in front of him, with the killer telling him that he'll come after his mother next, and then kill him too. In the present, eight year old Timmy still can't catch a break; the first time he goes away from home overnight without his mother and grandfather to a camp, he is abducted by his father's killer, held at gunpoint, and nearly watches his mother die before the killer is gunned down.
Parental Title Characterization: In The Cinderella Murder, Laurie notes with a slight pang that Timmy, who is now nine, has increasingly started to call her "Mom" rather than "Mommy" as a sign he's getting older. She thinks that it doesn't seem so long ago that he was still a toddler.
Parent with New Paramour: He's even more openly enthusiastic about the prospect of his mother dating Alex than Laurie herself; he thinks it's "awesome" when he sees them kissing and is always excited to spend time with Alex. Besides Alex being a genuinely nice man who enjoys hanging out with Timmy and shares some of his interests, Timmy is eager for Alex to be part of his life because he missed out on having a father.
Trauma Button: For a long time, he was scared of going to playgrounds because his father was killed while they were visiting a playground. Laurie also mentions he used to get nervous around men with blue eyes - even his own grandfather at one point - because his father's killer had distinctive blue eyes.

Greg Moran

Laurie's late husband and Timmy's father; he was an ER surgeon who was murdered five years before the beginning of the series.

Boom, Headshot!: His killer shot him in the head at point blank range; he attempted to grab the gun in his final moments, but there really wasn't anything he could've done to prevent it.
Florence Nightingale Effect: An uncommon male example; Greg was the surgeon who treated Laurie after she was hit by a car. They quickly fell in love and got engaged three months later.
Like a Son to Me: His father-in-law Leo regarded him as the son he would've wanted for himself, greatly admiring him and believing he and Laurie were perfect together. It was a big blow when Greg was murdered and Leo doesn't know who could've hated him so much to want to kill him. As it turns out, Greg was targeted specifically to hurt Leo.
The Lost Lenore: He's this for Laurie. They were Happily Married for five years and Laurie always thought they'd be together into their twilight years, only for Greg to be murdered in broad daylight while visiting a playground with their son. Even after Greg's murder is finally solved and his killer is dead, Laurie is understandably still deeply affected by his death; although she develops feelings for Alex Buckley, she's unsure if she's ready to let go of Greg just yet...or ever. His death also affects Laurie professionally; she easily empathises with people who have lost loved ones to violence and are desperate for answers, and she sees Under Suspicion as a way to help people find those answers and some sense of closure.
Nice Guy: One thing emphasised about Greg is that he was a genuinely kind, giving, down-to-earth man who went into medicine with the intention of helping people. It came as a shock to many people that someone seemingly despised him enough to kill him because he was well-liked and not the sort of person who brought in grudges. It turns out that the killer was actually holding a grudge against Leo and Greg was killed purely for being Leo's son-in-law.
Posthumous Character: He dies right at the beginning of the first book, five years before the story begins proper, though his presence is still felt throughout the novels. Solving his murder forms part of the plot of I've Got You Under My Skin, while in subsequent novels Laurie continues to grieve for him, which occasionally affects how she interacts with other characters, especially her new love interest Alex.

Charlotte Pierce

The vice president and heir of the women's clothing company Ladyform; she manages the New York office. She is the eldest child of Sandra and Walter Pierce and older sister to Henry Pierce and Amanda Pierce. Her sister vanished shortly before her wedding; the case is covered by Under Suspicion in All Dressed in White and Charlotte is featured as a person of interest. After the case is solved, Charlotte becomes good friends with Laurie Moran and occasionally assists her with cases.

Alone with the Psycho: Charlotte ends up alone with the Big Bad Angela in the climax of The Sleeping Beauty Killer; she didn't suspect Angela was the killer and so thought nothing of meeting alone with her at a warehouse to set up their upcoming fashion show. Charlotte starts to get an inkling something is off when she realises Angela is the one who trolled Casey online and fed information about her to a journalist, but she still doesn't realise she's a killer until she gently confronts her, prompting Angela to panic and try to kill her. Meanwhile, Laurie has already figured out the truth and is racing to the warehouse to save Charlotte, knowing she's alone with the killer.
Aloof Big Sister: Her relationship with her younger sister Amanda was strained and emotionally distant (though they were closer as young children). This is mostly due to Charlotte feeling inferior to Amanda and thus jealous of her. Charlotte felt that she lived "under [Amanda's] thumb" and resented that everyone saw her as sweet and perfect when she was just as flawed as anyone. It's noted by several people that Charlotte appeared indifferent about her sister's wedding; Charlotte says her sister "kind of had to" make her a bridesmaid and it's noted she asked a groomsman to make a wedding toast in her place. Charlotte says that it wasn't so much that she didn't care about Amanda's wedding, but that she believed Amanda wasn't fully committed and would end up calling it off.
Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Laurie notes that while Charlotte is obviously jealous of her younger sister and tends to speak about her disappearance in an "almost businesslike" tone, she looks and sounds genuinely sad whenever she talks about Amanda's cancer diagnosis and how frail she became. She adds that she sometimes thinks she was only person who truly knew Amanda, yet even then she wasn't sure how well she understood her in the lead up to her disappearance. Although she tries to keep an open mind, Laurie gets the sense Charlotte is being sincere. It's confirmed that while Charlotte didn't always get along with Amanda, she did love her sister, warts and all, and never wanted her to come to harm.
Brainy Brunette: She has light brown hair and is an intelligent and clear-headed businesswoman, who works ceaselessly to keep Ladyform profitable. It's also mentioned that she graduated top of her class from the University of North Carolina.
Brutal Honesty: She tends not to beat around the bush or sugarcoat things; in her interviews with Laurie and Alex (the latter of which will be aired on national television), she is very open about the strained relationship between herself and her sister, about how she always felt inadequate next to her, how her sister wasn't as sweet and perfect as everyone thought, the heavy amounts of pressure they both felt to make their family proud and her belief that the wedding might seriously get called off prior to her sister's disappearance. When Alex brings up that Jeff's friends got the impression that Charlotte was "disinterested" in the wedding, Charlotte's blunt response is that "Jeff's friends are idiots" before clarifying how she actually felt. Out of all the persons of interest, Laurie feels that Charlotte comes off as one of the sincerest because she doesn't pull punches. Unlike some of the others, Charlotte genuinely has nothing to hide.
Green-Eyed Monster: One of her worst traits is her envy and competitiveness, which stems from her feelings of inferiority, a tendency to compare herself with others and eagerness to prove herself. Her mother thinks that her jealousy brings out the worst in her and that she's been like this since childhood, including trying to tamper with another student's school science fair project to improve her own chances of success (for which she got suspended). Her brother diplomatically states that Amanda was "always more confident" compared to Charlotte when asked about their rivalry. Charlotte barely tries to hide her envy of her sister and her bitterness that she'll never be seen as her equal (in Charlotte's eyes anyway). Some even speculate if her jealousy was severe enough to motivate her to harm Amanda, though this turns out not to have been the case; she also becomes more self-confident once her sister's case is resolved.
Iconic Sequel Character: She first appears in the third book, All Dressed in White, and subsequently becomes a recurring character for the rest of the series, including informally assisting the Under Suspicion team with their investigations. She has a particularly integral role in the The Sleeping Beauty Killer due to her personal connections to some of the persons of interest and plays a significant part in the climax of Every Breath You Take.
I Need a Freaking Drink: While having lunch with Charlotte, Sandra says she has something to tell her about Amanda, intending to reveal she'd approached Laurie Moran about featuring the case on Under Suspicion. The moment Sandra mentions Amanda, Charlotte immediately turns to a waiter and asks for a vodka martini before she hears her mother out. Considering that Charlotte thought Sandra had flown across the country from Seattle to New York to see her, only to realise she's mostly here about the younger sister she always felt overshadowed by, it's understandable she's a bit miffed.
The Resenter: Charlotte holds some resentment towards Amanda because she was more conventionally attractive, had an easier time getting along with people and persuading them to do what she wanted, and introduced many successful new ideas into the family company, resulting in their father making her his heir over Charlotte. She points out that "in any other family, I'd be a superstar", but that every one her accomplishments was and still is overshadowed by Amanda's, even though Amanda has been missing for over five years.
Right for the Wrong Reasons: In All Dressed in White, Charlotte is right that her sister's best friend Meghan was still upset with Amanda on the wedding trip and trying to hide it, but it wasn't over her argument with Amanda about X-Dream (which Meghan claimed Amanda stole from her), at least not directly. She was upset because Amanda was marrying Jeff and they were both oblivious to how she felt... at least until Nick tipped off Amanda and she sharply questioned Meghan about a potential affair.
She Cleans Up Nicely: When Laurie first meets Charlotte, she's wearing her hair loose and messy, and hasn't bothered with make-up. Laurie is visibly taken aback when Charlotte turns up to her formal interview with her hair nicely-done, a full face of make-up and wearing a fancy suit. Charlotte drily tells Laurie "Don't look so surprised. Did you really think I'd go on national television looking like the ugly duckling?"
Took a Level in Kindness: When we first meet Charlotte in All Dressed in White, she is sarcastic and standoffish much of the time, though she does occasionally show a more vulnerable side. However, in the epilogue she makes a point of approaching Laurie and inviting her out to lunch, saying she believes they have a lot in common; Laurie finds that she truly enjoys Charlotte's company and they become friends. In her subsequent appearances, Charlotte has mellowed out a lot, being a supportive friend to Laurie and generally more amiable, more self-confident and less snarky. It's implied that being freed of the burden of not knowing what happened to her sister (and some people suspecting she was involved) and Laurie having earned her trust and respect played a role in Charlotte letting her walls down.
Turning Into Your Parent: She has a moment of this early in All Dressed in White, where she notices her mother's attention wandering while she's talking about her job and says she hopes she's not "turning into Dad"; he's a notorious Workaholic who talked endlessly about the family conpany even over the dinner table; while Charlotte and her siblings used to poke fun at this, on a more serious note their father's preoccupation with work led to him being emotionally neglectful towards his family.
The Un-Favourite: She’s often felt like this in her family, especially compared to Amanda. She still feels she's competing with Amanda even now she's gone; she believes that her father has never appreciated her hard work for Ladyform as much as Amanda's contributions despite having worked there longer, and that everything her mother does revolves around Amanda first and her second. It doesn't help that she's considered less conventionally attractive and less approachable compared to Amanda. Walter admits he was distant with all his children, while Sandra loves them equally and wishes Charlotte wouldn't constantly compare herself to others, also recalling that Charlotte is so competitive she was once suspended from school for tampering with another student's science fair entry; this implies that Charlotte's perspective is a bit skewed due to her insecurities. It's also understandable Amanda gets a lot of focus given she's currently missing.
Weight Woe: She’s described as "slightly heavy-set" and is self-conscious about her weight, deliberately choosing healthier options when she eats out with her mother and hoping she doesn't comment on it. It's mentioned she's never been as naturally slender as her siblings (yet another trait she used to compare herself with Amanda). Charlotte admits she's finding it difficult not to put on weight, because she works such long hours at Ladyform she can't find the time to eat proper meals and so relies on take-out fast food.
Workaholic: Rather like her father, her life revolves around her work first and foremost. She's so dedicated to her job she barely finds time to eat properly and unlike her siblings it's never mentioned if she was in a long-term relationship or considering children. She eventually confides in Laurie that she finds it difficult to maintain a social life because she's so devoted to Ladyform. It's implied part of the reason she's a workaholic - besides enjoying her job - is because she wants to prove herself worthy of running the company to her dad.

Buckley family and friends

Andrew Buckley

Alex's younger brother, who is also a lawyer and is married with three children. Alex became his legal guardian after their parents died when Andrew was in his teens.

Happily Married: He's been married to his wife Marcy for several years; from everything we see they have a close, loving relationship and are happily raising three kids together.
Second Love: Marcy notes that Andrew is technically this for her; prior to meeting Andrew she'd been in love with an aspiring screenwriter named Brian - whom she met in college - and had been eager to marry him. Brian kept putting it off for years, saying they should wait until they were both stable in their careers, but when he finally became successful he confessed to Marcy he was no longer in love with her, much to her heartbreak. Marcy admits to herself she never told Andrew how serious she and Brian had been, instead fibbing on their fifth date that she and Brian mutually outgrew each other because she didn't want Andrew to feel he was "a second choice she had settled for".
Shipper on Deck: He shows enthusiasm about his brother dating Laurie Moran, half-jokingly prodding Alex about when he gets to meet Laurie in person after all he's heard about her.

Marcy Buckley

The wife of Andrew Buckley and sister-in-law of Alex. She was an actress before retiring to focus on raising her three children.

The Ghost: For most of the series, she's mentioned a few times by Alex, Andrew and Ramon, but doesn't appear in person until the seventh and final book.
Happily Married: She and her husband Andrew have a close, loving relationship; even when their son is kidnapped, Marcy is determined that they keep their marriage together and not let anything drive them apart.
Take Me Instead: While she and Johnny are being held hostage by her son's deranged birth father, she tells him to kill her if has to but to let Johnny go, as he's an innocent child.
Unseen No More: After six books of being a no-show, Marcy finally appears on-page in the last book, Piece of My Heart, travelling to New York for her brother-in-law's wedding. She has a prominent role in the book due to her eldest child going missing.

Johnny Buckley

Jonathan Alexander "Johnny" Buckley

Andrew and Marcy's eldest child and only son, and nephew of Alex. He was adopted by the Buckleys as a baby. His kidnapping is central to the plot of Piece of My Heart.

Affectionate Nickname: His full name is Jonathan, but he's almost always referred to as Johnny by both himself and his family.
Ascended Extra: Big time in Piece of My Heart. Previously in the series, Johnny was mentioned a few times by name, but didn't appear in person and had no characterisation or role outside of being Alex's nephew. In the seventh novel, he gets an extremely important role, with his abduction being the inciting incident of the entire plot and his origins also being relevant to the story. There are several sections of the novel told from Johnny's perspective.
Big Brother Instinct: He's caring and affectionate towards his younger sisters, including keeping them entertained for a seven hour car trip by repeatedly singing "Baby Shark", among other things. After being kidnapped, one if the things that keeps him going is telling himself he'll be back home with Chloe and Emily soon.
Happily Adopted: By the end of Piece of My Heart he knows he's adopted, but he still firmly thinks of his adoptive parents and siblings as his real family. His family know he'll inevitably learn the truth about his birth parents and are prepared for him to meet his biological grandmother, his biological father's ex-wife and his half-sister once he's older and able to cope with it, but for now he's content being reunited with his adoptive family and they're confident they'll all be able to support him.
Harmful to Minors: At the age of seven, he's snatched away from his family while visiting the beach, stuffed into the boot of a car and locked up in a dingy old house, where his kidnapper forces him to go by the name "Danny" and says he'll be living here from now on; his kidnapper doesn't directly harm him, but he does frighten Johnny into obeying him and refuses to answer most of his questions. His kidnapper also bluntly tells him he's adopted and that the Buckleys aren't his "real" family, then takes him and his adoptive mother hostage at gunpoint.
"Near and Dear" Baby Naming: His middle name is Alexander, after his uncle Alex.
Oblivious Adoption: Johnny has no idea he's adopted, even though he looks very different from everyone else in his family and understands what adoption is. In fairness, he's only seven and his sisters are only four, so it's understandable it wouldn't occur to them that he's not biologically related to the rest of the family. His parents do intend to tell him he's adopted, but were planning on waiting until he's a few years older, feeling he will be able to better handle this information. His kidnapper ends up bluntly telling him he's adopted, saying that as he got used to living with the Buckleys (who adopted him as a newborn), he can get used to living with him.
Siblings Wanted: As soon as he was old enough to talk, he began telling his parents he wanted siblings to play with, especially sisters. Marcy was unsure how to explain to him that might be difficult because they'd adopted Johnny after fertility struggles... only for Marcy to unexpectedly discover she was pregnant with twin girls.
Wise Beyond Their Years: He's only seven in Piece of My Heart, but he shows a surprising amount of maturity and resilence during his abduction; despite being scared and upset, he tries not to set off his kidnapper and goes along with his demands, while also attempting to gather clues about who his kidnapper is and why he's taken him. Johnny tells himself he's playing a role, just like his mother did as an actress, and that he just needs to keep acting until he's found. He finally starts breaking down near the end of the novel, sobbing that his kidnapper is "crazy" and that he doesn't want to stay with him despite it making him more angry, though considering Johnny is a child going through a harrowing ordeal, it's impressive he held it together this long.

Chloe and Emily Buckley

Chloe Buckley

Emily Buckley

The twin daughters of Marcy and Andrew, younger sisters of Johnny and nieces of Alex.

Always Identical Twins: They're identical twin sisters, both described as having dark hair, olive-toned skin and blue-green eyes, much like the rest of their family.
Cheerful Child: They're both happy, playful and carefree little girls.
Children Are Innocent: They initially don't realise their brother has been kidnapped, with their parents not wanting to frighten them. They eventually have no choice but to explain that Johnny has been taken, though they try to do so in a way that four-year-olds can understand. Marcy, Andrew and the rest of the family do their best to shield Chloe and Emily from the worst of the crisis.
The Ghost: They're mentioned by Andrew and Alex a few times throughout the series, but don't appear on-page until the final book.
Out of Focus: Compared to their older brother, they don't get nearly as much focus or characterization in Piece of My Heart, although in fairness they're only four and their family do their best to keep them as uninvolved in Johnny's kidnapping as possible.

Ramon

Alex's butler, who is also a good friend and something of a father figure to him.

Insistent Terminology: Alex initially doesn't feel comfortable referring to Ramon as his butler, as he finds it old-fashioned and that it makes it seem he views Ramon as beneath him. However, Ramon insists on calling himself a butler, because that's exactly what he is.
"Near and Dear" Baby Naming: He mentions later in the series that his daughter has given birth to his first grandchild and named her Ramona in his honour.
Parental Substitute: He treats Alex more like a son than just his employer, giving him advice and worrying about his health and well-being. Alex in turn also sees Ramon as part of his immediate family. Ramon has a grown-up daughter, but she lives in the Philippines so he doesn't get to see her much, while Alex was orphaned by his early twenties.

Characters / Under Suspicion (Series)

Fisher Blake Studios

Laurie Moran (nee Farley)

Alexander "Alex" Buckley

Jerry Klein

Grace Garcia

Brett Young

Ryan Nichols

Moran/Farley family and friends

Leo Farley

Timothy "Timmy" Moran

Greg Moran

Charlotte Pierce

Buckley family and friends

Andrew Buckley

Marcy Buckley

Jonathan Alexander "Johnny" Buckley

Chloe Buckley

Emily Buckley

Ramon

Characters from specific novels:

Previous

Index

Next

Characters / Under Suspicion (Series)

Edit Locked

Fisher Blake Studios

Laurie Moran (nee Farley)

Alexander "Alex" Buckley

Jerry Klein

Grace Garcia

Brett Young

Ryan Nichols

Moran/Farley family and friends

Leo Farley

Timothy "Timmy" Moran

Greg Moran

Charlotte Pierce

Buckley family and friends

Andrew Buckley

Marcy Buckley

Jonathan Alexander "Johnny" Buckley

Chloe Buckley

Emily Buckley

Ramon

Characters from specific novels:

Previous

Index

Next