Benjamin Unsworth

Benjamin Unsworth could be viewed as something of a paranoid fantasist, were it not for the fact that a number of dangerous people almost certainly are out to get him. Ever since he had the misfortunate to work as an intern at Hilary van Beek's publishing company Head Wind, his life has spiralled out of control.

Spoiler for THE TRUTH ABOUT ARCHIE AND PYE

His first mistake was to go on the run after Hilary van Beek's murder, resulting in him being publicly identified as a suspect. This also meant that he was also fingered as a potential witness by Rufus Fairbanks and also as a potential holder of the Vavasor Papers by the Belarusian mafia. The fact that neither of these was actually true was of little consequence. In the end, he was forced to fake his own death.

Spoiler for A QUESTION OF TRUST

It was also probably unwise to show up at the Vavasor convention at the Dog and Fishbone pub, because that seems to have tipped off whoever it was that attacked him, resulting in him being hospitalised at St Jude's. Which is how he came into the orbit of Helen Matheson, although in the end he turned out to be no use to her whatsoever.

Spoiler for THE RIDDLE OF THE FRACTAL MONKS

Having escaped from Helen Matheson's clutches, Benjamin was next seen working for Margot Evercreech as her archivist, Alpaca minder and general dogsbody.

Spoiler for BAD DAY IN MINSK

Now back with Helen Matheson, his next appearance was as the second impersonator of the chaotician Rory Milford, between Tom Winscombe and Milford himself. His present whereabouts are a mystery.