Alan Grant is an inspector with Scotland Yard. After breaking his leg while chasing a criminal, he’s forced to recuperate in a hospital. Because Grant is a physically and mentally active man, he finds his forced confinement intolerable. Since all he can do is exercise his mind, he throws himself wholeheartedly into solving the case of the murdered princes. In doing so, he reaches some startling conclusions about who the killer really is.

Grant can discern an individual’s character by studying their face and expression. This is what inspires him to investigate Richard’s case, as Grant cannot reconcile historical accounts of Richard’s crimes with the face depicted in Richard’s portrait.

An advocate of the truth above all else, Grant harbors strong distaste for historical relativism and “Tonypandy history,” or false historical accounts that become entrenched in popular mind. His determination to exonerate Richard even though the case is centuries old stems from this trait.

Brent Carradine is a young American doing research at the British Museum. He follows his girlfriend overseas to be near her while she’s acting in Marta’s play. Brent is also trying to escape the reach of his father, who wants him to work in the family furniture business.