M: The Heart of the Matter (1948)

 19 chapters, nine 'parts', three 'books'

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reviews w/spoilers: [astrofella]

 "If one knew, he wondered, the facts, would one have to feel pity even for the planets? if one reached what they called the heart of the matter?"

Henry Scobie

Louise

Major Henry Scobie – Longtime police deputy commissioner and protagonist of the novel.
Louise Scobie – Henry's devout Catholic wife.
Catherine Scobie – Deceased daughter of Henry and Louise.
Ali – Scobie's longtime African servant.
Edward Wilson – New inspector who spies on Major Scobie and is in love with his wife, Louise.
Harris – Wilson's housemate

'Dicky' Pemberton – Inspector who commits suicide due to his large debt to Yusef.
Helen Rolt – Newly arrived widow who becomes Scobie's mistress.
Yusef – Syrian local black marketeer who blackmails Scobie after finding a letter in which he expresses his love for Helen.
Tallit – Catholic Syrian, Yusef's chief competitor.
Father Rank – Local Catholic priest.
Father Clay – Catholic priest at Bamba who reads about saints.

Freetown, British Sierra Leone

Book One
Part One
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Part Two
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Part Three
Chapter 1
Book Two
Part One
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Part Two
Chapter 1
Part Three
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Book Three
Part One
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Part Two
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Part Three
Chapter 1