A Complaint of Character

Detective Sergeant Aaron Fowler is reluctantly drawn into a family scandal when his cousin Paul claims a graphologist, Joel Wildsmith, has ruined his engagement by revealing unsavory truths through handwriting analysis. Aaron, skeptical of graphology and weary of his cousin's entitlement, agrees to investigate only to appease family pressure. He visits Wildsmith under a false name, expecting to expose a charlatan. Instead, he's unsettled by Wildsmith's uncanny insights into character, including Aaron's own tightly controlled nature. The encounter leaves Aaron both suspicious and intrigued, as Wildsmith's readings seem impossibly accurate, hinting at secrets Aaron would rather keep hidden. This initial meeting sets off a chain of events that will entangle Aaron's professional integrity, personal safety, and emotional life in ways he cannot yet imagine.

The Graphologist's Insight

Aaron's skepticism is challenged as Wildsmith analyzes three handwriting samples: Aaron's brother-in-law, Aaron himself, and a notorious criminal. Wildsmith's observations are disturbingly precise, especially regarding Aaron's own repression and the darkness in the criminal's hand. Aaron suspects trickery, but can't explain how Wildsmith could know such details. The encounter leaves Aaron rattled, questioning the boundaries between intuition, science, and fraud. Meanwhile, Wildsmith's own vulnerabilities—his war injury, outsider status, and need for income—emerge, making him both sympathetic and enigmatic. The session plants seeds of doubt and fascination in Aaron, who is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about himself and the people around him, while Wildsmith's talent begins to draw dangerous attention.

Unsettling Revelations

Aaron's investigation into Wildsmith's methods yields no evidence of fraud, but his cousin Paul's confession confirms Wildsmith's improbable accuracy. Meanwhile, Aaron's professional life is complicated by a high-profile case and unwanted media attention, which exposes his family's divided loyalties and his own outsider status within the police. Wildsmith, for his part, faces threats from the police and the precariousness of his own existence as a disabled, queer man in 1920s London. The two men's paths cross again, their mutual wariness giving way to a grudging respect and a charged, unspoken attraction. As Aaron's doubts about Wildsmith's honesty waver, both men are drawn into a web of secrets, class tensions, and the lingering trauma of war.

Tangled Motives and Threats

Aaron's cousin threatens legal action against Wildsmith, while Wildsmith is visited by a police sergeant who tries to intimidate him into silence. The threat of slander, blackmail, and exposure looms over both men. Aaron, torn between duty and conscience, investigates a suspicious death that hints at deeper corruption within the police. Wildsmith, meanwhile, is shaken by the precariousness of his position and the ease with which the powerful can ruin the vulnerable. Their interactions become more personal, as Aaron's sense of justice and Wildsmith's defiance draw them together. The city's criminal underworld, embodied by the Sabini gang, begins to intersect with their lives, raising the stakes for both men as they navigate a world where truth is dangerous and trust is hard-won.

The Test of Truth

Aaron, determined to resolve his doubts, proposes a blind test: Wildsmith will analyze anonymous handwriting samples from a real police case, with neither man knowing the identities or details. Wildsmith, wary but intrigued, accepts the challenge, and their wager—dinner if Wildsmith succeeds—adds a personal edge. The test is meticulously arranged to prevent trickery, and Wildsmith's readings are again uncannily accurate, identifying not only the culprit but also the hidden vices and virtues of the other writers. The results force Aaron to confront the reality of Wildsmith's gift, while also deepening their emotional connection. The test becomes a crucible for trust, vulnerability, and the possibility of something more between them, even as external threats gather.

A Dangerous Connection

The successful test brings Aaron and Wildsmith closer, culminating in a night of passion that is both a release and a risk. Their intimacy is shadowed by the dangers of exposure, both personal and professional. Meanwhile, Aaron's investigation into a suspicious death leads him to suspect his superior, DDI Colthorne, of corruption and possibly murder. Wildsmith, targeted by the Sabini gang for protection money and by Aaron's cousin for revenge, finds himself caught between criminal threats and the machinations of the police. The two men's fates become increasingly intertwined, as loyalty, desire, and the pursuit of justice pull them into a perilous alliance against forces that threaten to destroy them both.

The Sabini Shakedown

Wildsmith is confronted by the Sabini gang, who demand protection money and threaten violence. The gang's interest in him is not just financial—they want information about Aaron, whose investigation is making waves. Wildsmith is forced to navigate the treacherous politics of the underworld, balancing self-preservation with his growing feelings for Aaron. Meanwhile, Aaron's position within the police becomes more precarious as he is assigned to monitor union activity, a task that pits him against his own family's legacy. The pressure mounts as both men are squeezed by external threats and internal conflicts, their relationship tested by fear, pride, and the need to trust each other in a world where trust is a liability.

Loyalties and Legacies

Aaron's family history—his union-leader father, aristocratic mother, and divided loyalties—comes to the fore as he is forced to confront the cost of his choices. His relationship with Wildsmith deepens, but so do the risks, as both men are targeted by those who would use their secrets against them. The investigation into the murder of Gerald Marks, a private detective, uncovers a web of blackmail, betrayal, and police corruption that points ever more clearly to DDI Colthorne. Wildsmith, meanwhile, must decide whether to run or fight, as the consequences of his involvement with Aaron become increasingly dangerous. The chapter explores the tension between duty and desire, the weight of legacy, and the courage required to claim a life of one's own.

The IOU Affair

The discovery of a crucial IOU—a debt owed by Colthorne to a murder victim—provides the key to unraveling the case. With the help of DC Challice, Aaron and Wildsmith piece together the evidence needed to expose Colthorne's crimes. The Tribune newspaper is enlisted to break the story, ensuring that it cannot be buried by the police hierarchy. As the scandal erupts, the full extent of Colthorne's corruption and the complicity of the system are revealed. Aaron is forced to resign, sacrificing his career to bring the truth to light, while Wildsmith's role as a whistleblower puts him in the public eye. The chapter is a turning point, as justice is pursued not through official channels but through the courage and collaboration of outsiders.

Betrayal and Exposure

With his crimes exposed and his power slipping away, Colthorne becomes increasingly desperate. He attempts to frame Aaron and Wildsmith, using threats, forged evidence, and the complicity of the Sabini gang. The danger becomes immediate and physical, as Colthorne takes Aaron hostage and lures Wildsmith into a deadly trap. The intervention of DC Challice and loyal colleagues averts disaster, but not before the cost of truth and justice is made painfully clear. The chapter is a climax of tension, betrayal, and the ultimate exposure of corruption, as personal bravery and solidarity triumph over violence and deceit.

The Final Confrontation

The fallout from Colthorne's exposure is swift and brutal. He is pursued by the police, but chooses suicide over arrest, leaving a legacy of ruined lives and shattered trust. Aaron, forced out of the police, must reckon with the loss of his vocation and the uncertain future that lies ahead. Wildsmith, vindicated but marked by the ordeal, faces the challenges of public scrutiny and the lingering threat of the underworld. Together, they must decide whether to retreat into safety or to claim the life they have fought for, despite the risks. The chapter is a meditation on justice, sacrifice, and the possibility of redemption in a world that rarely rewards either.

Aftermath and New Beginnings

In the wake of the scandal, Aaron and Wildsmith find themselves free from the burdens of secrecy and fear, but also adrift in a world that has little place for men like them. They choose to build a life together, planning a journey to Germany for Wildsmith's prosthetic and embracing the possibility of love and partnership. The story ends not with triumph, but with a quiet, hard-won hope—a recognition that happiness is not given, but made, and that the courage to live openly and honestly is itself a form of victory. Their journey is just beginning, forged in adversity and sustained by trust, resilience, and the promise of a future together.

Characters

Aaron Fowler

Aaron is a Detective Sergeant in 1920s London, shaped by a complex family legacy—his father a union firebrand, his mother from the aristocracy, and himself an outsider in both worlds. He is driven by a deep sense of duty and a longing for justice, but is also marked by repression, loneliness, and the scars of war. Aaron's skepticism and integrity are both his strengths and his vulnerabilities, making him a target for corruption and betrayal within the police. His relationship with Joel Wildsmith forces him to confront his own desires and the limits of the system he serves. Over the course of the story, Aaron evolves from a man defined by self-control and sacrifice to one willing to risk everything for truth, love, and a life of his own choosing.

Joel Wildsmith

Joel is a one-handed, queer graphologist eking out a living in postwar London. Marked by trauma, poverty, and social exclusion, he survives through wit, defiance, and a mysterious gift for reading character in handwriting. Joel's sharp tongue and bravado mask deep vulnerability and a longing for connection. His war injury and criminal conviction make him doubly marginalized, but also fiercely independent. Joel's relationship with Aaron is transformative, offering both men a chance at intimacy and trust. He is both catalyst and partner in the quest for justice, using his outsider status and insight to challenge the powerful. Joel's journey is one of self-acceptance, courage, and the refusal to be defined by others' prejudices.

DDI John Colthorne

Colthorne is the Divisional Detective Inspector, outwardly genial and respected, but inwardly ruthless, manipulative, and ultimately murderous. He embodies the dangers of unchecked power and the ease with which institutions protect their own. Colthorne's charm masks a void of empathy and a willingness to destroy anyone who threatens his position. His downfall is precipitated by his own arrogance and the courage of those he underestimates. Psychologically, he represents the seductive allure of authority and the corrosive effects of impunity. His relationship with Aaron is one of mentor-turned-adversary, and his actions force the protagonists to confront the limits of institutional justice.

Paul Napier-Fox

Paul is Aaron's cousin, a privileged, vain, and irresponsible member of the upper class. His complaint against Wildsmith sets the plot in motion, but his true role is as a symbol of inherited power and the casual cruelty of the elite. Paul's willingness to lie, manipulate, and betray—even family—exposes the fragility of social bonds in a world governed by status and self-interest. He is both comic and dangerous, his actions rippling outward to endanger Aaron and Joel. Psychologically, Paul is a study in arrested development, unable to accept responsibility or consequences.

DC Helen Challice

Challice is one of the first women in CID, navigating a hostile, male-dominated environment with intelligence, compassion, and quiet strength. She becomes a crucial ally to Aaron and Joel, using her position and insight to support their investigation and ultimately help save their lives. Challice's own experiences of marginalization and trauma make her both vulnerable and resilient. She represents the possibility of solidarity across lines of gender, class, and experience, and her presence challenges the norms of the police and the society they serve.

Darby Sabini

Sabini is the head of London's most powerful gang, a figure of menace and charisma. He embodies the criminal underworld's intersection with the respectable world, using violence, extortion, and information as tools of power. Sabini's interest in Wildsmith and Aaron is both personal and strategic, and his actions escalate the danger for both men. Psychologically, he is a pragmatist, loyal only to his own interests, and his presence underscores the blurred lines between law and crime in a corrupt society.

Sergeant Hollis

Hollis is a uniformed sergeant with a sideline in investigating spiritualists and frauds. He is both a friend and a potential threat to Aaron and Joel, embodying the contradictions of the police: capable of kindness, but also complicit in intimidation and the maintenance of unjust hierarchies. Hollis's actions are shaped by loyalty, habit, and a limited imagination, making him both helpful and dangerous. He represents the inertia of institutions and the difficulty of effecting change from within.

Gerald Marks

Marks is a private detective whose murder becomes the catalyst for the exposure of Colthorne's crimes. His life and death are marked by loneliness, addiction, and a dogged pursuit of truth. Marks's hidden notebooks and the IOU he uncovers provide the key to unraveling the web of corruption. Psychologically, he is a figure of pathos and integrity, a reminder of the costs borne by those who seek justice in a world stacked against them.

Mrs. Trotter

Marks's landlady, Mrs. Trotter, is a minor but pivotal character. Her loyalty to Marks and her distrust of the police enable the protagonists to recover the crucial evidence. She represents the quiet strength and agency of ordinary people, often overlooked but essential to the pursuit of justice. Her actions are motivated by compassion, memory, and a sense of right and wrong that transcends official authority.

Eddie Twigg

Twigg is Sabini's lieutenant, the face of gangland intimidation. He is a figure of brute force and implied menace, using threats and violence to maintain control. Twigg's interactions with Wildsmith highlight the vulnerability of those without power, and his presence is a constant reminder of the dangers lurking beneath the surface of everyday life.

Plot Devices

Handwriting as Window to the Soul

The central device of the novel is Wildsmith's uncanny ability to read character—and sometimes fate—from handwriting. This serves as both a literal tool for investigation and a metaphor for the ways in which people reveal and conceal themselves. The ambiguity of Wildsmith's gift—science, intuition, or something more—mirrors the uncertainty of truth in a world of secrets and lies. The blind test of graphology is a pivotal structural device, forcing characters and readers alike to confront the limits of knowledge and the power of belief. Handwriting becomes a symbol of identity, vulnerability, and the possibility of change.

Corruption and Institutional Rot

The plot is driven by the pervasive corruption of the police and the complicity of the powerful. The IOU, the missing notebooks, and the manipulation of evidence are all devices that expose the fragility of justice and the ease with which it can be subverted. The tension between official procedure and personal conscience is embodied in Aaron's struggle, while the use of the press as a tool for truth reflects the limitations and possibilities of public accountability. The interplay between law, crime, and the media is a recurring motif, highlighting the porous boundaries between them.

Parallel Outsider Journeys

Both Aaron and Joel are outsiders—by class, sexuality, injury, and temperament. Their parallel journeys from isolation to connection are structured through alternating perspectives, mirrored experiences of vulnerability, and the gradual building of trust. Their relationship is both a personal refuge and a site of risk, and its development is intertwined with the unfolding of the central mystery. The use of alternating points of view, intimate dialogue, and shared danger creates a narrative rhythm that balances suspense with emotional depth.

Foreshadowing and Red Herrings

The novel employs classic detective fiction techniques—foreshadowing, red herrings, and the gradual revelation of hidden motives. The initial suspicion of Wildsmith as a fraud, the ambiguous role of the Sabini gang, and the shifting alliances within the police all serve to keep the reader off-balance. The use of letters, documents, and testimony as both evidence and weapons underscores the theme of truth as contested and contingent.

Analysis

Copper Script is a masterful blend of historical mystery, queer romance, and social critique, set against the backdrop of postwar London's shifting moral and political landscape. At its heart, the novel interrogates the nature of truth—how it is discovered, concealed, and weaponized—and the costs of pursuing justice in a world where institutions are often complicit in wrongdoing. Through the intertwined journeys of Aaron and Joel, the story explores themes of vulnerability, resilience, and the transformative power of connection. The use of graphology as both plot device and metaphor invites readers to consider the ways in which we read and misread one another, and the dangers of both skepticism and credulity. The novel's depiction of systemic corruption, the precariousness of marginalized lives, and the necessity of solidarity feels strikingly modern, resonating with contemporary concerns about power, accountability, and the search for meaning in a fractured world. Ultimately, Copper Script is a celebration of courage—not just the courage to confront external threats, but the deeper, quieter bravery required to trust, to love, and to claim a life of one's own.

Last updated: October 20, 2025