Chief Inspector Taverner

In the novel Crooked House, Chief Inspector Taverner is the Scotland Yard officer assigned to the investigation of the murder of Aristide Leonides. He worked under the supervision of "Old Man" Arthur Hayward, Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard.

Taverner is at first pessimistic about securing a conviction. Although many signs point to an obvious solution, the problem is always in securing the necessary evidence. Taverner knows Charles Hayward, the Assistant Commisssioner's son, well. Arthur Hayward wanted to take advantage of his son's relationship with Sophia Leonides and insert Charles as a house guest into the Leonides household to gather insider information. Taverner welcomed the move as a practical way of making progress n the case and subsequently worked closely with Charles.