Donald McNeil

In the novel The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, Donald McNeil is a reporter from the Much Benham Herald & Argus. He covers the fête at Gossington Hall. He is described as an "amiable red-headed young man"

Donald tells Inspector Craddock that he was there on the scene, and must havve practically seen the murder committed, and yet he had no idea who had done it. He was able to write a good eyewitness account, but he felt humiliated that he did not know more.

He also says that he does not believe that Heather Badcock was the intended victim, because she was a nice woman who talked too much, but people do not get murdered for that, unless they tell a secret. However, he did not think anyone would have told Heather a secret, as she was not the kind of person who would be interested in other people's secrets. She was the kind of woman who invariably talked about herself.

Donald tells Inspector Craddock that he had been on a roving commission on the day of the fête, and had a photographer with him. He had gone down to take some shots of the mayor arriving, and then went upstairs to get a drink. Lola Brewster and Ardwyck Fenn were ahead of him on the stairs, and Margot Bence was also on the stairs, taking pictures. He also mentions that at one point, he thought for a moment or two that Marina Gregg was going to faint.