In the novel Sparkling Cyanide, Chloe Elizabeth West was an unemployed actress hired by George Barton to pose as his late wife Rosemary. The idea was to recreate the dinner party in which Rosemary was poisoned and make the killer confess. However, Chloe was called by George and was told not to come. It was later revealed that someone posed as Barton when making the call. It is unknown if the person who called Miss West was Ruth Lessing or Victor Drake. However it is most likely the fraudster was Ruth Lessing because Chloe wasn’t sure whether the voice she heard was from a man or a woman.
Chloe West reminded Chief Inspector Kemp of someone but couldn’t say whom. She was actually vaguely similar to Rosemary Barton.
She lived at Merryvale Court, nº15, Maida Vale.
Portrayals[]
Sparkling Cyanide (1983)[]
Chloe West is featured in the 1983 Warner Bros adaptation. Shortly after the death of George Barton she turns up at the Barton house, causing Iris Murdoch to have a mild shock. Chloe explains to Iris and Tony Browne the role she was supposed to play and that some man (she was quite sure it was a man but didn't know who) had called her to say that the plan was off. The actress who portrayed Chloe in this adaptation was not credited although she had quite a few lines. The actress might even have been Christine Belford who portrayed Rosemary Barton, although this is not confirmed.
Sparkling Cyanide (2003)[]
In ITV's 2003 adaptation of the novel, George Barton also hires a model/actress to pose as Rosemary. In this adaptation she actually turns up at the night club. However this character is not named, she has no speaking part and she is not questioned by the investigators. The actress who portrayed this character is also not credited.