In the novel Murder is Easy, Mr Rivers was the chauffeur of Lord Whitfield. He used his Lordship's car to take Lucy Carter out for a ride. When Lord Whitfield reprimanded him for this and also for being drunk, he retorted extremely rudely and was fired on the spot. Later he was hit over the head, first with a sandbag an then with a stone pineapple ornament which formed one of the decorations on the gateway of Ashe Manor.