Death and the Compass

Main Characters and Their Development

• Erik Lönnrot—a detective with a mind as sharp as a blade and a penchant for abstract thought, he seeks truth in a labyrinth of symbols where every step becomes part of a fatal puzzle; his inner world is filled with a thirst for order and harmony, but this very passion leads him to a tragic mistake, as logic turns into a trap and truth—a deadly snare.
• Red Scharlach—a mysterious adversary whose shadow glides across the pages, a master of illusions and double meanings, he turns the investigation into a chess match where every piece moves at his will; his image embodies cunning and intellectual challenge, becoming a mirror for Lönnrot, reflecting his weaknesses and aspirations.
• Commissioner Treviranus—a figure standing at the boundary between the chaos of crime and the order of law, his pragmatism and caution contrast with Lönnrot’s idealism, highlighting the tragic inevitability of the outcome; he is the voice of reason, which sounds too late to prevent the fatal mistake.