If you’re familiar with Shakespeare’s Othello, then you know that the character of Iago is manipulative and destructive. On the surface, he’s a friend to Othello, but he schemes, plots and uses Othello to further his ambitions. There are people like that in life, and there are characters like Iago in crime fiction. They’re not sympathetic, but they do add tension and suspense to a story. There are plenty of them; here are just a few.

In Agatha Christie’s Curtain, Captain Hastings reunites with Hercule Poirot at Styles Court, Essex, many years after their first trip there in The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The place is now a Guest House, and Poirot suspects that one of the people staying there is involved in five previous murders. For each murder, there was a clear suspect, and four of those suspects are now dead. Poirot thinks one person is behind it all, and he wants Hastings’ help. The events of the next few days prove Poirot right, and in the end, we find out who was behind all of the murders. It turns out that that character is a sort of Iago, who was able to manipulate others into doing things.

Isabel Briggs Meyer’ Murder Yet to Come sees famous playwright Peter Jerringham, his secretary John MacAndrew, and his friend, homicide detective Carl Nilsson, get involved in a murder at Cairnstone, the home of business tycoon Malachi Trent. They are asked to help Linda Trent, who is Trent’s niece and ward, to leave Cairnstone and make a life for herself, as she’s been a virtual prisoner there for most of her life. One night, Trent is killed. The only other person in the room was Linda, and she is too dazed to be of any help. Still, she is the obvious suspect. Jerringham looks into the case further, though, and finds that more than one person could have wanted Trent dead. As it turns out, there’s an Iago-like character in the background who’s been manipulating things and people. Once that person is discovered, Jerringham is able to solve the case.

In Jo Spain’s Dirty Little Secrets, DI Frank Brazil and DI Emma Child investigate the murder of Olive Collins, whose body is found in her home in an exclusive community in Wicklow. She wasn’t married, and had no family and few visitors, so it’s hard at first to work out who knew her well enough  to want to kill her. But, bit by bit, the detectives get to know the other people who live in the community. And they learn that Olive was not the nice, harmless, middle-aged person she seemed on the surface. She had interactions with most of the people in the community, and there are dark secrets to uncover. I can say without spoiling the story that using people and pretending to be friends (while actually being manipulative) plays an important role, just as it does in Othello.

J. Ivanel Johnson’s Just a Stale Mate features Polly Jane (P.J.) Whistler. It’s 1969, and P.J. has come from New Brunswick to Ontario to visit a friend who owns a riding therapy farm. She’s also glad for the chance to visit her godson, Inspector (D.I.) Phillip Steele. She’s no sooner settled in when Crispin Cobalt, son of a good friend of the family, has died from a fall off a local bridge. At first, everyone thinks it was a case of suicide. Crispin had been battling drug addiction and, in fact, was living at Bayham Brook House, a spa and recovery center for those facing addiction. But soon enough, it’s proven that he was murdered. Steele and his police partner, Trevor Ames, begin an investigation, but it’s not long before there’s another murder. Now it’s clear that something dark is going on at Bayham Brook House. P.J. takes an interest in the case, too, and, in her way, works with Steele and Ames to find out the truth. It turns out that an Iago-like character has been working behind the scenes and manipulating people to do ‘the dirty work.’

In Alex Michaelides’ The Maidens, Mariana Andros, a London-based psychotherapist, travels to Cambridge when her niece Zoe asks for help. It seems that Zoe’s friend, Tara Hampton, has been murdered, and Zoe wants the comfort of her aunt’s presence. Shortly after Mariana arrives, Tara’s boyfriend Conrad is accused of the murder. Zoe says that he’s innocent and asks Mariana to stay for a few days and help to come up with a way to clear his name. Mariana’s no professional sleuth, but she agrees to at least stay for a few days. She soon learns that Tara was a member of a group called the Maidens, who studied with Greek Tragedy Professor Edward Fosca. He seems to have a real hold on the group, so one possibility is that Tara’s murder is related to that group. Then, there’s another murder. Now, it’s clear that Conrad is not responsible, so his name is cleared. But there’s still the matter of the killings. So, Mariana keeps asking questions. In the end, we learn that someone manipulated people and events behind the scenes and used someone else in the process.

Iago-like characters can be very dangerous, and in Othello, Iago certainly is. In crime fiction, though, these characters can be interesting psychologically. They can also add to a crime plot.

*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from Billy Joel’s Laura.