Nicholas Delaunay is the brother-in-law of the Stolen Prophet, Alexander Graves, as he is married to Alexander’s sister Phillipa. Nicholas, in his late forties, is described as a ‘balding man’ with ‘heavy eyebrows and prominent Roman nose [that] gave him the look of an eagle’. Strike can tell from his tie that he had once been a Royal Marine.  Strike deduces that Delaunay was ‘a man who didn’t particularly mind being offensive and might even pride herself [sic] on it’ (Ch 38).

Later, when speaking to the Delaunays outside the house, Strike notes that he is ‘a fit-looking man’ and nearly as tall as Strike himself (Ch 38).

Later, during a phone conversation, Nicholas Delaunay tells Strike he is ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Delaunay’ (Ch 95).