Although the Vesper Holly series is melodrama, recurring characters are more fully developed than one might expect of a genre which tends to stereotype characters. The protagonist, sixteen-year-old Vesper Holly, may have waist-length marmalade-colored hair and green eyes, but she also has "the digestive talents of a goat and the mind of a chess master." Vesper, who is accomplished in art, music, science and mathematics, often uses "her own special mixture of cajolery, browbeating and willpower" to get her way, especially when dealing with Brinnie, her guardian. Because Vesper is an excellent judge of character and possesses a well-developed sense of social justice, she uses her intelligence to solve mysteries, outfoxing the wicked and championing the good. It is through Vesper, who is feminine and logical, compassionate and aggressive, that Alexander emphasizes his profeminist theme.

Vesper's guardians are Professor Brinton Garrett and his wife...