Character Relationship Map: Deep Murder

Characters

• Hugh (played by Quinn Beswick) — protagonist

  Hugh considers Jace his best friend and is devastated by Jace's death. He wants to help uncover the truth, while his grief intensifies his hostility toward the other men in the house.

• Babs (played by Katie Aselton) — supporting

  Babs secretly has a sexual affair with Doug while her husband is downstairs. She becomes a central suspect after the household turns into a murder scene and a videotape reveals her connection with Dou...

• Richard (played by Christopher McDonald) — supporting

  Richard remains focused on a business crisis involving oil, appearing detached from the danger and suspicion surrounding the house.

• Doug (played by Jerry O'Connell) — supporting

  Doug is secretly involved with Babs and is repeatedly accused during the investigation. A videotape captures him saying that he might kill someone someday, making him a particularly disturbing suspect...

• Babysitter (played by Jessica Parker Kennedy) — supporting

  The Babysitter flirts with Jace and Hugh before retreating to the library to research forensics and criminology with Dr. Bunny. She feels responsible for protecting the household, considers leaving, a...

• Jace (played by Chris Redd) — supporting

  Jace is preparing to leave for college and worries that his lack of romantic experience will make him an outsider. He later dies, leaving Hugh devastated and becoming a major focus of the murder myste...

• Dr. Bunny (played by Stephanie Drake) — supporting

  Dr. Bunny challenges Detective Cross's investigation and argues that the residents may not know one another as well as they believe. She researches forensics and criminology with the Babysitter and vo...

• Detective Cross (played by Josh Margolin) — supporting

  Detective Cross takes charge after the death and warns that the killer is still inside because the storm prevents anyone from leaving. He struggles with limited evidence, tries to comfort Jace, feels...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Detective Cross → Doug (Professional Suspect And Investigator) — Doug becomes a major focus of suspicion for Cross and the other residents.

  Doug is repeatedly accused during the investigation, and the videotape later captures him saying that he might kill someone someday.

• Detective Cross → Babs (Professional Suspect And Investigator) — Cross scrutinizes Babs as one of the central suspects trapped in the house.

  The suspects repeatedly accuse one another, especially Doug, Babs, and Hugh, during Cross's investigation.

• Detective Cross → Hugh (Professional Investigator And Witness) — Cross investigates the household while Hugh becomes an emotionally invested participant.

  Detective Cross takes charge of the investigation, while Hugh is devastated by Jace's death and seeks the truth.

• Doug → Richard (Family Brothers) — The brothers are connected through the household and the affair that threatens family trust.

  Doug is explicitly described as Babs's husband's brother, while Richard is the husband involved in the household conflict.

• Babs → Richard (Family Spouses) — Their marriage is strained by Babs's secret relationship with Doug.

  Babs's husband is downstairs while she meets Doug, and Richard is later identified as part of the household.

• Babs → Doug (Romantic Secret Lovers) — Their hidden affair creates secrecy and resentment inside the household.

  Babs secretly carries on a sexual affair with Doug, who is her husband's brother.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Hugh → Babysitter (Alliance Shared Survivors) — Both are vulnerable members of the trapped household during the escalating crisis.

  Hugh remains among the residents trapped in the house while the Babysitter tries to protect everyone before disappearing.

• Richard → Hugh (Conflict Household Rivals) — Richard's detachment contrasts with Hugh's emotional involvement and contributes to household tension.

  Hugh's grief over Jace intensifies hostility between him and the other men, while Richard remains focused on his business crisis.

• Detective Cross → Babysitter (Narrative Rescuer And Victim) — Cross's investigation shifts toward locating the endangered Babysitter.

  Cross searches for the Babysitter with Dr. Bunny and finds signs that she has been attacked.

• Dr. Bunny → Babysitter (Alliance Protective Allies) — Dr. Bunny becomes determined to protect or avenge the Babysitter.

  Dr. Bunny searches for the Babysitter after she disappears and vows to punish whoever harmed her.

• Detective Cross → Dr. Bunny (Conflict Investigative Rivals) — They pursue the truth from competing investigative perspectives.

  Dr. Bunny challenges Cross's investigation and points out that the residents may not know one another as well as they believe.

• Hugh → Babysitter (Social Household Acquaintances) — They are connected through the shared household and the murder investigation.

  The Babysitter enters the room where Jace is with his best friend, placing her in direct contact with Hugh.

• Jace → Babysitter (Social Acquaintances) — The Babysitter interacts socially with Jace and the other young man in the opening household scene.

  Jace is nearby when the Babysitter enters the room and flirts with the boys.

• Hugh → Jace (Social Best Friends) — Their close friendship motivates Hugh to help uncover the truth.

  Hugh says that Jace considered him his best friend after Jace's death.

Story Analysis

A storm-trapped household descends from comic secrecy into grief, suspicion, and unresolved danger.

Plot Progression

1. Secrets Beneath The Banter — The coastal household is introduced through sexual secrecy, family resentment, and anxious preparations for college. The Babysitter's flirtation adds comic tension beneath the unstable domestic surfac...
2. Stormbound Murder Scene — A death turns the house into a murder scene, and a violent storm prevents escape. Detective Cross takes charge while the trapped residents begin accusing one another.
3. Grief And Suspicion — Cross admits that his evidence is weak as suspicion spreads through the household. Jace dies, leaving Hugh devastated and intensifying the hostility among the men.
4. Evidence In The Library — Dr. Bunny and the Babysitter search books for forensic knowledge while Richard remains absorbed in an oil business crisis. The Babysitter feels responsible for everyone but considers escape.
5. Darkness Without An Answer — A videotape exposes the affair and Doug's disturbing words before the storm cuts the power. The Babysitter disappears, signs of an attack are found, and the killer remains unidentified.