The characters / Recurring character
John “Ace” Merrill
John “Ace” Merrill is recorded in 2 distinct stories.
Reveal identity notes · spoilers
The Body depicts Ace bullying the Castle Rock boys. Needful Things identifies the older Ace through the same boys, including Teddy Duchamp, Chris Chambers and Vern Tessio, and his local mill work. Pop Merrill’s nephew Ace has recently served four years in Shawshank for nighttime breaking and entering. He did not personally witness his uncle’s death.
Also recorded as Ace, Ace Merrill.
Stories and supporting passages
Needful Things
Read the passage Spoilers · Story context
His nephew Ace says somethin spooky happened to his uncle before that fire—somethin like on The Twilight Zone.
Pop Merrill’s nephew Ace has recently served four years in Shawshank for nighttime breaking and entering. He did not personally witness his uncle’s death.
Read the passage Spoilers · Story context
“Won’t need me to tell him. Or you either.” They sat in silence and watched Ace stroll up Main Street until he had passed from their view. 7 No one would have guessed, watching Ace Merrill strut indolently up Main Street, that he was a man with a desperate problem.
Reviewed narrative excerpt depicts this character in the story.
The Body
Read the passage Spoilers · Story context
On the far side of the boggy patch, where the woods took up again, masking the butt end of the road, Ace Merrill and Eyeball Chambers stood together, half-obscured by a pouring gray curtain of rain.
Reviewed narrative excerpt depicts this character in the story.