Ada Thorne

Lore & Background

Ada Thorne is the sister of Thomas Shelby and the MP for Birmingham South, having succeeded Tommy after he retreated from public life following the death of his elder brother Arthur in December 1938. During the Birmingham Blitz in November 1940, Ada visits Tommy in his isolation to inform him of the acts committed by the Peaky Blinders, now led by his son Duke Shelby. She collects testimony of Duke's raid on a destroyed BSA munitions factory, where the gang stole munitions, and intends to submit it to the military police. Nazi agent John Beckett discovers her plan and orders Duke to kill Ada. Duke emotionally fumbles at the last minute, and Beckett, who had anticipated this, kills Ada himself. Tommy learns of Ada's death and later confronts Duke, admonishing him for his ill-disciplined ways. At the mortuary where Ada's body is, Tommy confesses to his deceased sister the true nature of Arthur's death: he had killed Arthur after becoming exasperated by his volatility.

In Their Own Story

Ada visits Tommy in his self-imposed isolation to inform him of the acts committed by the Peaky Blinders, now led by his son Duke Shelby. She collects testimony of Duke's raid on a destroyed BSA munitions factory, where the gang stole munitions, and intends to submit it to the military police. Nazi agent John Beckett discovers her plan and orders Duke to kill Ada. Duke emotionally fumbles at the last minute, and Beckett, who had anticipated this, kills Ada himself. Tommy learns of Ada's death and later confronts Duke, admonishing him for his ill-disciplined ways. At the mortuary where Ada's body is, Tommy confesses to his deceased sister the true nature of Arthur's death: he had killed Arthur after becoming exasperated by his volatility.

Reader's Guide

Ada Thorne is a key figure in the plot of *Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man*. As the MP for Birmingham South, she represents the legitimate political power that the Shelby family has long sought to wield. Her collection of testimony against Duke's raid on the BSA munitions factory demonstrates her commitment to law and order, even against her own family. Her death at the hands of John Beckett, after Duke fails to carry out the murder, serves as a turning point in the story, prompting Tommy to return to Birmingham and reassume leadership of the Peaky Blinders. Her death also provides the setting for Tommy's confession about the true nature of Arthur's death, revealing that Tommy had killed Arthur after becoming exasperated by his volatility.

Did You Know?

• Ada Thorne is the sister of Thomas Shelby and the MP for Birmingham South, having succeeded Tommy after he retreated from public life.
• Ada collects testimony of Duke Shelby's raid on a BSA munitions factory and intends to submit it to the military police.
• Ada is killed by Nazi agent John Beckett after Duke Shelby emotionally fumbles at the last minute when ordered to kill her.
• Tommy confesses to Ada's body at the mortuary that he had killed their brother Arthur after becoming exasperated by his volatility.
• Ada's death prompts Tommy to return to Birmingham and reassume leadership of the Peaky Blinders.