Reynie is an average-looking 12-year-old boy with extraordinary intelligence. He is very perceptive and pays close attention to the fine details of any situation. He also has high emotional intelligence that helps him to empathize with his friends’ experiences. He is therefore a natural leader on their adventures. Reynie was originally an orphan who grew up in the Stonetown Orphanage. His tutor, Miss Perumal, adopted him at the end of the first book. He now lives in the suburbs outside Stonetown with Miss Perumal and her mother, Pati. Like his friends, Reynie’s extraordinary intelligence can make it difficult for him to relate to most children his age. Mr. Benedict’s scavenger hunt was meant to be a form of enrichment for Reynie and the others because they are all still too young to attend college.

Reynie is the primary protagonist of the Mysterious Benedict Society books, but because the stories have a third-person limited omniscient perspective, the narrative also examines other characters’ internal thoughts and motivations. Of all the characters in the story, Reynie must undergo the most intense journey of growth. He finds it very difficult to trust people because his previous adventures have made him realize that there are many unscrupulous people in the world.