A honeymoon, a stolen pistol, and a murder plan too clever by half.
Who drives the story
The Belgian detective on holiday who can't escape a murder. He refuses Linnet's money, warns the killer-to-be, and dismantles a plot built to fool him.
Young, beautiful, immensely rich—and used to taking what she wants, including her friend's fiancé. Her honeymoon ends with a bullet in her cabin.
Simon's bitter, penniless ex-fiancée who stalks the newlyweds in plain sight. Her jealousy is the perfect cover for a mastermind who plans the murder and kills twice more to protect her lover.
Linnet's charming new husband, secretly still in love with Jacqueline. He marries for money, fakes a gunshot wound, and commits the murder everyone thinks his ex-fiancée committed.
Poirot's friend, a British intelligence agent who boards at Wadi Halfa hunting a political agitator. He helps untangle the murders and nabs the archaeologist.
Linnet's American trustee who gambled away her inheritance and came to Egypt to trick her into exonerating papers. Accused of the boulder; his revolver kills Mrs Otterbourne.
A flamboyant romance novelist travelling with her daughter Rosalie. She sees too much and is shot through a window before naming the killer.
A polished young man travelling with his mother—secretly a professional jewel thief who swaps Linnet's pearls for a fake. He falls for Rosalie.
Elderly American socialite with a kleptomaniac's habit; her missing velvet stole becomes the pistol's silencer.
Miss Van Schuyler's poor young cousin, witness to the lounge shooting, and one of the few told the truth at the end.
The Van Schuyler nurse who quietly returns the stolen pearls—unwittingly handing Poirot the fake.
Italian archaeologist with a second profession: the political agitator Race has been hunting. Arrested at Shellal.
A young English solicitor present when Jacqueline fires at Simon; the pistol vanishes on his watch.
The gruff physician who treats Simon's leg and hears Poirot's solution with the rest.
Linnet's French maid who saw the killer enter her mistress's cabin and tried blackmail. Stabbed to death for it.
Also in the story
Salome's daughter, weary of her mother's theatrics, who grows close to Tim Allerton.
The outspoken young communist who despises the wealthy passengers, Linnet most of all.
How they are connected
Hercule PoirotLinnet Doyle (née Ridgeway)
He refuses Linnet's money, warns the killer-to-be, and dismantles a plot built to fool him.
Jacqueline de BellefortSimon Doyle
Simon's bitter, penniless ex-fiancée who stalks the newlyweds in plain sight.
Simon DoyleLinnet Doyle (née Ridgeway)
Linnet's charming new husband, secretly still in love with Jacqueline.
Poirot's friend, a British intelligence agent who boards at Wadi Halfa hunting a political agitator.
Andrew PenningtonLinnet Doyle (née Ridgeway)
Linnet's American trustee who gambled away her inheritance and came to Egypt to trick her into exonerating papers.
Salome OtterbourneRosalie Otterbourne
A flamboyant romance novelist travelling with her daughter Rosalie.
Rosalie OtterbourneTim Allerton
Salome's daughter, weary of her mother's theatrics, who grows close to Tim Allerton.
Tim AllertonLinnet Doyle (née Ridgeway)
A polished young man travelling with his mother—secretly a professional jewel thief who swaps Linnet's pearls for a fake.
Cornelia RobsonMarie Van Schuyler
Miss Van Schuyler's poor young cousin, witness to the lounge shooting, and one of the few told the truth at the end.
The Van Schuyler nurse who quietly returns the stolen pearls—unwittingly handing Poirot the fake.
The Van Schuyler nurse who quietly returns the stolen pearls—unwittingly handing Poirot the fake.
Mr FergusonLinnet Doyle (née Ridgeway)
The outspoken young communist who despises the wealthy passengers, Linnet most of all.
Go deeper
Jealousy as a slow poison · The perfect alibi is the confession · Money and its predators · Justice versus mercy
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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