The A.B.C. Murders Characters: Full List & Analysis

Who drives the story

Main characters

Hercule Poirot

The retired Belgian detective who receives A.B.C.'s taunting letters and hunts a killer who advertises his crimes. He doubts the obvious suspect, stages a bluff with an empty gun, and names the murderer inside his own circle.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Letter That Starts the Alphabet; Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern; Part 3: The Man Who Believes He Is Guilty; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth
Themes:: The innocent who believes in his own guilt; Why write to the detective?; Friendship and the hunting pair

Captain Arthur Hastings

Poirot's old friend, newly returned from South America, and the novel's narrator who reconstructs the third-person sections. He sees everything and understands less — and his suggestion helps explain the misaddressed third letter.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Letter That Starts the Alphabet; Part 3: The Man Who Believes He Is Guilty; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth
Themes:: Friendship and the hunting pair

Chief Inspector Japp

Poirot's old friend at Scotland Yard and the lead investigator, pragmatic and reliant on police methods. He arrests the man the evidence seems to condemn.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Letter That Starts the Alphabet

Inspector Crome

The younger detective in charge of the Bexhill murder, who prefers his own methods and holds a low opinion of Poirot.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Letter That Starts the Alphabet

Alexander Bonaparte Cust

An epileptic travelling salesman with blackouts and headaches from a war head injury, framed for the murders. He believes he must be guilty because he cannot remember — and he is innocent.

Appears in:: Part 3: The Man Who Believes He Is Guilty; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth
Themes:: The innocent who believes in his own guilt

Franklin Clarke

Sir Carmichael's charming younger brother, who suggests the Legion and joins it — and is revealed as A.B.C., a killer who wanted his brother's whole fortune.

Appears in:: Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth
Themes:: The helper as suspect

Sir Carmichael Clarke

The wealthy collector murdered at Combeside in Churston, the third victim, whose will and possible remarriage are the killer's motive.

Appears in:: Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth

Lady Clarke

Sir Carmichael's wife, dying of cancer and often confused by medication; her life interest in the estate shapes the murder's timing.

Appears in:: Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth

Betty Barnard

The flirtatious young Bexhill waitress, strangled with her own belt on the beach — the B in the alphabet.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Letter That Starts the Alphabet; Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth

Megan Barnard

Betty's sensible, down-to-earth older sister and a Legion member, whom Poirot pairs with Donald Fraser at the end.

Appears in:: Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth

Donald Fraser

Betty's would-be fiancé, a temperamental man initially suspected in her murder, later a Legion member.

Appears in:: Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth

Alice Ascher

The elderly widow who kept a tobacco and newspaper shop in Andover, struck dead behind her counter — the A that starts the pattern.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Letter That Starts the Alphabet; Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern

George Earlsfield

The barber stabbed in the back at the Regal Cinema in Doncaster, whose mismatched initials expose the pattern as a facade.

Appears in:: Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern; Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth
Themes:: Pattern as camouflage

Also in the story

Supporting characters

Dr Thompson

The forensic psychologist on Japp's team, tasked with profiling the killer's mind.

Thora Grey

Sir Carmichael's attractive young assistant and a Legion member; the fear that he might marry her drives Franklin's crime.

Appears in:: Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern

Mary Drower

Alice Ascher's niece and a Legion member, who recalls the stocking seller at her aunt's shop.

Appears in:: Part 2: Churston and the Broken Pattern

Franz Ascher

Alice's estranged, alcoholic husband and the initial suspect in her murder.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Letter That Starts the Alphabet

Milly Higley

Betty Barnard's co-worker, whose sighting of Franklin with Betty helps corner the killer.

Appears in:: Part 4: The Legion Hears the Truth

Tom Hartigan

Lily Marbury's boyfriend, whose suspicions about Cust's movements bring the salesman to the police's attention.

Appears in:: Part 3: The Man Who Believes He Is Guilty

Lily Marbury

The landlady's daughter who warns Cust that the police are looking for him.

Appears in:: Part 3: The Man Who Believes He Is Guilty

How they are connected

Key relationships

Captain Arthur Hastings Hercule Poirot
Poirot's old friend, newly returned from South America, and the novel's narrator who reconstructs the third-person sections.
Chief Inspector Japp Hercule Poirot
Poirot's old friend at Scotland Yard and the lead investigator, pragmatic and reliant on police methods.
Inspector Crome Hercule Poirot
The younger detective in charge of the Bexhill murder, who prefers his own methods and holds a low opinion of Poirot.
Dr Thompson Chief Inspector Japp
The forensic psychologist on Japp's team, tasked with profiling the killer's mind.
Franklin Clarke Sir Carmichael Clarke
Sir Carmichael's charming younger brother, who suggests the Legion and joins it — and is revealed as A.
Lady Clarke Sir Carmichael Clarke
Sir Carmichael's wife, dying of cancer and often confused by medication; her life interest in the estate shapes the murder's timing.
Thora Grey Franklin Clarke
Sir Carmichael's attractive young assistant and a Legion member; the fear that he might marry her drives Franklin's crime.
Thora Grey Sir Carmichael Clarke
Sir Carmichael's attractive young assistant and a Legion member; the fear that he might marry her drives Franklin's crime.
Megan Barnard Hercule Poirot
Betty's sensible, down-to-earth older sister and a Legion member, whom Poirot pairs with Donald Fraser at the end.
Megan Barnard Betty Barnard
Betty's sensible, down-to-earth older sister and a Legion member, whom Poirot pairs with Donald Fraser at the end.
Megan Barnard Donald Fraser
Betty's sensible, down-to-earth older sister and a Legion member, whom Poirot pairs with Donald Fraser at the end.
Donald Fraser Betty Barnard
Betty's would-be fiancé, a temperamental man initially suspected in her murder, later a Legion member.

Go deeper

The A.B.C. Murders themes & symbols

Pattern as camouflage · The innocent who believes in his own guilt · Why write to the detective? · The helper as suspect

Themes explained

Read the full The A.B.C. Murders summary

The full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.

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