A Belgian refugee, a poisoned heiress, and the first case of Hercule Poirot.
Who drives the story
A fastidious, renowned Belgian refugee and private detective, drawn into the case at Hastings's request. He hoards small physical clues, refuses the obvious arrest, and solves the plot by asking who benefits from being suspected.
The narrator, a captain on sick leave from the Western Front and Poirot's old friend. He brings Poirot into the case, misreads nearly everything, and his chance remark about tidying up cracks the mystery open.
The wealthy mistress of Styles Court, in her 70s, generous to Poirot and shrewd to the last. Poisoned by strychnine, she dies behind a locked door whispering her husband's name — but she had already hidden the letter that would hang him.
Emily's second husband, twenty years her junior, dismissed by the family as a fortune-hunter. He plays the suspect so eagerly that his eagerness becomes the clue that convicts him.
Emily's lady's companion and Alfred's cousin, who stages loud hatred of him while secretly loving him and plotting with him. She forges the handwriting and supplies the bromide.
Emily's elder stepson, a former barrister turned country squire, who invites Hastings to Styles. He inherits the house but not the money, and is framed for his stepmother's murder.
John's wife, whose marriage is strained and who counts Dr Bauerstein among her friends. The ending restores her to her husband.
The Scotland Yard man on the case and an acquaintance of Poirot. He arrests Alfred, then John, and is twice outmanoeuvred by his Belgian friend.
A famous toxicologist living near Styles who confirms the strychnine poisoning. Arrested as a German spy and briefly suspected of murder, he is cleared of both roles in the killing.
Also in the story
Emily's younger stepson, John's brother, who studied medicine and qualified as a doctor. One more face at the table when the household wakes to the screams.
The daughter of a deceased family friend, working in a nearby hospital dispensary. Her screams wake the household on the night of the murder.
A loyal maid devoted to Mrs Inglethorp, whose testimony helps map the household's movements on the fatal night.
How they are connected
A fastidious, renowned Belgian refugee and private detective, drawn into the case at Hastings's request.
Emily InglethorpHercule Poirot
The wealthy mistress of Styles Court, in her 70s, generous to Poirot and shrewd to the last.
Alfred InglethorpEmily Inglethorp
Emily's second husband, twenty years her junior, dismissed by the family as a fortune-hunter.
Emily's lady's companion and Alfred's cousin, who stages loud hatred of him while secretly loving him and plotting with him.
Evelyn HowardAlfred Inglethorp
Emily's lady's companion and Alfred's cousin, who stages loud hatred of him while secretly loving him and plotting with him.
Emily's elder stepson, a former barrister turned country squire, who invites Hastings to Styles.
John CavendishEmily Inglethorp
Emily's elder stepson, a former barrister turned country squire, who invites Hastings to Styles.
John's wife, whose marriage is strained and who counts Dr Bauerstein among her friends.
John's wife, whose marriage is strained and who counts Dr Bauerstein among her friends.
Lawrence CavendishEmily Inglethorp
Emily's younger stepson, John's brother, who studied medicine and qualified as a doctor.
Lawrence CavendishJohn Cavendish
Emily's younger stepson, John's brother, who studied medicine and qualified as a doctor.
The Scotland Yard man on the case and an acquaintance of Poirot.
Go deeper
The performance of innocence · Money and the modern family · The fair-play puzzle · War at the edges
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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