Murder on the Orient Express
(Agatha Christie)

Detective Hercule Poirot

Detective Poirot is the detective in many Agatha Christie novels. He was once a Belgian police officer though he is since retired and he has become known for his long, curly mustache and his slight stature.

It is Poirot’s intelligence, and spot-on instincts that make him a successful detective and his ability to solve crimes that seem impossible to outsiders is what makes him stand out. He is the protagonist of this novel and the reader only learns what Poirot chooses to reveal to them, when he chooses to reveal it.

M. Bouc

M. Bouc is a dear friend of Poirot and offers him a first-class spot on the Orient Express when he is summoned back to London. M. Bouc is the “Watson” to Poirot’s “Sherlock” in this case, and he stands by Poirot for each step of the investigation.

M. Bouc is the director of the Wagon Lit Company and was once on the Belgian police force with Poirot. While his instincts are not as sharp as Poirot’s, he does form some enlightening opinions and views throughout the novel, despite the fact that he is often frustrated by the confusing evidence.

Ratchett

Ratchett is a passenger on the Orient Express who has been receiving death threats and asks for Poirot’s help in protecting him though Poirot refuses as there is something he immediately distrusts about Ratchett.

Ratchett is the murder victim on the train and in the process of investigating the murder Poirot discovers that Ratchett’s true identity is that of Cassetti, the man responsible for kidnapping and murdering young Daisy Armstrong in American some three years prior. Ratchett’s connections and wealth helped him to escape his death sentence, but only until he boarded the Orient Express.

Doctor Constantine

Doctor Constantine is the man aboard the train who examines the body of Ratchett and determined his cause of death to be twelve stab wounds, all of varying depths and coming from different directions. Doctor Constantine serves as a second “Watson” character in this sense and accompanies Poirot and M. Bouc through the examining of the evidence.

It is Doctor Constantine’s belief that Ratchett was killed in the early hours of the morning, and it is his responsibility to decide which evidence matches up with the testimonies of the passengers.

Mary Debenham

Mary Debenham is a young woman whom Poirot first encountered on his train to Stanboul, accompanied by Colonel Arbuthnot whom she claims to have just met on that train though their casual interaction with one another and his referral to her by her first name lead Poirot to believe they are old acquaintances.

Mary’s true identity is revealed to be that of the governess to the Armstrong family, and one of the murderers, despite the Countess’ attempt to keep Mary’s identity secret. Poirot suspected Mary’s involvement immediately because of a suspicious conversation he overheard between her and the Colonel on the train to Stanboul.

Colonel Arbuthnot

The Colonel was actually a close friend of Colonel Armstrong, who shot himself after Daisy was killed and his wife died during premature labor. The Colonel is determined to seek revenge and justice for the Armstrong family and the tragedy they succumbed to.

Poirot suspects the Colonel of foul play when he and Mary act so casually together despite insisting they had just met and when he overhears a suspect conversation between the two “strangers” that alludes to the murder that will soon happen.

Mrs. Hubbard

Mrs. Hubbard is actually Linda Arden, mother of Sonia Armstrong and grandmother to Daisy Armstrong. She is a famous actress, and it shows in her overly hysterical performance as Mrs. Hubbard though she gives some false evidence that makes Poirot suspicious, especially that of having Greta check that her door is locked when she can clearly see the lock herself from where she is lying. She is a constant source of interruption during the investigation, and she is known for telling many stories about her daughter, which is later known to be Sonia.

Princess Dragomiroff

The Princess is one of the few characters who does not lie about her identity and readily admits a connection to the Armstrong family, as she was the godmother to Sonia Armstrong, being a notable friend of Linda. Princess Dragomiroff is Russian, and she admits that handkerchief belongs to her as the “H” is truly the Russian “N”. She is ugly and old and generally disliked, especially by Poirot as he distrusts her and finds she has spun many lies about the other passengers’ identities.

Hector McQueen

McQueen is the secretary and personal assistance to Ratchett, though he claims to have had no idea of Ratchett’s true identity until Poirot reveals it to him. McQueen’s father was the prosecutor in the case against Cassetti and, during the trial, he developed a crush on Sonia Armstrong, causing him to seek revenge against the man who, by a chain of events, caused her death. McQueen’s unrelenting insistence that Ratchett did not speak any French is what led Poirot to suspect him so strongly in the murder.

Countess Andrenyi

The Countess is who she says she is though she hides the fact that her maiden name is Goldenberg by smudging grease on her passport, as it would tip Poirot to the fact that she is the sister of Sonia Armstrong and the aunt to Daisy.

The Countess is the only passenger in first class who did not stab Ratchett, as her husband took her place. The Countess is decidedly young, in her early twenties, and is a dark-haired beauty. The smudge on the passport is what led Poirot to suspect that the Countess was attempting to hide her maiden name from him.

Count Andrenyi

The Count is the husband of the Countess and is particularly protective of her throughout the investigation process, attempting to prevent Poirot from speaking to her at all. Rather than allowing his wife to participate in the actual crime, he takes her place so she will be satisfied with the justice that has been served but will be safe from being implemented in the crime.

Cyrus Hardman

Cyrus is a detective from New York City with a powerful personality who pretends to be assisting Poirot with the case. Cyrus is in love with Daisy’s nurse, who killed herself after Daisy was murdered for fear that she would be seen as a suspect, and thus helps to murder Ratchett, whom he claims he was there to protect. Hardman thinks that he is in the clear as far as he murder goes but Poirot has figured everything out and knows that Hardman is involved, just as everyone else.

Antonio Foscanelli

Antonio is the large Italian man aboard the Orient Express though he later admits to Poirot that he was the chauffeur for the Armstrong family. Antonio loved little Daisy and saw her as the light of the family; he gets teary-eyed when he mentions how she used to pretend to drive his car.

M. Bouc immediately suspects Antonio of playing a part in the murder because he distrusts Italian people, though his role in the murders is not suspected or proven until the identities of other passengers are uncovered.

Hildegard Schmidt

Hildegard is the servant to Princess Dragomiroff and wears a constant expression that makes her appear to be stupid. Her entire purpose is to carry out the Princess’ demands, no matter how ridiculous they may seem. Poirot wonders if the handkerchief that is found in Ratchett’s room may belong to her as it is embroidered with an “H”, though it ends up belong to the Princess herself. While Hildegard acts as the Princess’ servant, it is revealed that she was the cook for the Armstrong family.

Pierre Michel

Pierre is the conductor of the Wagon Lit, has been employed by them for a number of years, and is considered to be a top-notch employee. Pierre is not seriously suspected of having a role in the murder as he is tremendously helpful to Poirot and seems to have a strong alibi; however, his role in the murder proves to be one of the utmost importance as he has to tell the most lies of anyone. It is revealed that Pierre is the father to Daisy’s nurse whom committed suicide after her murder.