# M. Hanaud — At the Villa Rose character guide

> M. Hanaud in At the Villa Rose by A. E. W. Mason.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Hanaud, Monsieur Hanaud, the great M. Hanaud

**First appearance:** 0000-i-summer-lightning

## Snapshot

The celebrated French detective whose genial banter and glittering eyes peel apart the Villa Rose murder with patient, unnerving precision.

## Who they are

Hanaud arrives at the Villa Rose as the great detective from Paris, soothing a frightened maid while quietly cataloguing every grease-mark and tumbled towel. He treats the case as a puzzle of human motive rather than mere forensics, teasing Ricardo's theories even as he builds his own. His refusal to accept the obvious makes him the engine of the early investigation, and his growing protectiveness toward Celia signals that the truth will be more painful than the crime itself.

## In the story

### [II: A Cry for Help](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/ii-a-cry-for-help)

Detective on holiday who is persuaded by Wethermill to take charge of the Villa Rose murder case.

### [III: Perrichet's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/iii-perrichet-s-story)

Listens attentively to Perrichet's story, asks clarifying questions, and leads the group to the villa.

### [IV: At the Villa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/iv-at-the-villa)

Leads the investigation at the villa, examining footprints and interviewing Servettaz.

### [V: In the Salon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/v-in-the-salon)

Leads the investigation, examines Celia's room and the salon, compares handwriting, and discovers the stained cushion.

### [VI: Hélène Vauquier’s Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/vi-h-l-ne-vauquier-s-evidence)

Leads the interrogation of Hélène Vauquier, probing her story for inconsistencies and testing theories about the crime.

### [VII: A Startling Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/vii-a-startling-discovery)

Leads the investigation, discovers the hidden jewels, and expresses a profound fear about something unexplained in the house.

### [The Captain of the Ship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/viii-the-captain-of-the-ship)

Reveals the red hair clue, asserts his authority as 'captain of the ship', reconstructs the crime sequence, and questions Célie's attire and the erased footsteps.

### [IX: Mme. Dauvray's Motorcar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/ix-mme-dauvray-s-motorcar)

Remains composed; deduces the car was driven to Geneva and back; dismisses Ricardo's suggestion about the Pont de la Caille.

### [X: News from Geneva](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/x-news-from-geneva)

Places the advertisement secretly, shows initial calm but grows anxious awaiting Marthe Gobin's arrival; is horrified when she is found murdered.

### [XII: The Aluminium Flask](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xii-the-aluminium-flask)

Anxious and tense during the journey to Geneva; reveals a loaded revolver; reacts with alarm to the newspaper news.

### [XIII: In the House at Geneva](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xiii-in-the-house-at-geneva)

Leads the rescue operation; gently reassures Celia; explains his reasoning for the timing of the rescue and the criminals' plan to kill her; shows compassion and strategic insight.

### [XIV: Mr. Ricardo Is Bewildered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xiv-mr-ricardo-is-bewildered)

Visits Ricardo in the morning, walks with him, and shares insights into the characters involved, while keeping the full solution to himself.

### [XXI: Hanaud Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xxi-hanaud-explains)

Explains his reasoning and deductions to Ricardo after the trial.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/hanaud
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters