# Hercule Poirot — Poirot Investigates character guide > Hercule Poirot in Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Monsieur Poirot, Poirot, the great Hercule Poirot, Monsieur Hercule Poirot, Papa Poirot **First appearance:** 0000-the-adventure-of-the-western-star ## Snapshot A vain, brilliant Belgian detective who solves crimes from his sickbed and treats self-promotion as a branch of logic. ## Who they are Poirot is the retired policeman whose little grey cells have made him a society fad, complete with a mocking notice in Society Gossip and a stream of fashionable clients at his door. Laid low by influenza, he still orchestrates investigations by dispatching Hastings to Derbyshire and demanding daily reports, his vanity and his method inseparable. His refusal to leave his bed while solving a murder is the engine of the book's early cases: the mind travels where the body cannot. ## Relationships ### [Captain Hastings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/captain_hastings) _friendship_ Captain Hastings is Poirot's loyal friend and frequent companion, often serving as a foil to Poirot's brilliance. ### [Mrs. Davenheim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/mrs_davenheim) _professional_ Poirot investigates Mrs. Davenheim as a suspect in her husband's disappearance, maintaining a detached professional demeanor. ### [Inspector Japp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/inspector_japp) _professional_ Inspector Japp and Poirot have a professional working relationship, with Japp often seeking Poirot's expertise on cases. ### [Lady Yardly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/lady_yardly) _professional_ Poirot interacts with Lady Yardly as a client and suspect in a jewel theft case, maintaining a formal investigative dynamic. ### [Miss Mary Marvell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/miss_mary_marvell) _professional_ Poirot investigates Miss Mary Marvell as a suspect in a murder case, treating her with professional suspicion. ### [Ed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/ed) _professional_ Ed is a servant or employee who interacts with Poirot during the investigation of the Davenheim case. ### [Lord Yardly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/lord_yardly) _professional_ Poirot deals with Lord Yardly as a client and potential suspect in the jewel theft case. ### [Sir Guy Willard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/sir_guy_willard) _professional_ Poirot interacts with Sir Guy Willard as a legal or professional contact during an investigation. ### [Mr. Philip Ridgeway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/mr_philip_ridgeway) _professional_ Poirot investigates Mr. Philip Ridgeway as a suspect in a murder case involving Miss Mary Marvell. ### [Major Norman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/major_norman) _professional_ Poirot interacts with Major Norman as a witness or suspect in a case. ### [Captain Daniels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/captain_daniels) _professional_ Captain Daniels interacts with Poirot as a witness or colleague in a case. ### [Mr. Lowen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/mr_lowen) _professional_ Poirot interacts with Mr. Lowen as a suspect or associate in a case. ## In the story ### [The Adventure of the Western Star](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-adventure-of-the-western-star) Observes Mary Marvell from his window, deduces her identity and purpose, advises her on the diamond threat, and later investigates the theft. ### [The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-tragedy-at-marsdon-manor) Leads the investigation, stages a theatrical séance to extract a confession, and uses word association to uncover the truth. ### [The Adventure of the Cheap Flat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-adventure-of-the-cheap-flat) Leads the investigation into the cheap flat, rents a flat above, and plans a midnight vigil. ### [The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-mystery-of-hunter-s-lodge) Ill with influenza but directs the investigation from his sickbed, ultimately deducing the truth. ### [The Million Dollar Bond Robbery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-million-dollar-bond-robbery) The detective who takes on the case of the stolen Liberty Bonds, deducing the thief's identity and planning to wait for the Olympia's return. ### [The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-adventure-of-the-egyptian-tomb) Investigates the curse of Men-her-Ra, travels to Egypt despite his distaste for the sea and sand. ### [The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-jewel-robbery-at-the-grand-metropolitan) The detective who solves the jewel robbery by deducing the method and using fingerprint evidence. ### [The Kidnapped Prime Minister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-kidnapped-prime-minister) Poirot is consulted about the Prime Minister's kidnapping and insists on using his deductive method rather than physical search. ### [The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-disappearance-of-mr-davenheim) Accepts Japp's bet to solve the case from his chair; deduces the truth behind Davenheim's disappearance and the bank's failure. ### [The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-adventure-of-the-italian-nobleman) Accompanies Dr. Hawker to the crime scene, notices details like the undrawn curtains and black coffee, and later confronts Signor Ascanio. ### [The Case of the Missing Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/chapters/the-case-of-the-missing-will) Takes on Miss Marsh's case, uses deduction to find the hidden will. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters/hercule_poirot - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poirot_investigates_se/characters