# Abe Ryland — The Big Four character guide

> Abe Ryland in The Big Four by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Ryland, Ryland, Mr. Abe Ryland, the real Ryland

**First appearance:** 0001-ii-the-man-from-the-asylum

## Who they are

An American multimillionaire of overpowering force and personality, whose casual contempt for Poirot and violent rages over misopened letters suggest a man with far more to hide than money.

## Relationships

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_rivalry_

Abe Ryland is a powerful member of the Big Four and a direct adversary to Poirot's detective work.

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_rivalry_

Abe Ryland is a powerful member of the Big Four and a direct adversary to Poirot's detective work.

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_rivalry_

Abe Ryland is a powerful member of the Big Four and a direct adversary to Poirot's detective work.

## In the story

### [The Unexpected Guest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/i-the-unexpected-guest)

The American Soap King who hired Poirot for a South American investigation, though his connection to the Big Four is hinted at.

### [In the House of the Enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/viii-in-the-house-of-the-enemy)

Ryland is the multimillionaire suspect; he receives letters marked with a '4' and reacts furiously when one is opened by mistake.

### [In the Felsenlabyrynth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-felsenlabyrynth)

Present as a member of the Big Four; questions Achille's claims.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/abe_ryland
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters