# Dr. Haydock — The Murder at the Vicarage character guide

> Dr. Haydock in The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Haydock

**First appearance:** 0001-the-murder-at-the-vicarage

## Snapshot

The village doctor whose blunt, unconventional talk about murder scandalizes the drawing rooms — until the crime touches a patient he actually cares about.

## Who they are

Haydock is the vicar's friend and the parish's physician, a man whose sardonic views on human nature make him useful and unnerving in equal measure. Miss Marple proposes using his reputation for odd opinions as bait in a trap, precisely because no one would question him speaking strangely. When the crime strikes a defenceless patient, his cool theorizing vanishes into primitive rage — proof that the village's most cynical observer is also its most fiercely protective.

## Relationships

### [Lawrence Redding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/lawrence_redding)

_friendship_

Dr. Haydock is a friend and supporter of Lawrence, providing medical and personal advice.

### [Lawrence Redding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/lawrence_redding)

_friendship_

Dr. Haydock is a friend and supporter of Lawrence, providing medical and personal advice.

### [Lawrence Redding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/lawrence_redding)

_friendship_

Dr. Haydock is a friend and supporter of Lawrence, providing medical and personal advice.

## In the story

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/v)

Called to the scene, examines the body, estimates time of death, and notes the absence of a weapon.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/vii)

Haydock provides medical evidence that contradicts Redding's claimed time of the murder, and appears unusually jovial.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/viii)

Expresses unease about the case and stays with Anne after her confession.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xiv)

Haydock shares his theories on crime as a disease, reveals Hawes's medical history, and appears troubled by the case.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xvi)

Seen at the narrator's door, looking worried; asks if Slack was civil to Miss Marple.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xix)

Mentioned in Protheroe's outburst ('Whatever Haydock says, I don't believe it') and noted for protecting Mrs. Lestrange from police questioning.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxv)

Looks haggard; admits to shielding Mrs. Lestrange because she is dying; reveals he knew Colonel Protheroe twenty years ago.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxix)

Called to treat Hawes; administers a hypodermic and takes him to hospital.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxxi)

Initially tired and haggard; becomes furious upon learning of the assault on Hawes and agrees to help.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/dr_haydock
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters