# Hercule Poirot — The Murder of Roger Ackroyd character guide > Hercule Poirot in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** M. Poirot, Poirot, Mr. Poirot, M. Hercule Poirot, Monsieur Poirot, Papa Poirot **First appearance:** 0004-iii-the-man-who-grew-vegetable-marrows ## Snapshot The retired Belgian detective, coaxed from his vegetable marrows to untangle a village murder where every friendly face hides a motive. ## Who they are Poirot arrives in King's Abbot expecting quiet retirement and instead finds a case that flatters his vanity and his method in equal measure. He works through the drawing room with maddening politeness, asking impertinent questions and watching who flinches. His insistence that truth matters more than comfort sets him against nearly everyone's preferred version of events. ## Relationships ### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd) _professional_ Flora hires Poirot to investigate her uncle's murder, creating a client-detective dynamic. ### [Caroline Sheppard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/caroline_sheppard) _friendship_ Caroline is a gossipy but helpful neighbor who assists Poirot with local information and observations. ### [Roger Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/roger_ackroyd) _social_ Poirot is a recent acquaintance of Roger Ackroyd, having retired to the village shortly before the murder. ### [Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/parker) _professional_ Parker is the butler at Fernly Park, questioned by Poirot as a potential suspect and source of information. ### [Major Blunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/major_blunt) _professional_ Poirot interviews Major Blunt as a suspect and witness, treating him with professional suspicion. ### [Ralph Paton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/ralph_paton) _professional_ Poirot investigates Ralph Paton as the prime suspect, tracking him down and interrogating him. ### [Inspector Raglan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/inspector_raglan) _rivalry_ Poirot and Inspector Raglan compete to solve the murder, with Raglan resentful of Poirot's interference. ### [Dr. Sheppard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/dr_sheppard) _friendship_ Dr. Sheppard is Poirot's neighbor and informal assistant, helping with the investigation while hiding his own secret. ### [Geoffrey Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/geoffrey_raymond) _professional_ Geoffrey Raymond assists Poirot with access to documents and information about the Ackroyd household. ### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd) _professional_ Flora hires Poirot to investigate her uncle's murder, creating a client-detective dynamic. ### [Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/parker) _professional_ Parker is the butler at Fernly Park, questioned by Poirot as a potential suspect and source of information. ### [Roger Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/roger_ackroyd) _social_ Poirot is a recent acquaintance of Roger Ackroyd, having retired to the village shortly before the murder. ## In the story ### [The Murder of Roger Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/the-murder-of-roger-ackroyd) Retired detective who takes on the investigation of Ackroyd's murder. ### [The Man Who Grew Vegetable Marrows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/iii-the-man-who-grew-vegetable-marrows) Introduced as the mysterious new neighbor Mr. Porrott; grows vegetable marrows; has a distinctive moustache. ### [I Learn My Neighbour's Profession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/vii-i-learn-my-neighbour-s-profession) Agrees to investigate the murder after Flora's plea; questions Dr. Sheppard about his motives for visiting the inn. ### [Inspector Raglan Is Confident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/viii-inspector-raglan-is-confident) Observes and questions the evidence, investigates the summerhouse, and finds a scrap of cambric and a quill. ### [IX: The Goldfish Pond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/ix-the-goldfish-pond) Leads the walk, questions Blunt about the night of the murder, and secretly retrieves a wedding ring from the goldfish pond. ### [X: The Parlour Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/x-the-parlour-maid) Investigates the murder, learns the will's terms from Mr. Hammond, and confides in Dr. Sheppard that evidence points to Ralph Paton's guilt. ### [XI: Poirot Pays a Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xi-poirot-pays-a-call) Sends Sheppard to interview Mrs. Folliott; visits Caroline to gain information and charm her. ### [XII: Round the Table](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xii-round-the-table) Leads the investigation; suggests fingerprints may be Ackroyd's own; convenes the family meeting and appeals to Flora. ### [XIII: The Goose Quill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xiii-the-goose-quill) Hosts Dr. Sheppard; analyzes the case, reveals the goose quill and heroin, and discusses multiple motives for Ralph Paton. ### [XIV: Mrs. Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xiv-mrs-ackroyd) Referenced as the detective whose accusations have upset Mrs. Ackroyd; his method of secrecy is noted by Dr. Sheppard. ### [XV: Geoffrey Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xv-geoffrey-raymond) Conducts a reconstruction with Parker, discusses motives, and receives Raymond's confession. ### [XVII: Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xvii-parker) Leads the investigation, questions Mr. Hammond about Mrs. Ferrars's finances, and theorizes about the blackmailer's psychology. ### [XVIII: Charles Kent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xviii-charles-kent) Leads the investigation; uses a goose quill to confront Kent and hints at a connection through Kent's birthplace. ### [XIX: Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xix-flora-ackroyd) Reveals his theory about Flora's involvement and encourages Blunt to pursue his feelings for her. ### [Miss Russell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xx-miss-russell) Arranges the meeting with Miss Russell and uses psychological pressure to extract her confession about Charles Kent. ### [The Paragraph in the Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxi-the-paragraph-in-the-paper) Arranges a nine o'clock conference, reveals Ursula Bourne as Ursula Paton, and enjoys a game of evasion with Caroline. ### [XXII: Ursula’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxii-ursula-s-story) Gently extracts Ursula's story, admits to using a fake newspaper paragraph to draw her out, and reassures her of his belief in Ralph's innocence. ### [Poirot's Little Reunion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxiii-poirot-s-little-reunion) Reads Sheppard's manuscript, organizes the reunion, reveals Ursula's marriage, and declares all present are suspects. ### [Ralph Paton’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxiv-ralph-paton-s-story) Reveals he discovered Ralph's hiding place, accuses the murderer in the room, and receives a confirming wireless message. ### [XXV: The Whole Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxv-the-whole-truth) The detective who reconstructs the crime step by step and exposes the truth. ### [And Nothing but the Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxvi-and-nothing-but-the-truth) Lays out the complete solution to the crime, demonstrating his deductive prowess. ### [XXVII: Apologia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxvii-apologia) The detective to whom Sheppard addresses his confession and trusts to manage the aftermath. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/hercule_poirot - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters