# Hercule Poirot — The Murder on the Links character guide > Hercule Poirot in The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Poirot, M. Poirot, M. Hercule Poirot, Papa Poirot, Monsieur Poirot **First appearance:** 0001-the-murder-on-the-links ## Snapshot A retired Belgian detective whose egg-shaped head and outrageous vanity conceal the finest grey cells in Europe, summoned to solve a murder in Merlinville-sur-Mer. ## Who they are Poirot arrives at the Villa Geneviève expecting a quiet holiday and finds instead a stabbed millionaire, a spade-dug grave, and a rival detective he despises. His methods are theatrical and his pride is boundless, but his real weapon is psychology: he reads a two-foot clue as keenly as a two-inch one, and suspects everyone, including the victim. As the case deepens, he must untangle a crime built on another man's cleverness, and his certainty that heredity and character never lie drives the investigation forward. ## Relationships ### [M. Giraud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/m_giraud) _rivalry_ Poirot and the detective Giraud are competitive rivals, with Giraud dismissive of Poirot's methods and Poirot ultimately outsmarting him. ### [M. Hautet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/m_hautet) _professional_ Poirot works alongside M. Hautet, the magistrate, sharing information and insights during the investigation. ### [Captain Hastings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/captain_hastings) _friendship_ Captain Hastings is Poirot's loyal friend and companion, assisting him in the investigation and providing a narrative perspective. ### [M. Bex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/m_bex) _professional_ M. Bex, the local commissary of police, cooperates with Poirot during the murder investigation. ### [Bella Duveen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/bella_duveen) _psychological_ Poirot interrogates Bella Duveen as a suspect, and she becomes emotionally distressed, revealing her connection to the crime. ### [Françoise Arrichet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/francoise_arrichet) _professional_ Françoise, the Renaulds' maid, provides Poirot with key information about the household and the night of the murder. ### [Gabriel Stonor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/gabriel_stonor) _professional_ Stonor assists Poirot with financial and business details related to Paul Renauld's affairs. ### [M. Giraud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/m_giraud) _rivalry_ Poirot and the detective Giraud are competitive rivals, with Giraud dismissive of Poirot's methods and Poirot ultimately outsmarting him. ### [Captain Hastings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/captain_hastings) _friendship_ Captain Hastings is Poirot's loyal friend and companion, assisting him in the investigation and providing a narrative perspective. ### [Bella Duveen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/bella_duveen) _psychological_ Poirot interrogates Bella Duveen as a suspect, and she becomes emotionally distressed, revealing her connection to the crime. ### [Françoise Arrichet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/francoise_arrichet) _professional_ Françoise, the Renaulds' maid, provides Poirot with key information about the household and the night of the murder. ### [M. Giraud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/m_giraud) _rivalry_ Poirot and the detective Giraud are competitive rivals, with Giraud dismissive of Poirot's methods and Poirot ultimately outsmarting him. ## In the story ### [The Murder on the Links](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/the-murder-on-the-links) Receives the urgent appeal from Paul Renauld and leads the investigation at the Villa Geneviève. ### [I: A Fellow Traveller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/i-a-fellow-traveller) Mentioned by Hastings as his Belgian ex-detective friend and roommate in London; his work on the Styles case is recounted to the girl. ### [II: An Appeal for Help](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/ii-an-appeal-for-help) Poirot discusses his methods, emphasizing psychology and deduction over physical clues, and expresses a premonition about the case. ### [At the Villa Geneviève](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/iii-at-the-villa-genevi-ve) Observes the interrogation and notes inconsistencies, such as the dismissal of the chauffeur and the locked front door. ### [IV: The Letter Signed "Bella"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/iv-the-letter-signed-bella) Examines the study, discovers the cheque fragment under the hearthrug, and analyzes the will and the letter from Bella, noting inconsistencies in the case. ### [V: Mrs. Renauld’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/v-mrs-renauld-s-story) Observes the scene, examines the wristwatch, and revises his initial suspicion after witnessing Mrs. Renauld's genuine grief. ### [VI: The Scene of the Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/vi-the-scene-of-the-crime) Observes the crime scene with a focus on seemingly trivial details like a piece of lead-piping and footprints in a flowerbed, which he considers important. ### [VII: The Mysterious Madame Daubreuil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/vii-the-mysterious-madame-daubreuil) Criticizes Giraud's methods, examines footprints in the flower bed, and leads the interview with Madame Daubreuil. ### [VIII: An Unexpected Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/viii-an-unexpected-meeting) Interviews Léonie about the Renaulds' domestic life and the quarrel between Mr. Renauld and Jack; remains in the salon to await the magistrate. ### [IX: M. Giraud Finds Some Clues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/ix-m-giraud-finds-some-clues) Emphasizes psychological deduction over physical clues, pointing out the gained watch and missing footprints. ### [X: Gabriel Stonor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/x-gabriel-stonor) Present during the questioning, asks about the chauffeur Masters. ### [XII: Poirot Elucidates Certain Points](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xii-poirot-elucidates-certain-points) Explains his methods and deductions, including the significance of the flower bed and wrist watch, and his belief that Mrs. Renauld is shielding someone. ### [XIII: The Girl with the Anxious Eyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xiii-the-girl-with-the-anxious-eyes) Teases Hastings about his romantic encounters, announces his journey to Paris to search for the murderer, and secretly inquires after the girl at the Hôtel du Phare. ### [XV: A Photograph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xv-a-photograph) Returns from Paris, deduces details of the second murder, examines the body, and reveals the identity of Madame Daubreuil as Madame Beroldy. ### [XVII: We Make Further Investigations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xvii-we-make-further-investigations) Leads the investigation, reveals he has solved one crime but not the second, and sends Jack Renauld on a false errand. ### [XVIII: Giraud Acts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xviii-giraud-acts) Searches Jack's room, finds a photograph, and interrogates Marthe Daubreuil about the tramp and Jack's alibi. ### [XIX: I Use My Grey Cells](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xix-i-use-my-grey-cells) Challenges Giraud's case against Jack Renauld, pointing out logical flaws; leads Hastings in a review of the case. ### [XX: An Amazing Statement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xx-an-amazing-statement) Leads the chronological review of the case, corrects Hastings' theory, and emphasizes the importance of the overcoat and the timing of events. ### [XXI: Hercule Poirot on the Case!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxi-hercule-poirot-on-the-case) Delivers the full solution to the first crime, explaining Renauld's faked death and the tramp's body, and sets out to find Bella Duveen. ### [XXII: I Find Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxii-i-find-love) Discovers Hastings' involvement with Bella, but allows her to escape. He later tracks the Dulcibella Kids to Coventry. ### [XXIII: Difficulties Ahead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxiii-difficulties-ahead) Poirot appears calm and imperturbable, but Hastings detects a film of reserve; he has already learned of the Dulcibella Sisters' departure and plans to return to France. ### [XXIV: “Save Him!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxiv-save-him) Returns from England, visits M. Hautet, receives Marthe's letter, wagers with Giraud, and investigates the third paper-knife. ### [XXVI: I Receive a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxvi-i-receive-a-letter) Reads the letter with Hastings and reveals he knew Dulcie was the twin all along. ### [XXVII: Jack Renauld's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxvii-jack-renauld-s-story) Leads the investigation, arranges a meeting with Cinderella, and conducts a nighttime stakeout. ### [XXVIII: Journey’s End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxviii-journey-s-end) Reveals Marthe Daubreuil as the murderer, advises Jack to confess to Bella, and receives a foxhound model as a reward. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters/hercule_poirot - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/characters