The Murder on the Links · Character

Paul Renauld

A wealthy Englishman in France whose midnight appointment with masked men ends in a shallow grave on the golf course, and whose past refuses to stay buried.

major

Also known as M. Renauld, Renauld, M. Paul Renauld, old Mr. Renauld

First appearance: II: An Appeal for Help

As a major figure in The Murder on the Links, Paul Renauld is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The murder victim; his body is discovered on the golf links with a knife in his back.

In the storyThe Murder on the LinksOpen this moment free

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Renauld is the murdered man whose secret life sets the whole plot in motion: a millionaire with a beautiful neighbor, a nervous wife, and a son he means to separate from the girl he loves. He summons Poirot by letter, then dies before the detective can reach him, leaving behind a story of masked intruders and a mysterious 'secret.' His carefully constructed plans to escape his past become the very blueprint his killer uses, making him both victim and unwitting accomplice.

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See Paul Renauld in II: An Appeal for Help

Character Web

23 connections

A slice of how Paul Renauld sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Murder suspects and witnesses
Protagonist

+18 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where the narrator,…

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In the story

Paul Renauld appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Murder on the Links
The murder victim; his body is discovered on the golf links with a knife in his back.
II: An Appeal for Help
Renauld's letter requesting help is the catalyst for the chapter; Poirot analyzes his postscript for hidden urgency.
IV: The Letter Signed "Bella"
The murdered man; his will, letter from Bella, and personal effects are central to the chapter's discoveries.
VI: The Scene of the Crime
The victim; his body is discovered face down near a pit on the golf course, and his spade and gloves are found at the scene.
XX: An Amazing Statement
His actions before the murder are analyzed, including the quarrel with his son, the alteration of his will, and the visit from Bella Duveen.
XXI: Hercule Poirot on the Case!
Revealed to be Georges Conneau, who planned his own faked death but was actually murdered by an unknown assailant.
XXVI: I Receive a Letter
The murder victim, referred to as 'Papa Renauld' in Dulcie's letter.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Paul Renauld unlock in the free preview.

See Paul Renauld in II: An Appeal for Help

See Paul Renauld in The Murder on the Links