Characters

Hercule Poirot

Monsieur Hercule Poirot is a Belgian, private detective and the protagonist of every Poirot story. Having formerly lived in Belgium and served as chief of the Belgian police, he relocated to England as a refugee during World War I and now lives in London at 56B Whitehaven Mansions.

Poirot is renowned for employing meticulous reasoning, aided, as he often notes, by his 'little grey cells'.

Arthur Hastings

Commonly referred to as: Hastings, Captain Hastings

Captain Arthur Hastings OBE is the companion-chronicler and best friend of Hercule Poirot. He is introduced in the novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles, where he also serves as the narrator.

Hastings recalls having first met Poirot in Belgium, and describes him as 'a marvellous little fellow... a funny little man, a great dandy, but wonderfully clever'.

Felicity Lemon

Commonly referred to as: Miss Lemon

Miss Lemon is Hercule Poirot's confidential secretary. Her office is located in a room at Poirot's home and she is, as he remarks, 'incredibly efficient'. Miss Lemon is introduced in the short story How Does Your Garden Grow?, where it is further noted: 'Her real passion in life was the perfection of a filing system beside which all other filing systems should sink into oblivion.'

James Japp

Commonly referred to as: Japp, Detective Inspector Japp, (and later) Chief Inspector Japp

Detective Inspector, later Chief Inspector, Japp is a policeman who works at Scotland Yard, London. He is introduced in the novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Ariadne Oliver

Also referred to as: Mrs Oliver

Mrs Ariadne Oliver is a friend of Hercule Poirot and 'extremely well-known as one of the foremost writers of detective and other sensational stories'. She is introduced in the novel Cards on the Table.

Johnnie Race

Commonly referred to as: Colonel Race

Colonel Race is an ex-Army officer and friend of Hercule Poirot. He is introduced in the novel Cards on the Table, and described as '[a] dark, handsome, deeply bronzed man of fifty, [who] was usually to be found in some outpost of empire - especially if there were trouble brewing.'

Vera Rossakoff

Commonly referred to as: Countess Rossakoff

Countess Vera Rossakoff is Hercule Poirot's one and only love interest, yet also an antagonist and jewel thief. She is introduced in the novel The Big Four, where Hastings notes: 'Poirot, for some reason or other, had always had a sneaking fondness for the countess. Something in her very flamboyance attracted the little man. She was, he was wont to declare in moments of enthusiasm, a woman in a thousand.'