The ABC Murders
Also known as The Alphabet Murders
SYNOPSIS
There's a serial killer on the loose in England and Poirot and Hastings are on the case. With the killer apparently choosing victims based solely on their name and location, leaving an A.B.C. railway guide beside each body and working his way through the Alphabet... just how far will he get before he can be caught?
poirot
Poirot is joined once again by Captain Arthur Hastings in the 11th novel he features in.
when to read
This is an anytime read - I often listen to the audio book of this novel whether sunbathing on holiday or just doing the housework. There's a reference to 'Three Act Tragedy' in this one (can you spot it?) so if you've not read that first you might want to although it's not a huge spoiler.
murder mystery
A murder mystery with a larger pool of suspects than the usual closed circle ones.
england
Set in England with various towns mentioned including Andover and Doncaster
Publishing info
The ABC Murders was published in 1936 following on from 'Death in the Clouds' and before 'Murder in Mesopotamia'.
overall rating
5/5
On Screen
Watching Agatha Christie
The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie was filmed as part of the ITV feature length episodes and is Season 4 episode 4 starring David Suchet as Poirot.
The ABC Murders Character List
| Alexander Bonaparte Cust | Salesman who suffers with blackouts |
| Alice Ascher | Shopkeeper and victim |
| Captain Arthur Hasting | Poirot’s friend |
| Chief Inspector James Japp | Scotland Yard detective |
| Constable Dover | Police officer investigating the dead of Alice Asher |
| Donald Fraser | Boyfriend of Elizabeth Barnard |
| Dr Kerr | Doctor who inspects Alice Asher’s body |
| Dr Thompson | Forensic Psychologist creating a profile of the killer for Japp |
| Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Barnard | Waitress at the Ginger Cat and victim |
| Franklin Clarke | Brother of Sir Carmichael |
| Franz Ascher | Estranged husband of Alice Ascher |
| George Earlsfield | Barber and fourth victim |
| Inspector Crome | Investigating office |
| Inspector Glen | Investigating officer into the killing of Alice Asher |
| Lady Charlotte Clarke | Sir Carmichael’s terminally ill wife |
| Lily Marbury | Daughter of Custs’ landlady |
| Mary Drower | Mrs Ascher’s niece |
| Megan Barnard | Sister of Elizabeth Barnard |
| Michael Hartington | Aquaintance of Cust’s landlady and an old friend of his |
| Milly Higley | Co-worker at The Ginger Cat with Betty Barnard |
| Roger Emmanuel Downes | School teacher attending the cinema in Doncaster |
| Sir Carmichael Clarke | Chinese art collector and victim |
| Thora Grey | Sir Carmichael’s secretary |
| Tom Hartigan | Lily’s boyfriend |
SPOILERS BELOW!
A – Alice Asher
B – Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Barnard
C – Sir Carmichael Clarke
D – George Earlsfield (mistakenly)
Although set up as the culprit, it is in fact Franklin Clarke
Franklin Clarke hopes to inherit his brother’s fortune but he can see the closeness between his brother and his young secretary building so he worries that after his wife’s soon and inevitable death, they will marry and potentially have children replacing him as beneficiary. He kills the others to disguise this personal crime among a series so the police will not look ‘close to home’.
Alice Asher – Bludgeoned
Betty Barnard – Strangled
Carmichael – Bludgeoned with a spade
George Earlsfield – Stabbed
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