The Abernathie family gathers at the family home, Enderby, for Richard Abernathie's funeral. Richard had died peacefully in his sleep. Flighty Aunt Cora remarked in her simple, childlike-way, that Richard had been murdered. The rest of the family laughed Cora's remark off; she often said outlandish things. But, Aunt Cora is found murdered several days later--stabbed in the back with hatchet while sleeping.
The family solicitor, Mr. Entwhistle, calls upon his longtime friend Hercule Poirot to investigate Richard's death and Cora's initial claim that he was murdered.
Poirot comes to Enderby pretending to be Mr. Pontelier, the head of U.N.A.R.C.O., an organization for refugees. Under this disguise he is able to study the members of the Abernathie family:
Mrs. Leo Abernathie (Helen): wife of Richard's deceased brother Leo.
Timothy Abernathie: Richard's invalid brother, who is not so helpless as one might think
Timothy's wife Maude: always there for Timothy, but absent on the day Cora died.
Richard's nieces and nephew:
George: loved horses and women and was unlucky with both. Also suspected of diverting company funds
Susan Banks: Richard's niece, the only one who inherited his brains. However, her chemist husband Gregory is not well-liked
Rosamund: Richard's other niece, an actress.
Michael Shane: Rosamund's husband: his adultery gave him an alibi.
Miss Gilchrist: Aunt Cora's companion and cook.
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