The ABC Murders

In 1935, Hastings had left England for South America, but a global economic collapse required his return to England in June. Hastings indicates that his first goal was to renew his acquaintance with Poirot, a friend of long standing, who has lived in England since arriving as a refugee during World War I.

Hastings also notes that Poirot looks younger, and his hair is less grey. Poirot  admits that he has dyed his hair. When Hastings expresses shock, Poirot praises his “beautiful and unsuspicious nature” and produces his bottle of hair dye (2). Poirot assures his friend that his famous mustaches remain authentic and unaltered, declaring, “Never, in the whole of London, have I seen a pair of moustaches to equal mine” (3).

Poirot and Hastings discuss that the aging detective has yet to successfully retire, despite declaring this goal many times. Poirot asserts that too much leisure would endanger his intellectual prowess, but he is more selective of late, declaring, “for Hercule Poirot nowadays only the cream of crime” (3). Poirot admits that his work still involves some risk, as a recent case endangered his life. Poirot asserts that the two of them will soon find themselves investigating a matter worthy of his talents. Poirot calls it Hastings’s “destiny” to prevent him from “overlooking the obvious.” Hastings does not see the subtle dig in this observation, and, moving on, asks if a new crime has materialized.

Poirot presents his friend with an anonymous letter signed “ABC” from a person who challenges him to unravel a mystery that will soon present itself in the city of Andover on June 21. The author implies that Poirot is arrogant and thinks himself above the British authorities, and that events will soon demonstrate he is wrong. Poirot shows more alarm at the letter than his trusting friend, who thinks it is merely the work of a drunk. Poirot says their mutual friend at Scotland Yard, Japp, is similarly unconcerned but confesses that he remains disconcerted.

Hastings asks if he will act, or if his “instincts” are why he insists the letter must be significant. Poirot declares, “‘Not instinct, Hastings. Instinct is a bad word. It is my knowledge—my experience—that tells me that something about that letter is wrong—” (7-8). Poirot thinks the letter portends a violent crime, likely murder.

This chapter, narrated in the third person to reflect events where Hastings and Poirot are not present. It describes a man, Alexander Bonaparte Cust, who is occupied with a “railway guide […] and a typewritten list of names” (9). He checks a name off his list, the reader is told, on June 20—the day before the warning in Poirot’s anonymous letter.

The 21st arrives, and Hastings is reminded of the letter when he sees that Chief Inspector Japp has arrived. Japp, to Hastings’s chagrin, remarks that they are both aging. Japp asserts that Poirot only increases in fame and vigor with time, suggesting that he will “end by detecting your own death” (10). Hastings finds the joke in poor taste and asks Japp if he has come about the anonymous letter. He assures Poirot that his fears are unfounded—no significant crimes have occurred—and departs. Poirot and Hastings discuss Japp’s commentary on their appearance, and Poirot suggests Hastings consult his hairdresser for a solution to the latter’s encroaching baldness. They return to the subject of the letter, which Poirot insists had “the odour of the fish”—an instance of the character putting his own spin on English idioms (13).

Poirot and Hastings return to their earlier discussion of the ideal crime to investigate. Hastings constructs a classic mystery with a diverse cast of characters, including suspicious men, beautiful women, servants, and a “damn fool of detective rather like Japp” (14). For his part, Poirot expresses a preference for a more personal crime, such as four friends sitting down to a game of bridge, where one of them is murdered by the player sitting out a round. Hastings insists that mystery stories are better with more murders, ignoring Poirot’s distaste for his dramatic scenario.

They are interrupted by a telephone call from Japp. An old woman, Alice Ascher, has been found dead in Andover. The police suspect Mrs. Ascher’s estranged husband, a violent alcoholic but also wish for Poirot to produce his anonymous letter. Hastings is so excited at the prospect of a return to the chase that he misses Poirot’s observation, “this is the beginning” (18).