# The Murder on the Links — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie.

- [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/dedication.md): Agatha Christie dedicates the book to her husband, acknowledging his shared passion for detective stories and his valuable advice and criticism.
- [The Murder on the Links](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/the-murder-on-the-links.md): Hastings recounts meeting a mysterious girl on a train to France, followed by Poirot receiving an urgent appeal for help from a man named Paul Renauld. They travel to the Villa Geneviève in Merlinville, where they discov
- [I: A Fellow Traveller](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/i-a-fellow-traveller.md): Captain Hastings travels from Paris to London on the Calais express and meets a young, outspoken actress who calls herself 'Cinderella.' They converse about her life in vaudeville, Hastings' war experiences, and his frie
- [II: An Appeal for Help](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/ii-an-appeal-for-help.md): Poirot and Hastings receive a desperate appeal for help from Mr. Paul Renauld, who fears for his life. Poirot deduces that the postscript was added deliberately to ensure their arrival, indicating the urgency of the case
- [At the Villa Geneviève](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/iii-at-the-villa-genevi-ve.md): Poirot and Hastings arrive at the Villa Geneviève and observe the initial police investigation. The examining magistrate, M. Hautet, and the commissary, M. Bex, interrogate the servants. Françoise insists Madame Daubreui
- [IV: The Letter Signed "Bella"](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/iv-the-letter-signed-bella.md): Poirot, Hastings, and the French officials examine the study and discover a fragment of a cheque bearing the name 'Duveen' under the hearthrug. The magistrate reveals a passionate, threatening letter from a woman named '
- [V: Mrs. Renauld’s Story](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/v-mrs-renauld-s-story.md): Mrs. Renauld recounts the night of the murder, describing two masked men who bound her and forced her husband into the dressing-room before taking him away. She reveals that her husband had been anxious for about ten day
- [VI: The Scene of the Crime](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/vi-the-scene-of-the-crime.md): Poirot, Hastings, and M. Bex visit the crime scene on the golf course, where they encounter the arrogant detective Giraud from the Paris Sûreté. Giraud dismisses Poirot's methods and focuses on physical clues, while Poir
- [VII: The Mysterious Madame Daubreuil](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/vii-the-mysterious-madame-daubreuil.md): Poirot and Hastings observe Giraud's meticulous search for clues, then visit the mysterious Madame Daubreuil, who is questioned about her relationship with the murdered M. Renauld. She denies knowing anything, but her da
- [VIII: An Unexpected Meeting](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/viii-an-unexpected-meeting.md): Hastings and Poirot return to the Villa Geneviève. Poirot speaks with the maid Léonie, who reveals that Mr. Renauld had a violent temper and quarreled loudly with Jack just before Jack left for Paris. Hastings then explo
- [IX: M. Giraud Finds Some Clues](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/ix-m-giraud-finds-some-clues.md): M. Giraud presents evidence of a South American cigarette end and match, suggesting the assassins' origin. Poirot counters with psychological clues, noting the gained wristwatch and the absence of footprints in the flowe
- [X: Gabriel Stonor](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/x-gabriel-stonor.md): Gabriel Stonor, Paul Renauld's secretary, is introduced and questioned by the magistrate. He vehemently denies that Renauld had a mistress, suggesting instead that Madame Daubreuil was blackmailing him. Stonor is surpris
- [XI: Jack Renauld](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xi-jack-renauld.md): Jack Renauld bursts into the villa, having missed his sailing due to engine trouble and learned of his father's murder from a newspaper. During interrogation, he admits to a violent quarrel with his father over his desir
- [XII: Poirot Elucidates Certain Points](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xii-poirot-elucidates-certain-points.md): Poirot and Hastings discuss the case, with Poirot explaining his deductions about Mrs. Renauld's genuine grief, the significance of the open door, the flower bed, and the wrist watch. He reveals his belief that the crime
- [XIII: The Girl with the Anxious Eyes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xiii-the-girl-with-the-anxious-eyes.md): Hastings and Poirot lunch together, discussing Hastings' romantic encounter with a mysterious girl he met on the train. Poirot teases him about his 'Cinderella' and his admiration for Mademoiselle Daubreuil. Poirot annou
- [XIV: The Second Body](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xiv-the-second-body.md): A second body is discovered in the garden shed, stabbed with the same dagger that was stolen from the library. Giraud examines the scene and deduces that the victim was killed elsewhere and dragged to the shed. He finds 
- [XV: A Photograph](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xv-a-photograph.md): Hastings meets Poirot at the station and informs him of a second murder. Poirot, initially shocked, quickly deduces details about the victim and the crime. At the shed, he examines the body and concludes the man died of 
- [XVI: The Beroldy Case](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xvi-the-beroldy-case.md): This chapter recounts the notorious Beroldy case from twenty years prior. Madame Beroldy, a charming and mysterious woman, was accused of murdering her husband after initially claiming masked Russians were responsible. T
- [XVII: We Make Further Investigations](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xvii-we-make-further-investigations.md): Poirot and Hastings discuss the case, with Poirot revealing he has solved one of the two crimes but remains uncertain about the second. Hastings recalls the Beroldy case and suspects Madame Daubreuil, but Poirot challeng
- [XVIII: Giraud Acts](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xviii-giraud-acts.md): Poirot and Hastings return to the Villa Geneviève, where Poirot secretly searches Jack Renauld's room and finds a photograph. Giraud arrives with Jack under arrest for his father's murder. Poirot speaks with Marthe Daubr
- [XIX: I Use My Grey Cells](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xix-i-use-my-grey-cells.md): Poirot and Hastings witness Jack Renauld's arrest by Giraud, who lays out his case based on motive, opportunity, and Madame Renauld's false story. Poirot challenges Giraud's reasoning, pointing out the flaw in the burial
- [XX: An Amazing Statement](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xx-an-amazing-statement.md): Poirot and Hastings systematically review the chronological facts of the Renauld case, reconsidering the significance of the letter found in the overcoat, the role of Georges Conneau, and the timing of events. Poirot cor
- [XXI: Hercule Poirot on the Case!](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxi-hercule-poirot-on-the-case.md): Poirot reveals that Paul Renauld planned his own faked death to escape blackmail by Madame Daubreuil, who recognized him as the fugitive Georges Conneau. A tramp's accidental death provided the body for the deception, bu
- [XXII: I Find Love](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxii-i-find-love.md): Hastings declares his love for Bella Duveen and helps her escape from Poirot. Poirot and Hastings trace the Dulcibella Kids to Coventry, where Hastings confronts Bella. She confesses to taking the dagger and to the murde
- [XXIII: Difficulties Ahead](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxiii-difficulties-ahead.md): Hastings awakens to the realization that his triumph in providing Bella Duveen with an alibi is precarious. He worries about Poirot's calm demeanor, suspecting the detective is plotting to outmaneuver him. Poirot reveals
- [XXIV: “Save Him!”](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxiv-save-him.md): Poirot and Hastings return to Saint-Omer to visit Jack Renauld in prison. Poirot meets with M. Hautet, who expresses sympathy for Madame Renauld and notes Jack's obstinate silence. Poirot receives a letter from Marthe Da
- [An Unexpected Denouement](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxv-an-unexpected-denouement.md): At the judicial examination of Jack Renauld, the prisoner appears haggard and distraught. Despite his lawyer's protests, Jack stubbornly admits to being identified at Merlinville station on the night of the murder and ac
- [XXVI: I Receive a Letter](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxvi-i-receive-a-letter.md): Hastings receives a letter from Dulcie Duveen, who confesses to having deceived him. She explains that she stole the dagger from the crime scene to protect her twin sister Bella, who she believed had killed Paul Renauld.
- [XXVII: Jack Renauld's Story](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxvii-jack-renauld-s-story.md): Jack Renauld is released from custody and recounts the night of the murder. He describes hearing a cry, finding his father's body, and seeing Bella Duveen. Mrs. Renauld publicly renounces Jack, blaming him for his father
- [XXVIII: Journey’s End](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xxviii-journey-s-end.md): Poirot reveals that Marthe Daubreuil is the true murderer, motivated by greed and her mother's criminal influence. Jack Renauld learns the truth about his father's past but is encouraged by Poirot to pursue Bella Duveen.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters