Hercule Poirot
Hercule Poirot is the protagonist and main character of A Haunting in Venice, as well as countless other novels written by Christie. Poirot was born in Belgium; his distinctive accent and appearance were easily recognizable by everyone who came across him.
Poirot is called in by an old friend, Ariadne Oliver, to investigate Joyce's claim that she witnessed a murder and subsequent murder. As with many Christie novels, Poirot's meticulousness, attention to detail, and psychological acumen drive the narrative and allow him to contend with monsters in his midst. His outsider status (as a Belgian man in England) gives him a unique perspective, enabling him to pick up on clues and connections that others might miss because they are too integrated with the town.
Joyce Reynolds
Joyce Reynolds is a 13-year-old girl who claims she once witnessed a murder when she was a smaller kid. She is unpopular among her peers because they think she is a chronic liar who is prone to exaggeration. During the Halloween party at the start of the novel, Joyce claims that she witnessed a gruesome murder, something that has scarred her for her life. However, no one believes her. Because of what she witnessed, Joyce is murdered, too, to compel her silence.
Ariadne Oliver
Ariadne Oliver is a successful crime novelist and an old friend of Poirot's. She is in Woodleigh Common, the setting of the novel, for a promotional event and is at the Halloween party where Joyce is ultimately murdered.
Ariadne is the one who calls Poirot and persuades him to look into Joyce's death (and the deaths of other people in the village). Ariadne provides a meta-commentary on the nature of crime writing and what it means to be a crime author. Her intuition that something is amiss at the party and her faith in Poirot's abilities play an important role in the mystery.
Michael Garfield
Michael Garfield is the village's gardener and artist. Christie describes him as a charming and attentive man with a passion for his community and for his work. He also shares a notably close relationship with the teenager Miranda Butler, who Christie later reveals is his daughter. Garfield's charm and ability to influence people mask his ruthlessness and amorality. Ultimately, he is responsible for several murders throughout the novel (including Joyce's), making him the novel's antagonist. He commits the murders out of ambition and greed. In particular, he wants to get Miranda's inheritance.
