Detectives and Police in TMoRA

Who are the three police detective figures in the novel?

Inspector Raglan, Inspector Davis and Colonel Melrose

''We ought to get a hold of him pretty quickly''

Raglan in Chapter 5. Shows his quickness to assume and the pride which will be undermined by their failure.

''Butlers can creep around as soft footed as cats''

Inspector Davis in Chapter 6. Presents him as incompetent as Christie's readers know not to expect the servant to be the killer.

''There's not going to be much mystery about this crime.''

Inspector Davis in Chapter 6. Shows their inflated ego and lack of thorough investigation, acting as a foil to Poirot's later expertise.

''Tomorrow the truth goes to Inspector Raglan''

Poirot in chapter 24. Presents him as in control of the police force, despite working outside of the legal system. Poirot is effectively a golden age version of the the hard-boiled vigilante who must work outside of the law.

"Everyone concerned in them has something to hide."

Poirot in Chapter 7 - He has only just started the investigation and is already being far more in depth and speculative than the bumbling police force

''Murderers do funny things - you'd know that if you were in the police force''

Inspector Raglan in Chapter 8. Pride and inflated ego.

Methods and motivations of the police force

Assumptions, finding the quickest route to close the case (''There's not going to be much mystery about this case.'')

They use superficial evidence with no consideration of its significance, evidencing and outdated and antique system.

They expect Poirot to uncover the murderer and return them to the police for punishment - corrupt.

Methods and motivations of Poirot

He is like 'the good dog, he does not leave the scent''. He will follow through the investigation to the absolute end.

He has an interest in ''the study of human nature'', showing that his focus is on determining exactly who the killer is in his own time rather than rushing to close a case.

We are given only a few details of his methodology, such as his ''little grey cells'' which act to piece together the puzzle. He also tells us that ''to me they speak sometimes - chairs, tables, they all have their message!'' showing his almost 'third eye' and power he has in his investigation.

What theory do the police uphold when interrogating Charles Kent?

Lombrosian criminology. He looks like a criminal, so is one in their eyes

Which other character could be considered a member of the detective process?

Caroline

‘‘she can do any amount of finding out by sitting __ at __’’ -chapter 1

‘‘she can do any amount of finding out by sitting placidly at home’’

She is immediately placed into the domestic sphere forcing us to see her as a spinster.

Caroline’s cronies become her what?

Intelligence corps