2. In chapter 18, why does Poirot think Rosalie hesitates before saying she saw no one on the deck when she went there to throw overboard her mother's items?

3. In chapter 17, who told some of the passengers that Linnet Doyle was one of the richest women in England?

4. In chapter 29, how many bullets were used from the murder weapon?

5. To whom in chapter 19 does Poirot comment on the vision of the moon after the sun has disappeared, a thought both Simon Doyle and Jackie de Bellefort have previously expressed to him?

Short Essay Questions

1. In chapter 18, Poirot and Race interview Mr. Pennington. Who does Mr. Pennington suggest is the killer? What reason does Mr. Pennington give for quickly leaving the interview?

2. In chapter 27, with what does Poirot confront Tim Allerton?

3. In chapter 24, Poirot and Race confront Mr. Pennington about his illegal dealings with Linnet Doyle's business interests. What does Mr. Pennington say in his own defense?

4. In chapter 19, who does Simon Doyle ask to see? For what reason?

5. In chapter 18, Race and Poirot make a list of suspects and motives. What does Poirot say will eventually point them toward the murderer?

6. In chapter 20, who does Poirot and Race find has the pearls?

7. In chapter 17, what is the attitude of Mr. Ferguson when Poirot and Race interview him? What might this indicate?

8. In chapter 29, who does Poirot finally accuse of being Linnet, the maid, and Mrs. Otterbourne's killers?

9. In chapter 31, who does Cornelia announce she plans to marry? For what reason?

10. In chapter 27, why does Poirot decide to allow Tim Allerton to go free even though he has essentially confessed to a crime?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is Jackie following Linnet on her honeymoon? To what purpose does Jackie find it necessary to harass Linnet in the way that she is? What does Poirot ask Jackie to stop doing? What advice does Poirot give to Jackie concerning evil? What does Jackie show to Poirot while they discuss Linnet? What is the significance of this item? Why does Jackie think that her conversation with Poirot was overheard? Who could have been listening? To what purpose?

Essay Topic 2

Why does Poirot focus on Linnet's missing pearls in the investigation? Where are the pearls initially discovered? What does this reveal about Miss Van Schuyler? What does Poirot notice about the recovered pearls? What does he feel is significant about this? Who does it turn out stole the real pearls? For what reason? Who put this person up to the theft? For what reason? Why does Poirot agree to allow this thief to go free? How does this impact the future of the thief? How does this impact a relationship between the thief and a potential new lover?