| 1 | Elspeth | McGillicuddy | The woman who witnessed the train murder. |
| | Margaret | | Elspeth's friend. |
| | Robby | | Margaret's son. |
| | Jean | | Margaret's daughter. |
| | Hector | | Margaret's son. |
| | Jane | Marple | Elspeth's friend. |
| 2 | Dr. | Haydock | Jane's doctor. |
| | Frank | Cornish | Police officer. Jane's friend. |
| 3 | Roderick | | Elspeth's son. |
| | Henry | Clithering | Inspector Craddock's grandfather. Jane's friend. |
| | Raymond | West | Jane's nephew. Novelist. |
| | David | West | Jane's great nephew. |
| | Griselda | | Jane's friend. |
| | Leonard | | Griselda's son. |
| | Florence | Hill | Jane's old maid and servant. |
| | Lucy | Eyelesbarrow | Jane's acquaintance. A famous and intelligent woman. |
| 4 | | | Rutherford Hall - A country house with extensive grounds. |
| | Josiah | Crackenthorpe | A very rich manufacturer. Built the Rutherford Hall. |
| | Luther | Crackenthorpe | Josiah's son. Lives in Rutherford Hall.
Aka: Old Crackenthorpe. |
| | Edmund | Crackenthorpe | Luther's eldest son. Died in the war. |
| | Emma | Crackenthorpe | Luther's daughter. |
| | Mrs. | Kidder | The Crackenthorpes' housekeeper. |
| | Mrs. | Hart | The Crackenthorpes' housekeeper. |
| | Mrs. | Kennedy | Emma's friend. |
| | Cedric | Crackenthorpe | Luther's son. Painter. |
| | Harold | Crackenthorpe | Luther's son. Company director. |
| | Bryan | Eastley | Edith's husband. Former Squadron Leader. |
| | Edith | Eastley | Luther's daughter. Deceased. aka: Edie. |
| | Alexander | Eastley | Edith and Bryan's son. Luther's grandson. |
| 5 | Old | Hillman | The Crackenthorpes' deaf gardener. |
| | James | Stoddart-West | Alexander's school friend. |
| 6 | Inspector | Bacon | Police inspector. |
| | Dr. | Quimper | Luther's doctor. |
| | Johnstone | | Police surgeon. |
| | Sanders | | Police officer. |
| 7 | Mr. | Wimborne | Senior partner Crackenthorpes' legal affair. Family lawyer. |
| 8 | Dermot | Craddock | A detective inspector from New Scotland Yard. |
| | Henry | Crackenthorpe | Josiah's son. Luther's brother. |
| 12 | Wetherall | | A detective sergeant. Detective inspector's assistant. |
| 13 | Thomas | Eade | Crackenthorpes' bank manager's son. |
| 14 | Armand | Dessin | Dermot's friend. |
| | Madame | Joilet | Owner of Ballet Maritski. |
| | Anna | Stravinska | Ballet dancer. |
| 15 | Ellis | | Harold's secretary. |
| | | Crodie | Harold's workmate. |
| | Dicky | Rogers | Harold's friend. |
| | Alice | Crackenthorpe | Harold's other wife. |
| 16 | Geraldine | Webb | Jane's old friend. |
| 17 | Dr. | Morris | Dr. Quimper's old, senior partner. |
| 19 | Sergeant | Leakie | Police officer. |
| | William | Baker | Ticket collector at Brackhampton Station. |
| | Josh | Simpskins | Dr. Quimper's patient. |
| 21 | Ernie | | Mrs. Kidder's son. |
| 22 | Lady | Stoddart-West | James's mother. Edmund's ex-wife. aka: Martine Dubois. |
| 23 | Darwin | | Harold's manservant. |
| | San | Raphael | Lady Alice's friend. |
| 24 | Robert | Stoddart-West | Martine's husband. |
| 25 | Lorenzo | Tonti | Italian banker. |
| | Mrs. | Stanwich | Woman who poisoned and killed her own child. |
| 26 | Ronnie | Wells | The solicitor's son from St. Mary Mead. Bryan's friend. |
