Cynthia Murdock Character Analysis

Cynthia Murdock is a young woman living at Styles Court. She’s the daughter of a good family friend of Emily Inglethorp, who takes her in when she becomes an orphan. Emily promises to leave Cynthia some money when she dies, but she doesn’t actually do this, leaving Cynthia to worry what she should do. She even asks Hastings if he thinks she should leave Styles, since she thinks everyone—and especially Lawrence—hates her. She also comes under some suspicion because she works at the dispensary, where she has ready access to strychnine. What’s more, Poirot reveals that the door between Cynthia and Emily’s room, which is normally locked, was unbolted on the night of the murder. Lawrence noticed this right away, but he tried to hide it from the others—not because he hates Cynthia, as she thinks, but because he’s secretly in love with her. In the aftermath of the entire ordeal, Poirot helps Cynthia and Lawrence see that they have feelings for each other, inspiring them to begin a romantic relationship.