James Ryder

In the novel Death in the Clouds, James Bell Ryder is the managing director of the Ellis Vale Cement Co.. He lives at 17 Blainberry Avenue, N.W.

At the beginning of the novel, James is returning to England from Paris, having failed to secure a loan for his company. He boards the Prometheus for the flight home.

After the death of Madame Giselle, James makes a "tidy little sum" of money giving interviews to reporters.

Poirot later tells him that he has found out that In spite of his denials, he did have dealings with Madame Giselle. James angrily says that it is a lie, and that he had never seen Madame Giselle before.