Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The First Cases is a video/computer game created by Blazing Griffin and first released on 27 September 2021 and available for Mac, PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One and on Steam. The setting of the game is the early years of Poirot's detecting career when he was still a policeman in the Belgian police force.
The plot of the game is not based on any of Christie's originals stories. It is a typical "country house" closed circle. Poirot is invited to a manor house for a party to celebrate the engagement of a couple. The guests are snowed in and a murder takes place, obliging Poirot to take up the investigation. Unlike other mystery games which focus on collecting items for an inventory, the investigation focuses on deduction. The main mechanic of the game utilises "mind maps". Mind maps indicate a chain of thought or a line of enquiry, which are gradually filled in or diverge based on items found or conversations with people.
A sequel, Hercule Poirot: The London Case, was released in 2023.
Synopsis[]
The game plot comprises 2 parts: a prologue and a main story. The prequel takes place in the early days of Poirot's career in the Belgian police force. While serving as a constable in a town outside Brussels, Poirot successfully solves a mystery concerning the disappearance of a diamond bracelet belonging to Angeline Van den Bosch, daughter of Cassandra, the matriach of the Van den Bosch family.
The main story takes place a number of years later. Poirot is now a detective. Angeline invites Poirot to a dinner party ostensibly to celebrate her engagement to Gedeon Demir but in reality she wants him to help investigate blackmail letters which she has received. During the dinner party, a murder takes place and the rest of the guests become suspects. With the house snowed in and communications to the outside world cut off, Poirot must find the killer but soon finds that his investigation is being actively hampered. No one is telling the whole truth and there are many secrets to be discovered before the killer is found.
Plot summary[]
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)
The game comprises a preliminary cutscene detailing the beginnings of Poirot's career in the Belgian police, a prologue in which he investigates a missing bracelet at a rich lady's house. Then follows 9 chapters of the main story arc which takes place a few years later at a country house in Bruges. Present are some of the lead characters in the prologue and some others who have been invited for a dinner party. A murder takes place, and the occupants of the house are trapped by a snow storm, thus forming a typical country house murder closed circle. Besides murder, there is also blackmail in the background. Typical of stories in the Christie mould, no one tells the whole truth and each one has something to hide.
Preliminary cutscene[]
In a cutscene, various newspaper cuttings relate how Poirot is recruited into the Brussels police force, and begins a successful career. However after a blunder during a shootout at which a life is lost, Poirot is transferred out of Brussels to a small town where he undertakes duties such as judging "The Garden of the Season" competition.
Prologue: The Bracelet[]
While patrolling the town, Poirot meets Elizabeth Padget who summons him to help because a valuable bracelet is lost and her employer, the lady of the house, Madame Cassandra Van den Bosch is in a frightful state. Madame is not helpful and has already made up her mind that the housemaid Florette has stolen the jewelry. Inspecting clues in the garden, Poirot deduces that no intruder could have entered the house and that therefore it is an inside job. Moreover, Poirot discovers that Florette has a solid alibi for the time of crime because she was out of the house collecting a parcel for Elizabeth but both Florette and Elizabeth are reluctant to volunteer this fact or provide more details. Ultimately Poirot uncovers the true facts and recovers the missing bracelet after a study of the crime scene. Madame has been short of money ever since her husband died and she has been selling her household valuables. Angeline, who owns the bracelet, cannot bear to have it sold because it is a precious gift from her late father. So she hides it in the chimney, hoping that Madame can claim the insurance and so get some money. As Poirot points out, this was a selfish act which did not consider the consequences especially on Florette. She should have known better because she knew her mother had been picking on Florette and would naturally blame her.
Despite discovering the truth and finding the bracelet, things do not end as Poirot hope. Madame brings home a friend, Major Felix Hagen. Angeline admits to the facts but Both Madame and Hagen refuse to accept it. Hagen insists that Poirot take Florette away to the police station and even pulls rank, claiming that he knows Poirot's commanding officer very well. For various reasons which Poirot does not fully explain, he doesn't press the point and proceeds to take Florette away. Probably in the back of his mind is the thought that the revelation of the true facts would embarass Madame and Angeline. To press Florette's alibi would also mean revealing what Elizabeth's parcel is all about--she has been having a secret romance with Luc the gardener. Madame did not approve of relationships between household staff and both could lose their jobs.
Poirot cannot prevent the injustice. He promises that Florette would not be punished but almost certainly she would lose her job as Madame would dismiss her.
Chapter 1: The Blackmail[]
A few years later, Angeline writes to Poirot, who appears to be back in Brussels. The Van den Boschs have also moved to another, larger, residence, Mnemosyne House in Bruges. Angeline tells Poirot that his professional and compassionate handling of the bracelet incident made an impression on her and made her see her selfishness and immaturity. Now she needs his help. She is engaged to Gedeon Demir but lately has received blackmail letters threatening to reveal some dark family secret which she knows nothing about. Her mother dismisses the threats but Angeline wants Poirot to investigate and invites him as a house guest at a party which her mother is throwing to celebrate her engagement.
The first chapter is a positioning one, in which Poirot meets some of the key characters and learns what has happened in the intervening years. Poirot manages to meet Elizabeth and Angeline. Elizabeth tells him that Luc, her fiance, had been dismissed by Madame and then had died in an accident. From Elizabeth and Angeline, Poirot learns about the details of the blackmail: there had been a first letter which Angeline had gone ahead to pay off, with Gedeon, who is very wealthy, supplying the money. But another demand has arrived. The blackmailer, for some reason, appears to want the family to move out of Mnemosyne House. Perhaps the house staff know something but right now are overtaxed with the dinner party. Poirot observes that Angeline has changed and matured. She had in fact tried to contact Florette after the incident but failed.
Poirot also meets Gedeon himself and learns that, in his opinion, the Van den Bosch finances are in better shape--Poirot also sees signs that Madame has been steadily selling off family valuables. Gedeon tells him that Major Hagen has moved into the house, he is some sort of family friend. He appears to dislike the major but doesn't say why.
Chapter 2: The Altercation[]
This is another positioning chapter where Poirot talks to more party guests and gathers more background about the affairs of the Van den Bosch family. Poirot comes across a fight between Gedeon and Hagen. It appears the argument started when a cigar which belongs to Hagen and which he saw Gedeon holding. From talking to various party guests, it appears that Hagen had cultivated a close relationship with Madame Cassandra and had moved into the house, lording it over her. It also appears everyone dislikes Hagen and that Hagen himself disapproves of the marriage of Angeline to Gedeon. Some progress is also made about the blackmail: the servants are stressed because several had been dismissed, at least one because she had gone into a room which was off limits. With the blackmailer wanting the Van den Boschs to move out and servants not being allowed into certain rooms, Poirot speculates that the blackmail may relate to something in the house.
Chapter 3: The Major[]
During dinner, Inga rushes in to say that Major Hagen has been murdered in his study. By examining the crime scene, Poirot surmises that there was no forced entry. The major knew whoever killed him and let the person in. Also, the crime scene was tampered with after the murder. Outside a blizzard is blowing. The killer is most likely still in the house. Several letters found in the study and the adjourning bedroom are suggestive:
- A blackmail letter ostensibly to the Major with the same MO as the ones Angeline received. This one accuses Hagen of actions in his past which "would shame even the evillest of men".
- A letter from someone saying he loves Madame Cassandra and asking the Major to "step back ... and allow for Madame to make her choice". The writer has aided the Van den Bosch family. Poirot surmises this comes from Ernesto da Silva whom he learnt had given Cassandra money.
- A letter accusing the major of acting in a "foul and boorish manner". The writer has vowed to protect both Cassandra and Angeline. Poirot surmises that this comes from Comtesse de Vos who is a close friend of Cassandra and earlier told him that she considers herself a protector of the family.
- A letter of advice that there could be union troubles in the factories Hagen is involved in. He should not be "near those flames when they ignite". Poirot surmises that this comes from Gedeon Demir because he is the only person he knows who has been involved in industry besides da Silva. Gedeon knows Hugo Beckers, a union leader and fellow houseguest.
From these, Poirot surmises that the Comtesse de Vos, Ernesto da Silva and Gedeon Demir are worthy of particular attention.
Chapter 4: The Interrogations[]
Poirot questions the house guests and finds that they alibi each other. As for motives, all of them dislike the Major for different reasons but Poirot also surmises that all of them seem to be holding something back or have lied to him:
- Zakariya Demir, Gedeon's elder but drunken layabout brother is reluctant to talk about his relationship with Gedeon and did not want to tell Poirot about Gedeon's involvement with trade unions.
- Gedeon Demir is equally reluctant to talk about his relationship with Zakariya or with Hagen but did tell Poirot that he was advising the major not to get involved in a confrontation with unions.
- Ernesto da Silva, the industrialist, is reluctant to talk about his relationship with Madame Cassandra.
- Hugo Beckers, the union leader, has a lot of frustration and really hates the Major. He appears to have some dirt on him but doesn't tell Poirot. He had a conversation with Jackie Conrad but doesn't want to say what it is about.
- The Comtesse de Vos, Cassandra's friend and philanthropist comes across as someone protective of the Van den Bosch family but from Jackie Conrad, the Comtesse's motives for running her woman's shelter are not as pure as might seem.
- Jackie Conrad, the journalist, also dislikes the major. Angeline tells Poirot that Jackie had a heated argument with the major in the library just before dinner, something Jackie has not volunteered.
Poirot retires to his room to consider his findings so far. Angeline pays a visit. She suggests that some of the house guests may have a relationship with one another although they appear to be strangers. Poirot now considers that although the suspects individually have alibis, two or more of them could have acted in cahoots to kill the major.
Chapter 5: The Secret[]
Poirot's investigations now focus on the link between the Major and the blackmail letters, with surprising results. His first conversations with Cassandra and Angeline are surprising. Cassandra appears not to like the Major and even suggests that he could have been the blackmailer and wrote a blackmail note to himself. By contrast, Angeline appears to like the Major and believes he could not have been the blackmailer. Poirot then finds that the crimescene, the Major's study has been compromised. The safe which had been locked has been opened. Letters are strewn on the floor. Among them are a letter from the Major declaring his love for Cassandra, from before the time of her husband's death. There is also a note showing that the Major took out a loan at a high interest, perhaps to pay off the blackmailer. In a storeroom, Poirot finds a book, a gift from the Major to Angeline with an affectionate note. Pressing Cassandra on his findings, she finally admits that she had an affair with the Major long ago and that Angeline is in fact his daughter, something which Angeline herself does not know about. Poirot also concludes that the Major could not have been the blackmailer--instead his fathering of Angeline could have been the topic of blackmail. Other findings include
- Archibald admits that Margaux had also compromised the crimescene because he asked her to help examine the body.
- Archibald also admits that besides the Major and Cassandra, he also had a copy of the safe key but that he had lost time some time ago.
- Zakaria Demir, a former soldier, had had to undergo therapy after suffering psychologically from his experiences.
Chapter 6: The Search[]
Poirot gathers all the occupants and staff of the house and tells them that he believes that several of the people could have acted in collusion in the Major's death. He also tells them that he knows some or all of them had lied to him or were withholding facts. He warns them that he is hot on their heels.
Poirot searches the rooms of the various house guests/suspects and also questions them. From their responses and their opinions of one another, he surmises that they are unlikely to want to collude one with another. However he makes an interesting link:
- Inga the housemaid has a criminal record as a former theif. She was a woman from the Comtesse de Vos's woman's shelter.
- Da Silva says he also has a servant who came from the Comtesse's shelter.
- Da Silva has also received a blackmail letter, this one threatening to reveal the way in which he abuses his workers and household staff.
Poirot decides to follow up this link and speaks to Inga. He manages to make her confess that she had instructions from the Comtesse. Not to steal valuables but for information about the people in the house. She learnt about Cassandra and the Major and the parentage of Angeline. The Comtesse was pleased with the discovery but she wanted proof. So Inga stole Archibald's key to the Major's safe and went into the study after the Major's body had been removed. She brought the papers to the Comtesse but the Comtesse was angry because she had picked the very worst time to be doing this, with a murder investigation and Poirot in the house. Inga crept back into the study to return the letters but couldn't finish the task because she heard someone around so she ran off leaving the papers all over the floor.
Poirot tells Angeline that he now knows that the blackmailer is the Comtesse. However the proper course of justice has to wait because the phone line has been down since the snow storm. Angeline corrects him: the phone line has been down for several days. Poirot is stunned. He heard Archibald take a call for the major in the evening a short while before the major was found dead! This must have been a fake! An act put up by Archibald for Poirot in order to mask the time of the murder.
Chapter 7: The Family[]
Poirot searches the staff quarters and finds among other things a medal which belonged to the Major and one of his coats. He questions the servants. He accuses Archibald of stealing the Major's medal to sell. He denies this and insists he was cleaning it. However he admits he faked the phone call but doesn't say more. Rehanna also contradicts herself about the times she took ice to the Major. Poirot surmises that both of them are trying to obfuscate the time of the Major's death to protect someone. It can't be Inga because she is new to the household and not close to the other servants. Inga had reported that shortly before dinner she had seen Elizabeth come down looking very pale. Poirot concludes that Elizabeth must have been the killer and that Archibald and Rehanna colluded to make it appear that the Major died later than he really did in order to give Elizabeth an alibi.
Chapter 8: The Truth[]
Chapter 9: Denouement[]
Characters[]
- Hercule Poirot (voiced by Will De Renzy-Martin)
Van den Bosch family and household[]
- Elizabeth Padget (voiced by Hollie Taylor)
- Angeline Van den Bosch (voiced by Gaëlle Bétend)
- Madame Cassandra Van den Bosch (voiced by Heather Tracy)
- Late Viscount Edwin Van den Bosch
- Florette Duvall - maidservant (voiced by Laïla Ali)
- Luc Piette - gardener
- Rehana Piette - cook (voiced by Laïla Ali)
- Archibald Sterling (voiced by Joshua Manning)
- Inga Frank (voiced by Gaëlle Bétend)
- Miss Allard
House guests[]
- Major Felix Hagen (voiced by Joshua Manning)
- Gedeon Demir (voiced by Atilla Akinci)
- Zakariya Demir (voiced by Hemi Yeroham)
- Ernesto da Silva (voiced by Yong Yea)
- Hugo Beckers (voiced by Luc de Villars)
- Jackie Conrad (voiced by Hollie Taylor)
- Comtesse Margaux de Vos (voiced by )
Others[]
Research notes[]
- During the gameplay, there is much mention "The War". It was a conflict which Zakariya Demir and Major Felix Hagen were on different sides. Zakariya's experience as a field medic during this war left him shellshocked and with a deep hatred for the Major. The Major also emerged from the war with several dark secrets which are only revealed towards the end of the game.
- This war is most likely the Second Boer War (1899-1902) for the following reasons:
- It cannot be the First World War (1914-1918) because Poirot left Belgium at the onset of this war.
- The game plot is set early in Poirot's career perhaps in the years following 1902.
- In a letter from Lieutenant Roger Davies to Major Hagen, Davies mentions that there were rumours that Hagen has "returned to South Africa" but that "after what we had seen and what we had to do, I knew you couldn't have". The Boer War took place in South Africa.
- There are no other wars within the likely timeframe in which Belgians found themselves on the opposite side of the British. During the Boer War, there was much Dutch-Belgian sympathy for the Boers and there were Dutch/Belgian volunteers fighting on the Boer side as well as volunteers who served with the medical services just like Zakariya.[1]
Promotional videos[]
Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot- The First Cases │ Launch Trailer