When everyone sees Jackie leaving the ship, it becomes clear she was nowhere near the accident scene. She and Simon are quick to accuse Jackie of trying to cause harm. On an excursion, Linnet is nearly crushed by a runaway boulder. An Englishman named Jim Fanthorp later reveals he was sent on the cruise to spy on Pennington and ensure Linnet wasn’t cheated. Simon notes he never reads anything but simply signs where he’s asked to sign. He’s disappointed when she reads each piece of paperwork carefully before signing, and he quickly takes the papers back. Readers know Pennington has planned this “coincidental” meeting so he can get Linnet to sign papers that will benefit him financially. Linnet is surprised to run into her long-time lawyer and trustee, Andrew Pennington, on the cruise. Van Schuyler, a wealthy and bad-tempered senior, travels with a nurse and her socially awkward niece, Cornelia. The sullen Rosalie often watches Linnet and notes how unfair it seems that people like her have such wonderful lives. Otterbourne, who fancies herself a well-known romance writer, travels with her daughter, Rosalie. Joanna, who is not on the trip, is also an old friend of Linnet’s. She dislikes Tim’s friendship with a woman named Joanna Southwood, whom she fears he will marry. Allerton travels with her devoted son, Tim. Other travelers become acquainted as they cruise the Nile and stop for excursions. Poirot attempts to convince Jackie to get on with her life, but the bitter woman will not be dissuaded from stalking the couple. When she learns Poirot is a detective, Linnet begs him to talk to Jackie and make her leave them alone. Linnet is frustrated because the spurned Jackie has followed them all the way to Egypt and is spitefully trying to ruin their honeymoon. Linnet’s maid, Louise Bourget, travels with them. He learns two of his companions on the Nile cruise will be newlyweds Linnet and Simon Doyle. Some months have passed when detective Hercule Poirot takes a holiday to Egypt. Linnet meets Simon, finds him charming and offers him a job.

Jackie and Simon want to marry, but Simon is desperate for employment. Linnet’s friend Jacqueline (Jackie) de Bellefort visits and gushes about her new love, Simon Doyle.

Linnet Ridgeway is a wealthy British heiress fixing up a newly acquired property.

Death on nile book