Mrs. Raikes Character Analysis in The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Mrs. Raikes is Emily Inglethorp’s neighbor. Alfred Inglethorp and Evelyn Howard spread the rumor that Alfred and Mrs. Raikes are having an affair, thus justifying Alfred’s supposed unwillingness to testify as to his whereabouts on the afternoon he allegedly bought strychnine. In reality, Alfred and Evelyn want the police to arrest Alfred for not having an alibi, since he could then claim he was simply having an affair with Mrs. Raikes and didn’t want to say as much at first. Their hope is that he’d be acquitted, and then he could never be tried for the crime again, since a person can’t be tried twice for the same crime in England. Poirot, however, stops Inspector Japp from arresting Alfred, thus spoiling his and Evelyn’s plan. He also tells Hastings later on that Mrs. Raikes is actually having an affair with John Cavendish.

Mrs. Raikes Character Timeline in The Mysterious Affair at Styles

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Raikes appears in The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Wealth, Inheritance, and Power Theme Icon

...out of her money. She even suggested that Alfred has been having an affair with Mrs. Raikes , the wife of a local farmer. Mrs. Raikes, Evelyn believes, is the real person... (full context)

Suspense, Intrigue, and Secrecy Theme Icon

...between his stepmother and Evelyn Howard. As they walk, they pass a pretty woman named Mrs. Raikes . Hastings is about to point out that Mrs. Raikes is the woman Evelyn Howard... (full context)

...in. Hastings immediately thinks about what Evelyn Howard implied about Alfred having an affair with Mrs. Raikes , but he doesn’t say anything. Despite all the drama, Alfred Inglethorp reveals no emotion... (full context)

...Hastings because he wants to be part of the investigation. Thinking Poirot might go to Mrs. Raikes ’s farm, Hastings goes there himself. He meets one of the farmworkers as he approaches,... (full context)

...He says that Mr. Inglethorp couldn’t have purchased strychnine that afternoon because he was walking Mrs. Raikes back to her house from a nearby farm. Poirot has found five witnesses who can... (full context)

...about the alibi at the inquest because there are already rumors circulating about him and Mrs. Raikes —rumors, he clarifies, that are malicious and untrue. (full context)

...making a case against John. Mr. Philips says that John was having an affair with Mrs. Raikes and that Emily Inglethorp confronted him about his infidelity on the afternoon before her death.... (full context)

Poirot also explains that he discovered that Alfred Inglethorp never had a romantic relationship with Mrs. Raikes . Rather, John Cavendish was the one having an affair with Mrs. Raikes. The fact... (full context)

...Styles Court on that day, and the fake story about him having an affair with Mrs. Raikes was supposed to account for his hesitancy to talk about his whereabouts. Meanwhile, Evelyn staged... (full context)