Many of the characters are combinations or alterations of characters from the novel, to make for a smaller cast and a less confusing plot. Salome and Rosalie Otterbourne, a romance novelist and her daughter, become a singer and her niece/manager. Andrew Pennington becomes cousin Andrew Katchadourian. Marie Van Schuyler, a socialite and no relation to Linnet, becomes Linnet's godmother who has the ideals of Mr Ferguson, the aristocrat turned socialist. Windlesham, a character mentioned in the first chapter, is combined with Dr Bessner to become Dr/Lord Windlesham. Bouc, a character who appears only in Murder on the Orient Express, takes on elements of Col. Race while his choice of traveling companion, his mother Euphemia, is reminiscent of the relationship between Tim and Mrs Allerton.
