I read the novel slowly and carefully, noting all the clues, determined to work out whodunnit and how. I had my eye on the culprit from very early on but, despite some early clues, was unable to pick out the clincher.

Dr. James Sheppard, the village General Practitioner is the narrator, and his sister Caroline is THE village gossip. A new neighbour at the Larches is Hercule Poirot, without Captain Hastings who is travelling in Argentine. Poirot decides to use Sheppard as a surrogate Hastings.

Mrs Ferrars is a wealthy widow who has agreed to marry Roger Ackroyd after a year's mourning, but she unexpectably dies on the anniversary of her husband's death. Village gossip has her poisoning her husband and committing suicide. A day after her death Roger Ackroyd is murdered. All the usual cast is present under suspicion, but slowly, one by one cleared with some pleasant surprises.

My favourite character is Caroline Sheppard who hears everything but does draw the wrong conclusions, which are sometimes correct. I enjoyed the Mah Jong game tremendously. I think this is one of Christie's best. I believe that Agatha Christie did not like doctors and they feature rather prominently in her books - but not all are bad or incompetent.