The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4) in Overdue Podcast

Jan 27, 2022 Lisa rated it really liked it

A solid mystery, and I really had no clue whodunnit til the end. Not a huge Poirot fan.

5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 14, 2018 Emma rated it liked it

Shelves: 1001-books-to-read, read-2018

This is a book I thought I had read, but was then spoiled for, making me realise I had not in fact read it at all.

(This review contains no spoilers for the crime.)

It's one of Agatha Christie's 'big three' and critically considered her best. Even had I gone into it unspoiled, I doubt I would share that opinion. I would say that, of the 'big three', the twist in Murder on the Orient Express is better, and And Then There Were None is a superior novel altogether in terms of ingenuity and skill. And This is a book I thought I had read, but was then spoiled for, making me realise I had not in fact read it at all.

(This review contains no spoilers for the crime.)

It's one of Agatha Christie's 'big three' and critically considered her best. Even had I gone into it unspoiled, I doubt I would share that opinion. I would say that, of the 'big three', the twist in Murder on the Orient Express is better, and And Then There Were None is a superior novel altogether in terms of ingenuity and skill. And Then There Were None is the only one that can be really enjoyed again despite already knowing the answers. Orient Express can be read more than once, but it suffers for it, and I had a hard time reading this on the *first* go around when the killer was already known to me.

The real points of enjoyment for me were the sister (who was a character perhaps more at home in Wodehouse) and the scene where they randomly play mah jong (which is hilarious for someone who knows nothing of mah jong.) Poirot's presence is always welcome, but this really isn't his novel.

Unfortunately, this is such a bland mystery before the big twist takes place that the events of the big twist couldn't give it any more interest to me. The suspects are cardboard cut-outs, the clues are rather dull, and the motives are all weak. Everyone seems to sit around waiting for Poirot's latest mind-game.

Despite my criticisms, I still have respect for the book. It's an early Christie and I can well imagine the sensation it would have caused for people who aren't tired of the tropes. We can see its influence still, both in village murder tropes and in stories like Gone Girl that have found inspiration it it's twist. It's also the first of her 'big three' - Orient Express wouldn't be written for another 9 years and And Then There Were None wouldn't be written for another 14 years so her skill only grew in that time.

So overall, well worth reading if you are a fan of mysteries or Christie herself, and if you haven't been spoiled already, you are bound to have fun. ...more

Like · see review

Jun 19, 2016 Barrett Lafortune rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, mystery

so good. I love the Hercule Poirot mysteries and this is certainly one of the best. I can see why it is so highly regarded in the mystery genre. absolutely would recommend!

Like · see review