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

Agatha Christie

Start date: May 1, 2025

Finish date: May 31, 2025

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What Members Thought

Jan 22, 2018 Christine PNW rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is one of my Top Ten Christie mysteries. This wasn't (even close to) the first time I read it, so I know the big reveal at the end. Nonetheless, it remains compelling even with the knowledge of the murderer, which I will not spoil here.

I listened to the book this time. If there is one tiny quibble that I have is that it was narrated by Hugh Fraser, who does a bang-up job, but I associate him so strongly with the character of Hastings that, this book being in the first person narrated by Dr. ...more

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May 29, 2015 Bev rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery, mystery, vintage-mystery, bought-2015, mount-tbr-2020

Oh! money! All the troubles in the world can be put down to money--or the lack of it.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) by Agatha Christie

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd actually begins with the death of Mrs. Ferrars, widowed within the last year. The rumor mill of King's Abbot had been grinding away--envisioning wedding bells between Mrs. Ferrars and the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. But Mrs. Ferrars is found dead from an overdose of veranol in what is first supposed to be an accident, but the village gra Oh! money! All the troubles in the world can be put down to money--or the lack of it.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) by Agatha Christie

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd actually begins with the death of Mrs. Ferrars, widowed within the last year. The rumor mill of King's Abbot had been grinding away--envisioning wedding bells between Mrs. Ferrars and the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. But Mrs. Ferrars is found dead from an overdose of veranol in what is first supposed to be an accident, but the village grapevine suspects is suicide. Dr. James Sheppard, our narrator, is confronted by his sister when he returns home after the discovery.

My sister continued: "What did she die of? Heart failure?"
"Didn't the milkman tell you that?" I inquired sarcastically.
Sarcasm is wasted on Caroline. She takes it seriously and answers accordingly.
"He didn't know," she explained. (p. 3)
When Sheppard insists on accident, Caroline rejects the idea. She's convinced the woman killed herself out of remorse. Because obviously she killed the husband who was cruel to her.

Then that evening Roger Ackroyd is found dead--stabbed to death by his own decorative dagger and rumors are flying about blackmail. But then there is also the fact that Ackroyd's nephew, known to have disputes with his uncle over money, has disappeared from the scene. And what about the maid who gave notice that very afternoon? And the mysterious stranger who was looking for Ackroyd's home at about the time of the murder? And who made the phone call to the doctor that brought him to Ackroyd's house and resulted in the discovery of the crime?

Fortunately for King's Abbot, a funny little foreigner who "looks like a hairdresser" has come to the countryside for his retirement. A foreigner by the name of Hercule Poirot. He's sure to get to the bottom of the mystery, for as he tells Ackroyd's niece (who has asked him to investigate): What one does not tell to Papa Poirot he finds out.

For complete review (with spoilers), please see the post on My Reader's Block. ...more

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Nov 15, 2013 Gina Dalfonzo rated it liked it

The plotting and the sleight of hand were very clever indeed. If I hadn't seen her use the same trick in another book, I would have been taken in. ...more

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