Michael Bakewell

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Agatha Christie

A widow's sudden suicide sparks rumors that she murdered her first husband, was being blackmailed, and was carrying on a secrey affair with the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. The following evening, Ackroyd is murdered in his locked study, but not before receiving a letter identifying the widow's blackmailer. Kings Abbot is crawling with suspects and it's up to famous detective, Hercule Poirot, to solve the case.

A Hercule Poirot Mystery

buny

** spoiler alert **
           oh my GOD!! i should've loved it regardless of being spoiled of who the real murderer was for the idea of an unreliable narrator was just!!!!!! so clever & mind-blowing to me, a clueless reader. i absolutely adore the cosiness agatha christie's novels induce in the brain— how it makes you want to curl up on the windowsill w a full cup of hot tea!!!!! its just that im absolutely a whore for the ~vibes~

Sarah Sammis

I've been reading Agatha Christie's mysteries on and off for twenty years. The recent series four episode "The Unicorn and the Wasp" of Doctor Who piqued my interest in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926). It is her third Hercule Poirot mystery and one of her most controversial novels for its twist ending.

Like many early detective novels, the Hercule Poirot isn't the narrator of the mystery. Just as Sherlock Holmes has Dr. John Watson, Hercule Poirot in this mystery has Dr. James Sheppard. As they are strangers, Sheppard's insights into Poirot are flawed. At first he mistakes the man for a hair dresser. He even gets his name wrong, rendering it as Porrott until he is later corrected. Sheppard tells an interesting story and seems likeable but he's terrible at getting to the facts of case.

With Sheppard being too unreliable of a narrator, the role of confidant and partner falls on the shoulders of the reader. It's the formula of Columbo and Criminal Intent. Even if you spot the twist early on, like I did, the book is still an interesting psychological drama between the hunter and his prey.

𓆨

i've seen through it but still sheppard is an interesting character his existence is the only good thing about that book otherwise it's tedious..sorry

Sandrin

oooof she got me good... I hate her so fuckin much right now. Every time I think I got it she's like nah bitch guess again lol

ash b

i feel like i did myself a bit of a disservice reading this one right after The Unexpected Guest, but I was nevertheless stumped until the last few chapters who our killer may be. i love the environments and stories christie has created, so thrilling yet so cozy.

Sonia Grgas

A reread. Still a 5 but knowing the end does lessen the thrill. Listened to it this time and do not recommend it, read it in print.

Shattering traditions, this ingeniously tricky masterpiece startled fans, stunned critics, and has remained one of the most controversial mysteries ever written... Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

Incredible - I loved every minute of this book. What an oddly delightful read! The narrative is, of course, intentionally mysterious and thrilling, but it's also incredibly funny. I loved seeing Poirot from this perspective, and it endeared me to his character even more.

Definitely my favorite of the Poirot mysteries I've read, and probably my favorite story by Christie. Like, duh it's a classic for a reason!! It's enlightening to read a book that went on to influence so many modern works. This is The Quintessential sleepy-english-town-murder-mystery, and I really enjoyed seeing the trope's origins.

And naturally, the curious town gossip Miss Caroline was such a highlight.

Caroline Clutterbuck Kapulkin

Incredible - I loved every minute of this book. What an oddly delightful read! The narrative is, of course, intentionally mysterious and thrilling, but it's also incredibly funny. I loved seeing Poirot from this perspective, and it endeared me to his character even more.
Definitely my favorite of the Poirot mysteries I've read, and probably my favorite story by Christie. Like, duh it's a classic for a reason!! It's enlightening to read a book that went on to influence so many modern works. This is The Quintessential sleepy-english-town-murder-mystery, and I really enjoyed seeing the trope's origins.
And naturally, the curious town gossip Miss Caroline was such a highlight.

Laura Mauler

This might be the greatest mystery story ever written.

Aamna

Raced through it as expected. I might be discovering Agatha Christie way too late but man am I enjoying it.

“Agatha Christie’s indelibly etched characters have entertained millions across the years and a love of her work has brought together generations of readers—a singular achievement for any author and an inspiration to writers across the literary landscape.”—Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs novels In this official edition featuring exclusive content from the Queen of Mystery, Hercule Poirot comes out of retirement in one of Agatha Christie’s ten favorite novels, which was also voted by the British Crime Writers’ Association as the “Best Crime Novel of all Time.” Roger Ackroyd knew too much. He knew that the woman he loved had poisoned her brutal first husband. He suspected also that someone had been blackmailing her. Then, tragically, came the news that she had taken her own life with an apparent drug overdose. However, the evening post brought Roger one last fatal scrap of information, but before he could finish reading the letter, he was stabbed to death. Luckily one of Roger’s friends and the newest resident to retire to this normally quiet village takes over—none other than Monsieur Hercule Poirot . . . Not only beloved by generations of readers, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was one of Agatha Christie’s own favorite works—a brilliant whodunit that firmly established the author’s reputation as the Queen of Mystery.

Geetika 

I must say that this is one of my favorites of Agatha christie's books and being a very big lover of Murder mysteries and things like that I think this is one of the books that is a trend setter. It gives you the chills, it makes you suspect a number of people and then in the end you have this big shock I am sure you will have a very big shock and it's wonderful. This is my favourite hercule poirot book it really is one of them where you really see how his mind works his grey cells work.

Dustin

As usually, Christie was able to deceive me until the very end. A really great book!

DNF on page 28, very boring because nothing interesting was happening for a town that is so into gossips. I'm not convinced to read any more than I already did and would like to, one day, sell this paperback in hopes someone would appreciate it better than I did. I'll probably reread at a later time, but for now, here is my disappointment.

The death of a weathy widow is believed to be an accident until her future husband is killed. The police bring in Hercule Poirot to help with the investigation.

a Hercule Poirot mystery

The murder of Roger Ackroyd

rumbledethumps

Second time reading it and loved it even more. I was able to see all the half-truths, lies, and red- herrings that she buried in the narrative, and it made me rediscover Christie's genius.

L'assassinio di Roger Ackroyd

Silvia Lucchini

Probabilmente il migliore dei libri gialli della Christie. Un finale assolutamente inaspettato che sottolinea il genio della Regina del Giallo. Consigliatissimo!

Sharath Satish

You can't anticipate when it hits you, but at that moment it's all going to make a lot more sense!

everytime I read her books I feel dumb at the end,, the plot twist🤌🏼

taci

Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Elaina 

Wow okay I did not see that coming and yet it makes total sense 🤯

I know now how Agatha Christie earned her title as the Queen of Mystery. She had me fooled this whole book 😑

In case anyone’s wondering, I will be staring at the wall for the next hour. 🫢

The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd

Matthew Royal

Not one of my favorites due to its shortness -- too much is crammed in too little time, unnecessary narrative frame, very similar in structure to other short stories of hers.

Midori Kobayashi

Alexis Palew

Liz B

** spoiler alert **
           One of my favorite Agatha Christie novels, an absolute classic. I still don't know what a vegetable marrow is, but the twist is one of the all-time great twists and you can see clearly how she invented so much of mystery and thriller, tropes and genre. Truly the queen of mystery!

Ryan LaFerney

This is a classic of the mystery genre, one that is often considered the best mystery ever written. It is the third book to feature our favorite Belgian Detective, Hercules Poirot. In The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Poirot retires to a village near the home of a friend, Roger Ackroyd, to pursue a project to perfect vegetable marrows. Soon after, Ackroyd is murdered and Poirot must come out of retirement to solve the case. This novel is unique for many reasons. First off, it is narrated by Dr James Sheppard, who becomes Poirot's assistant, in place of Captain Hastings who has married and settled in the Argentine. Alongside And Then There Were None, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd also boasts one of the most clever and controversial twists in all of literature. The tale may be recommended as one of the cleverest and most original of its kind but beware: the solution to Who Killed Roger Ackroyd may either astound or frustrate you depending on your literary preferences.

Quick and entertaining but it didn't hit like Miss Agatha's previous books that I've read.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

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