The Murder of Roger Ackroyd book cover

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Summary

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Agatha Christie
Mystery
Thriller
Fiction
Psychology
Overview
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Overview of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Agatha Christie's "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" - voted best crime novel ever by 600 professional writers, featuring the revolutionary twist that changed detective fiction forever. Even Orson Welles couldn't resist performing it, playing both Poirot and the narrator in 1939.

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1

The Perfect Murder in a Quiet English Village

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In the sleepy village of King's Abbot, a shocking crime has upended the natural order. Roger Ackroyd, the town's wealthiest citizen, has been found stabbed to death in his locked study. The night before, wealthy widow Mrs. Ferrars died from an apparent suicide, and whispers suggest she poisoned her first husband. These two deaths, seemingly connected, set the stage for one of the most ingenious murder plots ever conceived. When Roger's niece Flora enlists the help of the newly retired detective Hercule Poirot, who has moved to the village to grow vegetable marrows, she unknowingly initiates an investigation that will reveal shocking truths about the seemingly respectable residents of King's Abbot. What makes this case particularly fascinating is how the truth hides in plain sight - if only we knew where to look. Dr. James Sheppard serves as our eyes and ears in King's Abbot. As the village doctor, he moves easily between social classes, privy to everyone's secrets. When summoned to confirm Mrs. Ferrars' suicide, he encounters his gossip-loving sister Caroline, who immediately suggests Mrs. Ferrars killed herself out of remorse for poisoning her husband. That evening, Sheppard dines with Roger Ackroyd, who reveals a shocking truth: Mrs. Ferrars had indeed poisoned her husband and was being blackmailed over it. Before Ackroyd can read a letter from Mrs. Ferrars naming her blackmailer, Sheppard departs, leaving at precisely 9:30 PM.

2

The Little Gray Cells at Work

3

Secrets Within Secrets

4

The Gathering of Suspects

5

The Perfect Deception Revealed

6

The Art of Misdirection and Legacy

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@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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@djmikemoore
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