The Murder of Roger Ackroyd | Book Review | Agatha Christie | Book Quotes
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie is a Hercule Poirot Mystery that was first published in 1926. One of the Best Agatha Christie Novels, it was also recently voted as “Best Crime Novel Ever“. So, read the book summary, book quotes, publication date, genre, age rating, and book review of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie in this post below.
About The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie:
Print Length: 304 Pages
Publication Date: June 1926
Language: English
Age Rating: 9 years and above
Genre: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Detective Fiction, Murder Mystery, Classic
Can be read as a standalone? YES
Series: Hercule Poirot Mystery Book 3
Buy From: AMAZON
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Summary:
In a small village where everyone knows everyone, Mrs Ferrars dies under mysterious circumstances. Although attributed to an overdose of veronal, people suspect that she committed suicide because of guilt. According to rumours and widespread suspicions, Mrs Ferrars had supposedly poisoned her husband, who died just over a year ago. But there was never any proof to prove any of this.
So, while people are digesting these shady circumstances, Roger Ackroyd, a very close friend of Mrs Ferrars is found dead in his study with the door locked from inside. There is also a letter missing which was speculated to have been sent by Mrs Ferrars before her death. This letter contained the name of the person blackmailing her. And this blackmailer claimed to know all about her act of killing her husband and could prove it.
Questions that need to be answered to solve this mystery:
An opened window,’ he said.
A locked door. A chair that apparently moved itself. To all three I say “Why?” and I find no answer.’
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote said by Poirot
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Review:
Things I liked:
A case unlike any other!
The truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to the seeker after it.”
A mystery that Agatha Christie wrote on a dare!
Agatha Christie wrote The Murder of Roger Ackroyd on a dare which shows in the very interesting dedication of this book.
To Punkie who likes an orthodox detective story, murder, inquest, and suspicion falling on everyone in turn!
Agatha Christie’s The Murder of roger ackroyd Book Dedication
A real challenge for the readers to identify the killer:
Everything is simple, if you arrange the facts methodically.”
Characterisation:
The characterisation and story development is exquisite. The interactions between the narrator, Dr. Sheppard and his gossipy and always “scandal mongering” sister, Caroline were just too good and highly entertaining. The wit, humour and outright funny descriptions of Caroline by Dr. Sheppard left me chuckling and looking forward to their playful bantering and Caroline’s efforts at accumulating information from everyone.
Caroline can do any amount of finding out by sitting placidly at home. I don’t know how she manages it, but there it is. I suspect that servants and the tradesman constitute her Intelligent Corps. When she goes out, it is not to gather information, but to spread it. At that too, she is amazingly expert…”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
My sister’s nose, which is long and thin, quivered a little at the tip, as it always does when she is interested or excited over anything.”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Narration:
Our hobbies and recreations can be summed up in the one word, ‘gossip.'”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote said by dr sheppard
World Building and beautifully suited characters:
Like many of Agatha Christie’s other books, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd also has a village setting with gossipy villagers who are more interested in other people’s affairs and take great pride in knowing things about others that are not public knowledge. Caroline is the same. She is always nosing for information and so when a new man moves into the neighbouring cottage she wants to know everything about him but is unable to do so. The results of her speculation about the mysterious man who happens to be Hercule Poirot are hilarious and very entertaining. The only thing she knows is that he is a foreigner and interested in the growing of vegetable marrows!
To Caroline’s extreme annoyance, she has not been able to find out anything about him, except that he is a foreigner. The Intelligence Corps has proved a broken reed.”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Said by Dr Sheppard
But that is certainly not the sort of information that Caroline is after. She wants to know where he comes from, what he does, whether he is married, what his wife was, or is, like, whether he has children, what his mother’s maiden name was -and so on. Somebody very like Caroline must have invented the questions.’
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book quote said by dr sheppard
Poirot is the constant source of discussion between the brother and sister and they come up with extremely funny suggestions as to his profession.
My dear Caroline,’ I said.
There is no doubt at all about what the man’s profession has been.He’s a retired hairdresser. Look at that moustache of his.’ Caroline dissented. She said that if the man was a hairdresser, he would have wavy hair- not straight. All hairdressers did.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Said by Dr Sheppard
The character sketch of Poirot is like a caricature with
An egg-shaped head, partially covered with suspiciously black hair, two immense moustaches, and a pair of watchful eyes.”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Describing Poirot
Clearly a retired hairdresser. Who knows the secrets of human nature better than a hairdresser?”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Describing Poirot
Why he’s Hercule Poirot! You know who I mean – the private detective. They say he’s done the most wonderful things-just like detectives do in books.”
Then Christie also showcases Poirot’s arrogance through humour:
He talked a lot about the little grey cells of the brain, and of their functions. His own, he says, are of the finest quality.”
He would say so,”
Modesty is certainly not his middle name.”
A beautifully done contrasting human behaviour study between men and women:
Agatha Christie proves that she has in-depth knowledge of human psych and behaviour in this book. So, her behavioural contrasts between men and women will make you laugh, and yet agree with all her observations!
Women observe subconsciously a thousand little details, without knowing that they are doing so. Their subconscious mind adds these little things together – and they call the result intuition.”
Never worry about what you say to a man. They’re so conceited that they never believe you mean it if it’s unflattering.”
Memorable dialogues:
The good dog, he does not leave the scent, remember!”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Said by Poirot
Method, order, and the little grey cells.”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Said by Poirot
Everyone has something to hide.”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Said by Poirot
Only one kind- the fool in love.”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Said by Poirot
it is not easy to hide things from Hercule Poirot. He has a knack of finding out.”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Said by Poirot
A chilling sketch of the killer:
The description of the killer is chilling and leaves the reader shuddering at the thought of such a person in reality. A man so normal and friendly that no one suspects him and he often finds himself playing the role of a confidante to many secrets which people, thinking him harmless, kind and understanding, share with him unaware of his “strain of weakness” and “blunted moral fibre”.
Let us take a man – a very ordinary man. A man with no idea of murder in his heart. There is in him somewhere a strain of weakness- deep down…He may stumble by accident on a secret – a secret involving life or death of somebody…Here is a chance to make money..He becomes greedy. And in his greed he overreaches himself…Exposure faced the man of whom we are speaking. And he is not the same man he was -say a year ago. His moral fibre is blunted. He is desperate, He is fighting a losing battle, and he is prepared to take any means that come to his hand, for exposure means ruin to him. And so -the dagger strikes!”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Said by Poirot describing the killer
Afterwards.’ he went on softly,
the dagger removed he will be himself again, normal, kindly.
But if need again arises, then once more he will strike.”
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Book Quote Said by Poirot describing the killer
And then the murderer’s grudging admiration mingled with regret for Poirot:
The ruthless murderer with no remorse later acknowledges the genius of Poirot and bitterly regrets the day Poirot retired from his work and came to this village to grow vegetable marrows! And I could not help but chuckle at his closing quote. So brilliantly done!
I have no pity for myself…But I wish Hercule Poirot had never retired from work and come here to grow vegetable marrows.”
THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD BY AGATHA CHRISTIE BOOK QUOTE said by the killer
Conclusion:
This is one book that can be reread any number of times and it will entertain and shock us each time. An ageless and a gem from a legendary author, I give Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 5 super shiny stars out of 5 and Njkinny recommends that you read this amazing mystery. So, a must read for everyone and a deserving “must have” for every avid reader, this book is also perfect for people starting out with the mystery genre or with Agatha Christie mysteries.
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Oh I remember the Roger Ackroyd book, I really enjoyed reading it years ago, it was lost of mystery fun. Great review, btw!
Thanks a lot Marika! 🙂
Great review! Loved all the details. Good work!
Thanks Melanie 🙂