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Avg. Rating: 4.5
Absolutely the Best Christie
It is so difficult to write a review of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd without spoilers, however, this is absolutely the best book by one of the finest mystery writers ever. Christie was a master at developing a solid plotline, laying out all the clues for those of us with the gray cells to assimilate them and put them all together. The mystery is one of her earlier ones and is a classic dead body in a room story. Poirot works with Dr. Sheppard, from whose point of view the story is told, to interview all the suspects and at the end puts everything together in a way that leaves us hitting ourselves over the head for not having seen what was right in front of our eyes.
There are those who have argued that Christie cheated on the ending, which has a true surprise twist, but I think that her ending is one of the most brilliant plot devices ever used. She absolutely lays everything out, all the clues are there for us to see. This book is a work of genius from a brilliant writer.
A Superb Mystery Classic!
Told from the perspective of village doctor, Dr. Sheppard, this mystery has one of the best, most surprising endings. King's Abbot is a quiet village until the elderly Mrs. Ferrar's takes her own life. Her devout friend, Mr. Ackroyd, receives a letter from her explaining that someone has been blackmailing her. Then after the Dr. Sheppard's visit to Ackroyd's mansion, the doctor gets a phone call telling him that Mr. Ackroyd's been murdered in his study. This is the classic, closed-room who-dunnit, with a cast of characters who all have something to hide. By coincidence, living in King's Aboot is the retired, world famous, detective Hercule Poirot, who is asked to solve the murder. Everyone is suspect. Only Poirot, with his little gray cells, is able to deduce what happened. Dr. Sheppard plays Dr. Watson to his Holmes and writes about their exploits. Brilliant!!!
DON'T READ ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK FIRST!
This is one of Christie's best stories. Considering how many mysteries she wrote, her most successful ones are those which turn the conventions of mysteries on their ear. Murder on the Orient Express did this, and so does Roger Ackroyd. The thing is, DON'T READ ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK BEFOREHAND. People are so up-in-arms over the secret, they keep giving it away.
Just read the book.
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