The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd By Agatha Christie

ISBN: 978-0007234370

Published by Harper Collins

This edition published 2006

I have been putting off reading this one. I think because I already knew who the murderer was. Once I got going though, that didn't seem to matter, in fact I enjoyed spotting where Christie had woven in her clues to the puzzle. 

Poirot has retired to a small village to grow marrows, which seems rather unlikely, but we'll let that go. He rents a cottage next to the home of Dr Sheppard and his sister Caroline. Caroline is an active village gossip and is convinced that another villager, Mrs Ferrars, had poisoned her aggressive husband who died the previous year. Dr Sheppard dismisses this as nonsense, until Roger Ackroyd who, if the village gossip is to be believed was going to marry Mrs Ferrars, is found stabbed to death in his study. And so the hunt is on, Poirot is recruited by Flora Ackroyd, Roger's niece, to help the police clear the name of the her fiancee and prime suspect Ralph Paton, who has gone on the run. 

There is the usual country house cast each of whom has something to hide, including a very odd butler and retired Major (every good murder mystery should have one!). Poirot of course unravels everyone's secrets including blackmail and heavy debts. The twist at the end is beautifully done, and at the time caused somewhat of a stir. 

The mystery itself is very satisfying, however what Christie captures so well in this book is gossip, and how small groups of people interact together. There is a wonderful scene where some of the characters are discussing the crime over a game of mah jong where sentences are left unfinished and knowing looks exchanged. 

The development of Poirot as a character moves a little further along in this book. He comments a couple of times that he misses his friend. It would seem Poirot does have a heart after all.