Sign in with Facebook
Jaline's Reviews > The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4)
by
by
This is one of the cleverest mysteries I have ever read. The plot is dazzling and its execution is flawless. I was drawn into the mystery so easily and, despite following all of Hercule Poirot’s “little ideas” (as he calls them), despite all the subtle clues to decipher, this story – and its ending – were a complete surprise.
No spoilers ahead (although there are a couple of very obscure clues): In this novel, Hercule Poirot has retired to a small village, and when a murder is committed coupled with the possible blackmail of another person close to the murder victim, one of the family requests Hercule Poirot’s help in discovering the truth behind the mystery. Hastings (Poirot’s chronicler and helper in past mysteries) is in Argentina, so Poirot asks the local doctor if he would be willing to assist him. Dr. Shepherd is thrilled to be asked as the life of a country doctor is tedious at times and he sees it as an opportunity.
There are several household members, all of whom are suspects; there are also a few of the household staff in the suspect category.
Despite the large cast of characters and the various clues attached to certain people, I found it very easy to keep track of everyone, including the clues, motives, and where everyone was at the crucial times. Dr. Shepherd is very good at keeping notes and then transcribing them for our benefit afterward.
What am I saying? Of course it was Agatha Christie behind it all – and what a brilliant little masterpiece she created with this novel. I am only 4 books along in her Hercule Poirot series and I can see very clearly why she is in the upper echelons of the best mystery writers of all time.
No spoilers ahead (although there are a couple of very obscure clues): In this novel, Hercule Poirot has retired to a small village, and when a murder is committed coupled with the possible blackmail of another person close to the murder victim, one of the family requests Hercule Poirot’s help in discovering the truth behind the mystery. Hastings (Poirot’s chronicler and helper in past mysteries) is in Argentina, so Poirot asks the local doctor if he would be willing to assist him. Dr. Shepherd is thrilled to be asked as the life of a country doctor is tedious at times and he sees it as an opportunity.
There are several household members, all of whom are suspects; there are also a few of the household staff in the suspect category.
Despite the large cast of characters and the various clues attached to certain people, I found it very easy to keep track of everyone, including the clues, motives, and where everyone was at the crucial times. Dr. Shepherd is very good at keeping notes and then transcribing them for our benefit afterward.
What am I saying? Of course it was Agatha Christie behind it all – and what a brilliant little masterpiece she created with this novel. I am only 4 books along in her Hercule Poirot series and I can see very clearly why she is in the upper echelons of the best mystery writers of all time.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Comments Showing 1-50 of 50 (50 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Laysee
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Jul 20, 2019 04:50PM
How fun to be in Poirot’s dazzling company, Jaline! I skimmed this review for now in case I want to read this mystery by Dame A. Christie.
reply
|
flag
Excellent review, as always, Jaline! 😊😊
The best Poirot mystery ever....Great Review!
enjoyed your review Jaline! Glad it was such a pleasure to read!
Sounds wonderful, Jaline ;) Brilliant review for a brilliant read!! 💖🌼💖
Lucia wrote: "This is one of my favourite episodes starring David Suchet. The book is on my wtr list and I'll move it up - you made me looking forward to reading it. Excellent review!"Thank you so much, Lucia, for your wonderful comment! I am glad you have found the film version amazing and entertaining, too.
Laysee wrote: "How fun to be in Poirot’s dazzling company, Jaline! I skimmed this review for now in case I want to read this mystery by Dame A. Christie."I totally understand, Laysee - although I didn't use any spoilers, it is always nice to formulate your own thoughts and allow your own feelings while you are reading. :)
Julie wrote: "Excellent review, as always, Jaline! 😊😊"Thank you so much, dear Julie! 😊🌷😊
Sumit wrote: "The best Poirot mystery ever....Great Review!"I agree 100%, Sumit. I read some of her work (what little I could find) after I went through my Nancy Drew stage when I was young. However, I don't remember much about them now - just like I don't remember much about Nancy Drew, either. Too many books between then and now. :) I do look forward to exploring more of Agatha Christie's work into the future, though. Thanks so much for your great comment! :)
Tina wrote: "enjoyed your review Jaline! Glad it was such a pleasure to read!"Thank you so much, Tina! Ms Christie must have spent hours and hours mapping this one out . . . what a great mystery! :)
KAS wrote: "Sounds wonderful, Jaline ;) Brilliant review for a brilliant read!! 💖🌼💖"You are so very kind and sweet, KAS! Thank you so very much for your lovely comment!! 💖🌼💖
"Despite the large cast of characters and the various clues attached to certain people, I found it very easy to keep track of everyone, including the clues, motives, and where everyone was at the crucial times."Very telling comment on one of Christie's greatest powers as a master of mystery. Her organization keeps the reader from getting lost and losing interest in complicated plots blanketed in simplicity.
Great review, AC is always my go to author when I am struggling to get into a book. Never does she disappoint.
I completely agree, Jaline! This is the book I go to when I want to remind myself how to make a plot work. It really is a flawless gem.
Christie was amazing Jaline. Terrific review you wrote.
David wrote: "Very telling comment on one of Christie's greatest powers as a master of mystery. Her organization keeps the reader from getting lost and losing interest in complicated plots blanketed in simplicity. "What a great comment this is, David! You said it perfectly! 😊
Marilyn wrote: "Great review, AC is always my go to author when I am struggling to get into a book. Never does she disappoint."I am definitely going to take a page from *your* book . . . in the meaning of following your example. I only have 8 of Patricia Wentworth's "Miss Silver" novels remaining, so it will be great to have Ms Christie's "Hercule Poirot" novels to read in-between the weightier tomes. :) Thank you for your great comment, Marilyn!
Michael wrote: "I completely agree, Jaline! This is the book I go to when I want to remind myself how to make a plot work. It really is a flawless gem."Michael, when I read your novel The Garden of Blue Roses last summer, it was evident you had complete mastery of your plot and characters. I loved it - and if Ms Christie's work helped to inspire you, read on my friend. I look forward to your next one! 😊
Ron wrote: "Christie was amazing Jaline. Terrific review you wrote."Thank you so much, Ron, for your lovely comment! I look forward to exploring more of her work even more now. 😊
I agree with every single word of this! Awesome review, Jaline! Also? I miss you! Come back soon!
Jaline - (on partial hiatus) wrote: "Michael wrote: "I completely agree, Jaline! This is the book I go to when I want to remind myself how to make a plot work. It really is a flawless gem."Michael, when I read your novel [book:The G..."
Thanks so much, Jaline, for your kind words! If I was able to capture one tiny bit of Agatha Christie's mastery of plot, I'd feel humbled beyond belief.
Dita wrote: "I agree with every single word of this! Awesome review, Jaline! Also? I miss you! Come back soon!"Thank you for your wonderful comment, Dita! I am pretty much back as of today - and hevvins! I have missed you, too! 😄💐
Michael wrote: "Thanks so much, Jaline, for your kind words! If I was able to capture one tiny bit of Agatha Christie's mastery of plot, I'd feel humbled beyond belief. "Well, you are a humble soul anyway, Michael - and now you can add to it. 😊 The other aspect of Agatha Christie's writing that fascinates me is that she found a way to resolve the "too many clues" problem that even the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle could not - and she still kept her mysteries fresh and fascinating. 👍
Marvellous review of a Christie classic, dearest Jaline. 😎🌹🌹
Paromjit wrote: "Marvellous review of a Christie classic, dearest Jaline. 😎🌹🌹"Thank you so very much, Paromjit! This means so much coming from you! 🌹😊🌹
I am going to read this one soon and I cannot wait all the more after your review :D
Fabulous review Jaline! Hope you continue to enjoy this series!🤗💜
Nicola wrote: "Wonderful review Jaline! I’m glad to see you back! ❤️😘"Thank you so much, Nicola! I definitely missed your kindness and encouragement! 😘❤
Olivia-Savannah wrote: "I am going to read this one soon and I cannot wait all the more after your review :D"Thank you so much, Olivia-Savannah! I can't wait to see what you think of this one! 😊🌷
Kaceey wrote: "Fabulous review Jaline! Hope you continue to enjoy this series!🤗💜"Thank you so much, Kaceey! 😊❤ I definitely hope so, too! I'm a bit worried because so many people have said this one is her very best, and I'm not ready for a slide downhill from here. 😂
leslie hamod wrote: "Ooooh! Great review! Dear Jaline, a great book!😘"Thank you so much, dear Leslie! This is indeed a great book! 😘
Fab review, Jaline! ❤
Your reviews inspire me to dig up a few AGs and see which I missed after my own Nancy Drew phase. Or let's face it, I've probably forgotten the plots and they'll all be brand new. 🤣
On my list. I will read reviews after I know the book. I am a sponge for detail, which is best tamped-down ahead of time. :)
Mary Beth *Traveling Sister* wrote: "Fab review, Jaline! ❤"Thank you so much, Mary Beth! 😊❤
Victoria wrote: "Your reviews inspire me to dig up a few AGs and see which I missed after my own Nancy Drew phase. Or let's face it, I've probably forgotten the plots and they'll all be brand new. 🤣"Victoria, that is exactly how I feel! Although I have only read/re-read 4 of them so far, they all seem brand-new to me so far. I suspect I will get through the entire series and not recognize any of the plots! 😂
C. wrote: "On my list. I will read reviews after I know the book. I am a sponge for detail, which is best tamped-down ahead of time. :)"Good point, Carolyn! I hope that you enjoy this series as much as I have been. :)
Norma * Traveling Sister wrote: "Wonderful review, Jaline!"Thank you so much, Norma! :)
Fantastic review for a fantastic book! So glad you loved this, Jaline!
Meredith wrote: "Fantastic review for a fantastic book! So glad you loved this, Jaline!"Thank you so much, Meredith - and I agree completely that this is a fantastic book! It was great to see that so many of us loved this one - a LOT!! 😊❤
Great review, Jaline. I loved this one as well
Antoinette wrote: "Great review, Jaline. I loved this one as well"Thank you so much, Antoinette! It doesn't surprise me that you loved this one, too - there is much to love - and we have similar taste in most of our reads. :)
It is fun to discover the number of non-Hercule Poirot novels Agatha wrote. I am following publication order and giving myself the surprise of which series each one belongs to. I believe this one is on tap, after "Witness For The Prosecution". I have her memoir of her time in Africa, her autobiography, and an art book about the person who painted her covers. There is lots to look forward to.
What an exciting way to explore Agatha Christie's work, Carolyn! Your method would give an even more accurate perspective on her development as a writer. The subjects of the books you mentioned sound so very interesting! :)
How all good whodunnits should be, Jaline. Causing you to chop and change your mind and distract you from the twist ending. : )Fabulous review!
Not a Christie novel I've read, Jaline, but one I probably need to catch up with. Thanks for bringing this one out into the light.
Wow, Jaline! I’m interested.
Kevin wrote: "How all good whodunnits should be, Jaline. Causing you to chop and change your mind and distract you from the twist ending. : )Fabulous review!"
Thank you so much, Kevin! When I was younger and read a few of her novels, I wasn't as impressed for some reason. Now, I can hardly wait for my next Hercule Poirot adventure! :)
Andrew wrote: "Not a Christie novel I've read, Jaline, but one I probably need to catch up with. Thanks for bringing this one out into the light."Andrew, you are most welcome! This is one of Agatha Christie's novels that is touted to be "the Best". Even though several of her novels are given that recognition, I have to admit that so far, I agree that it is one of the best of her novels that I have read (or remember reading). :)
