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mimi9610's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sarahandika's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
- We all know Agatha’s reputation and fame for writing wonderful whodunnits, and given that this is the book that rocketed her to fame, and one of her most well-known, there was no doubt it was going to rank highly. When I first read this back in 2019 (and more so, as my introduction to the works of Agatha), I don’t think I truly appreciated the mastery of miss Christie in her writing, and I'm pretty sure that the more I reread it the more I will keep uncovering even more nuance and randomly brilliant details hidden within the paragraphs.
- This is a brilliant mystery novel whodunnit that actually starts with the death of a secondary character. Her (Mrs. Ferrars') suicide, and revelation that she was being blackmailed up to her death, then sets the stage for the Murder of Roger Ackroyd, as he is made aware of the blackmail but murdered before he learns the identity of the blackmailer. Convinced to take up the case, Hercule Poirot ends up engaging the services of the book's narrator, Dr. Sheppard, as his pseudo-assistant. It is through Dr. Sheppard that we learn how the case unfolds and the main details of the case.
- The brilliance of the book comes in the reveal of the murderer, who we of course come to learn is Dr. Sheppard, himself. As the reader, you realize all along that you were listening to a confession not a witness account of the story and therein lies the brilliance. Agatha doesn’t necesarilly employ the unreliable narrator trope as Dr. Sheppard more or less gives a truthful narration of the fact of the story. Agatha simply works in certain sentences brilliantly that one would be need to be very keen to have caught on the first read and that I think is the brilliance of this story.
- The fact that she pulls the wools so well over the reader’s eyes that most people don’t even consider Dr. Sheppard a suspect up to the final reveal. And obviously, there is also Poirot at his best shown in the book. Agatha leaves such tiny details that point to the murderer that Poirot details later on, such as the 5 min discrepancy in Dr. Sheppard’s story and the slight mention of the visit of the dictaphone salesman. How everything ends up coming together is just brilliant.
- I did think that some of it was a bit unncessary, for example, the story of Mrs. Russell and her son and the idea that Dr. Sheppard would have rigged that dictaphone so perfectly well, but otherwise, I think this is one of the best formulated mystery novels, right down to the ensemble cast that individually unkowingly work to confuse the case, to the tiny clues and the red herrings presented everywhere. But even with all the chaos presented, Agatha shows that Hercule Poirot, as always, while being quite eccentric, is always right. With method and order, any case can be solved. The clues are there. You simply need to engage your grey cells to piece it together.
r89b's review against another edition
4.0
Overall a nice easy read, as with most of Agatha Christie's books, I missed most of the clues but it all comes together nicely at the end.
kbkittyb's review
4.0
As always, Christie keeps me enthralled until the last! And this is one of her best!
Agatha Christie has a way of writing about murder and yet making me feel completely at peace and at home in her narratives. Maybe it's her subtle and unwavering British humour that keeps me at ease. At ease and yet on the edge of my seat at the same time. Only Mrs Christie can achieve such a thing so effortlessly.
I can't find fault with any part of this book. The writing is clean and easy, the plot sublime, the characters distant but distinct enough to be likable.
This is not my first Christie novel, and it sure as hell won't be my last. I always return to her work as I would returning home - for comfort. Quick and easy reads that keep you lost in the mystery.
I encourage anyone and everyone to read anything written by this incredibly talented authoress.
Agatha Christie has a way of writing about murder and yet making me feel completely at peace and at home in her narratives. Maybe it's her subtle and unwavering British humour that keeps me at ease. At ease and yet on the edge of my seat at the same time. Only Mrs Christie can achieve such a thing so effortlessly.
I can't find fault with any part of this book. The writing is clean and easy, the plot sublime, the characters distant but distinct enough to be likable.
This is not my first Christie novel, and it sure as hell won't be my last. I always return to her work as I would returning home - for comfort. Quick and easy reads that keep you lost in the mystery.
I encourage anyone and everyone to read anything written by this incredibly talented authoress.
temis098's review
4.0
4⭐️
In the little town of King’s Abbot. Mr. Ackroyd was murdered in his house just two days after Mrs. Ferrars, his secret girlfriend, was found dead by overdose. On the day of the murder, Mr. Ackroyd receives a letter that Mrs. Ferrars had written before her death. In the letter, the name of the person blackmailing her is listed. Not long after Mr. Ackroyd receives the letter, Dr. Sheppard, the local doctor and close friend of Mr. Ackroyd, is alerted that Roger Ackroyd was found dead in his house. It is up to Hercule Poirot to resolve this mystery.
Typical of Agatha Christie, this is a good who-done-it book, short, intriguing, and worth reading as you will not expect the ending at all!
In the little town of King’s Abbot. Mr. Ackroyd was murdered in his house just two days after Mrs. Ferrars, his secret girlfriend, was found dead by overdose. On the day of the murder, Mr. Ackroyd receives a letter that Mrs. Ferrars had written before her death. In the letter, the name of the person blackmailing her is listed. Not long after Mr. Ackroyd receives the letter, Dr. Sheppard, the local doctor and close friend of Mr. Ackroyd, is alerted that Roger Ackroyd was found dead in his house. It is up to Hercule Poirot to resolve this mystery.
Typical of Agatha Christie, this is a good who-done-it book, short, intriguing, and worth reading as you will not expect the ending at all!
kimveach's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've known about this book for years, but I have finally read it. Even though I knew the ending, it was wonderful to see it all play out. The dedication is particularly remarkable, especially after you've finished the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Drug abuse, Medical content, Blood, Murder, Suicide, Gaslighting, Classism, Drug use, Medical trauma, and Violence
kimpower's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
princesspanda18's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5