The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Agatha Christie

Mar 2023 · Aegitas

About this ebook

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie is an iconic mystery novel that has captivated readers for decades. It tells the story of Roger Ackroyd, a wealthy man who is murdered in his own home. The novel follows the investigation of Hercule Poirot, a famous detective, as he attempts to solve the crime. The novel was first published in 1926 and quickly became a classic. It is widely considered to be one of the most influential works of detective fiction ever written, and it has been adapted into film and television multiple times. The novel is known for its unexpected twist ending, which many consider to be one of the greatest surprises in literature. At its core, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a classic whodunit mystery. It features a diverse cast of characters with secrets to keep and motives to uncover. All of these elements come together in a thrilling narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The novel also examines themes such as justice, loyalty, and morality. It explores how far people are willing to go to protect their interests and how justice can be served despite impossible odds. These themes are explored through the eyes of Hercule Poirot, who serves as both a detective and a moral compass throughout the story. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is an essential read for anyone interested in detective fiction or classic literature. Its clever plot twists and thought-provoking themes make it a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie’s work.

About the author

Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time and in any language, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. Her books have sold more than a billion copies in English and another billion in a hundred foreign languages. She is the author of eighty crime novels and short-story collections, nineteen plays, two memoirs, and six novels written under the name Mary Westmacott. She first tried her hand at detective fiction while working in a hospital dispensary during World War I, creating the now legendary Hercule Poirot with her debut novel The Mysterious Af air at Styles. With The Murder in the Vicarage, published in 1930, she introduced another beloved sleuth, Miss Jane Marple. Additional series characters include the husband-and-wife crime-fighting team of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, private investigator Parker Pyne, and Scotland Yard detectives Superintendent Battle and Inspector Japp. Many of Christie’s novels and short stories were adapted into plays, films, and television series. The Mousetrap, her most famous play of all, opened in 1952 and is the longest-running play in history. Among her best-known film adaptations are Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and Death on the Nile (1978), with Albert Finney and Peter Ustinov playing Hercule Poirot, respectively. On the small screen Poirot has been most memorably portrayed by David Suchet, and Miss Marple by Joan Hickson and subsequently Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie. Christie was first married to Archibald Christie and then to archaeologist Sir Max Mallowan, whom she accompanied on expeditions to countries that would also serve as the settings for many of her novels. In 1971 she achieved one of Britain’s highest honors when she was made a Dame of the British Empire. She died in 1976 at the age of eighty-five. Her one hundred and twentieth anniversary was celebrated around the world in 2010.