The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Reviewed by Aarya 

Roger Ackroyd knew too much. He knew his love poisoned her first husband, he thought she was being blackmailed, and on the night of the 18th, Ackroyd held the last piece of the puzzle. A letter. No one knew what the letter said, for before he could tell, he was dead. 

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie tells the story of how Belgian detective Hercule Poirot solves the mystery of who murdered Roger Ackroyd. It all starts on September 18th, when Mr. Ackroyd invites his dear friend Dr. Sheppard to dinner. After eating, Mr. Ackroyd asks the doctor to accompany him to his study, where he tells him about a letter he received from his love, who has recently died. The doctor never hears the contents of the letter, since Mr. Ackroyd insists on being alone while reading it. Just as the doctor arrives home, he gets a call from Parker, the butler, that Mr. Ackroyd has been murdered! Luckily the brilliant Detective Poirot is in town, and he’s ready to crack this case!

One reason I enjoyed reading this novel was due to the twists and turns and ups and downs. You start sympathizing toward some characters and feeling hatred toward others, only to realize that you’ve got it all wrong! It’s like one big roller coaster! For instance, when I read this book I felt sympathy for Flora Ackroyd, because she had lost the father figure in her life, when Mr. Ackroyd was murdered. 

Another reason I enjoyed reading this book was because I was truly in love with the personality of each and every character. Some characters were loud and dramatic, while others were mysterious and quiet. For example, our main character Hercule Poirot is unintentionally patronizing and secretive. In addition, he has a very dynamic way of confronting his suspects. Throughout this novel, you meet characters such as Dr. Sheppard’s sister, Caroline, who are theatrical and demanding, but you also meet characters like Ms. Russell, who seem to be hiding something. 

As I read this book, I got sucked up in the mystery, making up my own theories about who murdered Mr. Ackroyd. If I were to give this book a rating, it would be a 10/10. This novel is perfect for tween readers who savor a good murder mystery. If you like Agatha Christie’s writing style, be sure to check out more novels by her. Now that you know how awesome this book is, why not check it out right now? Happy reading! 

Harper Collins, 296 pages