Reviews with content warning for Medical content - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie is a classic whodunit that showcases the author's mastery of the mystery genre. Set in a quiet English village, the story unfolds after the murder of the wealthy and enigmatic Roger Ackroyd. The narrative is presented from the perspective of Dr. James Sheppard, a reliable and observant narrator who becomes intricately involved in the investigation.

One of the notable strengths of this novel is its construction. Agatha Christie weaves a carefully crafted plot, full of intricate details and red herrings that keep readers guessing until the very end. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the suspense to build gradually, and the twists and turns are cleverly executed. Christie's attention to detail is commendable, and her ability to create a closed-circle mystery in a seemingly idyllic setting is truly remarkable.

However, I did not find the book as exciting as I had hoped. While the story is well-constructed, some readers may find the pacing a bit slow at times, especially if they are seeking a more action-packed or adrenaline-fueled thriller. The murder investigation primarily unfolds through conversations and interviews, which may not offer the same level of excitement as more dynamic plot developments.

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jennywren60's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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fraise's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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daryn's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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lajoy's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

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lalu's review against another edition

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mysterious tense

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

This was sooo good! The way all those little details, truths and lies come together was ingenious. I especially enjoyed the extremely subtle hints that pointed towards the murderer.
I guessed who it was around the 70% mark

when Caroline calls her brother weak and a few minutes later Poirot describes the murderer as having "a strain of weakness—deep down". But to be fair I had read beforehand that the book ends with quite a plot twist and was therefore looking out for these kinds of hints. And I was nevertheless amazed that I had been correct.

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jhbandcats's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I’d never read this Agatha Christie book before and was really impressed at the complexity of the plot. Based on my memories of what I read in my youth, her books weren’t that complicated. Clearly I either didn’t read them well or thoroughly, or I just wasn’t remembering clearly.

Without giving details or spoilers I’ll only say Christie uses a great plot device in this story. I found it surprising and very satisfying as a result. As with all mysteries, everyone has something to hide, some far more unsavory than others.

Definitely recommended.

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podanotherjessi's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

For my first Agatha Christie, this was definitely an interesting one. I thought it was really fun to follow along, and I felt absolutely no hope of guessing what would happen. This was probably for the best as I'm fairly sure some of the reveals were literally impossible to see coming, although maybe a reread would prove me wrong.
I found the style a bit repetitive, though being new to this genre, that just may be necessary to tell the story. The point of view character, Dr. Shepherd, I thought was wonderful, although the detective was less pleasant. Overall, just a really fun read. I'll definitely check out more Christie novels (but maybe not more Hercule Pierot).

Characters - 8
Plot - 9
Setting - 5
General appeal - 8
Writing style - 7
Originality - 8
Ending - 8

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