The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

About this book

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd stands as one of the most famous and controversial mysteries ever written-and the novel that permanently secured Agatha Christie's reputation as the queen of detective fiction. First published in 1926, it was later voted the greatest crime novel of all time by the British Crime Writers' Association, a distinction it continues to provoke discussion and admiration for nearly a century later. The story begins in the quiet English village of King's Abbot, shortly after the sudden suicide of Mrs. Ferrars, a wealthy widow rumored to have been blackmailed over the suspicious death of her abusive husband. Before taking her own life, Mrs. Ferrars sends a final letter to her fiancé, Roger Ackroyd-promising to reveal the truth behind the blackmail and the identity of the person responsible. Roger Ackroyd never gets the chance. He is found murdered in his study, the letter missing, and suspicion falls quickly on those closest to him. Into this seemingly ordinary village steps Hercule Poirot, newly retired and living nearby, who soon discovers that beneath King's Abbot's polite surface lies a web of secrets, misdirection, and carefully concealed guilt. Renowned for its daring structure and audacious manipulation of narrative perspective, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd remains a landmark in the history of detective fiction-a novel that redefined what a mystery could do and how it could surprise its readers.Explore other exciting Positronic Books devoted to classic science fiction, fantasy, and mystery.