Dec 15, 2004 02:44 PM
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(Updated Dec 15, 2004 02:49 PM)
Before I write this review, let me advice all those who have not yet read this novel?.
I am going to talk on the climax including who is the killer and hence may break the suspense. So you are requested to skip this if you intend to read it purely for the thrill of the suspense.
However, let me add by saying that even after knowing the climax, I have read this novel twice and each time it was as thrilling. Because, this is one murder mystery, where more than the twist in the tail, the build-up, characterization and the art of writing matters.
NOTE: I?LL WARN THE READERS WHERE THE SPOILER STARTS. HENCE YOU CAN READ TILL THAT PART WHICH WILL BE A MINI REVIEW.
Start Review
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is one of the early novels of Agatha Christie, which shot her up in popularity instantly. She has written many novels after that, but till date this one remains as her masterpiece.
Plot:
The story is set-up in a British Countryside, where a very well to do and respectable man with a skeleteon in his closet, a secret that can ruin him completely. He is blackmailed by some unknown blackmailer and he can not trust anyone on this. The only man to fall back upon is Dr. Sheppard (Hope I got the spelling right), who is equally respectable and liked by all.
The Dr. leaves Roger Ackroyd after their discussion late that evening and returns home. After reaching home, his phone rings and he is informed that Mr. Ackroyd has been killed. He rushes immediately to attend to his duty and to his surpise, he finds that no one had called him. Confused at this state, he instructs the door to be broken and they find Mr. Akroyed stabbed.
As per the servants in the house, Mr. Ackroyd was alive for a good amount of time after Dr. left that evening as he was heard talking to someone else (assumed to be the killer).
Now the story revolves around a few characters, finding out who it can be as Hercule Poirot digs up a lot of suppressed facts.
The events are seen in the eyes of Dr. Sheppard, who is the narrater of the events. (Interestingly unlike Sherlock Holmes stories, Agatha Christie has frequently changed her narraters? I can recollect at least 4 different narrators in various novels).
The questions that need to be answered:
Who was that mysterious person who was heard talking to Mr. Ackroyd that night?
Where is Ralph Paton (Akroy?ds step son) who is the prime accused?
Who was the person who called Dr. Sheppard? If he was the killer, why did have to call a Doctor?
Are there too many evidences?
And finally.. the best question of them all?. Why is Poirot so interested in arrangement of chairs?
Agatha Christie has dealt with the novel in splendid style without cheating the reader. Many have accused her of cheating in this novel, but I think these thoughts are simply the case of sour grape. If you read the novel a second time, you will clearly notice that she has given enough clues pointing to the killer.
SPOILER STARTS. PLOT BEING REVEALED IN DETAIL AFTER THIS POINT.
Agatha Christie is often accused of backstabbing and cheating? If we can?t trust the narrator, who can we trust?
In my opinion, there was no cheating in this novel. She just reminded us that even narrators are integral parts of a suspense and they are not above suspicion. They do not have an immunity against being killers.
As far as ethics of the writers are concerned, I strongly believe in ethics, but still support this plot. For a very simple reason that she has put forth the views and circumstances in a cryptic manner. Stuff like? ?I looked back to see if anything was left undone?, ?I did what little work was to be done? and the clear indication on the time taken to reach the gate vs. the actual time needed. She has been very fair in stating all these.
In simple terms, we MUST complement her writing abilities.
Interestingly, there is another novel written by the same author in which again the narrator was the culprit. That did not work out to success.
I read another book by the name ?Who Killed Roger Ackroyd??. This one is an analysis of all Agatha Christie novels, with special focus on ?Murder of Roger Ackroyd?. All the angles are discussed in detail here. After all the detailed analysis, the author comes out with the conclusion that, the killer was so cunning that he deceived even the author!!! He justifies his point (quite reasonable) with an alternate climax, where in he proves that the sister of Dr. Sheppard is the actual killer and the Doc. took the blame on himself to save his sister!!
CAUTION: ALL AGATHA CHRISTIE FANS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHILE READING ?WHO KILLED ROGER ACKROYD? TILL YOU HAVE READ ALL AGATHA CHRISTIES. THIS IS ONLY A CAUTION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE YOUR DISCRETION.
