Review: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Since the introduction of Detective Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the world was waiting for a character equivalent to it to come up in the picture. Agatha Christie had a reply to it by making one of her own. This time it's Detective Hercules Poirot in the Poirot Series and the book is called " The Murder of Roger Ackroyd". So is the newest detective in this genre witty enough to match the calibre of Sherlock Holmes or it's a just a general fiction character? Let's find out. 

Roger Ackroyd knew too much. He knew that the woman he loved had poisoned her brutal first husband. He suspected also that someone had been blackmailing her. Now, tragically, came the news that she had taken her own life with a drug overdose.
But the evening post brought Roger one last fatal scrap of information. Unfortunately, before he could finish the letter, he was stabbed to death…

The cover with a black telephone is a clear sign of something mysterious. The blurb is a mysterious one too. It talks about Roger Ackroyd the man in the picture about whom the story is all about. It gives a complete feel of a mystery story in making. A perfect blurb and a twisted darkened cover is enough to arouse the curiosity of the readers.

The story is is about Roger Ackroyd who knows few facts about Mrs. Ferrers whom he loves a lot and also knows that somebody is blackmailing her but she decides to end her life in order to end this menace and grief stricken Mr. Ackroyd receives an anonymous letter which states the name of the blackmailer but before he could unveil the mystery he dies too. Then comes Dr. Sheppard and the retired famous detective Hercules Poirot who come in the picture and decide to take the case to its end.

The story is an absolute cracker in terms of twists and turns. The no. of suspects in Roger Ackroyd's murder and the the misleading statements of his family members will take the story to a whole new level. Everytime Hercules Poirot will find a trace which will make the story more compelling and confusing. It's unputdownable till the end. The surprise element towards the end is just the perfect setup one needs in a detective fiction novel.

The characters right from Hercules Poirot whose uncanny methods and menacing questioning and calm as a saint with a curious eye to pick up the details are exemplary. Along with the suspicious Parker, the money minded step son and few other family members and the helpful doctor and his chirpy and equally enthusiastic sister about the case will make the story more gripping.

It's devoid of any flaws. It's the advent of Hercules Poirot in the detective fiction scene. It's a story which will fool the readers and then enthrall them at the same time with the minutest details and smooth narration and a surprising end.

RATINGS:

5 OUT OF 5.