who, why, how, and ware
When Agatha Christie sat down to write her third novel featuring detective Hercule Poirot, she decided to break all the rules. Known as one of Christie’s most love and most controversial mysteries, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd brings out the fans like no other of her novels, including one of the most popular contemporary thriller writers, Ruth Ware.
In The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, the death of a widow brings the local doctor, Dr. Sheppard, to her house. She had committed suicide, and while there was gossip and speculation in town as to why. She had been rumored to have killed her first husband, but there was no proof. Then the doctor is summoned to the house of a wealthy widower, Roger Ackroyd. Ackroyd confides in the doctor that he and the widow had been engaged, and he has received a letter from her. It revealed that she did kill her husband and that she was being blackmailed. That’s why she had chosen to end her own life. And the name of her blackmailer would be revealed within 24 hours.
The doctor heads back home, only to find out in the morning that Ackroyd had been murdered the night before. He heads back to Ackroyd’s house, Fernly House, to help where he can. But his sister also points out that the famous detective Hercule Poirot has recently retired to their town, and he might be helpful for the investigation.
The entire story is told through the perspective of Dr. Sheppard, who takes on a similar role as Dr. Watson, creating a familiar feel to the story. But Christie isn’t content with following in another writer’s footsteps. She takes the classic rules of a mystery and turns them upside down through the book, right up to the last chapter.
This new version includes an introduction by beloved rule-breaker herself, masterful thriller writer Ruth Ware. She shares her love of Christie and a little bit of the historical mystery rules (but just a little) to emphasize how Christie broke them, and maybe even snubbed her nose at the patriarchy of crime writing of her time. Ware’s introduction does include spoilers, so she recommends reading the novel first, but if it’s your first time reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd or the tenth time, it never fails to impress.
This version is a small paperback, the perfect size to throw into a bag and take with you on a flight, for sitting by a pool, or by enjoying by a roaring fire. You can make a cup of tea and let Dame Agatha Christie transport you to a small English village where you can follow along as a master detective reveals a killer.
I loved this version of the classic mystery. I read a lot in electronic formats, so having a physical book to hold made this experience special. And getting to read Ruth Ware’s thoughts on Christie, on writing mysteries, on breaking the rules was such a treat. I think fans of her books will enjoy this book, both for her words of introduction as well as for Christie’s outstanding mystery. This would make a fantastic gift for fans of either Christie or Ware, or as a way to dip a toe into their writings and get to know them better.
A copy of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was provided by Signet Classics, with many thanks.
