The murder of Roger Ackroyd

DR. SHEPPARD AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE Mrs. Ferrars died on the night of the 16th–17th September—a Thursday. I was sent for at eight o’clock on the morning of Friday the 17th. There ...

WHO’S WHO IN KING’S ABBOT Before I proceed further with what I said to Caroline and what Caroline said to me, it might be as well to give some idea of what I should describe as ou...

THE MAN WHO GREW VEGETABLE MARROWS I told Caroline at lunch time that I should be dining at Fernly. She expressed no objection—on the contrary—— “Excellent,” she said. “You’ll he...

DINNER AT FERNLY It was just a few minutes before half-past seven when I rang the front door bell of Fernly Park. The door was opened with admirable promptitude by Parker, the but...

MURDER I got out the car in next to no time, and drove rapidly to Fernly. Jumping out, I pulled the bell impatiently. There was some delay in answering, and I rang again. Then I ...

THE TUNISIAN DAGGER I met the inspector just coming from the door which led into the kitchen quarters. “How’s the young lady, doctor?” “Coming round nicely. Her mother’s with he...

I LEARN MY NEIGHBOR’S PROFESSION On the following morning I hurried unforgivably over my round. My excuse can be that I had no very serious cases to attend. On my return Caroline ...

INSPECTOR RAGLAN IS CONFIDENT We looked at each other. “You’ll have inquiries made at the station, of course?” I said. “Naturally, but I’m not over sanguine as to the result. Yo...

THE GOLDFISH POND We walked back to the house together. There was no sign of the inspector. Poirot paused on the terrace and stood with his back to the house, slowly turning his h...

THE PARLORMAID We found Mrs. Ackroyd in the hall. With her was a small dried-up little man, with an aggressive chin and sharp gray eyes, and “lawyer” written all over him. “Mr. H...

POIROT PAYS A CALL I was slightly nervous when I rang the bell at Marby Grange the following afternoon. I wondered very much what Poirot expected to find out. He had entrusted the...

ROUND THE TABLE A joint inquest was held on Monday. I do not propose to give the proceedings in detail. To do so would only be to go over the same ground again and again. By arra...

THE GOOSE QUILL That evening, at Poirot’s request, I went over to his house after dinner. Caroline saw me depart with visible reluctance. I think she would have liked to have acco...

MRS. ACKROYD After the evening talk I have just chronicled, the affair seemed to me to enter on a different phase. The whole thing can be divided into two parts, each clear and di...

GEOFFREY RAYMOND I was to have a further proof that day of the success of Poirot’s tactics. That challenge of his had been a subtle touch born of his knowledge of human nature. A ...

AN EVENING AT MAH JONG That night we had a little Mah Jong party. This kind of simple entertainment is very popular in King’s Abbot. The guests arrive in goloshes and waterproofs ...

PARKER It occurred to me the next morning that under the exhilaration produced by Tin-ho, or the Perfect Winning, I might have been slightly indiscreet. True, Poirot had not asked...

CHARLES KENT Half an hour later saw Poirot, myself, and Inspector Raglan in the train on the way to Liverpool. The inspector was clearly very excited. “We may get a line on the b...

FLORA ACKROYD As I was returning from my round the following morning, I was hailed by Inspector Raglan. I pulled up, and the inspector mounted on the step. “Good-morning, Dr. She...

MISS RUSSELL Inspector Raglan had received a bad jolt. He was not deceived by Blunt’s valiant lie any more than we had been. Our way back to the village was punctuated by his comp...

THE PARAGRAPH IN THE PAPER Caroline, of course, had not failed to see Miss Russell come to the surgery door. I had anticipated this, and had ready an elaborate account of the lady...

URSULA’S STORY For a moment or two the girl looked mutely at Poirot. Then, her reserve breaking down completely, she nodded her head once, and burst into an outburst of sobs. Car...

POIROT’S LITTLE REUNION “And now,” said Caroline, rising, “that child is coming upstairs to lie down. Don’t you worry, my dear. M. Poirot will do everything he can for you—be sure...

RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_. I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise! When I was sufficiently ma...

THE WHOLE TRUTH A slight gesture from Poirot enjoined me to stay behind the rest. I obeyed, going over to the fire and thoughtfully stirring the big logs on it with the toe of my ...

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH There was a dead silence for a minute and a half. Then I laughed. “You’re mad,” I said. “No,” said Poirot placidly. “I am not mad. It was the little d...

APOLOGIA Five a.m. I am very tired—but I have finished my task. My arm aches from writing. A strange end to my manuscript. I meant it to be published some day as the history of o...