Poirot – Poirot Investigates, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Hello everyone! Welcome, or welcome back to my blog. Today, I am back with two more Hercule Poirot books. Poirot Investigates, and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd are two of my favourite of Poirot’s books. But before you read this post, make sure you read the previous one in which I had reviewed The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and Murder On the Links, the first of Poirot’s novel, if you haven’t already. Without further delay, let us begin:

Poirot Investigates:

This book is the first of the three short stories books which Agatha Christie wrote, where Poirot’s adventures are quite unlike his others – sweet and short. The books consists of eleven short stories, each with totally different plot. The stories, no doubt, are interesting enough by themselves, but the fact which makes this collection stand out more, is the sheer variety of it. In one story Poirot is found investigating a jewel robbery in the London High-Society, and in the other, he is tracking down a serial killer in the middle of the Egyptian desert.

Usually in books, the plot is based around a central theme, which may have different subplots within it to generate interest. A story, or a series of stories written in a haphazard manner may prove to be irritating. The same does go for a short story collection too. But this book is one of the few cases, where the stark difference between the settings of the plot and the story actually liven up the book more.

The first story follows the mystery of a diamond, followed by a suicide (and most Poirot lovers know what he thinks when presented with a suicide). In it’s wake comes the next mystery, where a premium flat is being sold at absurd rates. You have a suspicious death in a locked gun-room, a million-dollar bond robbery, and a pharaoh’s curse to follow it. Following this is a jewel robbery in the middle of the sea, the kidnapping of Britain’s Prime Minister, and a phone call from a dying man. All of this, finally, terminates with the mystery of the missing will.

This series of stories makes for an excellent, more than one-time, read. The length of these stories also makes sure that all the boring, often descriptive part, is almost removed. It leaves space just enough for what we all love – the direct, and excellent deduction of Hercule Poirot.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd:

Where do I even begin to introduce this one? The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is one of the most famous and critically acclaimed Hercule Poirot novel. Although he had gained much success with The Mysterious Affair at Styles, this is the book that actually shot him to the highest pedestal, and gained him international fame.

Neither Captain Hastings nor a third person narrator narrates this story. This job has been given to one of the main characters of the story, a certain Dr. Sheppard, who happens to be the family doctor and close confidante of the poor Roger Ackroyd. One day when he comes out of his home and onto his front yard, a vegetable marrow flies past him, nearly missing his head. He turns towards the neighbouring house, and discovers that he has a new neighbour. Hercule Poirot has just retired from the Belgian Police force as a detective, and wishes to devote the rest of his life to cultivating, and increasing the taste of vegetable marrows. Later, Dr. Sheppard gets a phone call that makes him rush to Mr. Ackroyd’s house. Shortly after, Hercule Poirot receives the call.

Apparently, Roger Ackroyd loved a lady. And – this is as cliché as it gets – the lady is harboring a secret. Roger Ackroyd dies before finding out what made her commit suicide. Ironically, though, the aforementioned cliché is not followed by any other, and has so little bearing on the plot, that it seems almost insignificant. The rest of the plot, however, is to die for.

King’s Abbott is a small village, and as in most small village, everyone knows each other. There are also relations of the deceased staying there. As Poirot starts unraveling the case, the suspicions, naturally, fall on everyone in turn. One is never sure whom to suspect, and whom to believe. With the sole exception of Poirot and Dr. Sheppard, of course. And in the end of this story, come Agatha Christie’s characteristic touch – a twist in the tale. There is only thing which separates this twist from the others. This one will not only surprise you, but will also break your heart, shock you, and leave you flabbergasted. All of this, written in the simple, elegant style of writing of Dr. Sheppard, makes for a book you will not regret reading.

As a matter of fact, this book came in third, in a global vote to find the world’s favourite Agatha Christie books for her 125^th birthday. This ranked below only Murder on the Orient Express, and And Then There Were None. The reviews for those, of course, are on the way. I felt like this is a one time read. However, the ingenuity and simple excellence of the story makes me completely agree with all those who voted for it.

So, that’s it for today, guys. I hope all of you liked the review. If yes, then that’s great! If you didn’t, then still stay tuned; who knows?, you might like the next post I post. I would recommend you to please check out my other posts, if you haven’t already. Please like, and subscribe to my blog. It’s fun, and it’s free. And most importantly, stay home, and stay safe.