Book Review: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Age rating: 13+

Warnings: Violence, blackmail, death, and related sensitive topics

• The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a brilliant whodunit which explores the lasting consequences of violence and blackmail through the lens of Christie's beloved investigator, Hercule Poirot. The novel's themes and exploration of another side of humanity may not be appropriate for younger children. However, it is still suitable for children of the age 13 years and above.

• There are references to sensitive topics relating to death and violence, and the investigation that follows might not be appropriate for a younger audience either (due to the findings and revelations in the book).

• For a more appropriate read for children younger than 13, I would recommend The Westing Game. It's another whodunit aimed at a younger audience, and a replica of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd younger kids would immensely enjoy.

Summary: When a wealthy local widow commits suicide and her fiancé, Roger Ackroyd, is found stabbed to death in his study, the villagers are shocked.

The local physician, Dr. James Sheppard, has the unfortunate luck of finding his friend's body - and during the course of the novel, he serves as the narrator, recounting the subsequent hunt for the killer.

The investigation appears to be proceeding well, with the police closing in on the most obvious suspect for the murder; but everything takes a turn when Hercule Poirot appears and investigates, closely assisted by Dr. Sheppard as Poirot unravels one of Christie's most perplexing murder mysteries.

Recommendations for the suspense/thriller genre: Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie, The Chase by Clive Cussler

Cover picture courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers.