The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd

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. Then, 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 reading the letter, he was stabbed to death -- Cover.

A French psychoanalyst and literary scholar offers a dramatic re-reading of Agatha Christie's classic novel, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, challenging Hercule Poirot's conclusions about the identity of the killer and presenting a startling new solution to the crime. Reprint.

A murder. A master detective. A gathering of suspects. Between the covers of a book or on the big screen, is there anything more compelling than a great crime story? In the expert hands of Agatha Christie—one of the world’s bestselling novelists—every crime and every search for justice became a work of art. Story Grid Editor and writing coach Sophie B. Thomas set out to understand Christie’s genius for storytelling by dissecting her most acclaimed work, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Thomas follows beloved sleuth Hercule Poirot scene-by-scene to map the structure of Christie’s masterpiece, showing writers how the book fulfills all its readers’ expectations before ambushing them with an unexpected ending. What are the must-have moments in every mystery, and how does Christie pull them off in such an innovative way? What made the book’s narrative device so revolutionary? How does a great writer sustain narrative drive from page one to the ending payoff? Thomas brings expertise and passion for the writer’s craft to her analysis as she answers all these questions and more. All the clues are there. Are you ready to begin the investigation?

H.R.F Keating, author of The Perfect Murder and mystery reviewer for teh Times of London, offers a concise commentary on the finest mystery books ever written. From Poe's tales of mystery and imagination to P.D. James's A Taste for Death, Keating delivers a highly-readable evaluation of the 100 authors and their masterpieces. This collection is a must for all devoted mystery readers. "Something to offer almost everyone. If you are only just embarking on a life of crime fiction...a reliable guide." -The New York Times "Remarkably balanced and highly entertaining." -Library Journal "Keating, himself a mystery writer of note, has compiled a truly standout survey...This is a gold mine of lively writing, sensible insights and easy-going erudition." -The Philadelphia Inquirer "Ideal browsing fare." -Booklist

TWO BESTSELLING MYSTERIES IN ONE GREAT PACKAGE! In THE MURDER OF ROGER ACROYD, 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. Then, tragically, came the news that she had taken her own life with an apparent drug overdose. However, the evening post brought Roger one last fatal scrap of information, but before he could finish reading the letter, he was stabbed to death. Luckily one of Roger’s friends and the newest resident to retire to this normally quiet village takes over—none other than Monsieur Hercule Poirot . . . Not only beloved by generations of readers, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was one of Agatha Christie’s own favorite works—a brilliant whodunit that firmly established the author’s reputation as the Queen of Mystery. In THE HOLLOW, a far-from-warm welcome greets Hercule Poirot as he arrives for lunch at Lucy Angkatell’s country house. A man lies dying by the swimming pool, his blood dripping into the water. His wife stands over him, holding a revolver. As Poirot investigates, he begins to realize that beneath the respectable surface lies a tangle of family secrets and everyone becomes a suspect.

Mrs Ferrars' husband was poisoned. Then Mrs Ferrars died of a drug overdose. Now its up to the only person who can stop another person dying. Hercule Poirot is called in to investigate and to find out who the killer is.

Sir Claud Amory's revolutionary new formula for a powerful explosive is stolen. Locking his house-guests in the library, Sir Claud switches off the lights to allow the thief to replace the formula, no questions asked. When the lights come on, he is dead, and Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings have to unravel a tangle of family feuds, old flames and suspicious foreigners to find the killer and prevent a global catastrophe.

Collins brings the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, to English language learners.