The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Study Guide

James Sheppard

confidant of Ackroyd and Poirot at some point in the novel, sarcastic at times, quiet, tries to come across as foolish

Poirot

often holds back initial impressions until certain of them

Ackroyd

murdered manufacturer, owner of Fernly Park, wholesome, yet hot-tempered,

Caroline

town gossip, unmarried,

Ralph Paton

25-year-old step-son of Ackroyd. Mother died when he was seven. Well-loved, yet often extravagant and self-indulgent

Flora Ackroyd

niece of Ackroyd, beautiful, admired yet disliked, a bit spoiled

Mrs. Ackroyd

money hungry, distasteful, rapid speaker

John Parker

butler, blackmailed former employer who killed a man, efficient at job

Geoffrey Raymond

secretary of Ackroyd, young, ingenious, not easily ruffled (even upon Roger’s death)

Hector Blunt

big game man, quiet and expressionless, only man who doesn’t benefit from Ackroyd’s death

Ursula

parlourmaid, sad about Ackroyd’s death, only suspect without initial alibi

Inspector Raglan

lead investigator of case, at first hates Poirot, then grows to like him, often wrong about case

Inspector Davis

The local police inspector at King’s Abbot and the first inspector on the scene of the crime. Inspector Davis almost immediately suspects Parker of the murder without spending much time gathering evidence or interviewing suspects. His clumsy antics and faulty conclusions are a stark contrast with Poirot’s.

Charles Kent

illegitimate son of Miss Russell with nasty cocaine habit, claims British origin despite American accent, defensive

How is Mr. Ferrara said to have died?

Acute gastritis due to alcoholism (was really poisoned by wife using arsenic)

Where does Caroline get the rumor about Mrs. Ferrars’ suicide?

Ferrars cook

Who initially proposes Mrs. Ferrars’ suicide?

Caroline, which James quickly attempts to reject through the faulty claim that Mrs. Ferrara accidentally overdosed on venerol

Are people generally fond of Rakph Paton?

Yes

What do Ferrars and Ackroyd have in common?

They’re victims of alcohol excess

How long has Russel been employed?

5 years (2 times longer than usual)

When was the last time Sheppard had seen Ferrars before her death?

One week before, walking with Ralph

What is the appointment Ackroyd makes with Sheppard?

7:30 dining at his home, wants to discuss troubles

Who often bombards Sheppard in pursuit of information?

Miss Gannett

What does Mrs. Russell ask James about?

Alleviating cocaine habits, how to be cured,

where is Ralph said to be staying at the beginning of the novel?

Three Boars instead of Fernly while Ackroyd thinks he’s in London

where does Poirot live?

The Larches

what is Poirot doing when they meet him for the first time?

Chucking vegetable marrows

poirot disapproves of Ralph’s marriage to Flora

true

What does Caroline overhear while walking in the park?

Ralph Paton arguing with girl about money and his father

how long has Flora been engaged?

1 month

how is the supper they have on the last night of Ackroyd’s life?

Pleasant and nice

what does Parker deliver to Ackroyd and Sheppard during their meeting?

The letter from Ferrars

who does Sheppard encounter on his way home from Fernly?

Charles Kent, a young and uneducated man with a rough appearance

When does Sheppard get the call from “Parker”?

10:00 p.m.

where are blunt and Raymond when the body is discovered?

The billiard room

where are the ladies when the body is discovered?

In bed

Is the door to Ackroyd’s study locked

yes

How do they open the study door

the bash it in with an oak chair