The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in June 1926 in the United Kingdom by William Collins, Sons<sup id="cite_ref-Cat_1-0" class="reference"> </sup> and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company.<sup id="cite_ref-Marcum_2-0" class="reference"> </sup> It is the third novel to feature Hercule Poirot as the lead detective.
Poirot retires to a village near the home of a friend, Roger Ackroyd, to pursue a project to perfect vegetable marrows. Soon after, Ackroyd is murdered and Poirot must come out of retirement to solve the case.
The novel was well-received from its first publication.<sup id="cite_ref-Observer1926_3-0" class="reference"> </sup> In 2013, the British Crime Writers' Association voted it the best crime novel ever.<sup id="cite_ref-CWA_5-0" class="reference"> </sup> It is one of Christie's best known and most controversial novels,<sup id="cite_ref-Times1926_8-0" class="reference">[8]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-NYT_9-0" class="reference">[9]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-Goddard2018_10-0" class="reference">[10]</sup> its innovative twist ending having a significant impact on the genre. Howard Haycraft included it in his list of the most influential crime novels ever written.<sup id="cite_ref-Collins_11-0" class="reference"> </sup> The short biography of Christie which is included in 21st century UK printings of her books calls it her masterpiece.