The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926)
Blurb:
My review:
A justly celebrated tour de force of misdirection, in which Christie walks a highly risky and particularly fine tightrope; it is much to her credit that she is able to play perfectly fair. The plot is quite standard: squire stabbed to death in his study, presumably by the blackmailer who drove a self-confessed murderess to suicide. Poirot, now in retirement and growing vegetable marrows, and aassisted by his temporary Watson, Dr. Sheppard, unravels a complicated knot of secret marriages, mysterious strangers and blackmail. The clues are chosen with skill, and it would be impossible to improve upon the masterly juggling with times and alibis.