47 pages 1 hour read

Agatha Christie

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1926

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 17-22

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 17 Summary: “Parker”

After the funerals of Ackroyd and Mrs. Ferrars, Poirot calls Parker to his house. He reveals a relationship between Parker and a former drug-connected employer. Parker panics and confesses to listening at the door to gather information about the blackmail, to confirm the past was not catching up to him.

Poirot, Sheppard, and Caroline have lunch together. Caroline talks about Sheppard’s apparent weakness and lack of a strong character. Poirot responds by telling a story about a man who does not think about murder but has growing malice in him. When the opportunity arises, he kills and returns to the person he was before, but now he has the potential within him to kill again.

Chapter 18 Summary: “Charles Kent”

The American stranger is in custody, and the police want Sheppard to confirm it is the same person he met. Poirot and Sheppard meet the man, Charles Kent, who refuses to provide information until they say what the charges are. When they inform him about the murder of Ackroyd, he confirms he was at Fernly Park that night but was gone before the murder occurred.

Poirot produces the goose quill, which Kent recognizes. Poirot asks Charles where he was born and if it was in Kent. Kent neither confirms nor denies, but that is enough of an answer for Poirot.

Related Titles

By Agatha Christie

Study Guide

logo

A Murder Is Announced

Agatha Christie

A Murder Is Announced

Agatha Christie

Study Guide

logo

A Pocket Full of Rye

Agatha Christie

A Pocket Full of Rye

Agatha Christie

Study Guide

logo

Murder at the Vicarage

Agatha Christie

Murder at the Vicarage

Agatha Christie

Study Guide

logo

Murder on the Orient Express

Agatha Christie

Murder on the Orient Express

Agatha Christie

Plot Summary

logo

Poirot Investigates

Agatha Christie

Poirot Investigates

Agatha Christie

Study Guide

logo

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Agatha Christie

The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Agatha Christie

Study Guide

logo

The Pale Horse

Agatha Christie

The Pale Horse

Agatha Christie