15 Questions: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Multiple Choice Quiz | Literature

Answer: Mrs. Ferrars's house, King's Paddock

He was just hanging up his overcoat after returning from a call to King's Paddock. He had received a call at 8:00 am on Friday, the 17th of September, that Mrs. Ferrars had just been found dead.

Answer: His sister, Caroline

Caroline Sheppard had only two interests in life: taking care of her brother, and gathering and spreading gossip--which she did with an ability that would rival Sherlock Holmes's Baker Street Irregulars, to the aggravation of Dr. Sheppard.

Answer: Poirot almost hits him with a vegetable marrow.

Poirot has retired to the village of King's Abbot to grow vegetable marrows. Overwrought at the stubborn refusal of his vegetable marrows to grow up to quality, Poirot throws one across the fence into Dr. Sheppard's yard. Ever the gentleman, Poirot profusely apologizes, and their acquaintance begins. For those of you who do not know exactly what a vegetable marrow is, according to my friends from the Forums, monkeycouzin and izzi (who are both from the UK, and knew), it is a summer squash. My thanks to them both, and thank you monkeycouzin for providing a photo of prepared vegetable marrows, and the scientific name 'curbita pepo'.

Answer: She killed herself

Mrs. Ferrars's suicide was never in doubt from the start. She died of veronal poisoning.

Answer: He wishes to discuss the circumstances of Mrs. Ferrars's death.

Roger is very upset by Mrs. Ferrars's death and wishes to discuss it with the man whose advice he trusts most, Dr. Sheppard.

Answer: Major Blunt

Major Blunt, the big game hunter, stayed with his friend Roger for a couple of weeks every two years or so. Colonel Melrose is the village's chief constable. Colonel Carter was a social acquaintance, and Raymond was Roger Ackroyd's private secretary.

Answer: The name of her blackmailer

Mrs. Ferrars was in love with Roger, but she had two secrets: she had murdered her brutish husband, Mr. Ferrars, a year ago, and she was being bleed dry by a blackmailer. When she confessed to Roger, he rejected her. Mrs. Ferrars wrote a letter telling Roger who her blackmailer was and then swallowed veronal. The letter arrives the night of the dinner party.

Answer: Stabbed with his own dagger

He is stabbed with an ornamental Tunisian dagger given to him by Major Blunt.

Answer: Parker, the butler

The doctor says the call is from Parker informing him Ackroyd has been murdered.

Answer: All of these

The door is locked from the inside with a key, and Parker and the doctor break-in the door. Ackroyd has been stabbed from behind, and the study windows are open.

Answer: Flora Ackroyd

Flora was afraid that Ralph Paton would be the prime suspect.

Answer: Flora Ackroyd

While Roger begrudgedly paid his niece's bills, she was always short of spending money. When she saw the 100 pounds, the temptation was too great, and she took 40 out of it.

Answer: A wedding ring

Poirot fishes out a wedding ring with 'From R., March 13th' engraved inside it.

Answer: No

No, Ralph Paton was not involved in any way in the murder of his adoptive father. For those who read the book, you do not need me to reveal the killer. For those of you taking this quiz without first reading the book, knowing the killer will absolutely ruin the book for you. And that would be a crime.

Answer: 1926

It really stands the test of time, doesn't it? It was also the first of Christie's books to be dramatized, with Charles Laughton playing the first Hercule Poirot on the London stage.