Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.
This week my opener comes from The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie which I am reading as one of my 20 Books of Summer.
Blurb
In the village of King’s Abbot, a widow’s sudden suicide sparks rumors that she murdered her first husband, was being blackmailed, and was carrying on a secret affair with the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. The following evening, Ackroyd is murdered in his locked study–but not before receiving a letter identifying the widow’s blackmailer. King’s Abbot is crawling with suspects, including a nervous butler, Ackroyd’s wayward stepson, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd, who has taken up residence in the victim’s home.
It’s now up to the famous detective Hercule Poirot, who has retired to King’s Abbot to garden, to solve the case of who killed Roger Ackroyd – a task in which he is aided by the village doctor and narrator, James Sheppard, and by Sheppard’s ingenious sister, Caroline.The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is the book that made Agatha Christie a household name and launched her career as a perennial bestseller. Originally published in 1926, it is a landmark in the mystery genre. It was in the vanguard of a new class of popular detective fiction that ushered in the modern era of mystery novels. Goodreads
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First Chapter ~ First Paragraph ~ Intro
Chapter 1
Dr Sheppard at the Breakfast Table
Mrs Ferrars died on the night of the 16th-17th September – a Thursday. I was sent for at eight o’clock on the morning of Friday the 17th. There was nothing to be done. She had been dead for some hours.
It was just a few minutes after nine when I reached home once more. I opened the front door with my latchkey, and purposely delayed a few moments in the hall, hanging up my hat and the light overcoat that I had deemed a wise precaution against the chill of the early autumn morning, To tell the truth I was considerably upset and worried. I am not going to pretend that at that moment I foresaw the events of the next few weeks. I emphatically did not do so. But my instinct told me that there were stirring times ahead.
So what do you think? The formal language instantly conjures up the doctor for me in these opening lines.
Please leave your thoughts and links in the envelope below!
Liking that introduction a lot. I’ve never read Christie for some reason and that sounds different to what I was expecting.
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I read most of them when I was in my teens but I have to say I’m enjoying them just as much this time around.
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I’m always a little scared to read books from my teens as I suspect they won’t be as good second time around. I’m glad that’s turning out not to be the case for you.
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I do love the voice of Poirot! I need to read more of these. Enjoy!
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I do too – reading these makes me happy in a way other books don’t mainly because I have to smile each time Poirot mentions his little grey cells.
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Definitely would, I love Agatha Christie. In fact this has made me want to dig the book out and re-read it. 😊 x
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I read most of these in my teens but over the last couple of years I’ve challenged myself to pick up used copies at book sales and read those I find – this is the one I’ve been desperate to read and was hard to find!
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I really like Agnes Christie. I’m sure this one I have read.
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She is wonderful isn’t she? I have read most of her books years ago and I’m enjoying them just as much on the re-read many years later.
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‘Stirring times ahead’ – that’s putting it mildly if I recall the twist in this one. I remember the shock the first time I read it. It’s excellent.
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The language just makes me smile, I think I am getting much more enjoyment from these than I had when I first read them in my teens – although I always hear David Suchet when I read Poirot’s lines now.
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I’m so glad you’re reading this one, Cleo! In my opinion, it’s one of Christie’s really well-plotted novels. And it’s got a great, Golden-Age setting and context. I hope you’ll really enjoy it.
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I’m glad I’ve finally got to it too – this is the one I was searching for at the book sales as part of my re-reading of Agatha Christie and I do love Poirot!
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One of my favorite Christie books. I think you will love this one, Cleo 🙂
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I am loving it! I was so pleased to find this copy at the booksale as I have a personal challenge to read those I find there and I was looking for this one for a while.
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Bravo! I think the best summer reading is a mix of classics and contemporary.
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Thank you – I agree!
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There’s nothing like a good Agatha Christie mystery and this IS a good one. Enjoy.
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Thank you – I think this is possibly her best although I am partial to Murder on the Orient Express!
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Oh, the sounds wonderful. You can never go wrong with Agatha Christie!
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Indeed you can’t!
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Don’t think you can go wrong with an Agatha Christie novel. Makes me think of my grandmother. She always had her books laying around.
sherry @ fundinmental My TT
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I don’t think so either she is a solid choice and this is one of her best – I will just say your grandmother had great taste 😉
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I agree with others — Christie is always a good bet!
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🙂
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Watching the Poirot series on PBS made me an Agatha Christie fan. I can imagine David Suchet as Poirot, with his waxed mustache and dapper suit, neatly hanging up his hat and coat. I’d definitely keep reading to find out how he solves the murder.
My Tuesday post features BLUEBONNET SPRING
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I watched David Suchet in Poirot many years ago and I can’t read these books now without hearing his voice! Thanks for visiting and leaving your link
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I love Agatha Christie’s books and this is one of the more recent ones I’ve read. I really enjoyed it and hope you do too!
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I’m slowly working my way back through her books – I read lots as a teenager and it is lovely to revisit them.
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I bought this one last month, and I hope to read it in October. Stirrings to come, indeed. I would keep reading, but I am partial to Christie. 🙂
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I love Agatha Christie’s novels and re-reading this after so many years is an absolute joy!
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Ooh, great book! Have you read it before? How much chocolate will you give me to stop me telling you whodunit?
PS I can’t remember if you were on holiday when I was touting the upcoming Agatha Christie blogathon in September? Should be fun…
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Haha I had read it years (and years) ago but my little grey cells let me down and I didn’t remember for sure! No I think I was on holiday – I need to join in that one and by September life should have quietened down a bit!
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Here’s the link if you do decide you can fit it in – fortunately it’s after the end of the 20 Books… https://christinawehner.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/announcing-the-agatha-christie-blogathon/
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I like the intro and was just thinking that this winter I need to binge read A. Christie. enjoy
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I am slowly making my way through her books and enjoying every moment of the experience.
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This is an old favourite of mine.
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