A Mystery For the Ages! The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is the sixth novel by Agatha Christie and is considered her Magnum Opus; it was voted best crime novel of all time by the British Crime Writers' Association. Agatha Christie has sold more books than any other author in history. The book opens shortly after the widow Mrs. Ferrars unexpectedly commits suicide. It is suspected that she committed suicide because she was being blackmailed over the manner in which her mean abusive alcoholic husband died. Her last action before killing herself was to send a letter to her fiance Roger Ackroyd a letter explaining why she could no longer live in her current situation and who is to blame for it. Shortly after receiving the letter Ackroyd is murdered presumably by Mrs. Ferrars' mysterious blackmailer. Enter Hercule Poirot retired investigator and neighbor.