MORA Flashcards
Chapter 1: Dr. Sheppard at the Breakfast Table
Dr. James Sheppard is called to King’s Paddock, where Mrs. Ferrars has died from an overdose of veronal.
His sister, Caroline, speculates that Mrs. Ferrars committed suicide out of guilt for poisoning her husband, Ashley Ferrars, a year earlier.
Dr. Sheppard privately shares Caroline’s suspicions but is cautious about declaring them.
Chapter 2: Who’s Who in King’s Abbot
Dr. Sheppard introduces the residents of King’s Abbot, focusing on Roger Ackroyd, a wealthy widower living at Fernly Park.
Roger had raised his stepson, Ralph Paton, after his wife’s death.
Miss Russell, Roger’s housekeeper, visits Dr. Sheppard to inquire about cures for drug addiction and undetectable poisons, raising suspicions.
Chapter 3: The Man Who Grew Vegetable Marrows
Hercule Poirot is introduced as a retired detective living incognito in King’s Abbot, tending to vegetable marrows.
Dr. Sheppard and Poirot meet, establishing a connection that will be pivotal in the investigation.
Chapter 4: Dinner at Fernly
Dr. Sheppard dines at Fernly Park with Roger Ackroyd and other guests.
After dinner, Roger confides in Dr. Sheppard about Mrs. Ferrars’ confession to poisoning her husband and being blackmailed.
Roger receives a letter from Mrs. Ferrars but is interrupted before revealing the blackmailer’s identity.
Dr. Sheppard leaves Fernly Park and encounters a mysterious stranger asking for directions.
Chapter 5: Murder
Dr. Sheppard receives a phone call, purportedly from Parker, stating that Roger has been murdered.
Upon arrival, they find Roger dead in his study, stabbed with a dagger.
The window is open, and there are footprints, suggesting an intruder.
The letter from Mrs. Ferrars is missing.
Chapter 6: The Tunisian Dagger
Inspector Davis investigates the murder scene.
The dagger used is identified as a gift from Major Blunt, previously kept in the curio case.
Miss Russell claims she found the curio case open and closed it, raising questions about her involvement.
Dr. Sheppard notes that even a child could have used the dagger due to its sharpness.
Chapter 7: I Learn My Neighbour’s Profession
💼Hercule Poirot reveals to Dr. Sheppard that he’s a retired detective, brought out of retirement to solve Roger Ackroyd’s murder at Flora Ackroyd’s request.
📄 Poirot begins interviewing household members and taking stock of the facts; his meticulous, logical method is in contrast to Inspector Raglan’s assumptions.
🧐 Poirot points out the importance of small details — like the position of a chair and the timing of footsteps.
Chapter 8: Inspector Raglan is Confident
🕵️ Inspector Raglan leads the official inquiry, convinced that Ralph Paton is guilty due to his sudden disappearance.
👣 Footprints outside the study window are found — Raglan uses them to bolster the intruder theory.
🔍 Poirot interviews servants and notices small inconsistencies, like Parker the butler’s nervousness.
📅 Poirot stresses the need to establish exact timings and the importance of the telephone call that summoned Dr. Sheppard.
Chapter 9: The Goldfish Pond
🏡 Poirot and Dr. Sheppard visit the summer house and the goldfish pond near Fernly Park — a location suspected of being linked to Ralph’s last known whereabouts.
📝 Flora claims to have seen Ralph in the study with Roger at 9:45 p.m., but Poirot is skeptical.
🧩 Poirot begins to question everyone’s version of events — nothing is taken at face value.
Chapter 10: The Parlourmaid
🧤 Poirot interviews Ursula Bourne, a parlourmaid at Fernly Park who seems nervous.
🔐 It’s revealed Ursula may have had a secret relationship with Ralph Paton.
💌 Suspicion grows that Ralph may have had motives to silence Ackroyd if he was opposed to a potential marriage.
Chapter 11: Poirot Pays a Call
🧠 Poirot interviews Miss Russell and makes subtle observations about her interest in poisons earlier.
📞 Poirot investigates the phone call again — suspecting it never actually came from the house.
🧩 He begins to quietly assemble pieces: who was where, who heard or saw what, and when.
Chapter 12: Round the Table
🪑 Poirot reassembles the household to re-enact movements and verify timelines.
🕰️ He points out inconsistencies in people’s accounts and the importance of what time the study door was locked.
📂 Poirot insists the missing letter from Mrs. Ferrars holds the key to the motive.
Chapter 13: The Goose Quill
Poirot finds a goose quill and a piece of rubber tubing in the summerhouse — strange items for a murder scene.
💊 He suspects they’re part of a homemade device — possibly related to drug use or poison.
🧩 Poirot grows suspicious of Geoffrey Raymond, Ackroyd’s secretary, and Miss Russell, as both are hiding something.
