The narrator of the story, Dr.

James Sheppard, is a clever and discreet doctor, who cares deeply for his sister. He would do anything for her, but give up the kind of gossipy information that she lives for. Dr. James Sheppard becomes Poirot's unofficial assistant in the murder investigation, following him around town looking for clues and discussing suspects and motives. James is intrigued by Poirot's investigative skills and keeps a written account of the case throughout the investigation. James' secret hope is that one day he will publish this manuscript as one of Poirot's failures. James does not realize that Poirot is more clever than James gave him credit for. In the end, Poirot solves the case and finds James guilty of murder. Although James is a murderer and blackmailer, he ends his story with an act of love for his sister.

Dr. Sheppards voice is ideal for telling the story. Hes calm, not prone to gossip, a bit wry and the trusted town doctor. In less able hands, these traits may have made him more suspicious than others, but Christie never let on that I should look at the doctor with anything less than a trusting eye.
The action of the novel is presented through the eyes of Dr. Sheppard, an unreliable narrator. The narrative voice is a masterful touch in the novel, fully appreciated upon a second reading of it. Christie knows that readers will be reminded of another famous doctor/narrator when reading this novel. Like P

Dr James Sheppard is the narrator of the story and therefore possibly even more important to the plot than Poirot himself; after all, the entire plot is narrated as seen through his eyes. He is a deeply intelligent and apparently caring man who wants nothing more than to find the murderer of his close friend, Roger Ackroyd. However, there is a great deal more to Dr Sheppard than initially meets the eye. The following attributes are particularly obvious: Love for his sister Dr Sheppard lives with his sister, Caroline, who keeps house for him. Caroline is a real gossip who knows everything there is to know about her neighbours, which drives the doctor to distraction at times. Nevertheless, he cares for his sister very deeply; in fact, it is quite possible that she is the only person for whom he really cares. Certainly, when the story comes to an end and he is forced to decide on his next move, he comes to his decision to save his sister from as much embarrassment as possible. Of course, had he avoided his actions in the first place, he would have saved her from any embarrassment, but as the reader comes to understand, Dr Sheppard thinks far more of himself than anyone else. Intelligence Dr Sheppard is highly intelligent and not just because he is medically-trained, but because he is able to read people in a very astute way. His narration shows that he has a deep understanding of peoples words and actions and, because of this, he therefore knows exactly how to manipulate them so that they do exactly what he wants often without them even realising. He is also able to

react very quickly, so that when he is forced into a corner, he always knows the best way to extricate himself without looking remotely

At first glance, Dr Sheppard is a kind, helpful man who will do what he can to solve other peoples problems. However, there is a layer to him that he keeps successfully hidden. He knows exactly how to use peoples weaknesses to feather his own nest. He perpetuates the myth that he hates his sisters gossiping tendency, but he secretly listens with glee and, whenever possible, he uses what he learns for financial gain. Initially, his blackmailing of a woman who has committed murder doesnt seem too serious the more heinous crime, after all, is not his. However, the actions that he takes to cover up this blackmail highlight his deviousness. Lack of compassion Just as Dr Sheppard manages to cover up his crimes, he also hides his lack of compassion for other people. His love for his sister is apparent and is possibly his only redeeming feature. Any feelings that he shows for anyone else are either made up, or are simply to ensure that he eventually gets his own way. For example, his decision to hide Ralph Paton in a nursing home is ostensibly in Patons interest, but, as eventually becomes clear, it is to ensure that Paton continues to be a major suspect, simply because of his inability to proclaim his innocence. Ultimately, Dr Sheppard is a character who highlights Agatha Christies ability to hoodwink the reader. She presents him as a rather ordinary, but intelligent person, who would do no harm to anyone. However, his iniquity eventually comes to the fore, thanks to the ability of Hercule Poirot to see beyond everyones superficial characteristics. Dr James Sheppard is a character who any reader will find hard to forget.

CAROLINE SHEPPARD
Caroline Sheppard is a middle-aged woman, presumably never married, who lives with her brother, James, and acts as housekeeper. Whereas a spinster living in a tiny village doesnt sound particularly interesting, there is a lot more to Caroline Sheppard than is immediately obvious. She is a very realistic and colourful character who has a number of attributes; most of which are positive ones. Nosiness Perhaps because she doesnt have a spouse or children, Carolines main interest lies in the comings and goings of her friends and neighbours. She has the uncanny ability to sniff out any gossip that is going and will not rest until she has found the answers to questions she may have. She thinks nothing of going out of her way to spy on people or overhear their conversations, even though she

often jumps to conclusions before she works out the whole truth. Once she has her gossip, however, she doesnt necessarily pass it on to all and sundry often her news stops with her brother, who does not approve of her gossiping tendencies. Perspicacity Despite an occasional lack of understanding of the full situation, Caroline is an intelligent woman and often manages to work out the truth before anyone else. In some ways, she is more astute than her brother and she provides Hercule Poirot with a lot of tips. He often has to look at the information from a different angle before finding out what really happened, but Caroline presents a great starting point. Agatha Christie herself has suggested that Caroline Sheppard was a precursor to Miss Marple and there are certainly some similarities; for example, both are nosy spinsters who use their local knowledge to ensure they know exactly what is going on around them. Kindness Caroline initially appears to be a nosy middle-aged woman with a desire to interfere in everyones affairs. However, this is not strictly true. She is actually a very kind woman who likes to know everything predominantly for her own interest. When Ursula Bourne goes to Poirot and Sheppard for help, she is distraught and it is Caroline who is the first to comfort her. This is another similarity between Caroline and Miss Marple; neither are portrayed as jealous of other peoples lives they simply want whatever is best for those who deserve it. Caroline, for example, is delighted by the idea of a love affair between Ralph Paton and Flora, despite her single status.

Loyalty One of Carolines strongest traits is her loyalty to her brother. She occasionally pumps James for gossip, but would never consider gossiping to others about his private life. It is probably this loyalty that blinds her to his faults. She does not appear to be aware, right up to the end of the book, that the murderer is her own brother. She has, after all, lived with him all her life, is proud of the fact that he is a medical man and that she can support him in his career. This loyalty and love is reciprocated. One of James saving graces is that he loves his sister and wants to cause her as little harm as possible. Caroline Sheppard can be an infuriating character, especially when she is first introduced to the reader, but there is little doubt that The Murder of Roger Ackroyd wouldnt have been as interesting without her presence. Nosiness is often considered to be an unpleasant trait, but in Caroline, Agatha

Christie shows that it can be a positive thing, provided it is well-meant. It is perhaps a shame that Caroline Sheppard didnt appear in future Agatha Christie books.