Unhustled Reading

Issue 7

Book Notes Edition:

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie

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Hello Reader,

Thanks so much for your feedback on the previous issues of Unhustled! This is Issue 7, and your thoughts always surprise and inspire me. 🙏🏻

Today we're featuring a book that’s been on my list for a long time: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. It’s a novel that shook up the mystery genre nearly 100 years ago, cementing Christie’s reputation as one of the greatest of all time.

Did Christie break the (then) unwritten rules of mystery writing?

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was published in 1926.

I keep wondering if the book inspired Ronald Knox’s Ten Commandments of detective fiction, which sought to ensure fair play between authors and readers. Knox's list gained popularity among mystery writers about two years after Ackroyd was published.

Christie and Knox were both members of The Detection Group, a British mystery writers group founded in 1930.

As for Christie, even though she bent genre conventions, Christie always maintained she never lied to her audience, keeping readers on their toes while playing fair.

💭 Reflections and Insights

Going into this book, I knew there was a twist coming, which only made me extra paranoid.

I felt like I was in one of those long pranks where you’re just waiting for something to happen, and wow, did it mess with me. 🫣

As soon as I finished the book, I stayed up way too late going back through the book to reread parts. Where did she drop a subtle clue? What did I miss? And what did I assume. Ugh! I was so, so gloriously tricked! 👏🏻

📚📚📚📚📚 Rating

I'm giving The Murder of Roger Ackroyd a perfect score of five books.

The plot twist alone is worth the read, but it's the subtle clues and clever misdirection that make it a masterpiece.

Want to know how I choose book ratings? Check the quick guide at the end of this newsletter.👇🏻

🛋️ Who Might Enjoy This Book?

If you like psychological twists like in Gone Girl, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd will keep you guessing in the best way.

Ackroyd is absolutely the original “gotcha” moment thriller — still sharp and clever after nearly 100 years!

🕯️ Choosing Your Next Cozy Read

Has it been a bit since you read for fun?

Or perhaps you’re unfamiliar with the cozy mystery genre. And you’re not sure whether to start with something easy or whether your brain could use a bit of a puzzle.

Next week, you’ll get a list of cozy mysteries in each of these sub-genres. Fun for the sake of fun, and fun in a puzzling sort of way.

Here are some questions to think about this week to get you ready to choose a cozy mystery based on your state-of-mind.

• What mood are you in?
• What's your energy level?
• Do you enjoy puzzles and problem-solving?
• How much realism do you like in your stories?

If you love thrillers but skip over the disturbing details of death and violence (like me), I really think you'll enjoy Agatha Christie — and some of the cozy-ish mystery reading list you'll receive in next week's Unhustled.

Until next Saturday, Reader! Please do the universe a favor and read a book this week. Just because. ​

​— Tracy

P. S. Are you a cozy mystery aficionado?

I would love to add your insights to next week's list. So hit reply and let me know how you match your next read based on how you're feeling.

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