A murder. A master detective. A gathering of suspects. Between the covers of a book or on the big screen, is there anything more compelling than a great crime story?

In the expert hands of Agatha Christie-one of the world’s bestselling novelists-every crime and every search for justice became a work of art. Story Grid Editor and writing coach Sophie B. Thomas set out to understand Christie’s genius for storytelling by dissecting her most acclaimed work, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Thomas follows beloved sleuth Hercule Poirot scene-by-scene to map the structure of Christie’s masterpiece, showing writers how the book fulfills all its readers’ expectations before ambushing them with an unexpected ending.

What are the must-have moments in every mystery, and how does Christie pull them off in such an innovative way? What made the book’s narrative device so revolutionary? How does a great writer sustain narrative drive from page one to the ending payoff? Thomas brings expertise and passion for the writer’s craft to her analysis as she answers all these questions and more.

All the clues are there. Are you ready to begin the investigation?