Unreliable Narrators: Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ and Other Examples

This paper examines the literary concept of an unreliable narrator and how it is used to create suspense and tension in crime and thriller books. The report begins with an explanation of the term "unreliable narrator" and its origins before delving into the many varieties of unreliable narrators outlined by William Riggan in his book "Picaros, Mad Men, Nafs, and Clowns: The Unreliable First-person Narrator." The article then looks at Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and Agatha Christie's "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd'' as examples of how an unreliable narrator is used in literature, particularly in detective fiction. The key arguments offered include the various forms of unreliable narrators, the use of an unreliable narrator to build suspense and plot twists, and the implications of an unreliable narrator on reader trust and participation. According to the paper, using an unreliable narrator is a powerful storytelling tactic that challenges readers' assumptions and perceptions of narrative and character and is a technique that has been increasing in use and popularity now.