# Caroline Sheppard — The Murder of Roger Ackroyd character guide > Caroline Sheppard in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Miss Caroline, Caroline **First appearance:** 0002-i-dr-sheppard-at-the-breakfast-table ## Snapshot The doctor's sharp-eyed sister, who gathers every scrap of village gossip without leaving her breakfast table and shares it with devastating timing. ## Who they are Caroline runs King's Abbot's informal intelligence network through servants, tradesmen, and sheer force of curiosity, and she is usually right. Her running commentary on Mrs. Ferrars, the Ackroyd household, and everyone's comings and goings provides the reader's first map of the village's secrets. She exasperates her brother and delights the reader, and her instincts repeatedly point toward truths the official investigation has missed. ## Relationships ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _friendship_ Caroline is a gossipy but helpful neighbor who assists Poirot with local information and observations. ### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd) _social_ Caroline is a nosy neighbor who interacts with Flora during the investigation, sharing gossip and suspicions. ### [Dr. Sheppard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/dr_sheppard) _family_ Caroline is Dr. Sheppard's sister, living with him and constantly meddling in his affairs. ### [Dr. Sheppard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/dr_sheppard) _family_ Caroline is Dr. Sheppard's sister, living with him and constantly meddling in his affairs. ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _friendship_ Caroline is a gossipy but helpful neighbor who assists Poirot with local information and observations. ### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd) _social_ Caroline is a nosy neighbor who interacts with Flora during the investigation, sharing gossip and suspicions. ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _friendship_ Caroline is a gossipy but helpful neighbor who assists Poirot with local information and observations. ### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd) _social_ Caroline is a nosy neighbor who interacts with Flora during the investigation, sharing gossip and suspicions. ## In the story ### [The Murder of Roger Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/the-murder-of-roger-ackroyd) Dr. Sheppard's sister, who is keen on local gossip and suspects. ### [Dr. Sheppard at the Breakfast Table](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/i-dr-sheppard-at-the-breakfast-table) Dr. Sheppard's sister, who gathers gossip from servants and tradesmen and insists Mrs. Ferrars committed suicide out of remorse. ### [Who’s Who in King’s Abbot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/ii-who-s-who-in-king-s-abbot) Dr. Sheppard’s sister; mentioned as a master of gossip and jumping to conclusions. ### [The Man Who Grew Vegetable Marrows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/iii-the-man-who-grew-vegetable-marrows) Dr. Sheppard's sister; gathers gossip about Ralph and the new neighbor; overhears Ralph in the woods. ### [I Learn My Neighbour's Profession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/vii-i-learn-my-neighbour-s-profession) Briefly interjects to defend Ralph Paton's character before Dr. Sheppard and Flora leave. ### [XI: Poirot Pays a Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xi-poirot-pays-a-call) Receives Poirot's visit, shares gossip, and reveals she told Poirot about the overheard conversation in the wood. ### [XIII: The Goose Quill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xiii-the-goose-quill) Mentioned as Dr. Sheppard's sister; Poirot inquires after her and comments on her as a 'most interesting woman.' ### [XV: Geoffrey Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xv-geoffrey-raymond) Sends Dr. Sheppard to Poirot with medlar jelly and the message about Ralph Paton's boots. ### [An Evening at Mah Jong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xvi-an-evening-at-mah-jong) Participates in gossip and proposes theories about the ring, including that Roger Ackroyd married his housekeeper Miss Russell. ### [XVII: Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xvii-parker) Debates the murder with Poirot and Dr. Sheppard, insisting that only Ralph Paton or Flora Ackroyd could have committed the crime. ### [XIX: Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xix-flora-ackroyd) Mentioned as having spread gossip about Poirot's supposed mad nephew. ### [Miss Russell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xx-miss-russell) Briefly appears to announce Poirot's arrival and disapproves of Dr. Sheppard's workshop. ### [The Paragraph in the Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxi-the-paragraph-in-the-paper) Observes Ursula Bourne's arrival, speculates about Miss Russell's motives and a mysterious early morning visitor, and discusses Ralph's arrest. ### [XXII: Ursula’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxii-ursula-s-story) Comforts Ursula during her breakdown and remains present throughout the confession, offering blunt opinions on men and the situation. ### [Poirot's Little Reunion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxiii-poirot-s-little-reunion) Insists Ursula stay at her house; hopes to attend the reunion but is tactfully excluded by Poirot. ### [And Nothing but the Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxvi-and-nothing-but-the-truth) Mentioned as the reason Poirot offers Sheppard a chance to avoid public disgrace. ### [XXVII: Apologia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxvii-apologia) Sheppard's sister, whom he fears might guess the truth and wishes to protect from the revelation. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/caroline_sheppard - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters