# Dr. Sheppard — The Murder of Roger Ackroyd character guide > Dr. Sheppard in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** James Sheppard, Sheppard, James **First appearance:** 0002-i-dr-sheppard-at-the-breakfast-table ## Snapshot The village doctor who narrates this case with professional calm, then finds himself Poirot's trusted partner in the hunt for Roger Ackroyd's killer. ## Who they are Sheppard moves between Fernly Park's drawing rooms and his sister's breakfast table, treating the murder as both medical puzzle and neighborhood gossip. He withholds more than he tells, and his careful discretion—especially about the secrets of patients and friends—makes him invaluable to Poirot and quietly suspect to the reader. His narration shapes every clue we receive, which is precisely why his silences matter. ## Relationships ### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/hercule_poirot) _friendship_ Dr. Sheppard is Poirot's neighbor and informal assistant, helping with the investigation while hiding his own secret. ### [Caroline Sheppard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/caroline_sheppard) _family_ Caroline is Dr. Sheppard's sister, living with him and constantly meddling in his affairs. ### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd) _social_ Dr. Sheppard is the family doctor and a friend of the Ackroyd household, interacting with Flora during the crisis. ### [Caroline Sheppard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/caroline_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_ Dr. Sheppard is Poirot's neighbor and informal assistant, helping with the investigation while hiding his own secret. ### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd) _social_ Dr. Sheppard is the family doctor and a friend of the Ackroyd household, interacting with Flora during the crisis. ## 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) Narrator and local doctor who is closely involved in the case. ### [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) Narrator and doctor who attended Mrs. Ferrars' death; he is cautious about sharing information with his sister. ### [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) Narrator and local doctor; reflects on village gossip, his patients, and his observations of Mrs. Ferrars and Ralph Paton. ### [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) Narrator; learns about Ralph's secret stay and the new neighbor; visits Ralph at the Three Boars. ### [Dinner at Fernly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/iv-dinner-at-fernly) Narrator and guest at dinner; learns of Ackroyd's secret and observes household tensions. ### [V: Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/v-murder) Receives a hoax phone call, drives to Fernly, forces entry into the study, and discovers Ackroyd's body. ### [VI: The Tunisian Dagger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/vi-the-tunisian-dagger) Narrates the chapter, confesses the blackmail story to Inspector Davis, and recalls hearing the silver table lid shut before dinner. ### [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) Reluctantly accompanies Flora to Poirot; narrates the events of the murder and his visit to the Three Boars. ### [Inspector Raglan Is Confident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/viii-inspector-raglan-is-confident) Accompanies Poirot and provides information about the stranger he met at the gate. ### [IX: The Goldfish Pond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/ix-the-goldfish-pond) Accompanies Poirot on a walk, reflects on the inheritance question, and observes the interactions between Flora and Blunt. ### [X: The Parlour Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/x-the-parlour-maid) Narrates the chapter, questions Major Blunt about Mrs. Ferrars, and discusses the case with Poirot. ### [XI: Poirot Pays a Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xi-poirot-pays-a-call) Narrates the chapter; visits Mrs. Folliott on Poirot's behalf and later argues with Caroline about sharing information. ### [XII: Round the Table](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xii-round-the-table) Present at the inquest and the family gathering; gives evidence on cause of death. ### [XIII: The Goose Quill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xiii-the-goose-quill) Visits Poirot in the evening; presents his own theory of the crime and discusses the case. ### [XIV: Mrs. Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xiv-mrs-ackroyd) Narrates the chapter and interacts with Mrs. Ackroyd, drawing out her confession about searching the desk. ### [XV: Geoffrey Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xv-geoffrey-raymond) Accompanies Poirot to Fernly Park and relays information from Mrs. Ackroyd and his sister Caroline. ### [An Evening at Mah Jong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xvi-an-evening-at-mah-jong) Hosts the Mah Jong party and reveals the discovery of a gold wedding ring with 'From R.' inscribed inside. ### [XVII: Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xvii-parker) Narrates the chapter, accompanies Poirot to Mr. Hammond's office, and receives a call about Charles Kent's detention. ### [XVIII: Charles Kent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xviii-charles-kent) Accompanies Poirot and Raglan to Liverpool; identifies Kent by voice. ### [XIX: Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xix-flora-ackroyd) Narrates the chapter and accompanies Poirot and Raglan to confront Flora. ### [Miss Russell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xx-miss-russell) Hosts the interview in his surgery and observes the interaction between Poirot and Miss Russell. ### [The Paragraph in the Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxi-the-paragraph-in-the-paper) Delivers Poirot's invitation to Mrs. Ackroyd and later accompanies Poirot on a walk; argues with Caroline about the cause of death. ### [XXII: Ursula’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxii-ursula-s-story) Listens to Ursula's story and reflects on the damning implications of the timeline and her secret marriage. ### [Poirot's Little Reunion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxiii-poirot-s-little-reunion) Narrates the chapter; presents his manuscript to Poirot and attends the reunion. ### [Ralph Paton’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxiv-ralph-paton-s-story) Confesses to helping Ralph Paton hide in a nursing home and admits he withheld information from Poirot. ### [XXV: The Whole Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxv-the-whole-truth) Poirot's confidant and the narrator, who is ultimately revealed as the murderer. ### [And Nothing but the Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxvi-and-nothing-but-the-truth) Confronted by Poirot as the murderer; reveals his motives and methods. ### [XXVII: Apologia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxvii-apologia) The narrator and murderer, confessing to the crime and detailing his actions. ### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations) His chair is shown in the study floor plan, placed south of Ackroyd's chair. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/dr_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