# Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd — The Murder of Roger Ackroyd character guide

> Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mrs. Ackroyd, Cecil, Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd

**First appearance:** 0015-xiv-mrs-ackroyd

## Snapshot

Roger Ackroyd's sister-in-law, a widow who lives on his charity and never misses an opportunity to feel slighted by his will.

## Who they are

Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd occupies Fernly Park as a dependent relation, forever producing handkerchiefs meant for display rather than tears. When she learns Roger left twenty thousand pounds to Flora instead of her, she confides her hurt to Dr. Sheppard with the air of a woman more wounded by lack of trust than lack of money. Her grievance and her gossip make her a useful barometer of household resentments in the days after the murder.

## In the story

### [Dinner at Fernly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/iv-dinner-at-fernly)

Gushing and manipulative; hints at wanting Dr. Sheppard to discuss settlements with Ackroyd.

### [X: The Parlour Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/x-the-parlour-maid)

Complains to Dr. Sheppard about being left out of the will and expresses hurt over Roger's lack of confidence.

### [XII: Round the Table](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xii-round-the-table)

Expresses relief that Flora's engagement was not formally announced; suggests Ralph may be affected by war trauma.

### [XIV: Mrs. Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xiv-mrs-ackroyd)

Summons Dr. Sheppard under pretense of illness, but reveals her anxiety about Poirot's accusations and confesses to searching Roger's desk for the will.

### [The Paragraph in the Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxi-the-paragraph-in-the-paper)

Receives Dr. Sheppard, discusses Flora's engagement to Major Blunt and Ralph's arrest, and reluctantly agrees to attend Poirot's gathering.

## Links

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