# Parker — The Murder of Roger Ackroyd character guide

> Parker in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** John Parker, the good Parker

**First appearance:** 0005-iv-dinner-at-fernly

## Snapshot

Fernly Park's imperturbable butler, who answers Dr. Sheppard's frantic late-night ring with a face of stone — and a story that doesn't quite fit.

## Who they are

Parker keeps Fernly Park running with the smooth, expressionless efficiency of a man who has perfected the art of being unnoticed. When Sheppard arrives breathless with news of a murder, Parker's blank composure cracks into genuine shock — he swears he never made the call. His uncanny knowledge of the house's geography, and his willingness to kneel at keyholes and shut doors before the household can hear, make him both indispensable and quietly unsettling to the investigation.

## Relationships

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_professional_

Parker is the butler at Fernly Park, questioned by Poirot as a potential suspect and source of information.

### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd)

_social_

Flora interacts with Parker as the family butler, questioning him about the night of the murder.

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_professional_

Parker is the butler at Fernly Park, questioned by Poirot as a potential suspect and source of information.

### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd)

_social_

Flora interacts with Parker as the family butler, questioning him about the night of the murder.

### [Flora Ackroyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/flora_ackroyd)

_social_

Flora interacts with Parker as the family butler, questioning him about the night of the murder.

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_professional_

Parker is the butler at Fernly Park, questioned by Poirot as a potential suspect and source of information.

## In the story

### [V: Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/v-murder)

Denies making the phone call, assists Sheppard in breaking down the study door, and appears flustered under questioning.

### [VI: The Tunisian Dagger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/vi-the-tunisian-dagger)

Reported to have mentioned blackmail; suspected by the inspector of the murder and of listening at the door.

### [Inspector Raglan Is Confident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/viii-inspector-raglan-is-confident)

Called to answer questions about strangers; mentions a representative from Curtis and Troute.

### [XIII: The Goose Quill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xiii-the-goose-quill)

Mentioned as a possible accomplice to the American stranger and as the potential blackmailer of Mrs. Ferrars.

### [XV: Geoffrey Raymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xv-geoffrey-raymond)

Participates in Poirot's reconstruction; suspected of possibly taking the letter or blackmailing Mrs. Ferrars.

### [XXV: The Whole Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/chapters/xxv-the-whole-truth)

The butler; Poirot eliminates him as a murder suspect but notes possible blackmail involvement.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_of_roger_ackroyd_se/characters/parker
- 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