Chapter 14 Summary

This chapter begins with the narrator speaking directly to the reader, telling the reader that the whole affair has now moved into a new phase. The narrator explains that the case can be divided into two parts, with the first part starting with Mr. Ackroyd's murder and ending on Monday night. After Monday night, things change. James no longer follows Poirot around and each man becomes preoccupied with his own business. James no longer tries to gather bits and pieces of information from Poirot. The mystery was like a puzzle to which everyone contributed a piece, but only Poirot knew how to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Only Poirot understood the significance of seemingly insignificant bits of information.

Mrs. Ackroyd summons James to her bedside. She tells James she is sick with shock over Mr. Ackroyd's death and that the murder...