Geoffrey Raymond Character Analysis in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Geoffrey Raymond is Roger Ackroyd’s intelligent young secretary, much admired by both Hercule Poirot and Dr. Sheppard for his vigor and capability. Raymond, like the other suspects in the murder, is hiding something: he was in debt at the time of Ackroyd’s death. Raymond continues to serve the Ackroyd family faithfully even after Ackroyd’s death.

Geoffrey Raymond Character Timeline in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

The timeline below shows where the character Geoffrey Raymond appears in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Secrecy and the Universal Capacity for Violence Theme Icon

...known as Fernly. The butler, Parker, lets Sheppard inside, where Sheppard finds Ackroyd’s secretary, Geoffrey Raymond. Raymond greets Sheppard and, noticing Sheppard’s black bag, asks him if he’s here on medical... (full context)

...the back of his neck. Sheppard instructs Parker to call the police, and then tell Raymond and Major Blunt. Alone, Sheppard inspects the body—Ackroyd has clearly been dead for “some little... (full context)

Blunt and Raymond rush into the study. Raymond suggests that there was a robbery—nobody would have any other... (full context)

...of death. He asks Dr. Sheppard about Roger Ackroyd, and Sheppard recalls leaving around 8:50. Raymond recalls hearing Ackroyd’s voice from the study around 9:30—he wasn’t sure who Ackroyd was talking... (full context)

...main hall or through a window. Then, the inspector asks to speak with Flora Ackroyd. Raymond goes to summon her, with instructions not to tell her that her uncle is dead.... (full context)

...knowing who killed him. Davis notices fingerprints on the weapon. He shows it to Geoffrey Raymond, who recognizes it as a gift from Tunis, which Major Blunt gave Ackroyd—Major Blunt promptly... (full context)

...be back. Before he leaves, however, he asks Parker’s “opinion of a small pocket diary.” Raymond, realizing what this means, tells Sheppard that Parker is clearly a suspect. He suggests that... (full context)

...Dr. Sheppard that he’s tested the fingerprints on the knife blade—they don’t belong to Sheppard, Raymond, or Parker. Poirot asks about Ralph’s fingerprints, and Raglan insists that he’ll test them as... (full context)

Poirot suggests that Colonel Melrose summon Raymond and Parker. Poirot asks Raymond if he moved the chair, but Raymond says he didn’t.... (full context)

...man named Mr. Hammond, the family solicitor (a kind of lawyer), arrives to speak with Raymond about Roger Ackroyd’s affairs. Raymond nods and leaves, and Poirot notes, “He had the air... (full context)

...everyone’s alibis between 9:45 and 10:00. Major Blunt was in the billiard room with Mr. Raymond; Mrs. Ackroyd was there, too, and went to sleep around 9:55. Flora Ackroyd was seen... (full context)

...seen “a woman disappearing into the bushes.” Blunt claims to have heard Ackroyd speaking to Raymond, though when Poirot questions him, he admits that he just assumed it was Raymond. (full context)

...was pressed for cash. Ackroyd’s will has just been opened: he’s left 500 pounds to Raymond, 1,000 pounds to Miss Russell, 10,000 to Mrs. Ackroyd, 20,000 to Flora, and the rest... (full context)

Raymond recalls that Roger cashed a check for a hundred pounds yesterday afternoon, and adds that... (full context)

...they meet with the “family.” Later that day, they meet in the Ackroyd house with Raymond, Mrs. Ackroyd, Flora, and Major Blunt. Poirot first asks Flora to disclose Ralph’s location if... (full context)

...points out another thing—it’s unclear why Major Blunt was sure that Roger was talking with Raymond. Next, Poirot asks why Ralph has left the town if he’s innocent. (full context)

...after he sees Mrs. Ackroyd, Dr. Sheppard comes home, and Caroline informs him that Geoffrey Raymond has left—he was looking for Poirot. Poirot has just returned to his home, Caroline adds.... (full context)

Raymond arrives at Poirot’s house, explaining that he’s anxious to catch Poirot. He has a confession... (full context)

...Flora, or that Roger was married to Miss Russell. But then Caroline suggests that Geoffrey Raymond was married to Flora. Caroline insists, “Flora Ackroyd does not care a penny piece for... (full context)

...could have happened as early as 9:30, and Charles Kent might have been the man Raymond heard asking Roger Ackroyd for money. However, he couldn’t have placed the phone call from... (full context)

...asks Sheppard to come to his house that evening, and to invite Major Blunt, Flora, Raymond, and Mrs. Ackroyd. (full context)

...that, at one point, she believed that Flora had “some kind of understanding” with Geoffrey Raymond. Bemused, Sheppard invites Mrs. Ackroyd to Poirot’s home. (full context)

...tells Ursula not to worry, adding that she wishes Ralph had told her his secret. Raymond asks Poirot about Ralph’s arrest, and Poirot explains that Ralph has not, in fact, been... (full context)

...signaling for everyone to sit down. Everyone is here: John Parker, Mrs. Ackroyd, Flora Ackroyd, Raymond, Ursula Bourne, Hector Blunt, and Elizabeth Russell. Poirot points out that every single person had... (full context)

...study with Roger Ackroyd at 9:30? Poirot then began to wonder if anyone was there. Raymond says that he and Major Blunt heard Roger talking to someone. Poirot reminds Raymond of... (full context)

Raymond compliments Poirot, but points out that Ralph still seems to be a prime suspect. Poirot... (full context)

...9:45, but has no alibi after that. He swears that he didn’t kill Roger Ackroyd. Raymond says that he believes Ralph, but adds that the police won’t. Poirot then announces why... (full context)

...people at the scene of the crime before the police arrived: Dr. Sheppard, Major Blunt, Raymond, and Parker. Parker had nothing to gain by calling—he would have been first on the... (full context)

...surreptitiously—the murderer would have needed some kind of receptacle. Poirot also deduced that the voice Raymond heard at 9:30 might not have been Roger Ackroyd’s literal voice, but only a recording.... (full context)