Hello, everyone! Welcome or welcome back to my blog. I have already reviewed about ten of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot books. So, I decided to do something different today and am going to review one of her standalone novels. And Then There Were None is one of Christie’s most popular books. It was nominated for a global vote to find the world’s favorite Agatha Christie books for her 125th birth anniversary. ‘And Then There Were None’ came in first! Murder on the Orient Express and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd came in second and third respectively. I have already reviewed them and in case you haven’t seen them, please check them out . Without further ado, let us begin the review:
And Then There Were None
Soldier Island, Sticklehaven, Devon…
Ten different people – ten complete, apparently random strangers – have received different letters. Some from old friends or acquaintances, or some as business propositions. But all containing the same address, and an invitation to come to soldier island. Therefore, Justice Wargrave, Vera Claythorne, Philip Lombard, Miss Emily Brent, General Macarthur, Dr. Armstrong, Anthony Marston, and Mr. Blore set off for their host’s house, on Soldier Island. There they, and the resident manservant and his wife- Mr. and Mrs. Rogers made up the ten-people party. A week passed by, And Then There Were None.
When they reached the house, their hosts were not in sight. Nevertheless, Mr. Rogers assigned everyone their room. In each room was pinned up an old nursery rhyme, about ten little soldiers, who die one by one, the first one having died by poisoning. On the dining room table, ten little China pieces were prettily arranged. After dinner, all the house’s residents gathered in the same room and were having fun, when suddenly, a voice rang out. It accused all ten of them of committing ten different crimes, for which none of them had been punished.
They dismissed it as a childish prank, but as they were drinking coffee and alcohol, Anthony Marston suddenly swayed and fell. He was dead. Someone had poisoned his whiskey. The first part of the nursery rhyme had come true. And later, when they had turned their attention towards the little China figures, there were only nine.
Due to bad weather, the boat, the only means of communication between the island and the mainland could not come. They were trapped on Soldier Island, a homicidal killer in their midst, each trying to protect their lives. Trying to protect their lives from a murderer who may strike again.
And Then There Were None is one of Agatha Christie’s best masterpieces and definitely one of my favorites. In terms of ingenuity of plot, speed, and ending, it might overshadow even Murder on the Orient Express. All the events, people and incidences seem larger than life. But the sheer logic and skill used to thread all of these amazing chains of events together adds another level to this book. It is difficult to not love this one.
Outro:
So, that is it for today, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the review. If you did, I can assure you that you will enjoy the book even more. If you haven’t checked out my other posts, please do so. Also, if you haven’t already, please subscribe to the blog. Au revoir, tout et a tous!