And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
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Book Reviews of And Then There Were None
Book Review: Her Best, And The Finest Whodunit I've Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't see how anyone who relishes a quality 'whodunit' could fail to love this book (even though a few Amazon reviews below show that it is the case). I am familiar with quite a number of Agatha Christies (including classics like Roger Ackroyd & Orient Express, etc.), and this one clearly takes the prize. Everything about it is delicious: the inescapable island setting, the strange circumstances, the unfolding pattern, and the overall feeling of a growing and inevitable horror. Most excellent of all is the plot, which is brilliantly conceived and executed. And at the end of the day, the author has played fair (I'll make one complaint below). What more do you want?!
There are only two (mostly minor) criticisms I would make. IMO, the first keeps this story from being the perfect murder mystery. Namely, there is an early scene in which the killer THINKS a deceptive thought (I won't type it here and ruin the story for any prospective reader), and the reader reads it. This is an unfair slip on Agatha's part. Sure enough the murderer might indeed SPEAK such a deceptive sentence, but to have him/her THINK it silently (and then have the reader simply read it at face value) -- I felt this was stretching credibility too far. For a perfectionist like me, it is a pity that it's in the text, and if only it could be excised! Secondly (and AC probably had no control over this), I prefer the British title of the book - Ten Little Indians - over the American and more popular one, which sort of anticipates and gives away too much (albeit subtly). Admittedly not a huge issue, just a quibble.
At any rate, mystery lovers you're in for a treat. Enjoy and savor the Grand Dame at her finest!
Book Review: A Classic from the Queen of Crime
Summary: 5 Stars
Ten strangers receive an invitation to come to Indian Island off the coast of Devon. None of these people have any real idea who owns the island and the locals find the situation very mysterious. These ten people soon discover they have been invited to this island under false pretenses and each is accused of something awful they have done in the past. Suddenly these ten people begin to fall prey to murder and a very mysterious madman pits each one against the other in a game of cat and mouse and ultimate survival.
Agatha Christie has been given the worthy title of the Queen of Crime and her novel, plays and short stories have captured readers for years. She is one of my favorite mystery writers and I always enjoy her books. And Then There Were None is a wonderful psychological thriller that captured my attention from the first page. The way the characters interact with each other is fascinating and how each one begins to suspect all the others is also very interesting. What happens to these people and how they try to make sense of what is going on around them is wonderful. The mood of the book is creepy from the first page and I always find that the book keeps you guessing until the end about how things are carried out the way they are.
I believe Agatha Christie paved the way for other mystery writers and began a mystery writing industry that created an environment of gripping and intense storylines and unique studies of human behavior, perverse justice, and social interactions. I could reread her books over and over again and find new and different ways that she makes her books unique and exciting for readers
Book Review: And Then There Were None
Summary: 5 Stars
And Then There Were None is a fiction novel that will take a reader to the highest point of intrigue of any mystery book. This book has become one of the best mystery books every written and I cannot disagree.
Agatha Christie changed the world of literature by writing this book. She uses an ingenious style of writing which can be easily recognized by any reader. Being a high school student, I did not understand or respect the brilliance and detailed writing of the author. My whole view of literature has changed because of this book and I now understand how clever an author, Agatha Christie, has to be in order to write a book that is at the top of its genre.
Christie manipulates the reader's thoughts and opinions by continuously changing the pace of the story. No book will mess with your head more than And Then There Were None. Each character is described with such great detail and each scene is so perfectly planned out. Reading this book gives people the full mystery effect and readers will not be disappointed. Though the book is written beautifully it can be a bit far fetched at times. Ten different guests each agree to attend a random vacation on an unknown island; very unlikely but then again a reader must never put it out of question!
This mystery novel overlooked the topic of a serial killer long before the serial killer was even known. Agatha Christie is ahead of her time and you can see the effects of her book on many authors nowadays. And Then There Were None was the platform from which many other great books have taken off.
Book Review: Ten Little Nigger Boys
Summary: 5 Stars
Without this novel, my life would be a peaceful ocean happens nothing but tedious. This book taught me what the thrill is and what the detective novel is supposed to be. Although I read some detective novels written by Arthur Conan Doyle, I couldn't repress my utter astonishment about Agatha Christie's ingenious tricks and techniques.
Starting to read this book, I wondered why many people tout Agatha Christie. There was no difference between other novels, but little more explanation. This large amount of explanation is an obstacle to quick development of story. Finishing the story, however, I realised that all the explanations were under plots.
Her skill to depict the mind was another charm of this novel. She made a great device to look through human mind when the crisis comes. As one person dies, they are caught in terror and start to admit their trivial crime which they have not believed it was a crime.
Agatha Christie executed artistic tricks in her novel. She quoted one of Mother Goose's Melodies - Ten little nigger boys - and adapted to this novel and she demonstrated how it could happen. It makes reader have curious and attract into her novel.
And Then There Were None was my first novel written by Agatha Christie, but it was enough to lure me into her world. This book won't let you loose unless you read the very last line of the book. To those who have not read this novel yet, it will give them thrill never tasteable thorough any movies or amusement rides.
Book Review: A detective masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
Off the coast of Devon lies an island clouded in mystery. It carries the name of Indian Island because its form resembles an Indian. The silence surrounding the mansion is suddenly disturbed when eight guests arrive. Both Thomas and Ethel Rogers, the butler and the cook, are awaiting the guests. But they already have a problem. Their host hasn't arrived yet. And even stranger: there's a framed copy of the nursery rhyme "Ten Little Indians" hanging on the wall. They decide to go ahead with dinner in absence of their host. But when suddenly a gramophone record starts to play, it becomes clear that it is dangerous to trust anyone on this forsaken island.
And Then There Were None is arguably one of the best works by Agatha Christie. Originally published in 1939, it still hasn't lost a single bit of its attractive power. The basic idea is as simple as it gets, but the denouement is simply a showcase of the inventiveness that is so characteristic of the English author. I have read this novel now for the third time and still I discover new aspects that show the ingenuity of the plot. Never will the reader feel unfairly treated, although it requires a very astute sleuth to predict the outcome at a first reading. The characters are quite stereotypical, but that cannot be avoided if you require that the reader keeps track of ten possible suspects and as such is easily forgiven.
And Then There Were None is simply a must read for anyone with a liking for a good detective novel.