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And Then There Were None
First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. A famous nursery rhyme is framed and hung in every room of the mansion:
"Ten little boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little boys traveling in Devon; One said he'd stay there then there were seven. Seven little boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none."
When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.
"Ten little boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little boys traveling in Devon; One said he'd stay there then there were seven. Seven little boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none."
When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.
180 pages, ebook
First published November 6, 1939
About the author
Agatha Christie
4,682 books69.1k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71,209 reviews
August 14, 2022
There is scarcely any comfort to be found in this book; only an indelible, arcane horror. And Then There Were None was uncomfortable as it lodged itself in the darkest corner of my mind. The questions it asks, the implications it conceals, are soul-curdling and unforgettable. In short, I liked this book, but it's not exactly an experience I’m keen on revisiting.
**
In Agatha Christie’s nightmarish tableau of a novel, ten people are summoned as house guests to a remote island by a Mr and Mrs U.N. Owen. The guests assembled trade stiff dialogue over dinner and cocktails while musing about the celebrity of the island and puzzling about their hosts’ tardiness. The whimsy of the moment, however, abruptly disappears when a disembodied message blaring from a gramophone tallies, in vivid and mordant detail, the guests' unpunished crimes. What begins as astonishment quickly turns into horror when, shortly after, the house's occupants embark on the ghastly business of being murdered, one by one, per the instructions of a horrid nursery rhyme. Death runs rampant with its bloody scythe on Soldier Island: this is their sentence coming to retrieve them at last.
Agatha Christie, an extraordinarily good writer, digs with bright horrible relish into this exhilarating, unsettling, and brilliantly constructed story. She plays the reader with the delicacy of an expert angler, scarcely allowing us a moment to dig in our heels and stop where we are, just for a while, just long enough to get a better idea of what’s ahead. The experience of reading this novel is, as a result, sometimes akin to walking through a nightmare, unable to orient one's self, understanding very little beyond the deep-seated sense of being utterly afraid. This is intensified by the hermetic and creepy atmosphere of Soldier Island, and the slow unraveling of each of the characters' haunting pasts.
What appears at first, however, to be a thriller is something far more dangerous in Christie's hands. The surface is arresting, but the harder you think the further you go, and the story keeps on getting more productive. And Then There Were None is infused with psychological depth that holds its own fascination. What are we capable of doing, asks the novel, when fear, fractured and wild, takes hold of us and scours out all else? What lengths are we willing to go to escape accountability, and purge memories of our most torturous evils? Each of the character becomes a mirror from which there’s no escape, reflecting their monstrosity back at each other on and on and on. In that sense, this novel is an invitation to take a long, hard look at one’s own self in the mirror that dares us not to flinch.
And Then There Were None is, furthermore, a compelling portrait of a psychopath who suffers an unconquerable confederation of self-righteousness and depravity. But what is most frightening is not the depth of their evil, but how cold it runs. Are humans really capable of being this infatuated with the theatrics of murder? None of these characters are, of course, the kind of people you would want to roll the red carpet for, but does anyone really deserve this?
If there's a flaw running through And Then There Were None, it's that Christie maintains a respectful distance from her characters, and at times, that distance runs toward dryness. I think a bit more poison in the pen would have helped in drawing out the characters, some of whom don’t entirely step into the page before... they start dropping like flies.
Overall, however, And Then There Were None is a highly engaging murder mystery and a provocative, pitch-black psychological thriller that will be hard to forget for many.
**
In Agatha Christie’s nightmarish tableau of a novel, ten people are summoned as house guests to a remote island by a Mr and Mrs U.N. Owen. The guests assembled trade stiff dialogue over dinner and cocktails while musing about the celebrity of the island and puzzling about their hosts’ tardiness. The whimsy of the moment, however, abruptly disappears when a disembodied message blaring from a gramophone tallies, in vivid and mordant detail, the guests' unpunished crimes. What begins as astonishment quickly turns into horror when, shortly after, the house's occupants embark on the ghastly business of being murdered, one by one, per the instructions of a horrid nursery rhyme. Death runs rampant with its bloody scythe on Soldier Island: this is their sentence coming to retrieve them at last.
“Be sure thy sin will find thee out.”
Agatha Christie, an extraordinarily good writer, digs with bright horrible relish into this exhilarating, unsettling, and brilliantly constructed story. She plays the reader with the delicacy of an expert angler, scarcely allowing us a moment to dig in our heels and stop where we are, just for a while, just long enough to get a better idea of what’s ahead. The experience of reading this novel is, as a result, sometimes akin to walking through a nightmare, unable to orient one's self, understanding very little beyond the deep-seated sense of being utterly afraid. This is intensified by the hermetic and creepy atmosphere of Soldier Island, and the slow unraveling of each of the characters' haunting pasts.
What appears at first, however, to be a thriller is something far more dangerous in Christie's hands. The surface is arresting, but the harder you think the further you go, and the story keeps on getting more productive. And Then There Were None is infused with psychological depth that holds its own fascination. What are we capable of doing, asks the novel, when fear, fractured and wild, takes hold of us and scours out all else? What lengths are we willing to go to escape accountability, and purge memories of our most torturous evils? Each of the character becomes a mirror from which there’s no escape, reflecting their monstrosity back at each other on and on and on. In that sense, this novel is an invitation to take a long, hard look at one’s own self in the mirror that dares us not to flinch.
And Then There Were None is, furthermore, a compelling portrait of a psychopath who suffers an unconquerable confederation of self-righteousness and depravity. But what is most frightening is not the depth of their evil, but how cold it runs. Are humans really capable of being this infatuated with the theatrics of murder? None of these characters are, of course, the kind of people you would want to roll the red carpet for, but does anyone really deserve this?
“Crime is terribly revealing. Try and vary your methods as you will, your tastes, your habits, your attitude of mind, and your soul is revealed by your actions.”
If there's a flaw running through And Then There Were None, it's that Christie maintains a respectful distance from her characters, and at times, that distance runs toward dryness. I think a bit more poison in the pen would have helped in drawing out the characters, some of whom don’t entirely step into the page before... they start dropping like flies.
Overall, however, And Then There Were None is a highly engaging murder mystery and a provocative, pitch-black psychological thriller that will be hard to forget for many.
June 5, 2020
i want to start off by saying if i had been alive in 1939 and read this when it was first published, i would have given this 5 stars. without a doubt. theres a reason this story is one of the best-selling books of all time - the concept paved the way for the 'whodunnit' mysteries of today. i would have been riveted by this story.
that being said, because the influence of this book is so far-reaching, it didnt feel like it was new. ive read this format in many other novels and seen it in many films. this isnt the books fault - its just an unfortunate consequence of exposure.
i also am not a fan of ACs writing style. it feels so sterile to me. yes, the characters and facts are presented in a very straight-forward way and its very easy to follow along, but the lack of descriptive narration just isnt my style. i also feel like all of the characters are carbon copies of each other - i was constantly confusing them because there is no personalisation to their characterisation.
i do like the concept and can appreciate the phenomenal influence this story has had on modern writing, but the execution prevented me from loving this entirely.
↠ 3 stars
that being said, because the influence of this book is so far-reaching, it didnt feel like it was new. ive read this format in many other novels and seen it in many films. this isnt the books fault - its just an unfortunate consequence of exposure.
i also am not a fan of ACs writing style. it feels so sterile to me. yes, the characters and facts are presented in a very straight-forward way and its very easy to follow along, but the lack of descriptive narration just isnt my style. i also feel like all of the characters are carbon copies of each other - i was constantly confusing them because there is no personalisation to their characterisation.
i do like the concept and can appreciate the phenomenal influence this story has had on modern writing, but the execution prevented me from loving this entirely.
↠ 3 stars
October 28, 2012
I'm a big lover of Agatha Christie, she has written some fantastic murder mysteries and her stories never get tiring. But this is the one that just comes out on top every time.
It partly, and quite amusingly, reminds me of that old American murder mystery in Sunset Beach. Basically, they're the only ones on this island and someone is killing them off one by one in accordance with the Ten Little Indians rhyme . And I swear I never saw it coming, and I'm usually very good at it. It's just a very clever novel, full of mystery and suspense and easily quite frightening at times.
I like how Agatha Christie doesn't have to write a 500 page novel with a massive back story, her mysteries are very simply put together but always clever and hard to decipher. I would recommend this book to everyone.
It partly, and quite amusingly, reminds me of that old American murder mystery in Sunset Beach. Basically, they're the only ones on this island and someone is killing them off one by one in accordance with the Ten Little Indians rhyme . And I swear I never saw it coming, and I'm usually very good at it. It's just a very clever novel, full of mystery and suspense and easily quite frightening at times.
I like how Agatha Christie doesn't have to write a 500 page novel with a massive back story, her mysteries are very simply put together but always clever and hard to decipher. I would recommend this book to everyone.
October 17, 2022
This lovely mystery book is first and foremost about the administration of the long-overdue justice, right? At least that's what the mastermind behind it all believes.
But the question is - who has the right to decide what justice is? And who is to decide what punishment serves the crime? And is perceived justice at all costs the ultimate goal, or is it the frequently pointless work of a maniac? As a matter of fact, what is justice after all?
I think the story of this book (the one that may win the contest for the most offensive original title, after all) is familiar to most readers. It is a lovely and fascinating idea. Ten people are lured onto a remote island under false pretenses just to realize that they are all about to be punished by death for the 'crimes' that they have committed in the past and have gotten away with. Killed in a manner predicted by a silly yet ominous children's poem with the conclusion of "... and then there were none". What's more, they come to realize that the mastermind - or maniac? - has to be among them. And the (very polite, in the traditional British way) game of survival begins, complete with all the necessary societal rituals¹ and classism² that are not disposed of even under the threat of imminent demise.
And as, despite the precautions, the number of people trapped on the island continues to decline, the uneasy tension sets in, and the impeccable facades begin to crack.
The story is captivating and very smart, and the ending had me baffled for a bit the first time I read it. It has a neat resolution despite an obvious plot hole (but hey, it doesn’t bother me that much). It's an enjoyable read to say the least.
But what made me unsettled both of the times I read it was the nagging question of justice, as I mentioned above. Yes, on one hand, it's almost poetic justice to punish the criminals who thought they got away with it. On the other hand, is eye-for-an-eye the best way to get even? And who's to judge, anyway? Who is either conceited enough or deranged enough to assume that he has the right and the moral authority to determine guilt and the extent of punishment just like that?
Don't get me wrong - the people accused on the island are undeniably guilty (even though it's not necessarily murder as we think of for some of them - Vera Claythorne is really guilty of neglect, albeit with a desire to kill, and Emily Brent is pretty much guilty of being a judgmental über-righteous heartless prude). But the degree of their guilt varies quite significantly in my perception, and it does not always coincide with what their 'unknown' judge/executioner thinks (running two children over with a car and feeling no remorse is to me worse than firing a pregnant servant who then goes on to kill herself, for instance). And is arbitrarily and single-handedly determining their guilt and doling out punishments not just as much (or even much worse) or a crime than they have committed? Conceited, self-righteous crime? Decide for yourself.
Speaking of guilt - this novel has quite a bit to say on this subject. You see, many of the characters have already been judged and condemned by their own selves. Vera Claythorne and General Macarthur both are tormented by their guilt, and at least one of them become a direct victim of it. Interestingly, others, no less guilty, are not tormented by their conscience at all. But ultimately this does not matter at all for their survival; only the fact that they were deemed guilty. So should being tormented by guilt versus a cold-blooded killer factor at all in the administration of justice?
These are the thoughts that kept running through my head as I was reading this excellent non-traditional critically-acclaimed specimen of mystery literature. And therefore bravo to Miss Christie for making me think and care - and not just mindlessly flipping pages to get to the bottom of the whodunit. Because 'WHO' was much less important to me than 'HOW' and 'WHY' - especially 'WHY'.
For all of this, I give it the unflinching guilt-free 4 stars.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
But the question is - who has the right to decide what justice is? And who is to decide what punishment serves the crime? And is perceived justice at all costs the ultimate goal, or is it the frequently pointless work of a maniac? As a matter of fact, what is justice after all?
I think the story of this book (the one that may win the contest for the most offensive original title, after all) is familiar to most readers. It is a lovely and fascinating idea. Ten people are lured onto a remote island under false pretenses just to realize that they are all about to be punished by death for the 'crimes' that they have committed in the past and have gotten away with. Killed in a manner predicted by a silly yet ominous children's poem with the conclusion of "... and then there were none". What's more, they come to realize that the mastermind - or maniac? - has to be among them. And the (very polite, in the traditional British way) game of survival begins, complete with all the necessary societal rituals¹ and classism² that are not disposed of even under the threat of imminent demise.
¹The politeness and overt show of respect to one another even in the face of imminent murder by someone in their midst - because, of course, you would not want to offend anyone. Continuing to socialize and take meals together. Insisting on chivalry when a woman could be the murderer just as well as a man - these are just some of the examples.
² Just think of everyone expecting the impeccable service by the butler even though HIS WIFE JUST DIED! Everyone deciding to stick together and be careful - but never including the servants in it. The belief by some that people of 'proper class' would be incapable of murder. The list can go on and on. And all of these assumptions prove to be wrong.
And as, despite the precautions, the number of people trapped on the island continues to decline, the uneasy tension sets in, and the impeccable facades begin to crack.
"The others went upstairs, a slow unwilling procession. If this had been an old house, with creaking wood, and dark shadows, and heavily panelled walls, there might have been an eerie feeling. But this house was the essence of modernity. There were no dark corners - no possible sliding panels - it was flooded with electric light - everything was new and bright and shining. There was nothing hidden in this house, nothing concealed. It had no atmosphere about it. Somehow, that was the most frightening thing of all. They exchanged good-nights on the upper landing. Each of them went into his or her own room, and each of them automatically, almost without conscious thought, locked the door."
The story is captivating and very smart, and the ending had me baffled for a bit the first time I read it. It has a neat resolution despite an obvious plot hole (but hey, it doesn’t bother me that much). It's an enjoyable read to say the least.
But what made me unsettled both of the times I read it was the nagging question of justice, as I mentioned above. Yes, on one hand, it's almost poetic justice to punish the criminals who thought they got away with it. On the other hand, is eye-for-an-eye the best way to get even? And who's to judge, anyway? Who is either conceited enough or deranged enough to assume that he has the right and the moral authority to determine guilt and the extent of punishment just like that?
Don't get me wrong - the people accused on the island are undeniably guilty (even though it's not necessarily murder as we think of for some of them - Vera Claythorne is really guilty of neglect, albeit with a desire to kill, and Emily Brent is pretty much guilty of being a judgmental über-righteous heartless prude). But the degree of their guilt varies quite significantly in my perception, and it does not always coincide with what their 'unknown' judge/executioner thinks (running two children over with a car and feeling no remorse is to me worse than firing a pregnant servant who then goes on to kill herself, for instance). And is arbitrarily and single-handedly determining their guilt and doling out punishments not just as much (or even much worse) or a crime than they have committed? Conceited, self-righteous crime? Decide for yourself.
Speaking of guilt - this novel has quite a bit to say on this subject. You see, many of the characters have already been judged and condemned by their own selves. Vera Claythorne and General Macarthur both are tormented by their guilt, and at least one of them become a direct victim of it. Interestingly, others, no less guilty, are not tormented by their conscience at all. But ultimately this does not matter at all for their survival; only the fact that they were deemed guilty. So should being tormented by guilt versus a cold-blooded killer factor at all in the administration of justice?
These are the thoughts that kept running through my head as I was reading this excellent non-traditional critically-acclaimed specimen of mystery literature. And therefore bravo to Miss Christie for making me think and care - and not just mindlessly flipping pages to get to the bottom of the whodunit. Because 'WHO' was much less important to me than 'HOW' and 'WHY' - especially 'WHY'.
For all of this, I give it the unflinching guilt-free 4 stars.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
December 12, 2023
The story goes a bit like this:
10 strangers each get invitations from someone they think they know to stay on an island resort. Hells yeah! Sunshine & sea air!
Well, resort is a bit of a misnomer.
It's really a big house on an island. Still, it's famous for being a party place, and nobody in the group turns it down.
BIG MISTAKE.
Almost as soon as everyone is gathered together, a recorded voice booms out through the walls and accuses each of them of being a murderer. And not just...YOU'RE ALL MURDERERS! Nope, whoever it is appears to know specific details about each death, and why these particular people were responsible.
Of course, everyone immediately starts proclaiming their innocence!
Wha..? Noooo! That person died accidentally! I was never even a suspect! Who dares...?! Harrumph & bluster!
However, within minutes one of them falls over dead.
Suicide? Or something more nefarious?!
As the body count rises, they have to face the fact that these aren't accidents. And with each new death coinciding with a children's rhyme that's tacked up in each room, all signs point to a self-appointed executioner in their midst.
After they get organized and take a peek around, they realize that they are quite alone on this island. Their mysterious benefactor must be disguised as one of the guests, and is more than likely...the murderer.
Dum, dum, duuuuum!
The tension ratchets up with each body, and the guests start turning on each other in an attempt to ferret out the killer. Eventually, they decide they just need to calm down and survive till the police can get to the island.
Good plan, right?
But what if there isn't anyone left to tell the cops what happened?
So whodunit?
I ain't tellin'.
Psst. The epilogue is really important.
2023
I just listened to the BBC Radio Dramatization of this book. Wow! Well done!
I would always suggest that you read or listen to the actual book beforehand, but this was really a wonderful adaptation of it for fans of Christie's story.
Highly recommended if you get the chance.
September 11, 2024
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity, according to Einstein. But let me tell you something: I’m rereading this book for the tenth time, and with each read, I love it more. I catch new details and even change my thoughts about some of the characters. It’s like fine wine, getting better with age! So, if enjoying this book over and over again makes me insane, I’ll happily accept that as part of my personality
November 22, 2023
Is there anyone on Earth who really needs my review of this book?
I mean...it's probably the most well-known mystery of all time that wasn't at some point adapted into a BBC miniseries starring a Slenderman-like monstrous human who haunts my nightmares.
Either you've already read this or you're never going to.
If you somehow exist in the in-between, here you go: This is a good and satisfying story and it's fun.
That's all there is to it.
Bottom line: How unnecessary of me to tell you the world's greatest mystery writer's most popular book is worth reading. I'm annoying even myself.
-------------
pre-review
okay. the hype is warranted.
review to come / 3.5 or 4 stars
-------------
currently-reading updates
for a long time i thought i'd already read this book, and then i remembered that i had simply borne witness to a play version of it that was being performed in the acting elective i took in my freshman year of high school.
so not quite the same.
I mean...it's probably the most well-known mystery of all time that wasn't at some point adapted into a BBC miniseries starring a Slenderman-like monstrous human who haunts my nightmares.
Either you've already read this or you're never going to.
If you somehow exist in the in-between, here you go: This is a good and satisfying story and it's fun.
That's all there is to it.
Bottom line: How unnecessary of me to tell you the world's greatest mystery writer's most popular book is worth reading. I'm annoying even myself.
-------------
pre-review
okay. the hype is warranted.
review to come / 3.5 or 4 stars
-------------
currently-reading updates
for a long time i thought i'd already read this book, and then i remembered that i had simply borne witness to a play version of it that was being performed in the acting elective i took in my freshman year of high school.
so not quite the same.
May 10, 2018
And Then There Were None is one of Agatha Christie's most celebrated mystery novels, and purportedly one of the most difficult for her to write.
I don't dislike this book. It seems to be a favorite among many, but it's very middle of the road for me as far as Mystery/Thriller books go.
The Good:
I enjoy the setup & how this mystery is structured. It's fun & easy to engage with in a "Gee, I sure am glad I'm not in their shoes" kind of way.
It's written well with an accurate insight on human desperation & how psychosomatic effects can drastically warp one's sense of control.
The length (only 264 pages) & pacing of this novel is very appropriate. It gives adequate page space to the mystery & the characters, acquainting the reader quickly with the situation so that we can dive straight into the action.
The Bad:
I did not care about even one of these characters past seeing the creative ways the author would kill them off. They're developed & believable as people, but I never felt any type of connection or sympathy which I think can be quite important in a story like this.
Sometimes the characters don't matter or can get away with being stereotypical cardboard cutouts, but that tends to shift the over into the torture porn arena & I don't believe for a second that is where Christie's book belongs.
Probably the most disappointing part of my experience, I was not impressed with the conclusion of this mystery.
Right off the bat, I didn't feel engaged with the actual solving of the problem because it felt as though I was kept at an arm's length from any of the potential clues.
Call me an idiot, maybe this was obvious for other people? But I genuinely don't feel as though readers are given a chance to make even an a semi-educated guess about who the perpetrator is.
It relies wholly on the very, very last section of the book to lay out the details for what they are & explain the unknown bits.
It's very: "Oh, by the way here's what happened."
Anti-climactic to say the least.
When I'm reading a Mystery/Thriller, I want to feel as though I'm being challenged to figure out what's happening before the characters do. I'll be the first to admit I almost never guess the truth in its entirety, but that's beside the point.
I was to the point where I was almost ready to believe something supernatural was happening. Not a great sign.
When the truth is finally exposed, I had a hard time feeling as startled as I'm meant to feel because I've seen this story before in popular media. Now, this came out in the 1930's and so this isn't by any means the fault of the book itself.
It probably came first in every instance I'm thinking of. But as a modern reader this didn't pack the same punch it might have if I were a reader of the 1930's.
Anyhow, that's another classic under the belt!
I don't dislike this book. It seems to be a favorite among many, but it's very middle of the road for me as far as Mystery/Thriller books go.
The Good:
I enjoy the setup & how this mystery is structured. It's fun & easy to engage with in a "Gee, I sure am glad I'm not in their shoes" kind of way.
It's written well with an accurate insight on human desperation & how psychosomatic effects can drastically warp one's sense of control.
The length (only 264 pages) & pacing of this novel is very appropriate. It gives adequate page space to the mystery & the characters, acquainting the reader quickly with the situation so that we can dive straight into the action.
The Bad:
I did not care about even one of these characters past seeing the creative ways the author would kill them off. They're developed & believable as people, but I never felt any type of connection or sympathy which I think can be quite important in a story like this.
Sometimes the characters don't matter or can get away with being stereotypical cardboard cutouts, but that tends to shift the over into the torture porn arena & I don't believe for a second that is where Christie's book belongs.
Probably the most disappointing part of my experience, I was not impressed with the conclusion of this mystery.
Right off the bat, I didn't feel engaged with the actual solving of the problem because it felt as though I was kept at an arm's length from any of the potential clues.
Call me an idiot, maybe this was obvious for other people? But I genuinely don't feel as though readers are given a chance to make even an a semi-educated guess about who the perpetrator is.
It relies wholly on the very, very last section of the book to lay out the details for what they are & explain the unknown bits.
It's very: "Oh, by the way here's what happened."
Anti-climactic to say the least.
When I'm reading a Mystery/Thriller, I want to feel as though I'm being challenged to figure out what's happening before the characters do. I'll be the first to admit I almost never guess the truth in its entirety, but that's beside the point.
I was to the point where I was almost ready to believe something supernatural was happening. Not a great sign.
When the truth is finally exposed, I had a hard time feeling as startled as I'm meant to feel because I've seen this story before in popular media. Now, this came out in the 1930's and so this isn't by any means the fault of the book itself.
It probably came first in every instance I'm thinking of. But as a modern reader this didn't pack the same punch it might have if I were a reader of the 1930's.
Anyhow, that's another classic under the belt!
July 16, 2017
يجب أن أعترف أن ضيق أفقي هو مامنعني من دخول عالم أجاثا كريستي
فمنذ صغري لم تبهرني أغلفة قصصها المترجمة للعربية
كما أن معرفة والدي لافلامها وقراءة والدتي لروايتها منذ الصغر جعلني أشعر أن الغموض بهذه القصص "موضة قديمة" وألغازها ستكون مكشوفة لي
ناهيك عن مقولة "لابد أن الخادم هو من فعلها كقصص أجاثا كريستي" جعلتني
متشككا أن الحل دائما نمطيا
فلماذا أقرأ لها؟..لم يعد هناك شئ
الي ان جائتني دعوة..دعوه لقراءة احد كتب اجاثا كريستي لانها في قائمة أعلي الكتب مبيعا في العالم متفوقة علي الالاف كتب التشويق والجريمة!!! مما جعلني متشوقا لمعرفه السبب
تلك الدعوة كانت في ويكابيديا..قائمة اعلي الكتب مبيعا في التاريخ
هذا ما جعلني متشوقا لمعرفه سر هذه الرواية..التي تفوقت في اثارتها وتشويقها علي الكثير من أقرانها في المبيعات..وحتي تفوقها علي كل روايات اجاثا كريستي
وأن تظل محتفظة بغموضها وتشويقها كل هذه السنوات
وقد كان...وبدأت في الكتاب
كنت مصمما اولا ألا اقرأ اي ريفيو عن الرواية ولا ألمح حتي صفحات الافلام المبنية عنها
فقد كنت مصمما ان اعرف اللغز وأحله بنفسي قبل انتهاء صفحات الرواية
ومنذ الفصل الاول وجدت نفسي في رواية متعددة الشخصيات..متعددة وجهات النظر..ثماني اشخاص لا يعرفون بعضهم بعضا..متجهون نحو قصر بجزيرة..غامض صاحبه..وغامض السبب الحقيقي وراء ذهابهم او دعوتهم.. غامض دعواتهم للقصر شيئا ما..الا انهم قرروا الذهاب ايا كان
متباينين..غير متناسقين عمريا ولا فكريا ولا كمستوي اجتماعي او مادي او حتي وطيفي...مشتركين في غموض ماضيهم..غموض دوافعهم
ليذهبوا ويقابلوا زوجين من الخدم غامضين ايضا..لايعرفون شيئا عن سيدهم ولم يروه حتي الان..بل ويكادوا يجزمون بينهم وبين انفسهم بغرابة ذلك الحشد الغريب الغير متناسق,الغير متجانس بين الشخصيات امامهم
يبدأ العشاء علي مائده يزينها تماثيل صغيرة لعشر عساكر..وتبدأ الاحداث الغريبة في البدء منذ اوائل الفصول
اتهامات غريبة يسمعونها بعد العشاء من جهاز تسجيل تم تشغيله
إتهامات تخص ماضي كل شخصية من العشر شخصيات
والمفترض انهم وحدهم بالجزيرة
من قام بتسجيل تلك الأتهامات؟
ونعم..كما تقول الاسطورة بعد العشاء الاول مباشرة..يختنق احدهم..كحادث مدبر؟ انتحار؟ جريمه قتل؟
ثم يتبقي تسعة..ليتفكروا في الامر
ثم ينام أحدهم طويلا ... ولا يستيقظ أبدا
بالضبط كأغنية "عشر عساكر صغار"..فهل سيتناقص عدد المدعوين العشر كالعساكر في الأغنية؟
تتوالي الاحداث..في ترقب..من صاحب الدعوة؟ ماحقيقة الاتهامات؟
كان هناك 10 تماثيل عساكر في وسط مائدة الطعام..لماذا صار فقط تسع بعد وفاه احدهم؟
حتي وان تبقي ثلاثة..لن تعرف من يقوم بهذا
هل هو احدهم؟ هل هناك احد غيرهم العشرة مختبئ في مكان ما؟
هذا لا يمكن ان يكون صحيحا..لقد فتشنا المكان جيدا.حتي الجثث ..اهو حلم؟عذرا ..كابوس؟؟
وتتغلغل الرواية بع��قرية داخل نفس الانسان ..وغريزته الحيوانية في البقاء..والدفاع عن نفسه
فبمجرد تناقص عدد الشخصيات تبدأ تصرفاتهم في الريبة والشك والخوف وكانهم فعلا حيوانات مفترسة
ستشعر كم برعت اجاثا كريستي ملكة الجريمة في تصوير باختصار موجز رعب وهلع النفس البشرية في مواجهه المجهول..وفي الشك في الغرباء حتي تصل لدرجه البارانويا
في قصر بجزيرة منعزلة, لدرجة تجعلك تشعر فعلا كأنك أنعزلت عن العالم وصرت حبيسا بتلك الجزيرة
بل ستجعلك في لحظات في اواخر الرواية تشعر بنفس البرانويا والترقب والفزع كانك التالي في دور القتل والاختفاء
لقد كنت "بدون مبالغة" احبس انفاسي في بعض الاجزاء الاخيرة فعلا
روايه واحدة نالت كل التقديرات المتميزة لاجاثا كريستي..رفعت لها القبعات منذ اول صدورها في الثلاثينات من القرن الماضي وحتي الان
وبالرغم من ان انتاج افلام عن الرواية لم يحدث من فترة طويلة الا انه صدرت لعبة "فيديوجيم" للكمبيوتر في 2004
رواية واحدة ستجعلك تتوحد في قراءتها مع الابطال..ستظن ان�� عرفت شيئا ما -وبصعوبه- وسيتضح خطأك بعد بضع صفحات
حتي تأتي النهاية المكتوبة بحرفية اجاثا كريستي المتوجه عالميا كملكة الجريمة
رواية واحدة التي اثنت مؤلفتها علي حرفيتها بنفسها في مقدمة الرواية لمجهودها في جعل جرائم القتل مقبوله وحل الجرائم مقنع
وملاءم للاسطورة
اسطورة العشر عساكر الصغار
نعم لم يتبق احد..ولكن تبقي لي تراث اجاثا كريستي لاقرأ فيه من وقت لاخر
تراث يقرأ لاجيال..ليتعرف به علي افضل ماكتب في مجال التشويق والاثارة وعالم الجريمة
محمد العربي
من 17 سبتمبر 2013
الي 23 سبتمبر 2013
مقال أخترنا لك عن اعلي مبيعات الروايات منهم ثم لم يبق أحد
فمنذ صغري لم تبهرني أغلفة قصصها المترجمة للعربية
كما أن معرفة والدي لافلامها وقراءة والدتي لروايتها منذ الصغر جعلني أشعر أن الغموض بهذه القصص "موضة قديمة" وألغازها ستكون مكشوفة لي
ناهيك عن مقولة "لابد أن الخادم هو من فعلها كقصص أجاثا كريستي" جعلتني
متشككا أن الحل دائما نمطيا
فلماذا أقرأ لها؟..لم يعد هناك شئ
عشر عساكر صغار ذهبوا الي العشاء
اختنق احدهم ..ثم تبقي تسعة
الي ان جائتني دعوة..دعوه لقراءة احد كتب اجاثا كريستي لانها في قائمة أعلي الكتب مبيعا في العالم متفوقة علي الالاف كتب التشويق والجريمة!!! مما جعلني متشوقا لمعرفه السبب
تلك الدعوة كانت في ويكابيديا..قائمة اعلي الكتب مبيعا في التاريخ
تسع عساكر صغار سهروا لوقت متاخر
نام احدهم طويلا..ثم تبقي ثمانية
هذا ما جعلني متشوقا لمعرفه سر هذه الرواية..التي تفوقت في اثارتها وتشويقها علي الكثير من أقرانها في المبيعات..وحتي تفوقها علي كل روايات اجاثا كريستي
وأن تظل محتفظة بغموضها وتشويقها كل هذه السنوات
وقد كان...وبدأت في الكتاب
ثماني عساكر صغار سافروا لديفون
قرر احدهم البقاء..ثم تبقي سبعة
كنت مصمما اولا ألا اقرأ اي ريفيو عن الرواية ولا ألمح حتي صفحات الافلام المبنية عنها
فقد كنت مصمما ان اعرف اللغز وأحله بنفسي قبل انتهاء صفحات الرواية
سبع عساكر صغار يشطرون الاخشاب
شطر احدهم نفسه نصفين..ثم تبقي ستة
ومنذ الفصل الاول وجدت نفسي في رواية متعددة الشخصيات..متعددة وجهات النظر..ثماني اشخاص لا يعرفون بعضهم بعضا..متجهون نحو قصر بجزيرة..غامض صاحبه..وغامض السبب الحقيقي وراء ذهابهم او دعوتهم.. غامض دعواتهم للقصر شيئا ما..الا انهم قرروا الذهاب ايا كان
متباينين..غير متناسقين عمريا ولا فكريا ولا كمستوي اجتماعي او مادي او حتي وطيفي...مشتركين في غموض ماضيهم..غموض دوافعهم
ليذهبوا ويقابلوا زوجين من الخدم غامضين ايضا..لايعرفون شيئا عن سيدهم ولم يروه حتي الان..بل ويكادوا يجزمون بينهم وبين انفسهم بغرابة ذلك الحشد الغريب الغير متناسق,الغير متجانس بين الشخصيات امامهم
يبدأ العشاء علي مائده يزينها تماثيل صغيرة لعشر عساكر..وتبدأ الاحداث الغريبة في البدء منذ اوائل الفصول
ست عساكر صغار يلعبون جوار خلية نحل
لسعت نحلة غاضبة احدهم..ثم تبقي خمسة
اتهامات غريبة يسمعونها بعد العشاء من جهاز تسجيل تم تشغيله
إتهامات تخص ماضي كل شخصية من العشر شخصيات
والمفترض انهم وحدهم بالجزيرة
من قام بتسجيل تلك الأتهامات؟
ونعم..كما تقول الاسطورة بعد العشاء الاول مباشرة..يختنق احدهم..كحادث مدبر؟ انتحار؟ جريمه قتل؟
ثم يتبقي تسعة..ليتفكروا في الامر
خمس عساكر صغار يذهبون للحكم
تحفظ علي حكم احدهم..ثم تبقي اربعة
ثم ينام أحدهم طويلا ... ولا يستيقظ أبدا
بالضبط كأغنية "عشر عساكر صغار"..فهل سيتناقص عدد المدعوين العشر كالعساكر في الأغنية؟
تتوالي الاحداث..في ترقب..من صاحب الدعوة؟ ماحقيقة الاتهامات؟
كان هناك 10 تماثيل عساكر في وسط مائدة الطعام..لماذا صار فقط تسع بعد وفاه احدهم؟
اربع عساكر صغار يذهبون لبحر
تخدع سمكه حمراء احدهم..ثم تبقي ثلاثة
حتي وان تبقي ثلاثة..لن تعرف من يقوم بهذا
هل هو احدهم؟ هل هناك احد غيرهم العشرة مختبئ في مكان ما؟
هذا لا يمكن ان يكون صحيحا..لقد فتشنا المكان جيدا.حتي الجثث ..اهو حلم؟عذرا ..كابوس؟؟
ثلاث عساكر صغار يذهبون لحديقة الحيوانات
اخذ الدب احدهم..ثم تبقي أثنان
وتتغلغل الرواية بع��قرية داخل نفس الانسان ..وغريزته الحيوانية في البقاء..والدفاع عن نفسه
فبمجرد تناقص عدد الشخصيات تبدأ تصرفاتهم في الريبة والشك والخوف وكانهم فعلا حيوانات مفترسة
ستشعر كم برعت اجاثا كريستي ملكة الجريمة في تصوير باختصار موجز رعب وهلع النفس البشرية في مواجهه المجهول..وفي الشك في الغرباء حتي تصل لدرجه البارانويا
في قصر بجزيرة منعزلة, لدرجة تجعلك تشعر فعلا كأنك أنعزلت عن العالم وصرت حبيسا بتلك الجزيرة
بل ستجعلك في لحظات في اواخر الرواية تشعر بنفس البرانويا والترقب والفزع كانك التالي في دور القتل والاختفاء
لقد كنت "بدون مبالغة" احبس انفاسي في بعض الاجزاء الاخيرة فعلا
اثنان عساكر صغار جلسا في الشمس
اصيب احدهم بضربه شمس..ثم تبقي واحد
روايه واحدة نالت كل التقديرات المتميزة لاجاثا كريستي..رفعت لها القبعات منذ اول صدورها في الثلاثينات من القرن الماضي وحتي الان
وبالرغم من ان انتاج افلام عن الرواية لم يحدث من فترة طويلة الا انه صدرت لعبة "فيديوجيم" للكمبيوتر في 2004
رواية واحدة ستجعلك تتوحد في قراءتها مع الابطال..ستظن ان�� عرفت شيئا ما -وبصعوبه- وسيتضح خطأك بعد بضع صفحات
حتي تأتي النهاية المكتوبة بحرفية اجاثا كريستي المتوجه عالميا كملكة الجريمة
رواية واحدة التي اثنت مؤلفتها علي حرفيتها بنفسها في مقدمة الرواية لمجهودها في جعل جرائم القتل مقبوله وحل الجرائم مقنع
وملاءم للاسطورة
اسطورة العشر عساكر الصغار
عسكري واحد صغير تبقي وحيدا..ذهب وشنق نفسه
ثم لم يتبق احد
And Then There Were None
نعم لم يتبق احد..ولكن تبقي لي تراث اجاثا كريستي لاقرأ فيه من وقت لاخر
تراث يقرأ لاجيال..ليتعرف به علي افضل ماكتب في مجال التشويق والاثارة وعالم الجريمة
محمد العربي
من 17 سبتمبر 2013
الي 23 سبتمبر 2013
مقال أخترنا لك عن اعلي مبيعات الروايات منهم ثم لم يبق أحد
April 29, 2023
5 stars to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. This is the book that started my absolute love of the mystery genre. I was addicted and must have read it 3 or 4 times over the course of the year. Between the poem, the deserted island, the plot twist, the count-down, the pure clandestine suspense... it couldn't get any better.
Story
Ten people receive a mystery letter from someone they don't know that indicates they should come to a remote island. Why would they go????? After arriving, they try to figure out the connection between all of them while waiting for their mysterious host. After coming across a cute little poem about how ten little indians die, they decide they will wait it out until the next morning when the ferry comes back to take them home. But it will never come! Each guest suddenly dies matching the line from the poem... resulting in alliances and mistrust. Pure fun.
In a masterful conclusion, the reader understands all the connections, learns why the killer chose them to die and develops a very distinct opinion on who was right and who was wrong in this story.
Amazing!
Strengths
1. Plot - can you get any better than telling the reader that 10 people will die and then guessing the order and the weapon?
2. Characters - All walks of life, all personalities. You'll love some and hate some!
Weaknesses
1. Only that there wasn't a follow-up...
Final Thoughts
If you are a mystery fan, you must read this. If you've never read Agatha Christie, this must be your first - before you tackle Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. You must understand the master before getting hooked on any specific protagonist in one of her other series.
Story
Ten people receive a mystery letter from someone they don't know that indicates they should come to a remote island. Why would they go????? After arriving, they try to figure out the connection between all of them while waiting for their mysterious host. After coming across a cute little poem about how ten little indians die, they decide they will wait it out until the next morning when the ferry comes back to take them home. But it will never come! Each guest suddenly dies matching the line from the poem... resulting in alliances and mistrust. Pure fun.
In a masterful conclusion, the reader understands all the connections, learns why the killer chose them to die and develops a very distinct opinion on who was right and who was wrong in this story.
Amazing!
Strengths
1. Plot - can you get any better than telling the reader that 10 people will die and then guessing the order and the weapon?
2. Characters - All walks of life, all personalities. You'll love some and hate some!
Weaknesses
1. Only that there wasn't a follow-up...
Final Thoughts
If you are a mystery fan, you must read this. If you've never read Agatha Christie, this must be your first - before you tackle Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. You must understand the master before getting hooked on any specific protagonist in one of her other series.
January 17, 2022
This one's a classic; nearly everyone—reader or watcher—will have seen a piece of media inspired by it (in fact, we only recently rewatched Clue here in Stiefvaterland). Supposedly it is the world's best-selling mystery. I expected it to be dated (originally published in 1939 with an eye-buggingly problematic title), and the details were, of course, but the structure was as elegant and modern as anything you might hope to find today. It's a sparse, wicked thought exercise. With ten main characters, it's also a masterclass in juggling reader attention; Christie takes very little time in making sure we can easily tell them all apart.
Christie wrote: "I don't say it is the play or book of mine that I like best, or even that I think it is my best, but I do think in some ways that it is a better piece of craftsmanship than anything else I have written."
I don't know about that, but I do know it's effortlessly deserving of its classic status.
Christie wrote: "I don't say it is the play or book of mine that I like best, or even that I think it is my best, but I do think in some ways that it is a better piece of craftsmanship than anything else I have written."
I don't know about that, but I do know it's effortlessly deserving of its classic status.
February 12, 2019
One of the worlds best selling books of all time, Agatha Christie's "and Then There Were None" sets the standard for crime fiction.
The book was first published under a different title in jolly old England, but even back in 1939 American publishers were far too politically correct to use a title they found so offensive.
Still again, in 1964 and again in 1986 a third title was published but political correctness struck again. I read the book under the authors original title because I wanted to read it as she intended it.
The book has inspired radio broadcast, stage adaptations, television mini series, several movies, board and video games.
As the 1939 story begins, 8 unacquainted guest have been invited to a very large home on an isolated island off the coast of England for a type of holiday. When the water ferry drops them off they find their host has not yet arrived but there are two staff members there to meet their needs. Soon it is brought to their attention that all 8 guest along with the 2 staff members are accused of various murders from their past. Then the first of the guest drops dead. By the next morning another of the remaining 9 is found dead. There is surely a murderer on the island and as the story continues to unfold the reader is never given any information other than that which the guest may encounter.
I didn't figure out who done it. I do know that I didn't do it.
But you fellow reader ... the way you so innocently stopped to read this review. Perchance to see if any incriminating evidence has been uncovered..
Very suspicious, I say.
The book was first published under a different title in jolly old England, but even back in 1939 American publishers were far too politically correct to use a title they found so offensive.
Still again, in 1964 and again in 1986 a third title was published but political correctness struck again. I read the book under the authors original title because I wanted to read it as she intended it.
The book has inspired radio broadcast, stage adaptations, television mini series, several movies, board and video games.
As the 1939 story begins, 8 unacquainted guest have been invited to a very large home on an isolated island off the coast of England for a type of holiday. When the water ferry drops them off they find their host has not yet arrived but there are two staff members there to meet their needs. Soon it is brought to their attention that all 8 guest along with the 2 staff members are accused of various murders from their past. Then the first of the guest drops dead. By the next morning another of the remaining 9 is found dead. There is surely a murderer on the island and as the story continues to unfold the reader is never given any information other than that which the guest may encounter.
I didn't figure out who done it. I do know that I didn't do it.
But you fellow reader ... the way you so innocently stopped to read this review. Perchance to see if any incriminating evidence has been uncovered..
Very suspicious, I say.
February 3, 2021
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie and narrated by Dan Stevens.
A couple of my friends have been reading Agatha Christie books and seeing their reviews stirred an interest in them because I've never read Agatha Christie before. I feel like this book was an excellent introduction to Christie and I had a grand time trying to figure out just what was going on and who was doing what. Once the characters were introduced, I printed a page of their names and descriptions so I could keep them straight more easily. I enjoyed the entire book but was appalled by how many times the term "tinned tongue" was mentioned.
As much as I enjoyed the story while the ten victims were alive, I enjoyed the epilogue even more. Usually, I don't enjoy so much "telling" but in this case, we'd seen so much earlier in the book, without full understanding, that I was thrilled we were able to get the answers to everything. I like answers. I'll be picking off Agatha Christie books now, like a murderer picking off their victims.
Published September 10th 2013
A couple of my friends have been reading Agatha Christie books and seeing their reviews stirred an interest in them because I've never read Agatha Christie before. I feel like this book was an excellent introduction to Christie and I had a grand time trying to figure out just what was going on and who was doing what. Once the characters were introduced, I printed a page of their names and descriptions so I could keep them straight more easily. I enjoyed the entire book but was appalled by how many times the term "tinned tongue" was mentioned.
As much as I enjoyed the story while the ten victims were alive, I enjoyed the epilogue even more. Usually, I don't enjoy so much "telling" but in this case, we'd seen so much earlier in the book, without full understanding, that I was thrilled we were able to get the answers to everything. I like answers. I'll be picking off Agatha Christie books now, like a murderer picking off their victims.
Published September 10th 2013
July 20, 2023
This was my first time reading one of her books in English (as an adult...) and I have to say, I was pretty underwhelmed.
Her work is so popular that I thought I'd love it but I struggled to finish. I love the "locked room trope" but felt really detached from the story and characters. Possibly due to the writing style.
I've been meaning to give her another shot but it's now been 6 years and I have yet to :/
Her work is so popular that I thought I'd love it but I struggled to finish. I love the "locked room trope" but felt really detached from the story and characters. Possibly due to the writing style.
I've been meaning to give her another shot but it's now been 6 years and I have yet to :/
March 23, 2018
“Watch and pray. The day of judgement is at hand.”
Now I understand why Agatha is the Queen of crime! This was addictive.
A group of people are all individually invited to an island for a summer holiday in Devon. None of them 100% sure who their mysterious host is. Things become even more peculiar when their host isn’t there when they arrive, and doesn’t show themselves at all.
One by one the guests are killed, picked off, leaving the others terrified and paranoid. It was a fantastic mystery throughout. As tension becomes hysteria, the guests wonder who will be next, who is responsible for these murders and why?
A fantastic read that leaves you guessing until the very end.
“We shall none of us leave this island.”
******************************
So creepy! RTC
Now I understand why Agatha is the Queen of crime! This was addictive.
A group of people are all individually invited to an island for a summer holiday in Devon. None of them 100% sure who their mysterious host is. Things become even more peculiar when their host isn’t there when they arrive, and doesn’t show themselves at all.
One by one the guests are killed, picked off, leaving the others terrified and paranoid. It was a fantastic mystery throughout. As tension becomes hysteria, the guests wonder who will be next, who is responsible for these murders and why?
A fantastic read that leaves you guessing until the very end.
“We shall none of us leave this island.”
******************************
So creepy! RTC
March 9, 2022
And Then There were none = Ten Little Indians, Agatha Christie
And Then There Were None is a mystery novel by English writer Agatha Christie, widely considered her masterpiece and described by her as the most difficult of her books to write.
It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 6 November 1939, as Ten Little Niggers, after the British blackface song, which serves as a major plot point.
The US edition was not released until December 1939; its American reprints and adaptations were all re-titled And Then There Were None, after the last five words in the nursery rhyme Ten Little Indians.
عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «ده بچه زنگی»؛ «ده بومی کوچک»؛ «ده سیاهپوست کوچولو»؛ «دیگر کسی آنجا باقی نماند»، «و آنگاه دیگر هیچ»؛ «کسی نماند دیگر»؛ «و سپس هیچ کس نبود»؛ «و آنگاه هیچکس نماند»؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: ماه فوریه سال1982میلادی بار دیگر سال1995میلای
عنوان: ده سیاهپوست کوچولو؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: بهمن فرزانه، تهران، کتابهای جیبی، سال1345، در203ص؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده20م
عنوان: و آنگاه دیگر هیچ؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: بهرا افراسیابی، تهران، سخن، سال1372، در204ص؛ چاپ دوم سال1373؛
عنوان: ده سیاهپوست کوچولو؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: محمد قصاع، تهران، آبنوس، سال1373، در271ص؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، صبورا، سال1374، شابک9649175109؛ چاپ دوم سال130؛
عنوان: دیگر کسی آنجا باقی نماند؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: پروانه دادبخش، مشهد، جاودان خرد، سال1375، در279ص؛
عنوان: و سپس هیچکس نبود؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: ثریا قیصری، تهران، سمیر، سال1375، در248ص؛
عنوان: ده بچه زنگی؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: خسرو مهربان سمیعی، تهران، هرمس، سال1378، در245ص؛ شابک9646641733؛ چاپ دوم سال1379؛ چاپ سوم سال1386، شابک9789646641730؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، هرمس، چاپ پنجم سال1392، چاپ ششم سال1393؛
عنوان: ده بومی کوچک؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: ذبیح الله منصوری، تهران، دنیای کتاب، سال1384، در286ص؛ شابک9643461947؛
عنوان: کسی نماند دیگر؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: سپیده حبیبی، تهران، نگارش کتاب الکترونیک، سال1394، در94ص؛ ای.بوک؛ مصور، شابک9786008075509؛
عنوان: و آنگاه هیچکس نماند؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی ؛ مترجم محمد خیریان؛ ویراستار نجمهسادات هاشمی؛ قم، یوشیتا؛ سال1399؛ در224ص؛ شابک9786226412933؛
ده تن، هفت مرد و سه زن، توسط افرادی به ظاهر گوناگون دعوت میشوند، که تعطیلات خود را در جزیره ای دور افتاده، به نام «جزیره ی زنگی» بگذرانند؛ برخی از آنها پیشتر همدیگر را سر موضوعی میشناخته اند؛ ولی بیشترشان پیش از رفتن به جزیره، هیچگاه یکدیگر را ندیده بودند؛ این ده تن هر کدام به گونه ای در بگذشته های خود، یک تن را کشته اند؛ پس از گذشت چند روز در جزیره، آنها درمییابند، که همگی از سوی یک فرد به آنجا فرا خوانده شده اند؛ کسی که با اینکه در جزیره نیست، از راز همگی آنها آگاه است؛ رویدادها در هم میریزند؛ آنگاه همان میزبان آغاز به کشتن و قتل تک تک آنها، به روشی ناباورانه میکند، و قربانیان خود را با اقتباس از یک شعر کودکانه، به نام ده بومی کوچک میکشد؛ و ...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 23/08/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 17/12/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
And Then There Were None is a mystery novel by English writer Agatha Christie, widely considered her masterpiece and described by her as the most difficult of her books to write.
It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 6 November 1939, as Ten Little Niggers, after the British blackface song, which serves as a major plot point.
The US edition was not released until December 1939; its American reprints and adaptations were all re-titled And Then There Were None, after the last five words in the nursery rhyme Ten Little Indians.
عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «ده بچه زنگی»؛ «ده بومی کوچک»؛ «ده سیاهپوست کوچولو»؛ «دیگر کسی آنجا باقی نماند»، «و آنگاه دیگر هیچ»؛ «کسی نماند دیگر»؛ «و سپس هیچ کس نبود»؛ «و آنگاه هیچکس نماند»؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: ماه فوریه سال1982میلادی بار دیگر سال1995میلای
عنوان: ده سیاهپوست کوچولو؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: بهمن فرزانه، تهران، کتابهای جیبی، سال1345، در203ص؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده20م
عنوان: و آنگاه دیگر هیچ؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: بهرا افراسیابی، تهران، سخن، سال1372، در204ص؛ چاپ دوم سال1373؛
عنوان: ده سیاهپوست کوچولو؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: محمد قصاع، تهران، آبنوس، سال1373، در271ص؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، صبورا، سال1374، شابک9649175109؛ چاپ دوم سال130؛
عنوان: دیگر کسی آنجا باقی نماند؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: پروانه دادبخش، مشهد، جاودان خرد، سال1375، در279ص؛
عنوان: و سپس هیچکس نبود؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: ثریا قیصری، تهران، سمیر، سال1375، در248ص؛
عنوان: ده بچه زنگی؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: خسرو مهربان سمیعی، تهران، هرمس، سال1378، در245ص؛ شابک9646641733؛ چاپ دوم سال1379؛ چاپ سوم سال1386، شابک9789646641730؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، هرمس، چاپ پنجم سال1392، چاپ ششم سال1393؛
عنوان: ده بومی کوچک؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: ذبیح الله منصوری، تهران، دنیای کتاب، سال1384، در286ص؛ شابک9643461947؛
عنوان: کسی نماند دیگر؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی؛ مترجم: سپیده حبیبی، تهران، نگارش کتاب الکترونیک، سال1394، در94ص؛ ای.بوک؛ مصور، شابک9786008075509؛
عنوان: و آنگاه هیچکس نماند؛ نویسنده: آگاتا کریستی ؛ مترجم محمد خیریان؛ ویراستار نجمهسادات هاشمی؛ قم، یوشیتا؛ سال1399؛ در224ص؛ شابک9786226412933؛
ده تن، هفت مرد و سه زن، توسط افرادی به ظاهر گوناگون دعوت میشوند، که تعطیلات خود را در جزیره ای دور افتاده، به نام «جزیره ی زنگی» بگذرانند؛ برخی از آنها پیشتر همدیگر را سر موضوعی میشناخته اند؛ ولی بیشترشان پیش از رفتن به جزیره، هیچگاه یکدیگر را ندیده بودند؛ این ده تن هر کدام به گونه ای در بگذشته های خود، یک تن را کشته اند؛ پس از گذشت چند روز در جزیره، آنها درمییابند، که همگی از سوی یک فرد به آنجا فرا خوانده شده اند؛ کسی که با اینکه در جزیره نیست، از راز همگی آنها آگاه است؛ رویدادها در هم میریزند؛ آنگاه همان میزبان آغاز به کشتن و قتل تک تک آنها، به روشی ناباورانه میکند، و قربانیان خود را با اقتباس از یک شعر کودکانه، به نام ده بومی کوچک میکشد؛ و ...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 23/08/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 17/12/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
November 12, 2023
A masterclass in locked room mysteries from the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie.
"It was my ambition to invent a murder that no one could solve …….... I determined to commit not one murder, but murder on a grand scale".
On Soldier Island the deaths of the ten visitors coincides with the famous nursery rhyme ‘Ten Little Soldiers’, until "one little soldier boy was left all alone; he went and hanged himself and then there were none".
Intense, oh so clever, and gripping.
The Plot
I can provide a few insights to this book without spoiling the plot, the ultimate twist at the end, and the rationale. It is that good and brilliantly conceived.
For example, we know from the book title, that the killing spree continued over a few nights until there were ‘none’. In addition, all the guests were brought to the island sharing two things in common. First of all, they had all caused the death of someone else which is then revealed in front of the other guests, on the first night. All this using a gramophone message - I love it.
Secondly none of them had ever been found guilty of the crimes they committed. In some cases, it wasn’t even obvious that a crime had been committed at all. So how did the killer assemble these guests? none of whom knew each other, except the ‘Rogers’, a husband and wife team.
Invited by U.N Owen, cleverly disguising the fictious name ‘Unknown’ the killing spree starts with the death of Tony Marston who dies of cyanide poisoning after finishing his drink. His death is then followed by the death of the housekeeper, Mrs Rogers. As suspicion grows among the remaining eight people, more deaths occur even under the watchful eye of those 'trapped'. And in true Agatha Christie style everyone is portrayed at the potential killer. Afterall, they have all killed someone already!!!
Review and Comments
I will start with the great characterisation and the ten people stranded at Soldier Island. Whilst we don’t have an in-depth view of every character there is enough of the personality to make this such a great cast. They are all so different and relevant for the characteristics they exhibit.
Ten in total which may sound like a daunting number to follow through the story. I did it by their job title not their name!!! (Doctor, Housekeeper, Judge, and the General, to name but a few) and so could keep track easily enough plus we have effective signposting throughout if you lose a few before their time!!!.
The setting is wonderful. The island escape, and then stranded with no transport to flee. Although this has been done many times since, when it works it is superb.
If this had been an old house with creaking wood, and dark shadows, and heavily panelled walls there might have been more obvious signs for its new inhabitants that they were part of a murderous plot to even the scales of justice. But there were no dark corners. The house was the essence of modernity.
As AC says about the house ‘There was nothing hidden. Nothing concealed. It had no atmosphere about it’…. Somehow this was the most frightening thing of all.
If there is such a thing as the perfect crime novel, then this is it. A timeless book that set the bar extremely high in the ‘locked room mystery’ subgenre.
We have symbolism and clues everywhere. The most illogical logical puzzle where the reader can do nothing else but laud the plot twists, red herrings, and skillfully cunning plot that is meticulously planned. A very very clever book.
"It was my ambition to invent a murder that no one could solve …….... I determined to commit not one murder, but murder on a grand scale".
On Soldier Island the deaths of the ten visitors coincides with the famous nursery rhyme ‘Ten Little Soldiers’, until "one little soldier boy was left all alone; he went and hanged himself and then there were none".
Intense, oh so clever, and gripping.
The Plot
I can provide a few insights to this book without spoiling the plot, the ultimate twist at the end, and the rationale. It is that good and brilliantly conceived.
For example, we know from the book title, that the killing spree continued over a few nights until there were ‘none’. In addition, all the guests were brought to the island sharing two things in common. First of all, they had all caused the death of someone else which is then revealed in front of the other guests, on the first night. All this using a gramophone message - I love it.
Secondly none of them had ever been found guilty of the crimes they committed. In some cases, it wasn’t even obvious that a crime had been committed at all. So how did the killer assemble these guests? none of whom knew each other, except the ‘Rogers’, a husband and wife team.
Invited by U.N Owen, cleverly disguising the fictious name ‘Unknown’ the killing spree starts with the death of Tony Marston who dies of cyanide poisoning after finishing his drink. His death is then followed by the death of the housekeeper, Mrs Rogers. As suspicion grows among the remaining eight people, more deaths occur even under the watchful eye of those 'trapped'. And in true Agatha Christie style everyone is portrayed at the potential killer. Afterall, they have all killed someone already!!!
Review and Comments
I will start with the great characterisation and the ten people stranded at Soldier Island. Whilst we don’t have an in-depth view of every character there is enough of the personality to make this such a great cast. They are all so different and relevant for the characteristics they exhibit.
Ten in total which may sound like a daunting number to follow through the story. I did it by their job title not their name!!! (Doctor, Housekeeper, Judge, and the General, to name but a few) and so could keep track easily enough plus we have effective signposting throughout if you lose a few before their time!!!.
The setting is wonderful. The island escape, and then stranded with no transport to flee. Although this has been done many times since, when it works it is superb.
If this had been an old house with creaking wood, and dark shadows, and heavily panelled walls there might have been more obvious signs for its new inhabitants that they were part of a murderous plot to even the scales of justice. But there were no dark corners. The house was the essence of modernity.
As AC says about the house ‘There was nothing hidden. Nothing concealed. It had no atmosphere about it’…. Somehow this was the most frightening thing of all.
If there is such a thing as the perfect crime novel, then this is it. A timeless book that set the bar extremely high in the ‘locked room mystery’ subgenre.
We have symbolism and clues everywhere. The most illogical logical puzzle where the reader can do nothing else but laud the plot twists, red herrings, and skillfully cunning plot that is meticulously planned. A very very clever book.
January 27, 2023
Influential murder-mystery that is clever and suspenseful. This gem will keep you guessing!
July 29, 2020
$1.99 Kindle sale, July 29, 2020! If you've never read one of Agatha Christie's murder mysteries, this one is my favorite!
Every once in a while on Goodreads I find myself feeling compelled to make a True Confession, and here's another one: I'm not all that much of a Hercule Poirot fan.
For someone who's read probably 30 or 40 Agatha Christie books over her lifetime, that's probably an odd thing. I like him okay, I don't DISlike him, but yeah, he kind of irks me sometimes. So when I'm picking up an Agatha Christie mystery, I'm always a little bit tickled when it doesn't involve Poirot. This is one of those books, so it already had a leg up on the competition when I started it.
And here's the other thing: with all the Christie books I've read in my lifetime, there are only a handful that I've found really memorable. This, again, is one of those books. In fact, plotwise I would say it's my favorite Christie book of all time. Many Christie fans consider it her masterpiece.
Eight very different people are invited to an isolated island off the coast of England. Fairly soon it becomes apparent that they all have one thing in common: they've all been accused of murder but were never convicted or brought to justice. Each person has gotten a written invitation to the island, tailored to their needs or situation, like a job offer or a holiday invitation, most of the invitations coming from someone they don't know who signs the invites as U.N. Owen. Together with the butler and cook who are already on the island, there are ten people. They gather for drinks and to meet their U.N.Known host. While they are waiting, a few things happen:
1. They notice a framed copy of the nursery rhyme "Ten Little Indians" hanging on the wall, in which the Indians* leave, die or disappear one by one, until there are none. There are also ten Indian figurines on the dining room table.
2. Mysteriously, a recorded voice begins to speak, describing each of the characters in turn and accusing them each of committing murder but evading justice . . . until now.
3. One of the guests laughs off the shock and quickly downs a drink. And immediately chokes and dies. One of the ten figurines is soon discovered to be broken, and the nursery rhyme reflects his manner of death ("One choked his little self and then there were nine").
So begins an intense tale, as the guests frantically try to protect themselves and figure out which of them is the killer (or is it someone else hiding on the island?) before they are all dead. And at the same time, they're all dealing with their own feelings of guilt to varying degrees. And the figurines keep disappearing--DUN! DUN! DUN! The psychological exploration in this book is great, beyond anything I recall reading in any other Christie mystery, and the reveal at the end completely surprised me.
*Content note: For the record, some readers may have qualms with this nearly 80-year-old novel's dicey history of racial slurs and insensitivity. It was originally actually titled Ten Little Niggers, based on the British version of this poem, which apparently wasn't considered offensive enough not to use in England when the book was first published in 1939. For the American edition of the book, it was changed to "Ten Little Indians" and, later, "And Then There Were None" (which is the version I have, but still with the Indian poem and figurines) - better but still not great. I understand that many recent editions now use ten little soldiers for the poem.
Every once in a while on Goodreads I find myself feeling compelled to make a True Confession, and here's another one: I'm not all that much of a Hercule Poirot fan.
For someone who's read probably 30 or 40 Agatha Christie books over her lifetime, that's probably an odd thing. I like him okay, I don't DISlike him, but yeah, he kind of irks me sometimes. So when I'm picking up an Agatha Christie mystery, I'm always a little bit tickled when it doesn't involve Poirot. This is one of those books, so it already had a leg up on the competition when I started it.
And here's the other thing: with all the Christie books I've read in my lifetime, there are only a handful that I've found really memorable. This, again, is one of those books. In fact, plotwise I would say it's my favorite Christie book of all time. Many Christie fans consider it her masterpiece.
Eight very different people are invited to an isolated island off the coast of England. Fairly soon it becomes apparent that they all have one thing in common: they've all been accused of murder but were never convicted or brought to justice. Each person has gotten a written invitation to the island, tailored to their needs or situation, like a job offer or a holiday invitation, most of the invitations coming from someone they don't know who signs the invites as U.N. Owen. Together with the butler and cook who are already on the island, there are ten people. They gather for drinks and to meet their U.N.Known host. While they are waiting, a few things happen:
1. They notice a framed copy of the nursery rhyme "Ten Little Indians" hanging on the wall, in which the Indians* leave, die or disappear one by one, until there are none. There are also ten Indian figurines on the dining room table.
2. Mysteriously, a recorded voice begins to speak, describing each of the characters in turn and accusing them each of committing murder but evading justice . . . until now.
3. One of the guests laughs off the shock and quickly downs a drink. And immediately chokes and dies. One of the ten figurines is soon discovered to be broken, and the nursery rhyme reflects his manner of death ("One choked his little self and then there were nine").
So begins an intense tale, as the guests frantically try to protect themselves and figure out which of them is the killer (or is it someone else hiding on the island?) before they are all dead. And at the same time, they're all dealing with their own feelings of guilt to varying degrees. And the figurines keep disappearing--DUN! DUN! DUN! The psychological exploration in this book is great, beyond anything I recall reading in any other Christie mystery, and the reveal at the end completely surprised me.
*Content note: For the record, some readers may have qualms with this nearly 80-year-old novel's dicey history of racial slurs and insensitivity. It was originally actually titled Ten Little Niggers, based on the British version of this poem, which apparently wasn't considered offensive enough not to use in England when the book was first published in 1939. For the American edition of the book, it was changed to "Ten Little Indians" and, later, "And Then There Were None" (which is the version I have, but still with the Indian poem and figurines) - better but still not great. I understand that many recent editions now use ten little soldiers for the poem.
January 27, 2018
Qué manera de desarrollar una historia de suspense, sin duda un libro magistralmente escrito, mi primer libro de Agatha Christie que superó por mucho mis expectativas!
January 5, 2017
This year I have decided to take part in a women's century challenge in the group catching up on classics where the participants read a book written in ten consecutive decades. I chose to focus on the 20th century and my 1930s selection is And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Although I had previously read some of her Hercule Poirot cases, this is my first stand alone mystery of Christie's that I have read. A suspenseful premise for a case, And Then There Were None left me on edge for the duration of the book.
Ten individuals who committed murder at one point in their lives have been invited to Soldier Island for a supposed holiday. Upon arrival, the participants note the quaintness of the island and the home which they are staying in. Yet, on top of the mantel in each bedroom is the poem "ten little Indians". In the communal dining room are ten salt shakers each representing a person and the same poem. As the group gathers for cocktail hour, a gramophone recording announces the crime each individual is guilty of committing. Shocked at first, each person comes to terms with the accusation and reveals what really happened to the group.
Christie's participants represent a cross section of society including a judge, doctor, Scotland Yard police officer, retired general, mercenary, governess, and spinster. None of these primary participants believes themselves guilty of the crime because after all they were acquitted. Yet one of their party believes them all to be guilty, or they would not have been invited to Soldier Island. One by one the group is murdered, the island is searched, and the dwindling group realizes that there is a murderer in their midst. The death mirrors the poem on the wall, and as each person is killed, another salt shaker breaks. It is up to the remaining people to identify the murder.
Unlike Hercule Poirot cases where Christie allows the reader to crack the case early on only to have Poirot peal back layers and layers to the case, in And Then There Were None, Dame Christie does not clue us as to who the murderer is. Even someone as myself who reads a fair number of mysteries was left captivated as to whodunit, allowing me to read quickly until the end of the book. The participants were also held in suspense, accusing each other of being the murderer. This lead to a revealing denouement, one that had me guessing until the last page.
I have read many mysteries written by women, including many cases starring female private eyes and police detectives. Many of these mystery writers have Dame Agatha Christie to thank for paving their way as early as the 1920s. And Then There Were None first appeared in serial form, leaving its readers in suspense until the next installment appeared. A captivating mystery, I am open to reading more of Christie's stand alone cases, and rate this mystery 4 stars.
Ten individuals who committed murder at one point in their lives have been invited to Soldier Island for a supposed holiday. Upon arrival, the participants note the quaintness of the island and the home which they are staying in. Yet, on top of the mantel in each bedroom is the poem "ten little Indians". In the communal dining room are ten salt shakers each representing a person and the same poem. As the group gathers for cocktail hour, a gramophone recording announces the crime each individual is guilty of committing. Shocked at first, each person comes to terms with the accusation and reveals what really happened to the group.
Christie's participants represent a cross section of society including a judge, doctor, Scotland Yard police officer, retired general, mercenary, governess, and spinster. None of these primary participants believes themselves guilty of the crime because after all they were acquitted. Yet one of their party believes them all to be guilty, or they would not have been invited to Soldier Island. One by one the group is murdered, the island is searched, and the dwindling group realizes that there is a murderer in their midst. The death mirrors the poem on the wall, and as each person is killed, another salt shaker breaks. It is up to the remaining people to identify the murder.
Unlike Hercule Poirot cases where Christie allows the reader to crack the case early on only to have Poirot peal back layers and layers to the case, in And Then There Were None, Dame Christie does not clue us as to who the murderer is. Even someone as myself who reads a fair number of mysteries was left captivated as to whodunit, allowing me to read quickly until the end of the book. The participants were also held in suspense, accusing each other of being the murderer. This lead to a revealing denouement, one that had me guessing until the last page.
I have read many mysteries written by women, including many cases starring female private eyes and police detectives. Many of these mystery writers have Dame Agatha Christie to thank for paving their way as early as the 1920s. And Then There Were None first appeared in serial form, leaving its readers in suspense until the next installment appeared. A captivating mystery, I am open to reading more of Christie's stand alone cases, and rate this mystery 4 stars.
February 10, 2017
"Ten literary Goodreads reviewers chatting online;
One bot was discovered and then there were Nine.
Nine literary Goodreads reviewers on a thread until late;
One lost his Wi-Fi signal and then there were Eight.
Eight literary Goodreads reviewers groupreading Austen;
One only read males and then there were Seven.
Seven literary Goodreads reviewers averse to using pics;
One blasphemed with GIFs and then there were Six.
Six literary Goodreads reviewers booktubing live;
One revealed too much and then there were Five.
Five literary Goodreads reviewers trying out Coelho;
One rushed back home and then there were Four.
Four literary Goodreads reviewers adored Harper Lee;
One sequel led to suicide and then there were Three.
Three literary Goodreads reviewers re-reading Pooh;
One thought it only for children and then there were Two.
Two literary Goodreads reviewers engrossed in Hamsun;
One died of hunger and then there was One.
One literary Goodreads reviewer left all alone;
He deleted his account and then there were None."
Original:
"Ten little soldier boys went out to dine;Loved the idea of this novel.
One choked his little self and then there were Nine.
Nine little soldier boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were Eight.
Eight little soldier boys travelling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there and then there were Seven.
Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six.
Six little soldier boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were Five.
Five little soldier boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were Four.
Four little soldier boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three.
Three little soldier boys walking in the Zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.
Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was One.
One little soldier boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself and then there were None."
October 21, 2015
January 29, 2021
“When the sea goes down, there will come from the mainland boats and men. And they will find ten dead bodies and an unsolved problem on Soldier Island.”
My first Agatha Christie, and a good one indeed. And Then There Were None just recently came to my attention. Maybe it was the new mini-series or the many people suddenly reading this, but I was intrigued immediately. I can't wait to watch the series!
Agatha Christie totally tricked me. I thought I had figured it out, but I was wrong. This novel turned out to be exactly what it promised. A murder mystery, a mad psychothriller of a book. I would have liked a little more detail and character depth, but I have nothing to criticise in general. Would highly recommend.
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My first Agatha Christie, and a good one indeed. And Then There Were None just recently came to my attention. Maybe it was the new mini-series or the many people suddenly reading this, but I was intrigued immediately. I can't wait to watch the series!
Agatha Christie totally tricked me. I thought I had figured it out, but I was wrong. This novel turned out to be exactly what it promised. A murder mystery, a mad psychothriller of a book. I would have liked a little more detail and character depth, but I have nothing to criticise in general. Would highly recommend.
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July 23, 2014
Extraordinary and gripping novel!
I knew that the best way to start reading the literary work by Agatha Christie was choosing her most known book. And There were none is the best-selling mystery novel of all time with 100 million of copies, and the fifth book in the list comprehending all genres. That is something to give to Agatha Christie the respect that she deserves.
Initially this novel on UK was titled Ten Little Niggers, only because the original nursery rhyme was called that but it was obviously seen as racist, then in USA was decided to change the title to Ten Little Indians, but again obviously as seen as racist again, so at the end the title was changed to And There were none, and the nursery rhyme inside the book was changed to "Ten Little Soldiers", curiously enough none member of any army so far as pointed out as racist that final change. I mean, the title was just because a widely known nursery rhyme and none character on the book was afro-american or native-american.
To this, I want to comment that it's lucky that not many children would had more nightmares since a lot of nursery rhymes have truly scary lyrics. No wonder in stuff like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Saphire and Steel were used nursery rhymes with truly scary effects.
Returning to the novel, it was a remarkable reading. Great atmosphere where you feel as trapped as those people on that island.
I want to comment that at some point I figured it out who was the murderer, don't worry, I won't tell it, and I have no doubt that some would say: "Oh, sure! I believe you Sherlock!". However I do indeed discovered it. This is not my first mystery story. I have read several books in the genre and I have watched a lot of TV shows like Murder, She Wrote, Columbo, Criminal Minds, CSI: Miami, etc... And while that doesn't turn me into a detective, in my defense, I knew who was only because I focused on the "why" and not the "how" that certainly I didn't know that. You can say that I did an amateur criminal profile and that helped me to have a suspect of my own that it resulted true. Also, I had some advantage for being Spanish speaking since there is a clue that only can be detected due that not matter that I read the novel on English, but taking in account the very detail that it's indeed a printed novel, I catched something and putting together some clues. Well, I figured it out. Believe or not. It doesn't matter.
Anyway, I think that many of the fun of reading this kind of mystery novels is trying to figure out the culprit during the process of reading the book. Not matter if you guess right or not, always it's rewarding when the mystery is explained. A delicious way to make your neurons to exercise.
Again, knowing who was, or at least thinking that I knew who was, since obviously I couldn't confirm it until reading the whole book, it didn't help me to know how everything was made until it was explained on the novel. Definitely, Agatha Christie is the queen of mystery!
Certainly, this novel isn't only a marvellous detective mystery book but also a truly scary horror story. Priceless setting for a scenario and fantastic twisted character developing.
Appendix: (July 23rd, 2014)
The clue that I found thanks that I am a born Spanish-language speaker:
WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!!
Read ONLY if you already read the novel, since this is a mega-spoiler telling who the culprit is!
I seldom put spoilers in my reviews, but I wrote this appendix basically since I was contacted by several readers asking me about the "big clue" and well, while I don't mind to share it, well, also I don't want to find out later that it was written down in some other review as theirs, taking in account that it seems that only me were the one who noticed that.
I knew that the best way to start reading the literary work by Agatha Christie was choosing her most known book. And There were none is the best-selling mystery novel of all time with 100 million of copies, and the fifth book in the list comprehending all genres. That is something to give to Agatha Christie the respect that she deserves.
Initially this novel on UK was titled Ten Little Niggers, only because the original nursery rhyme was called that but it was obviously seen as racist, then in USA was decided to change the title to Ten Little Indians, but again obviously as seen as racist again, so at the end the title was changed to And There were none, and the nursery rhyme inside the book was changed to "Ten Little Soldiers", curiously enough none member of any army so far as pointed out as racist that final change. I mean, the title was just because a widely known nursery rhyme and none character on the book was afro-american or native-american.
To this, I want to comment that it's lucky that not many children would had more nightmares since a lot of nursery rhymes have truly scary lyrics. No wonder in stuff like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Saphire and Steel were used nursery rhymes with truly scary effects.
Returning to the novel, it was a remarkable reading. Great atmosphere where you feel as trapped as those people on that island.
I want to comment that at some point I figured it out who was the murderer, don't worry, I won't tell it, and I have no doubt that some would say: "Oh, sure! I believe you Sherlock!". However I do indeed discovered it. This is not my first mystery story. I have read several books in the genre and I have watched a lot of TV shows like Murder, She Wrote, Columbo, Criminal Minds, CSI: Miami, etc... And while that doesn't turn me into a detective, in my defense, I knew who was only because I focused on the "why" and not the "how" that certainly I didn't know that. You can say that I did an amateur criminal profile and that helped me to have a suspect of my own that it resulted true. Also, I had some advantage for being Spanish speaking since there is a clue that only can be detected due that not matter that I read the novel on English, but taking in account the very detail that it's indeed a printed novel, I catched something and putting together some clues. Well, I figured it out. Believe or not. It doesn't matter.
Anyway, I think that many of the fun of reading this kind of mystery novels is trying to figure out the culprit during the process of reading the book. Not matter if you guess right or not, always it's rewarding when the mystery is explained. A delicious way to make your neurons to exercise.
Again, knowing who was, or at least thinking that I knew who was, since obviously I couldn't confirm it until reading the whole book, it didn't help me to know how everything was made until it was explained on the novel. Definitely, Agatha Christie is the queen of mystery!
Certainly, this novel isn't only a marvellous detective mystery book but also a truly scary horror story. Priceless setting for a scenario and fantastic twisted character developing.
Appendix: (July 23rd, 2014)
The clue that I found thanks that I am a born Spanish-language speaker:
WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!!
Read ONLY if you already read the novel, since this is a mega-spoiler telling who the culprit is!
I seldom put spoilers in my reviews, but I wrote this appendix basically since I was contacted by several readers asking me about the "big clue" and well, while I don't mind to share it, well, also I don't want to find out later that it was written down in some other review as theirs, taking in account that it seems that only me were the one who noticed that.
November 29, 2022
Re-read #2 (11/28/2022) 5 stars.
5 stars
I truly believe this was the blueprint for every whodunit story!
Ten people have been invited to an isolated island. One by one the guests are killed. After searching the island to find no one but them, they start to realise that the murderer is actually one of them.
This is just as intense as it sounds. “Then there were none” is a masterpiece. It’s the perfect murder mystery whodunit story that I hoped it would be. It put me one the edge of my seat, kept me interested, and I drove myself crazy trying to guess what’s going on. I have to admit, it was brilliant and I’m thankful that we got an epilogue explaining everything because I was so freakin scared that it would end like that. With just the last chapter that didn’t give me a satisfying answer like what? how? why?
Agatha Christie’s writing is so brilliant. I enjoyed most of her books and I always love that every time I read one of her books, it’s always hard to guess the murderer right. This is definitely one of her best books.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 stars
I truly believe this was the blueprint for every whodunit story!
Ten people have been invited to an isolated island. One by one the guests are killed. After searching the island to find no one but them, they start to realise that the murderer is actually one of them.
This is just as intense as it sounds. “Then there were none” is a masterpiece. It’s the perfect murder mystery whodunit story that I hoped it would be. It put me one the edge of my seat, kept me interested, and I drove myself crazy trying to guess what’s going on. I have to admit, it was brilliant and I’m thankful that we got an epilogue explaining everything because I was so freakin scared that it would end like that. With just the last chapter that didn’t give me a satisfying answer like what? how? why?
Agatha Christie’s writing is so brilliant. I enjoyed most of her books and I always love that every time I read one of her books, it’s always hard to guess the murderer right. This is definitely one of her best books.
August 10, 2024
The ending was disappointing.
I really liked the premise of this one. My first Agatha Christie book. I don't know what I was expecting but maybe I was expecting it to be damn perfect I guess.
The characters were developed well but it's the last few crucial pages that went flat for me and the explanation wasn't appealing enough.
I felt like the ending got a bit rushed and the few characters seemed bored.
I loved how evil some of the characters deemed to be PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS (but actually ending up as dead bodies.)
Damn.
I say it's the fun while reading this book that made it so interesting.
But from the murder mystery point of view, I did find it boring and rather flat towards the end.
I really liked the premise of this one. My first Agatha Christie book. I don't know what I was expecting but maybe I was expecting it to be damn perfect I guess.
The characters were developed well but it's the last few crucial pages that went flat for me and the explanation wasn't appealing enough.
I felt like the ending got a bit rushed and the few characters seemed bored.
I loved how evil some of the characters deemed to be PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS (but actually ending up as dead bodies.)
Damn.
I say it's the fun while reading this book that made it so interesting.
But from the murder mystery point of view, I did find it boring and rather flat towards the end.
May 25, 2022
ليس الخطأ عيباً في ذاته؛لكن الرضا به*
*و الاستمرار عليه والدفاع عنه هو الخطأ كل الخطأ
لو كنت شاهدت احد هذه الافلام او المسلسلات؛
فلتكتف به لان لم يبق احد لا تحتمل ان تقرأها و انت تعرف الحل؛ رغم ان لها قيمة انسانية و عمق ادبي الا ان بنائها السردي التسلسلي يعتمد علي التشويق بقدر ما يعتمد علي الشعر
انها وجبة اجاثا الكاملة الفاخرة
التي قد تجثم علي انفاس البعض
هي الاكثر مبيعا ً بين روايات اجاثا
و تحتل المركز السابع بين الكتب اكثر مبيعا علي الاطلاق؛ و هي الاكثر اقتباسا في الشاشات عبر العالم بحبكة تصاعدية و جرايم و ذنوب لا تحصي؛ و طرق قتل مبتكرة و عدد رهيب من القتلي علي رواية واحدة و جزيرة معزولة َبجنوب انحلترا اجتمع فيها عشرة
أطلقت عليهم عشر هنود صغار و عشر عبيد صغار.. او جزيرة الموت
و بالطبع هناك: اغنية لا تنتسي
)عشرة هنود صغار ذهبوا لتناول العشاء
اختنق أحدهم وبقي منهم تسعة
تسعة هنود صغار سهروا إلى وقت متأخر جداً
أفرط أحدهم في النوم فبقي منهم ثمانية
ثمانية هنود صغار سافروا إلى ديفون
قرر أحدهم البقاء فبقي منهم سبعة
سبعة هنود صغار كانوا يقطعون اللحم
شطر أحدهم نفسه نصفين فبقي منهم ستة
ستة هنود صغار كانوا يلعبون عند خلية نحل
لسعت نحلة واحداً فبقي منهم خمسة
خمسة هنود صغار مضوا لدراسة القانون
صار أحدهم في أحكام المساواة فبقي منهم أربعة
أربعة هنود صغار خرجوا إلى البحر
ابتلعت رنجة حمراء احدهم فبقي منهم ثلاثة
ثلاثة هنود صغار مشوا في الحديقة
أكل الدب أحدهم وبقي منهم اثنان
هنديان صغيران جلسا في الشم��
أصيب أحدهما بضربة شمس وبقي منهم واحد
هندي صغير بقي وحيداً
ذهب و شنق نفسه ثم لم يبق منهم أحد
*و الاستمرار عليه والدفاع عنه هو الخطأ كل الخطأ
لو كنت شاهدت احد هذه الافلام او المسلسلات؛
فلتكتف به لان لم يبق احد لا تحتمل ان تقرأها و انت تعرف الحل؛ رغم ان لها قيمة انسانية و عمق ادبي الا ان بنائها السردي التسلسلي يعتمد علي التشويق بقدر ما يعتمد علي الشعر
انها وجبة اجاثا الكاملة الفاخرة
التي قد تجثم علي انفاس البعض
هي الاكثر مبيعا ً بين روايات اجاثا
و تحتل المركز السابع بين الكتب اكثر مبيعا علي الاطلاق؛ و هي الاكثر اقتباسا في الشاشات عبر العالم بحبكة تصاعدية و جرايم و ذنوب لا تحصي؛ و طرق قتل مبتكرة و عدد رهيب من القتلي علي رواية واحدة و جزيرة معزولة َبجنوب انحلترا اجتمع فيها عشرة
أطلقت عليهم عشر هنود صغار و عشر عبيد صغار.. او جزيرة الموت
و بالطبع هناك: اغنية لا تنتسي
)عشرة هنود صغار ذهبوا لتناول العشاء
اختنق أحدهم وبقي منهم تسعة
تسعة هنود صغار سهروا إلى وقت متأخر جداً
أفرط أحدهم في النوم فبقي منهم ثمانية
ثمانية هنود صغار سافروا إلى ديفون
قرر أحدهم البقاء فبقي منهم سبعة
سبعة هنود صغار كانوا يقطعون اللحم
شطر أحدهم نفسه نصفين فبقي منهم ستة
ستة هنود صغار كانوا يلعبون عند خلية نحل
لسعت نحلة واحداً فبقي منهم خمسة
خمسة هنود صغار مضوا لدراسة القانون
صار أحدهم في أحكام المساواة فبقي منهم أربعة
أربعة هنود صغار خرجوا إلى البحر
ابتلعت رنجة حمراء احدهم فبقي منهم ثلاثة
ثلاثة هنود صغار مشوا في الحديقة
أكل الدب أحدهم وبقي منهم اثنان
هنديان صغيران جلسا في الشم��
أصيب أحدهما بضربة شمس وبقي منهم واحد
هندي صغير بقي وحيداً
ذهب و شنق نفسه ثم لم يبق منهم أحد
December 15, 2019
A fantastically written mystery, which kept me guessing the whole time, and managed to surprise me with its ending!
My first Agatha Christie book smashed it! What a genius!
I thoroughly enjoyed this whodunit, and could not for the life of me figure out what was going on. Admittedly, I'm not great at figuring out who the villain is, but this was spectacularly written, and had me scratching my head! More importantly, the ending was great, it had me saying whaaaaat?!
At first I thought I would be overwhelmed with the amount of characters introduced, but they were all vividly different, so it was easy. They were all pretty unlikeable characters, but that didn't matter at all, in fact I quite enjoyed that.
I have nothing else to say, that hasn't been said before, so I will just end this with,
“Ten little soldier boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were Nine. Nine little soldier boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were Eight.
Eight little soldier boys travelling in Devon; One said he’d stay there and then there were Seven. Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six. Six little soldier boys playing with a hive; A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five.
Five little soldier boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were Four.
Four little soldier boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three. Three little soldier boys walking in the Zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.
Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was One.
One little soldier boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there were None.”
😍 😍 😍
My first Agatha Christie book smashed it! What a genius!
I thoroughly enjoyed this whodunit, and could not for the life of me figure out what was going on. Admittedly, I'm not great at figuring out who the villain is, but this was spectacularly written, and had me scratching my head! More importantly, the ending was great, it had me saying whaaaaat?!
At first I thought I would be overwhelmed with the amount of characters introduced, but they were all vividly different, so it was easy. They were all pretty unlikeable characters, but that didn't matter at all, in fact I quite enjoyed that.
I have nothing else to say, that hasn't been said before, so I will just end this with,
“Ten little soldier boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were Nine. Nine little soldier boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were Eight.
Eight little soldier boys travelling in Devon; One said he’d stay there and then there were Seven. Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six. Six little soldier boys playing with a hive; A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five.
Five little soldier boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were Four.
Four little soldier boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three. Three little soldier boys walking in the Zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.
Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was One.
One little soldier boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there were None.”
😍 😍 😍
September 17, 2020
I enjoyed this book so much! It was thrilling, scary, gory and deceptive. Everything I need to bite my nails and tell the kids to shut up and get away. (JK... maybe) She sure knows how to set the tone. Who would have thought to make a serial killer with a conscience? And that sing-song.... nice touch, Agatha!
I forgot to add that I bought this as a used book. Someone had highlighted and made notes throughout the book! It took away from me enjoying it fully because the person left so many clues. That was so annoying I couldn't concentrate on the story at times. If you write in a book DO NOT give it to Goodwill! PLEASE!
I even went as far to research the making of this book wondering why the publisher's decided to change it from "Ten Little Indians." (Google it) I guess she was a bit of a racist and it does show throughout the book but to be honest it didn't take anything away from me liking it. I don't believe in banning or restricting books. If someone doesn't like it: don't read it, don't look it at, don't talk about it (Or vent about it to a friend and move on). Simple.
Anyway, this was great and I will be reading more of her books. If someone can recommend another fabulous one please comment! I love getting into new (older) authors.
I forgot to add that I bought this as a used book. Someone had highlighted and made notes throughout the book! It took away from me enjoying it fully because the person left so many clues. That was so annoying I couldn't concentrate on the story at times. If you write in a book DO NOT give it to Goodwill! PLEASE!
I even went as far to research the making of this book wondering why the publisher's decided to change it from "Ten Little Indians." (Google it) I guess she was a bit of a racist and it does show throughout the book but to be honest it didn't take anything away from me liking it. I don't believe in banning or restricting books. If someone doesn't like it: don't read it, don't look it at, don't talk about it (Or vent about it to a friend and move on). Simple.
Anyway, this was great and I will be reading more of her books. If someone can recommend another fabulous one please comment! I love getting into new (older) authors.
October 24, 2020
دائما هناك هذا الصراع الذي يدور داخلي بين ذكرياتي مع أجاثا
حيث سنوات المراهقة التي قضيتها في قراءة رواياتها
واستمتاعي بأعمالها المشوقة
وحبي الكبير لهذه الرواية
وبين عنصرية المؤلفة الفجة...
العنوان في البداية كان
Ten Little Niggers
أو
عشرة زنوج صغار
ثم تحول إلى
Ten Little Indians
أو
عشرة هنود صغار
وهو ليس بعنوان من اختراعها بل مأخوذ من الأغنية الهزلية المسيئة
والتي تعتمد عليها كريستي في بناء الحبكة برمتها
وهي أيضا عامل الجذب الأكبر بالنسبة لي وللكثيرين غيري
وسبب تعلقهم بهذه الرواية
هذه هي المعضلة
الوراية فتنتني حقا
وأخرجتني من حالة العزوف عن القراءة التي تملكتني لفترة
وهي رواية محبوكة .. ممتازة
والأغنية تضيف لها وتجعلها أكثر تشوقا
ولعب المؤلفة عليها كان ممتازا
خصوصا بوجود التماثيل العشرة التي تتناقص واحدا إثر واحد
فهل علي الآن أن أكره نفسي لأنني أحببتها
أم علي أن أكون أكثر موضوعية ولا أخلط الأوراق
فأقرأ للعنصري والمتزمت وأعجب بإبداعه وإن اختلفت معه
حسنا... المعضلة هنا هي أن الرواية تشويقية
ليست كتابا مفيدا.. ليست علما أو نقدا أو فلسفة
هي مجرد رواية محبوكة وممتعة
فما الحكم هنا إذا....؟
حقا لا أدري
ولا أستطيع إلا أن أعطيها حقها كرواية ممتازة لا تستحق أقل من 4 نجوم
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