And Then There Were None in Reading with Style

Nov 16, 2011 Mohammed Alhammadi rated it it was amazing

The story is about an invitation that is distributed to eight persons to invite them to an Indian island. Those people arrived at the island where they met the last two guests who were the husband and wife butler-cook team. On the island, every one of the guests has his/her own room that has a poem written there. This poem is entitled “Ten Little Indians” and describes the story of the death of those ten Indian boys whose death was in an unusual way. Through the story, every one of the guests di ...more

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Aug 21, 2013 Shirley (stampartiste) rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-classics

Definitely one of the best Agatha Christie mysteries. It was well written, the story advanced quickly, the characters were well developed, and the ending was definitely a surprise.

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Mar 09, 2012 Thomas Acland rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: set-in-the-uk, 20th-century, crime, mystery, 1930-s

This is a great book, a fantastic plot line that kept me guessing right up to the final chapter.

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Oct 05, 2014 Shaina rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, whodunit, mystery

Original review here: http://shainareads.blogspot.com/2014/...

ATTWN is the first real "whodunit" or "cozy mystery" I've ever read. I have never been especially drawn to the genre, despite the fact that I like similar things in my television (bodies, intrigue, a limited cast of suspects in finite quarters). When I picked this one up from the library, I knew I was dealing with one of the heavyweights of the genre. Indeed, this story had all the makings of a great one: ten strangers drawn together Original review here: http://shainareads.blogspot.com/2014/...

ATTWN is the first real "whodunit" or "cozy mystery" I've ever read. I have never been especially drawn to the genre, despite the fact that I like similar things in my television (bodies, intrigue, a limited cast of suspects in finite quarters). When I picked this one up from the library, I knew I was dealing with one of the heavyweights of the genre. Indeed, this story had all the makings of a great one: ten strangers drawn together on a remote island, as they're slowly picked off one by one (to the tune of a nursery rhyme, no less) for the crimes they committed in the past.

The most fascinating part of the story to me was each character's way of dealing with the skeletons in his or her respective closet. Without giving too much away, these are all people that "the law couldn't touch," who'd committed acts ambiguous enough to not get them convicted. Most of the characters embodied this belief, initially denying that they'd done anything wrong, and some never acknowledged the weight of their actions before meeting their demise. Christie captured the human ability to avoid facing our mistakes brilliantly, and I really enjoyed watching the characters who survived longest grapple with their guilt.

As for the big reveal.... eh, I don't know. (I know this puts me in the minority, so get your shoes and tomatoes at the ready!) It was very well-constructed, no doubt, but I just wasn't blown away. Maybe it's because I'd had Christie's twists hyped for me before going in to the story, but I was waiting for something awe-inspiring and completely out of left field. I don't think I got it.

In researching Christie and her work, I came upon some... pretty unsavory things. Like ATTWN's original title. And her anti-Semitism. Of course, we can chalk these things up to Christie's background and it being "a sign of the times" she lived in. Still, as a careful and thoughtful reader, it's important to be aware of them. I would be curious to hear from people who have read her later work: did these stereotypes endure, or did her style change over time?

All in all, I'm glad to have read this one, and I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to curl up for a one-sitting read that will keep you guessing.

Anyone have a cozy mystery rec that will blow me away? ...more

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