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Julia
If this is the first time you've come across a book with a similar premise to And Then There Were None then you've not been paying attention! :)
Loni Youngblood
This is a very popular premise for books. Many authors have used this as a base for their story. Some of my favorites are Sleep by C.L Taylor, An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena, In The Dark by Loreth Anne White, and currently The Guest list by Lucy Foley.
Suaad (I just want a cat)
Using a popular trope in a genre is not "taking" another author's plot =)
Simone Barrett
This also reminds me of The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley, where a group of friends happen to be staying in a snowy mountain resort.
Nic
It might be the same surface level, but the setup, characters, motive, ending are all drastically different. If anything, I'd say she's paying homage to Christie. Ware still makes it her own.
Cindy
If you read closely, you would have noticed that Ware acknowledges the debt repeatedly. Liz keeps saying, "and then there were nine," etc.
Dan
If you applied this logic to every author and story, there would be very few authors or stories and it must be very difficult to enjoy reading. Inspiration and homage aren't "taking plots from other authors".
M
I love closed circle mysteries and I enjoy reading the contemporary versions to see what authors do with the trope.
FYI, I got an advance copy of this one and I liked it a lot.
FYI, I got an advance copy of this one and I liked it a lot.
Sandra Ireland
There is no such thing as an original idea. It's perfectly legitimate as a writer to reimagine a popular trope
Chris
Ruth Ware also did this with "Turn of the Key", which was based on Henry James's "Turn of the Screw". Also loved a modern version of Pride and Prejudice, "Eligible" by Curtis Sittenfeld. Perfectly acceptable retelling and often very enjoyable!
Stephanie
Yep, Ware steals quite a bit from Christie. The Woman in Cabin 10 has the same "big reveal" as Christie's novel Dead Man's Folly.
Scout Langley
I honestly agree with you. I am all for authors being inspired by other others, but it was the exact same story of "And then there were none" except a change in location. A few details were different... but saying it was just inspired is a bit of a stretch
Gina
If authors weren't inspired by other writers we would have far less stories to read and enjoy. Think beyond the shaky ground your query is rooted and appreciate a good story that has been rewritten through millenia.
Oliver Leadbitter
This answer contains spoilers…
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Dana
Thank you. I kept thinking “I’ve read this book…” but you just solved the mystery for me. Exactly like “And Then There Were None.” Waste of time.
Jason Cady
I've read And Then There Were None twice. One by One is not similar at all.
Dwaipayan Ghosh
Yeah I've been thinking, isn't this also the premise of "In The Dark, Dark Woods"?
Stacy
That is what I thought upon reading this book-- that she was using Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" as the pattern for this one.
Nehdia
haha./.. I told my sister it's just like "Ten little Indians" by agatha christie
Anthony Dalton
Fenris, I have read 'The Death of Mrs Westaway' which was fantastic as opposed to this abomination. Look give the author another go, I am hoping this particular novel was just an horrendous mistake.
Laura Arthur
I just started reading this, I also read Lucy Foley's The Guest List. I did not enjoy the Guest list. My first thought, in the first 10 pages was...oh no, not again. It's more than a close circle mystery, its also jumping from characters mind to characters mind, traveling to a snowy location that will be cut off from society and filled with, what I can see as, proprietors who won't like the vapidness of the guests....I hold out hope. But doubt I'll finish. I really love Ruth's other books...:(
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