And Then There Were None
by Agatha Christie
First, there were ten - a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a 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. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. And only the dead are above suspicion.
Recommended for: Mystery and thriller lovers
Read Count: 1
Rating:
Rating:
Read from July 20 to 21, 2012
I rented this book from the library on recommendation from Wendy Darling. She had just read the book Ten by Gretchen McNeil (which is based off of And Then There Were None), and thought it would be interesting to have a compare/contrast done between the two. I gladly accepted the challenge.
It is quite obvious when starting this novel that it was written in a different age. The terminology, slang, and overall verbose writing style of the novel are a far contrast to what one is familiar seeing being published in 2012.
However, if you go into And Then There Were None aware of the time period and audience it was meant to speak to, it is much more enjoyable. Nothing is handed to you in the plot. You are left wondering just "who dun it" until the very last page of the book, and even then it seems to come out of nowhere.
I literally shut my nook and did this:
The book opens up with each section of a chapter introducing you to ten individuals, all with a somewhat shady past. Each one has received an invitation to either work, visit or relax upon a tiny mysterious island near Devon, England that was recently placed up for sale. As all ten people arrive on the island and realize that they are suddenly stranded there with a murderer on the loose the tension becomes almost palpable.
As the first of the ten started dropping like flies, I found myself rolling my eyes and thinking, "Some thriller this is, it's not even scary." (And that's saying a lot coming from me, I have to read scary novels in broad daylight... I can't watch a horror film without first reading the entire plot on wikipedia so that I know something is about to happen.) By the time there were only four people left on the island, I realized that my stomach was in knots and I was sitting hunched over my nook frantically reading as fast as I could to figure out who the murderer could possibly be.
Even after the last person dies, you are left questioning what exactly took place on the island, and it's only truly revealed through an after note to the story, in the form of a message found in a bottle.
If you enjoy a good mystery and suspenseful novel, go ahead and pick up And Then There Were None. Overlook some of the antiquated actions and language and settle back to enjoy and try to figure out a timeless riddle: Who dun it?
“Many homicidal lunatics are very quiet, unassuming people. Delightful fellows.”
— Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None
It is quite obvious when starting this novel that it was written in a different age. The terminology, slang, and overall verbose writing style of the novel are a far contrast to what one is familiar seeing being published in 2012.
However, if you go into And Then There Were None aware of the time period and audience it was meant to speak to, it is much more enjoyable. Nothing is handed to you in the plot. You are left wondering just "who dun it" until the very last page of the book, and even then it seems to come out of nowhere.
I literally shut my nook and did this:
The book opens up with each section of a chapter introducing you to ten individuals, all with a somewhat shady past. Each one has received an invitation to either work, visit or relax upon a tiny mysterious island near Devon, England that was recently placed up for sale. As all ten people arrive on the island and realize that they are suddenly stranded there with a murderer on the loose the tension becomes almost palpable.
As the first of the ten started dropping like flies, I found myself rolling my eyes and thinking, "Some thriller this is, it's not even scary." (And that's saying a lot coming from me, I have to read scary novels in broad daylight... I can't watch a horror film without first reading the entire plot on wikipedia so that I know something is about to happen.) By the time there were only four people left on the island, I realized that my stomach was in knots and I was sitting hunched over my nook frantically reading as fast as I could to figure out who the murderer could possibly be.
Even after the last person dies, you are left questioning what exactly took place on the island, and it's only truly revealed through an after note to the story, in the form of a message found in a bottle.
If you enjoy a good mystery and suspenseful novel, go ahead and pick up And Then There Were None. Overlook some of the antiquated actions and language and settle back to enjoy and try to figure out a timeless riddle: Who dun it?
“Many homicidal lunatics are very quiet, unassuming people. Delightful fellows.”
— Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None
First of all I can say that agatha christie is peerless mystery author who depicted each scene in a breathtaking manner.The plot is truly unanticipated and readers go astounded about the mystery.
ReplyDeleteThe book is amalgamation of suspense,intrigue and conspiracy.The
book is so enthralling that readers feel like completing the book in one seating.At a few scenes I felt like spine chilling.We come to know the mystery at the culmination which if not divulged we may ponder over the mystery as how it occurred and whose the mastermind behind this.
Seriously I became ardent fan of agatha christie and developed penchant towards her novels.This is a must read novel for any fervid reader and I bet you get captivated.