Owen mysteriously absent, they are each accused of a terrible crime. Cut off from the mainland, with their generous hosts Mr and Mrs U.N. Ten strangers are invited to Soldier Island, an isolated rock near the Devon coast. I won’t give any spoilers away, but I completely see how And Then There Were None got its reputation as one of the best murder mysteries you’ll read.The book that topped the international online poll held in Agatha Christie’s 125th birthday year to discover which of her 80 crime books was the world’s favourite. Otherwise it would have been tricky to keep track of everyone.Īs you would expect from a Christie novel, the plot is perfectly paced, and you are left guessing right the way through. He did a wonderful job of altering his voice for each character and when there are so many in play and you don’t have a visual reference (or can’t skip back through pages to check who is who) the subtleties he used for each were essential. I listened to this on audiobook, narrated by actor Dan Stevens, who was a delight to listen to. But who is he? The group search the island and find no-one but the 10 in their party, so they come to the conclusion that the murderer must be among them… Then, in accordance with the rhyme, the murders begin… All 10 are accused of some kind of murder, and so the mysterious Mr Owen makes it his mission to give them a taste of their own medicine. Over dinner, a gramophone recording informs them that they have all been called to the island to pay for crimes that they otherwise would have gotten away with. Owen is nowhere to be found and now the boat that dropped them off has left, they find themselves marooned on a remote island with a group of strangers. They don’t know it, but he gives them each a different reason for their invitation and has very specific reasons for wanting them there. Set in a hot August in the 1930s, 10 people receive a request for their company on Soldier Island, a private island just off the coast of Devon owned by Mr. Interestingly, this version of the rhyme was not the one used when the book was published in 1939, the original rhyme and book had a racially sensitive title that was amended upon the book’s American release in 1940. He went out and hanged himself and then there were none. One got frizzled up and then there was one.
Two little Soldier Boys sitting in the sun Three little Soldier Boys walking in the zoo Ī big bear hugged one and then there were two. One got in Chancery and then there were four.įour little Soldier Boys going out to sea Ī red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Six little Soldier Boys playing with a hive Ī bumblebee stung one and then there were five.įive little Soldier Boys going in for law
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six. Seven little Soldier Boys chopping up sticks One said he’d stay there and then there were seven. One overslept himself and then there were eight.Įight little Soldier Boys travelling in Devon Nine little Soldier Boys sat up very late One choked his little self and then there were nine. Ten little Soldier Boys went out to dine The book opens with this rhyme and it plays a key role in the killer’s plans: It’s a stand alone murder mystery, not featuring her signature detectives and as with many of her books, it centres around a simple premise the skill of her storytelling is how expertly she executes the simple idea. And Then There Were None is widely touted as one of her best and is a truly clever, captivating story. Dame Agatha Christie was a true bloody genius. I am yet to read an Agatha Christie book that I didn’t like. Opening sentence: “ Ten little Soldier Boys went out to dine One choked his little self and then there were nine.” And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.
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