By Megan V.
And Then There Were None, previously titled Ten Little Indians, by Agatha Christie is a suspenseful and dark mystery novel that truly grabs its reader and draws them into its web. The story features ten individuals and their time on Soldier Island, a small secluded island just off the coast. This island had a complex past, previously the home of a wealthy landowner who was a fan of large lavish parties. When these ten strangers were invited by a mysterious U. N. Owen, later recognized to be the name "Unknown," they were not surprised, believing it to be an old friend who has now acquired a beautiful vacation spot. Without hesitation they ventured out to the island. The ten soon realized that they were all strangers, peculiar but not impossible. They became confused and somewhat suspicious of their host , and these concerns were validated when that same evening they were given a fright. A gramophone record. This record was full of accusations, one for each guest relating to a dreadful murder that they had committed. They soon realized that all of their letters indicated that the invitation was from different people. They had all been mislead by U. N. Owen, the clear orchestrator of the entire "prank." It was soon after however, that one of the guests dropped dead. This was met with shock and horror. A poisoned drink, clearly a suicide. It certainly couldn't have been a murder, after all they had all denied the accusations.
This story stuck until the next morning when the maid died. Yet another case of poisoning. Two incidents was too much to be true, and the whole thing took on a darker aspect when they realized that the murders had a pattern. A nursery rhyme, "Ten Little Soldier Boys," depicted the various losses of ten little soldiers. The first two were strikingly similar;
"Ten little soldier boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nineNine little soldier boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight"
More deaths followed, and the houseguests grew more uneasy with each loss. They were trapped, stranded on the island. Whoever the murderer was had to be hiding there with them. Or perhaps, the murderer was one among them.
This novel, as I have heard about many Agatha Christie novels, was astoundingly well written. The use of language and slow unraveling of the plot were detailed and truly drew you into the tale being spun out before you. Using a small group of ten consistent characters allowed for exploration of their individual stories. The novel was able to jump from person to person, showing you their third person perspective. This was a clever idea, yet it could be confusing at times when too much movement between characters took place. Studying the characters individually however, allowed the reader to develop their own opinions of who may have been responsible for the carnage wrecked on the island. The twist here was that almost unnoticed to the reader, it seemed as if the authors guidance was leading you to a conclusion, making you certain that you knew who it was, before killing off that very character. It was subtle enough that it made it nearly impossible to see it coming. This novel is a true mystery because it keeps you guessing until the very end, and even then requires and epilogue in the form of a letter in order to explain the events that transpired.
I took great delight reading this novel. It was well written and engaging, beginning as a simple mystery story and then plunging into a dark tale of murder and deceit. I found myself eager to get to the next page, the next chapter, and then the end in order to find out who was the killer. The ending was a true surprise when the "unsolvable murder" was finally explained. The ending was satisfying and fitting, a complex and astounding ending to a truly amazing novel. I would highly recommend this novel for anyone, whether new to mystery as I was or an experienced reader. Agatha Christie was able to create a world out of her ten characters and tell one of the most engaging and complex stories I have ever read.
And Then There Were None can be found at many bookstores and online.
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