Madeline
It is no secret that I am a big fan of thrillers and murder mystery stories. So, of course I had to pick up a book from the queen herself and the quintessential murder mystery writer, Agatha Christie. When I saw the movie, Murder On The Orient Express, I knew I needed more of this, more of Agatha Christie, in my life. It was not so much the movie as it was the storyline of the movie and that is when I realized not just one, but all of Agatha Christie’s books needed to go onto my “To Read” list on Goodreads.
Premise of And Then There Were None
A group of ten strangers find themselves in a house on a small island with no phone, no radio, no connection to the outside world, and no way to leave. They are the only people on the island. This includes eight guests and the two staff members. Everyone had a vague story of how they ended up on the island. Either a letter in the mail or being coursed by someone randomly. Once we get aquatinted with the ten people on the island, one by one they each die. What adds to the peculiarity that they are on the island is also that they die in the in order and with the method described by the poem, Ten Little Soldier Boys, until “there were none” making the story an amazing one. Making Agatha Christie the quintessential murder mystery queen.
The Poem
The poem, Ten Little Soldier Boys, is an old nursery rhyme that Agatha Christie used as her inspiration for this twisted tale. It starts with ten little soldier boys going out to dine, and the first one chokes. The next soldier to die “overslept himself”. And the next “said he would stay there”. And so on and so forth until the final one hangs himself, “and then there were none”. Each soldier and each guest making a decision that will end up being their demise.
Final Thoughts
Just as I suspected when I added this book to my “to read” list, Agatha Christie did not disappoint with this quintessential murder mystery. She did what she does best and spun a twisted murder mystery into an engaging story. Although this is the first story of her’s that I have read, I have been exposed to her work for years and now it is time to really dig in and continue that exposure in a more deliberate manor.
