And Then There Were None - Book Review

 

At a Glance....

Title: And Then There Were None

Author:Agatha Christie

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers India

Pages:317

Genre : Mystery

Format : Paperback

ISBN :978-0-00-728231-9

I took this  book along when I went to drop of my daughter for an exam. Since the exam center was quite far from home, I decided to wait there till she finished her exams. I was so engrossed in the book that I never realized how fast time flew until I saw my kiddo come out of the hall!

This book is about 10 people who are invited to stay in an island mansion by a mysterious U.N.Owen.Each of the characters travel by train / car and then are taken by a ferry to reach the mansion.

The characters are Vera Claythorne,Miss Emily Brent,General Macarthur,Dr.Amstrong,Antony Marston,Detective Blore, Philip Lombard,Mr. & Mrs. Rogers are the caretakers of the mansion who have been employed just a few days before this strange group reaches the mansion.

Each of of this group have been given a different reason to dtay in the mansion and no one suspects the intentions of U.N. Owen .

They have all been assigned rooms and Vera notices a big square of parchment with a nursery rhyme...

Ten little Soldier boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Soldier boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Soldier boys traveling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Soldier boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Soldier boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Soldier boys going in for law;
One got into Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Soldier boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Soldier boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two little Soldier boys playing with a gun;
One shot the other and then there was One.
One little Soldier boy left all alone;
He went out and hanged himself and then there were none. 

They all assemble to dine and there are 10 little china figures in the dining room. After dinner, a gramophone record is played and instead of a song, all the guests are accused of some wrong doing and are asked if they have anything to say in their defense!

Everyone is petrified after listening to The Voice . Each of these people have been involved in a death for which they do not hold responsibility. They still maintain that the death has nothing to do with them and they are not guilty yet in their hearts they know it is not so.

One by one is killed in the same manner as mentioned in the poem.As the murders start, the remaining people have no means of getting of the island / contacting the people in the town. They live each minute in fear and not knowing who will be the next target.

Each one suspects some one else and the as the needle of suspicion moves to the other we sit there at the end of the seat wondering who the real murderer is!

Finally, all the 10 people are murdered and then the police finds a letter from the murderer and that twist is something which I did not see coming!!!

My view on the book:

Truly engrossing read that will keep you turning page after page.I was on the edge of the seat at every turn of events!!

The ending is something that you will never expect!!

You can easily finish off the book in 2-3 hours time.

If you love murder mysteries go for this book, I am sure you will not be disappointed.




Linking this to:

1. Monthly Keyword Challenge where the keywords for Feb are - And, Rose, Promise, Every, Deception, Blazing
2. 52 books in 52 weeks
3. Mount TBR Reading Challenge
4. Review Writing Challenge

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