English language
Published June 11, 2015 by HarperCollins.
And Then There Were None is a mystery novel by the English writer Agatha Christie, described by her as the most difficult of her books to write. This is not the original title that it was published under and has since been changed for its use of a derogatory slur, though it retains the same meaning as it uses the final line of the poem for which it was originally named rather than either of its known titles.
There were ten people—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little 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 are their wicked pasts they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. Each has been marked for murder, following the plot of a famous nursery …
And Then There Were None is a mystery novel by the English writer Agatha Christie, described by her as the most difficult of her books to write. This is not the original title that it was published under and has since been changed for its use of a derogatory slur, though it retains the same meaning as it uses the final line of the poem for which it was originally named rather than either of its known titles.
There were ten people—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little 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 are their wicked pasts they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. Each has been marked for murder, following the plot of a famous nursery rhyme. When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.
First Agatha Christie novel I've read and I can very much see the influence on the genre. A little tropey at times, but can it be considered tropey if it's one of the originals? Would recommend it to any one looking at the classics
Einerseits komme ich mir durch das Ende veräppelt vor, andererseits finde ich es auch richtig genial.
Premier Agatha Christie pour moi, la découverte du «méta-roman» de Pierre Bayard, La vérité sur Ils étaient dix, m'a fait lire d'abord la version originale. L'intrigue est prometteuse, une île comme chambre close, non pas un mais dix meurtres, en quelques jours. Mais c'est plutôt décevant. Trop de choses à admettre, trop de place pour le hasard alors qu'il s'agit de dix meurtres. C'est dans ces interstices que Pierre Bayard va se glisser avec maestria.
It's been a long time since I last read this book, and I remembered liking it. I don't think I caught all the ways in which the movie Clue either references it or uses it as a guide for their detective spoof before, and that was partially the reason for why I wanted to read it again.
I still very much like the idea that the point of the book is to target those who cannot be touched by the law or who haven't done something that can be considered "criminal." It really feels, particularly in an age where so many people in specific positions view themselves as untouchable because they're either "not doing something illegal" or the law refuses to do anything about them, like a concept we should be revisiting in our narrative fiction.
This novel is enough to bring me back to detective works, something which I've …
It's been a long time since I last read this book, and I remembered liking it. I don't think I caught all the ways in which the movie Clue either references it or uses it as a guide for their detective spoof before, and that was partially the reason for why I wanted to read it again.
I still very much like the idea that the point of the book is to target those who cannot be touched by the law or who haven't done something that can be considered "criminal." It really feels, particularly in an age where so many people in specific positions view themselves as untouchable because they're either "not doing something illegal" or the law refuses to do anything about them, like a concept we should be revisiting in our narrative fiction.
This novel is enough to bring me back to detective works, something which I've missed quite a bit.
Recommended as a starting point for the authors novels and can’t disagree, it was a quick easy engaging read.
Easy to get into and read, and a fun mystery! It wasn't really scary or thrilling in my experience, but still worth reading and still fun to try and figure out who the mastermind is, etc.
Preface: some of this is a rehash of what was in my review for the previous volume, but I think its important enough to repeat.returnI looking at 01Publishing's website, I was right off the bat assaulted by some messaging against political correctness and 'No Safe Spaces.' Which, incidentally, is also the name of the podcast that Rocha and Finney run, which is pretty aggressive in its anti-pc talk. The slogan is also on some of their graphics, which seem like sf/horror versions of a some of the skull (punisher skull, skull mask, etc.) iconography used by the far right these days. Symbolism not helped by it being flag coloured/patterned. Doing some digging on twitter, it looks like Rocha (the editor as well, for the record) has changed accounts a few times, with the most recent one talking about moving to Parler in the bio. Some of her older accounts appear …
Preface: some of this is a rehash of what was in my review for the previous volume, but I think its important enough to repeat.returnI looking at 01Publishing's website, I was right off the bat assaulted by some messaging against political correctness and 'No Safe Spaces.' Which, incidentally, is also the name of the podcast that Rocha and Finney run, which is pretty aggressive in its anti-pc talk. The slogan is also on some of their graphics, which seem like sf/horror versions of a some of the skull (punisher skull, skull mask, etc.) iconography used by the far right these days. Symbolism not helped by it being flag coloured/patterned. Doing some digging on twitter, it looks like Rocha (the editor as well, for the record) has changed accounts a few times, with the most recent one talking about moving to Parler in the bio. Some of her older accounts appear to have followed accounts espousing uniting traditional conservatives and libertarians to 'take back our culture.' In some of her Youtube videos there use of the alt-right slur 'soyboy', during which Patton Oswalt of all people is pictured.returnCould these all be individual red flags that ultimately amount to nothing? Sure. But taken as a collection of facts, as well as some other bits and pieces of catch phrases, rhetoric, and political figures the editors seem to follow, its cause for some concern. I have queries out to some authors that have worked with this publisher and Rocha to see if I can get anything more concrete. But at this points, especially with some of the youtube video comments about lovely, humane people, I can't endorse anything put out by this publisher. Which is a shame because I dearly love some of the authors included here. If you really want to check it out, please buy it used and don't support a publisher that endorses such problematic views. I know Chris Lackey and Chad Fifer have made the stories they had in this and the subsequent collection available as audio stories through Witch House Media and the HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast. You may want to check them out there. returnI really respect and enjoy a lot of the authors included in these...Chad Fifer's 'The Baby Downstairs' is probably the funniest and creepiest two page story I've every seen (or heard). Orrin Grey's 'The Labyrinth of Sleep' shows up in some other collections by other publishers, and is an fantastic integration of some of my favorite elements of both dreamlands and non-dreamlands elements. John C. Foster's 'His Carniverous Regard' brings lovecraftian weird fiction elements to science fiction, and we have another great entry by Greg Stolze of White Wolf fame. Other talented, recognizable names like Barron and Byers also make memorable appearances. Its a great collection of talent and ideas. But I just can't give a positive rating to a publisher with seemingly such disturbing political stances.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Agatha Christie did a great job of creating an atmosphere of tension and suspense. I definitely didn't guess the mystery, and it all tied together well.
I'm pretty sure I've never read an Agatha Christie which hasn't been a solid 5 star. This was a reread, but it's been long enough since I last read it to have forgotten who did it. The copy I read is from my own collection of about 50 Agatha Christie books I have, all picked up from garage sales and second hand book shops over the years. This is a 1966 edition, with the original offensive name and rhyme, both pretty jarring to read. There was also a you're/your mispelling which amused me because I associate it with the the noughties and the rise of Internet use.
Easy to sink into and get enraptured. A lot of times I don’t like trying to figure out mystery novels because I know they are going to tell me in the end, but this one had me guessing (and I guessed wrong). A classic and fun read/listen.
Agatha Christie, you've done it again.
This is my eighth Agatha Christie novel, and I still haven't been able to predict the ending.
What I think lifts this book above the others is how there are morals for each of the murderers' original crimes.
For example...
General Macarthur: takes revenge Send's his wife's lover unnecessarily into battle where he gets killed
Anthony Marston: little regard for human life Runs over two kids and has no regrets
Mr. & Mrs. Rogers: neglect Neglect to save their employer's life because they gain much money as inheritence
Once again, this book just has me amazed. She even threw in some wordplay! U. N. Owen (a.k.a. Unknown) invited them to the island
Definitely a five stars (I would do six, but there is no option!)
Tout simplement l'un de mes deux romans préférés d'Agatha Christie, à égalité avec Le crime de l'Orient-Express.
I think I would survive on that island...
I can't say that I was very excited or thrilled while reading this book but I really liked the conclusion.
This is probably the first mystery novel I've read since reading The Westing Game in elementary school. I'm not usually a fan of mystery, but this one was entertaining. This fit to the murder mystery mold (as I imagine it) very well.
