And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Ten strangers venture to an island for a few fun days with their mysterious host. At dinner on the first evening, instead of meeting their host, they listen to an audio recording of their host accusing each of them of murder. Horrified by their host’s words, the guests begin to tell the stories of their pasts. With no way to get off the island or to contact the mainland, the guests are completely cut off from the outside world. Then, one by one, the guests start to die...

And Then There Were None is my favorite Christie mystery and has garnered praise over the years as Christie’s best mystery. I have read several Christie mysteries over the years, and this one still stands out in my mind for its cleverness and its interestingly constructed premise. It was very hard for me to put down the book! Full of suspense, Christie’s novel makes the reader feel the panic of the strangers, knowing that there is a killer loose on the island and that they have the inability to leave or to contact help. The twists and turns throughout the novel will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Christie writes an epilogue to tie up all loose ends, including the killer’s motives for the deaths (very beneficial for me the first time I read this).

Those who love the body in a locked room scenario will want to try this book. Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple fans, and of course mystery lovers, should give this a try!

Reviewed by Jessica