And Then There Were None: A Mystery Play in Three Acts

by Agatha Christie

First presented at St James' Theatre in London on November 17, 1943. The play opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City on June 27, 1944. It was directed by Albert deCourville.

Ten guilty strangers are trapped on an island. One by one they are accused of murder; one by one they start to die.

Genres: Plays, Mystery, Agatha Christie, Fiction, Classics, Crime, Theatre

95 pages, Paperback

Published March 18, 1984

About the author

Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.

Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Then There Were None aka Ten Little Indians by Agatha Christie
5★’s

This is a new one for me!! I have often said I was the only breathing human on the planet that didn’t like Agatha Christie..so where in the world did those 5 stars come from? I will have to reevaluate my statement to I am the only breathing human on the planet that doesn’t like Agatha Christie…EXCEPT for And Then There Was None

A group of ten strangers is invited or hired for a long weekend on Indian Island, a mile off the Devon coast. It is somewhat improbable that these ten would all accept such a vague invitation from a host they do not know to a place they have never seen before, but each for his or her own reasons accepts. They include a doctor, a games mistress, a soldier of fortune, a rich playboy, a retired policeman, a judge, a spinster, a retired general and a married couple who are to be the servants. They arrive on a bleak rocky island to a completely modern house with all the amenities. The fires are welcoming, there is an ample supply of food, the servants are impeccable, but their host is absent. In each of the bedrooms, the Ten Little Indians nursery rhyme is posted on a prominent wall. It begins:

"Ten Little Indian boys went out to dine…
One choked his little self, and then there were nine.---

Drinks are served, and one guest chokes, turns blue and falls over dead. Now the tension begins to build. Fright runs in the hearts of the stranded people as one by one they are picked off…each in accordance with that cursed nursery rhyme. As the number of victims increase, the survivors' suspicions of each other also increase. When the police arrive and find them all dead….the question remains “Who is the murderer? It has to be one of the survivors…but which one?

And Then There Were Noneis told in short choppy chapters. The strange thing is that none of the characters are even likable. Christie toys with the idea of a serial killer long before such an animal was even heard of. This is an excellent story, and the author is so far ahead of the reader’s reasoning that you will never guess who the guilty party is. If you do manage to figure out the “who" and the "how" then you have my highest respects.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant. Recommended.

[Vita Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great play, very exciting and also funny! I may be a bit biased, since I'm a backstage for it - I read a version with both endings, and not sure which ending I like the most!

[Γιώτα Παπαδημακοπούλου · Rating 5 out of 5]

Νομίζω ότι το να μπω στην διαδικασία να κάνω συστάσεις ανάμεσα στο αναγνωστικό κοινό και την Agatha Christie θα ήταν κάτι περισσότερο από περιττό. Ποιος άλλωστε δεν γνωρίζει την μικροσκοπική συγγραφέα με την ζωηρή φαντασία που καθιερώθηκε ως ένα από τα δημοφιλέστερα ονόματα της παγκόσμιας αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας που μεταφράστηκε σε δεκάδες γλώσσες, πούλησε εκατομμύρια και εκατομμύρια αντίτυπα ανά τον πλανήτη ενώ οι ιστορίες της μεταφέρθηκαν πολλάκις και στην μεγάλη οθόνη. Και είναι πολύ πιθανόν κάποιοι να σκεφτούν ότι ανοίγω παλιά, σκονισμένα μπαούλα, και ίσως να μην έχουν άδικο ωστόσο, ο χρόνος δεν έχει και τόσο μεγάλη σημασία, ειδικά όταν μιλάμε για ένα έργο που η αξία του είναι διαχρονική και αδιαμφισβήτητη. Άλλωστε, ένα καλό λογοτεχνικό κείμενο, σε όποιο είδος και αν ανήκει, είναι σαν το καλό κρασί. Όσο περισσότερο καιρό μένει στο κελάρι, τόσο καλύτερη είναι και η γεύση που έχει.

Οι "Δέκα Μικροί Νέγροι" είναι το πιο μοσχοπουλημένο βιβλίο της συγγραφέως και βρίσκεται στη λίστα με τα δέκα πιο ευπώλητα βιβλία όλων των εποχών, ξεπερνώντας στις μέρες μας τα 100 εκατομμύρια αντίτυπα, ένας αριθμός που φαντάζομαι αντιλαμβάνεστε από μόνοι σας πόσο τεράστιος είναι. Ουσιαστικά το βιβλίο παίζει με την ιδέα του ομώνυμου παιδικού τραγουδιού στον οποίο και βασίστηκε ο τίτλος του. Δέκα άνθρωποι, οχτώ καλεσμένοι και δύο υπηρέτες, βρίσκονται σε ένα νησί έπειτα από την πρόσκληση κάποιου άγνωστοι και μυστηριώδους οικοδεσπότη ο οποίος ωστόσο, απουσιάζει τόσο από το σπίτι, όσο και από το ίδιο το νησί όταν οι προσκεκλημένοι φτάνουν σε αυτό. Πολύ σύντομα θα διαπιστώσουν πως ο λόγος που δέκα τόσο διαφορετικοί άνθρωποι βρίσκονται την ίδια στιγμή στο ίδιο μέρος, δεν είναι διόλου τυχαίος αφού ο μυστηριώδης οικοδεσπότης γνωρίζει το σκοτεινό μυστικό του θανάτου που κρύβει ο καθένας από αυτούς και φαίνεται πως είναι αποφασισμένος να μην αφήσει κανέναν ζωντανό προκειμένου να αποδοθεί δικαιοσύνη.

Οι δέκα καλεσμένοι γίνονται δέκα υποψήφια θύματα σε ένα αρρωστημένο παιχνίδι δικαίωσης από το οποίο κανένας δεν μπορεί να ξεφύγει αφού ο θύτης έχει φροντίσει να λάβει όλα τα απαραίτητα μέτρα προκειμένου κανείς να μην είναι σε θέση να ξεφύγει. Και τότε είναι που ένας-ένας αρχίζουν να πεθαίνουν κάτω από μυστηριώδεις συνθήκες, ακολουθώντας την μοίρα του παιδικού τραγουδιού που αναφέρθηκε παραπάνω. Τα πράγματα ωστόσο παίρνουν διαφορετική τροπή όταν οι υποψίες όσων παραμένουν ζωντανοί, ακόμα, παύουν να στρέφονται σε ένα ξένο πρόσωπο αλλά, σε κάποιον από αυτούς που βρίσκονται ανάμεσά τους. Και μπορεί να μην διαπιστώνεται τίποτα το πρωτότυπο σε όλο αυτό το σενάριο ωστόσο η συγγραφέας κάνει την μεγάλη έκπληξη και σκοτώνει όλους του ενοίκους, την ίδια στιγμή που το ενδεχόμενο μιας ενδέκατης ύπαρξης πάνω στο νησί έχει αποκλειστεί. Αναρωτιέστε τότε ποιος κάνει τους φόνους και γιατί; Μόνο αν το διαβάσετε θα μπορέσετε να λύσετε και τις δύο απορίες σας.

Πραγματικά βρίσκομαι σε δύσκολη θέση όποτε καλούμαι να μιλήσω για ένα αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα. Συνήθως είναι τόσα πολλά αυτά που θέλω να πω αλλά τόσα λίγα αυτά που μπορώ να αποκαλύψω προκειμένου να μην καταστρέψω το αίσθημα αγωνίας που κάθε μυθιστόρημα του είδους που σέβεται τον εαυτό του πρέπει να έχει. Αυτό που μπορώ να πω μετά βεβαιότητας είναι πως, οι "Δέκα Μικροί Νέγροι" είναι ένα βιβλίο που δεν στερείται φαντασίας, σε καμία των περιπτώσεων, και το σενάριο του οποίου ξετυλίγεται με τέτοιον τρόπο ώστε να αποκαλύπτονται τόσα όσα πρέπει προκειμένου να μην πλήττουμε ούτε λεπτό αλλά από την άλλη, τόσα ώστε να μην μπορούμε να καταλήξουμε σε κανένα λογικό συμπέρασμα, σε κανέναν επιβεβαιωμένο ένοχο, μέχρι την στιγμή που η αυλαία πέφτει με έναν εντυπωσιακό τρόπο, με την συγγραφέα να μας αποδεικνύει πως όταν η φαντασία και η ευστροφία δίνουν ραντεβού, όλα μπορούν να συμβούν.

Μπορεί στο παρελθόν να έχετε διαβάσει αναφορές μου στην Agatha Christie μέσα από τις οποίες να διαπιστώσατε ότι ναι μεν μου αρέσουν οι ιστορίες της και ο τρόπος που αυτές εξελίσσονται ωστόσο, κάποιες από αυτές με κουράζουν ως προς τον τρόπο αφήγησης. Οι "Δέκα Μικροί Νέγροι" σίγουρα δεν είναι ένα από αυτά τα βιβλία της. Ο μηχανισμός εξέλιξης της πλοκής είναι εξαιρετικός, η δράση κυλάει με σταθερά γρήγορο αλλά όχι αποπνικτικό ρυθμό και το γεγονός ότι όλοι είναι ένοχοι αλλά και αθώοι συνάμα, θύτες και θύματα στο ίδιο παιχνίδι, καθιστά γοητευτική την ανάγνωση από την αρχή μέχρι και το τέλος όπου η δίνεται η πολύπλοκη και ταυτόχρονα, η πολύ απλή λύση, σε ένα σταυρόλεξο για δυνατούς λύτες, από μια ευφυή και ευφάνταστη συγγραφέα. Αν το έχετε στην βιβλιοθήκη σας, ξεθάψτε το. Αν όχι, όλο και σε κάποιο βιβλιοπωλείο θα το βρείτε.

[eme czerny. · Rating 5 out of 5]

ㅤ❛ㅤ Cuando se calme la marejada, vendrán en nuestro socorro. Encontrarán sobre la isla del Negro diez cadáveres y un problema indescifrable. ㅤ❜

ㅤ Calificación: ✦✦✦✦✦

ㅤ Trigger warnings: asesinatos y suicidio.

ㅤ Y no quedó ninguno es la primera obra que leo de Agatha Christie y decir que me fascinó hasta podría ser una opinión sutil. La composición de una atmósfera de misterio sumerge al lector a un sinfín de teorías respecto a lo que sucede a lo largo del libro, uno se convierte tanto detective como víctima de los perversos juegos del enigmático U. N. Owen.

ㅤ El libro comienza con la presentación de los diez personajes que son invitados a la célebre Isla del Negro. Cada uno de ellos acude con un móvil distinto, alentados por un propósito personal que va desde una propuesta laboral hasta el dinero sin más.

ㅤ La variedad de individuos es notoria, son de distintas clases sociales, con diferentes profesiones y fuertes personalidades. Ninguno tiene algo en común con el otro y sin embargo se encuentran en la isla.

ㅤ Durante la primera noche se manifiesta una grabación en la que se acusa a cada individuo de verse involucrado en la muerte de una persona con las que han coincidido en cierto momento a lo largo de sus vidas. En efecto los personajes desmienten las declaraciones, alegando que se trataron de accidentes o medidas laborales justas. Sin embargo las sospechas se alzan y empeoran en el momento en que comienzan a suceder las misteriosas muertes.

ㅤ Atrapados en la isla los días pasan, el número de muertes crece, la confianza comienza a carecer desde el momento en que especulan que su anfitrión se encuentra entre ellos y los está asesinando uno a uno, siguiendo los macabros versos de una canción de cuna.

ㅤ Esta obra resulta atrapante desde el comienzo, un clásico que vale muchísimo la pena leer.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed comparing the play to the book, which I read a few years ago.

Subtext: *chef's kiss*
Character dynamics and relationships: *chef's kiss*
Mystery & plot: *chef's kiss*

Reading this play and "The Unexpected Guest" have me started on a big Agatha Christie kick! Will be reading more of her work soon and watching theatrical and film adaptations of her works!

[Jai · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

The murderer is highly insidious and cunning and is literally the original Jigsaw. Characters tend to fall a bit flat at times but they overall work really well to drive the story and generate a myriad of red herrings. Loved it!

[lids ☆彡 · Rating 5 out of 5]

my adrenaline was literally pumping during my first read

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved this mystery story as a novel, and I really expected the play to be every bit as good as the novel. Agatha Christie wrote both of these works, she streamlined the plot for the play so that it would work better on stage than the dramatizations that people were trying to do of her novel, so it seems like it should have been wonderful. Maybe it's just something you have to see performed, but I didn't care for the play version of this work much at all.

Ten murders is a lot to cover in the course of a three act play. You have to have characters dropping dead constantly, and that really doesn't lead to much build up of suspense, anxiety, or tension, and it doesn't give the reader much time to study the characters or to form pet theories about whodunit. There simply was no time for the reader to get involved, or edgy, because the murders were practically back to back. For me, reading this was like reading a slasher play, and I'm pretty sure that's not the effect Dame Agatha was trying to achieve. Although, what do I know? Maybe she liked slasher stuff just as much as the next Dame.

[brad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say that the this is my favorite novel of all Agatha Christie's books. The play, on the other hand, not so much. I hated the happy ending version of this play. It just does not fit the darker, and in my opinion, better ending in the original book. It wasn't until I finished reading the copy of the play that I had, that I found out that other copies of the play have BOTH endings included. Also, it really bothered me how the male characters treat the female characters in this play. They really patronize them and talk down to them. Calling them "hysterical." Wouldn't you be too, knowing that a killer is loose on the island, killing off the guests one by one, and you have no way off the island?!?! Also, most of the killings happen offstage, which in my opinion, lessens the dramatic impact of the show. And one in particular, I laughed out loud because it was so preposterous. I am sure the audience for this show will too. I am not sure if there are other versions of this play out there, but I'm hoping that they adapt the 2015 BBC version with Charles Dance, Sam Neil, Miranda Richardson, and Aiden Turner. That version is top notch and the tension is so palatable, you can cut it with a knife.

[Lăcră Grozăvescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Zece negrii mititei au mâncat la cină ouă
Unul s-a-necat din ei şi-au rămas doar nouă.
Nouă negrii mititei au stat noaptea până-n zori
Unu-a adormit din ei şi-au rămas doar opt.
Opt negrii mititei au mers la Devon în noapte
Unul nu s-a-ntors din ei şi-au rămas doar şapte.
Şapte negrii mititei spărgeau lemne lânga casă
Unul s-a tăiat din ei si-au rămas doar şase.
Şase negrii mititei se jucau cu-albine mici
Pe unul l-au pişcat din ei şi-au rămas doar cinci.
Cinci negrii mititei îndrăgeau legea,nu teatrul
Unul s-a făcut jurist şi-au rămas doar patru.
Patru negrii mititei merg la mare,drăguţeii
Unul fu-necat din ei şi-au rămas doar trei.
Trei negrii mititei merg la zoo-n papuci noi
Pe-unul ursul l-a mâncat şi-au ramas doar doi.
Doi negrii mititei făceau plajă ca nebunii
Unul s-a prăjit din ei şi-a ramas doar unul
Unu negru mititel trăia singur-singurel
Întro-zi s-a spânzurat şi n-a mai rămas nici el "

[Ryan Chang · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps the greatest mystery of all is why Agatha Christie changed the ending when adapting her own story to the stage. I get that audiences probably want a happy ending but it feels so out of nowhere when compared to the darker ending in the book. Sped through this thing while listening to the Glass Onion soundtrack. Decent vibes were had but the changed ending really soured the experience

[Micca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serious case of whodunnit til the very end! Such a page turner filled with colourful characters. I was suspicious of everyone, and the culprit and how they committed the crime left me breathless. This was my first Agatha Christie book and I can't wait to read more!

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Interesting play. It’s nice to finally read the original concept of so many tropes in novels. I was pleasantly surprised by the play having not been fully familiar with the concept. I would prefer the play to be longer but it certainly wasn’t bad.

[Liza Ruda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Интересно... и страшно)

[Alex]

Love this play and the ending is a lot happier but I think the book is quite a bit better and does more of what Agatha was going for...I think she tried to appeal to her audience here a bit more.

[Loc'd Booktician · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book had me hooked from the beginning to the end. If you are looking for a murder mystery get into this book.

[Arun Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again brilliant.

I liked it that there is different ending than the novel.

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, solid whodunnit.

[Yudit · Rating 3 out of 5]

And Then There Were none is my favorite book, so reading the play version by Christie was obviously the next step for me. As my favorite book, I have read it many many times. The characters feel like old friends and I even know lines. Having seen movies based on the play, I knew the play would be different and enjoyed noticing the differences. I liked seeing what lines were the same and also seeing different characters have more screen time. This made for kind of a new experience. I can't say I liked the changed ending, although it is kind of a fun alternate reality. Obviously this is a play so it has to be shorter than the book, so parts of it kind of went by quickly and felt rushed. They also cut scenes out and had them spoken in dialogue instead which felt choppy. If you didn't know the story well you might be confused.
But if you're an avid fan of the original novel, this is a fun read and different enough to make it exciting in that you don't know what she'll change. It's also great that it was written by Agatha Christie and not someone else.

[Artemis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This used to be called Ten Little Indians after the rhyme, but it's now called And Then There Were None. I saw the play in college, and it was excellent. The book had a different ending, but it was still excellent. Highly recommended!

[Matilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly rate reading plays aloud with friends

[Mariana · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first read this play, as preparation for my upcoming role in it this June, I gave it 4 stars, same as I did the book. But now that rehearsals have started and I've been forced to really analyse the play in order to perform it, I've realised just how weak it actually is. I had come to a similar conclusion when rehearsing The Mousetrap two years ago, also by Agatha Christie. But The Mousetrap has the advantage of being written directly for the stage by a more experienced hand (it was written later than And Then There Were None, if I'm not mistaken).
And Then There Were None however, is an adaptation. And not just any adaptation, it is the adaptation of one of Christie's most acclaimed novels, and my personal favourite. There's a reason why the book is so well-loved - it's dark, suspenseful, macabre and truly sinister. All the characters really are guilty of the crimes they're accused of, and they all get punished accordingly. In the play however, this changes. I don't know why - from what I've heard, someone wanted to adapt the book for the stage, and when Agatha Christie heard about this, she decided to do it for herself. Most authors who do this choose to do it to protect the integrity of their work, but that is not the case this time around. I don't know if she was constrained by theatre producers to change the tone and ending of the story, or if she chose to do it herself for other reasons, but the end result is a far weaker version of an (let's face it) already flawed novel.
So, in the play, Claythorne and Lombard are actually innocent of their crimes and end up together. Considering that in the original story, Vera actually kills Lombard and is then driven by accumulating guilt to commit suicide, this ending seems contrived at best. And Agatha does try to throw the two together throughout the play, but considering the situation both characters are in, that, at least to me, makes no sense at all. Both should be on their guard and suspicious of everyone else on the island, particularly after all the deaths start. But no, these two just flirt everytime they're on stage together, clearly as an attempt to justify the very silly ending - which it fails miserably to do, I have to say. In case you're wondering, Vera still shoots Lombard in the end, when they're left alone and she's convinced he's behind all the deaths on Soldier Island. Then the judge shows up and claims responsibility as he presents her with a noose - all the while explaining his intentions rather stupidly, but for the benefit of the audience. Vera screams that she's innocent, but the judge needs to kill her according to the rhyme, it has now become an obsession with him - but then, in an amazing (not) twist, it turns out Lombard is still alive, he manages to shoot the judge and save Vera in the process. She's very relieved she didn't actually kill him, to which he fantastically replies something like "thank goodness women can't shoot straight". WHAT??? And then they kiss, right after Lombard reveals there's actually a different ending to the infamous rhyme, in which the last little soldier gets married. Um... okay. I have a feeling I'm going to hear giggling in the audience when I'm performing this scene...
And then there are all the other little problems, e.g.: General Mackenzie is, according to the stage directions, in full view of the audience for a long time until he is discovered to be dead, but the the judge (who is later revealed to be the mastermind serial killer behind the whole plot) never even goes near him. And Mackenzie's back is turned to the audience the entire time, so how did the knife get in there, we're all wondering? For a first-time audience, I'm sure all of this will be forgotten in the thrill of everything else that will be going on. And if the acting is very good, maybe they'll even forgive the extremely contrived Vera / Lombard romance. But anyone with a modicum of intelligence who watches this or even reads it a second time will be sure to start poking holes in it. And with very good reason, I'm sorry to say.

[Ali Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten Little Indians, and Then There Were None
Ten guests are invited to a secluded island, each tricked into thinking they were invited by an old friend or being contracted for their work. Their mysterious host fails to show up and at dinner and a recording is played, accusing all of the guests of murder, saying, “There was a silence—a comfortable replete silence. Into that silence came The Voice. Without warning, inhuman, penetrating . . . “Ladies and gentlemen! Silence, please! . . . You are charged with the following indictments”. Then, people start to die. In the nature of the book, there are many characters with many backstories. In the beginning of the novel, all the characters deny the murders they are accused of. As the book continues, the reader begins to understand more about each character through indirect characterization. Armstrong is a bit naïve, Vera is easily traumatized, Emily is self-righteous, and Mr. Rogers sticks to his habits, just to name a few. We learn the most about those characters who survive the longest. As the book progresses, the reader also learns more about the crimes each character committed, crimes which would be very difficult to prosecute in a court of law.
The tone of the book is one of suspense. It is a murder mystery so the tone is very fitting. Agatha Christie keeps the reader guessing to the very end. Even at the end, the reader is unsure as to who the murderer is. The facts seem to contradict themselves, for the reader is lead to believe Justice Wargrave is, in fact, dead. In a mystery novel, the author typically gives the reader facts and attempts to set up a trail to lead them to the guilty party. However, in this case, the reader does no know that the Justice is still alive and, consequently, is turned in circles, trying to figure out what they missed. Like other books by Agatha Christie, one of the major themes in And Then There Were None is justice. The book was set up in a very meticulous way with very close attention to detail. In the end, it is revealed that Justice Wargrave killed the others and them himself, administering ‘justice’ to those he deemed guilty. Wargrave planned it all very carefully, not to make sure he wouldn’t get caught, but to make sure the others got what they deserved. Another theme is the danger of stereotyping. Dr. Armstrong trusted Justice Wargrave because he was of high class distinction. This trust resulted in his death, as Wargrave was the killer. Also, Lombard mistakenly believed that Vera, because she was a woman, was not capable of murder. He was proved wrong when they were the last two on the island and he rushed at her and she shot him.
I enjoyed the fact that I couldn’t figure this mystery out, even though it may have driven me crazy at the time. The book was interesting and I liked how it followed the poem it was based off of. The book was a little slow moving in the beginning but I learned to appreciate the time it took to set up the climax. I enjoyed the book, overall, and would recommend it to those who love to play detective. Just make sure you have a little time and a pencil and paper!

[Ls · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Then There Were None

"And Then There Were None": A book that goes from confusing to killer!

“In the midst of life, we are in death.” This single quote from "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie truly summarizes the feel of the entire book. U.N. Owen, an unknown murder, sent ten people to Soldier’s Island. The people had no idea that they were going to be the subjects of a murder. The ten terrified people collaborated with one another, trying to solve their own murder mystery. One by one they were killed, but their murder was never caught. Will we ever find out who U.N. Owen is, or will the murders of ten people go unsolved forever?

Overall, I just love the delivery of the story by Agatha Christie. The poem below was the basis for the entire story.

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

This poem was hung throughout the house on Soldier’s Island. The people on the island all knew what their fate would be before it even happened. The way that the author made the reader just as clueless as the characters in the story, truly gave the mystery suspense. Even though everyone knew how the next person would die, no one knew who would be killed next. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, old fashion, murder mystery.

The only thing I disliked about the entire book was the beginning. It was hard to get into. Since there were so many characters that needed to be introduced, I was never able to connect, or relate to any of them. However, regardless of this, I would 100% recommend this book to fellow readers. As long as you can get past the book’s slow start, you will be hooked!

[Tina Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the play, right? I'm being super sneaky (which I know is voided by my telling you about it) and reviewing just this play even though I own a collection of Agatha's plays which is where I read this one. But perhaps I'll just review them all separately as I read them?

Okay, well, that was more my note than for you, unfortunate person who is reading my review. I tend to ramble a lot which is why you're unfortunate. Not that you're really an unfortunate person, just unfortunate because you happen to be reading my ramblings. Honestly, I know nothing about you so I can't rightly say if you're really unfortunate--

Nevermind, I'm going to talk about the play now and stop making judgments about you, the reader of the review. Anyway, I read this book with my book club as a companion to the actual And Then There Were None novel. Which was great for me since I actually love plays more than I love novels. (Which has entirely to do with my love of dialogue and conversations.)

I'll admit, I was a bit worried at first about how this one would all play out. I'm generally under the impression that adaptions by the original author are better. But then I read the introduction to my copy in which Ira Levin explained that Agatha felt other people were writing play adaptions of her novels TOO CLOSE to the original novel and that scared me a bit. I mean, wouldn't too close be better?

But then I actually read the play and could see what she meant by that. And I agree. I think it's better that she condensed and skipped on some of the details. Even though it was a short novel, with all the details from it included, well, this play would've have worked so well.

However, the changes Agatha made and the way it all played out in the end turned out rather well. I honestly think I may have liked the play quite a bit more than the novel. It all turned out nicely and I liked the changed ending of the play so much more than the novel. I mean, as a novel, the original ending really worked and it was well written and everything. But since the play is a different medium, I think it worked better to give the audience the ending they wanted.

I'd be very interested to see this actually performed as a play and actually have the chance to see how it plays out three dimensionally instead of, well, in a book, haha. Overall, though, I quite enjoyed the play. I'm glad I read it and could compare it to the novel. That's definitely an action I'd recommend taking. They're both great works and both deserve to be read, especially right together.

[Brogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author-
I think that with the author of and then were none did a amazing job at creating this play book that makes people actually want to read it. I think that with how old this book is it makes sense to me that the author did a really good job with writing something that makes people want to read something that it pretty old. but I think that the author did a great job. I think that the idea of what the author had was a great idea.

Book review-

And then there was none, which was a really good book about a play, and when I was reading it, I thought it was really cool because I don't normally read books about a play. I normally am a person who reads books that are about history or that are about something that happened in the past, or like a story, but not a play-type book. I always thought that books about a play aren't the best to read and wont be a fun and cool book. But when I was reading and there were none, I think it changed the way I think about books about plays. Here is what I thought about, and then there were none. I know that reading it has differently sparked a interest in reading more books like this. I think that from the story it tells about the interest of how human nature and how it acts is really cool because it made me more curious about what was happening and I feel that it made me more into the book the more I read. I think reading it in two days made me want to keep reading more, and I kinda wanted more to have something that brings me into reading more. I think that with reading and there were none has help me to understand what the books are more like. With having to read a shorter book about a play, I think that the way they had to explain everything was like a play in my head, and I kept going and doing it.

If I had to give a rating 1 out of 5 I would give this a 5 because I really liked it and I didn't have anything that I didn't like on there. I was very engded in reading it because it helps me want to read more. That is why I would want to read it again and why I gave it a 5 out of 5.

[Goldnglitta]

And Then There Were None is one of mystery writer Agatha Christie's most recognized works. The story begins with a macabre nursery rhyme that details the demise of 10 little soldiers one by one. The narrative then begins with a first person perspective of 10 strangers, who have all been summoned to a remote island that holds appeal for having once belonged to an eccentric millionaire and his wife.
All are excited and enveloped in their own desires and expectations when they arrive at the island. They fraternize politely with one another and wait all day for their mysterious host, whom none of them have actually seen. This oddity seems relatively minor until that night, when in the middle of tea, a record begins playing that indicts each and every guest as a murderer who got away with it. This spooks the guests and they all vehemently deny these accusations, but nevertheless, amidst trying to make sense of all this, the first guest chokes on his drink and dies. And the next morning, another guest dies in her sleep. One by one, each of the guests die off according to the nursery rhyme that was told at the beginning.
This ultimately leads the guests to the conclusion that there is a murderer among them. Suspicion and paranoia ensue as the guest make enemies and forge alliances, all in an effort to solve the mystery and make it off the island alive.

I enjoyed reading this novel, and I think it would hold students' attention well because it is so interesting and fast-paced. It also very engaging because it gets you to try and figure out who the murderer is, which lends itself to literacy skills such as making predictions. Also warrants a study in the first person narrative style.

1. Is the sense of justice portrayed by the murderer valid?
2. How did the guests react to the situation they were in? What would you do?
3. How does the murderer maintain control of the situation? Does he/she ever lose control of the situation?

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been trying to get my hands on this book ever since I found out it ended differently than the book. While I adore the book, I wished that it had ended differently (although I do admire the brilliance of the ending). When I finished it in January, I discovered it was a play, then I discovered that the play ended the way I wanted the book to- I was sold. I HAD to get that play. I was absolutely giddy when I got my hands on the play yesterday and read it that night. It. Was. PERFECT. The dialogue was perfect, the plot was perfect, the stage was perfect, everything about this play was perfect to me. That's because Agatha Christie wrote it, rather than someone trying to adapt her characters and story for the stage. Agatha knew her cast like the back of her hand and knew theater just as well. I love her unique way of describing the stage and different emotions, she always has the exact word for everything, and I love it! Take one of my favorite parts for example, when Vera goes off stage and screams. "(An appalling and blood-curdling shriek of utter terror comes from overhead and a heavy thud)" I love it.
Overall, the play was brilliant, the ending was fabulous, and I'm going to go read it again. *waves bye and grabs play and runs off*

[Aden · Rating 2 out of 5]

"And then there were NONE" This is the name of the novel and also my favorite quote of the book because it really gives you a cliffhanger/Red herrings and foreshadowing the books theme. This is a book about 10 characters that have killed people in there life and got away with it. They are all invited to a house on an island over a holiday. They all have there reasons to go but as the book goes on one by one a killer in the house kills them all tell there is none as the title hints. I am not a big fan of the book i think it was long and drawn out when we already know what is going to happen at the end. Its interesting in the ways we get to find out how people get killed and what order but I wasn't interested in the book when I know the final outcome. My favorite scene was when they all show up at the house and they are all judging each other especially the snotty girl. I don't think the book or movie was the best they had the same scene but used in different ways but if I had to choose one it would be the movie i think it went through the plot more smoothly. I think the read was long and not very much excitement in it so I believe a older reader would like it more.