Then There Were None

by B.P. Smythe

Lydia Perkins is a struggling actress desperately looking for work. Drifting from one unsuccessful audition to the next and always being pipped at the post by younger and prettier actresses for good drama parts that could enhance her career. However, her agent Maurice Weinstock informs her that a fantastic part has just come up for grabs. It’s to play the wife in a TV sitcom. There are four other actresses after the part so he can’t promise anything. Lydia knows the actresses. She will stop at nothing including murder to get the right part for money and fame. Even if it means killing off the competition to land the lucrative TV sitcom role. Lydia knows how to handle a gun. Having grown up on her parent’s farm. She learnt how to shoot helping her father kill foxes and vermin as well as providing game for the Sunday roast. One by one Lydia kills off the opposition. It comes easy for her. She has killed before. Newspaper headlines called it a family tragedy with her parents shot dead by her sister suffering from depression. Only Lydia knows the truth. 

82 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2018

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed "Then There Were None", it was a smashing weekend read that was fun, enjoyable and a pleasure to read. With having such an entertaining storyline it keeps you reading the whole book in one go and with a twist at the end it really did make for an engaging read.
Lydia Perkins is a struggling actress, desperately looking for work. However, her agent informs her that a fantastic part has just come up for grabs, it's to play the wife in a TV sitcom but there are four other actresses after the part. Lydia knows the actresses. She will stop at nothing to get the right part for money and fame. Even if it means killing off the competition to land the lucrative role, so one by one Lydia kills off the opposition. It comes easy for her. She has killed before.......
Lydia was one cruel, selfish and sadistic woman who stopped at nothing to get what she wanted at all costs! There was just the right amount of violence and gore to support the story and it was intriguing to learn Lydia's past history, from being young to her troubles with her husband and how all this had an impact on her current psychological condition.
The author B. P. Smythe has published short stories before (From a Poison Pen books) and is quite adept at intriguing the reader in short bursts. He has a fabulous imagination and mixed with his excellent writing skills produces some great work and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him or his books and I'd happily read more again.

4 stars

[windinthewilloreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I loved this , what a twisted character Lydia is , I wouldn’t like to be in her way . This is a very fast paced story , I read it in one sitting . I liked the writing style B.p. Smythe has one heck of an imagination , and a flair for really good short stories.

[Reading Badger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lately, I was a sucker for the good thriller, criminal cases books. And “Then There Were None” came at a very good timing when I was waiting for a new intriguing story.
Many thanks go to the author himself, B.P. Smythe, who was kind enough to send us a copy of his latest book for an honest review.
In a very quiet weekend, this book completed the atmosphere with an interesting criminal case, but with some little minuses, I will tell you about.

Lydia Perkins is an actress who makes desperate efforts to become famous.
Her agent tells her about a new role which could bring her fame, but there are 4 more actresses who part her from the winning.
The author spoils from the very beginning what Lydia will do to her future victims and in which way. She plans to kill every actress, one by one, until she remains the only candidate to the sitcom role.
This part, in which the author reveals Lydia’s plan, somehow disappointed me, because what I really enjoy at criminal books is to discover the murderer or to be in a constant suspense.
But this unusual part of a thriller book compensated with a nice writing style, very easy to follow and to read.
After a divorce and a crime she already committed in the past, Lydia is now more selfish and cruel. Nothing can stop her to get what she wants, by any means. Here you find our review: https://readingbadger.club/2018/05/14...

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short book was kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an unbiased review and is the third book of his that I have now read. B.P. Smythe has some truly excellent ideas for plots and stories, all very macabre though and generally with a twist at the end. In this tale, the main protagonist, Lydia Perkins, clearly has a mental illness / personality disorder and a dark past. A struggling actress, Lydia is desperate to get a lucrative part in a TV sitcom. Just how desperate becomes apparent on only page 5 (of the total 110 pages) when she read a rather bizarre poem sitting on her agent’s desk. The existence of this poem I found sat oddly in the plot and was never explained. However, using this as a starting point, she begins to kill off her competitors ruthlessly and with no remorse … As the book is so short there is little to no character development which is a shame as one is not enabled to feel much empathy for the victims and none at all for the cruel, heartless Lydia. My only other criticism is that there were a number of spelling, grammar and typographical errors that the services of a good proofreader should have removed e.g. “her parents will” (sic), “physiatrist” (sic), etc. However, if one is looking for a quick, non-taxing but intriguing read with a twist then this is for you.

[Ryan Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fun, light novel and quick read, but the characters lacked real depth to make this a great read.

A lot happens to Lydia, but you never really get much sense of her as a character.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I’d started this at a different time I’d have definitely read it in one sitting. My favourite B.P.Smyth to date. I look forward to reading more. Thanks for the opportunity to review your work.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but excellent tale from BP Smythe. Up there with the best stories from From a Poison Pen by the same author. Like that short story collection, this reminds me of Tales of the Unexpected at it's best. Gruesome and clever murders with a delicious unexpected twist at the end. Excellent writing.

Ray Smillie

[Emma Ferrier · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

I was kindly sent a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. At first I was wary, as a self published title there were some typos and five pages in we were already seeing some of the inexplicable, unrealistic aspects this book has - I mean, WHY does the agent have that poem in a frame on his desk? wtf??

HOWEVER, despite the utter weirdness and the unlikelihood that this woman has committed so many sloppy murders without even being connected to half of these people, let alone be a suspect, I had to rate this book 3.75 stars as I read it in one sitting. I was compelled to keep reading just to see what else she'd do. It's by no means a literary masterpiece or an incredible mystery/crime/thriller book but it's certainly entertaining which is exactly what you need at times. I would happily read more from this author and highly recommend to those looking for some lighthearted entertainment with a darker edge to it!

[Danni The Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect from this story as it is only a small book of 110 pages. The start for me could of had more depth and more of a build up for the start of the story, instead of running straight into what was going to happen, some more build up to those events would have held my interest even more, although I did like how the story carried on including the backstory of the main character, which then explained the initial start.
I don't want to give too much away, but I absolutely LOVED the characters of Rick and Sandra, that for the readers will be a real treat I think.
The repetitiveness though of the 4 other characters made the story predictable. I feel like the ideas and plot are brilliant, but with a bit more polish and anticipation the story would have give the reader more.
Overall I really loved this story, defiantly a genre I like.
Definitely give this story a read, either way you will not be disappointed. Very excited to see what more B.P.Smythe has to offer.

[John Naylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy directly from the author on exchange for an honest review.

The first thing I will say about this book is that it sets out a path early on and doesn't divert from it. This is unusual in novels and shows a focus that some books lack.
It features a lot of deaths and although it doesn't dwell on the planning of these deaths it does show how they could be seen as accidents not murder.
There are some typos present but not enough to distract from the story. I do feel that the main character could have been stretched out more. You get details on how she is but not much on who she is. I feel another 20-30 pages would have made this a more satisfying reading experience.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very short - only 110 pages - so there is very little character development, which is a shame as, ultimately, I was disinterested in the fate of each of the victims because we know so little about them. The main protagonist, Lydia Perkins, has a colourful past, which could have been further developed to create more of an emotional tie to her. As it was, I found her highly unlikeable and had no empathy for her and the difficult times she had been through in her formative years.

It's a quick read with moments of dark humour so if you're looking for something not too taxing to read by the pool this summer, it could be just the thing.
Full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good thriller and Then There Were None did not disappoint. I was hooked from the first page and if I hadn’t started it late at night and had to get up early the next morning I would have read it in one go.
It is a very fast paced book with twists and shocks along the way. Lydia Perkins was the main character and she wants a part in a tv sitcom which pays a lot of money but she is up against it, with her age and other actresses who are more successful, she thinks of a way of getting the part. Er find ourselves going into Lydia’s past and finding out more about her, however some of it did make me feel a bit uneasy, I am not going to say which part but you will know when you read it.
The book was well put together and well written and for the majority I enjoyed it.
If you are looking for a good quick thriller I would definitely recommend this book.

[Shirley Hallam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author kindly sent me an advance copy in return for an honest review so strap in! The plot device is fun and engaging but unfortunately the writing style and characterisation doesn’t match. There is a massive plot spoiler on page 5 and after that the rest of the book was a perfunctory read. The subplot with the ex husband and mistress (Rick and Sandra) was just too weird. The character names and much of the language was cliched and dated.
That said, I did keep going to the end to see if it would improve (it didn’t but it is mercifully short)!

[Tobyann Aparisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads (print version) for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! The story is fresh and exciting, this is a real page-turner! I was able to read this great story in just a short time. The characters are complex and wonderfully designed, the scenery is well defined and makes for a descriptive backdrop to the story. This is a very descriptive story with a terrific plot it is engaging and keeps you guessing, what a wonderful twist at the end. I highly recommend this story to anyone that likes a good story with plenty of moxie. Well done!!

[Melissa J (Book Addicts Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!

This is a short story. A mystery, thriller and crazy ass book.

I enjoyed this super quick read. The writing was actually quite well and I love the plot.

My concerns with the book is I felt it was super cheesy and once you read the first few pages you know the rest of the story. Sadly. BUT I will say my favorite parts of the book we’re looking into Lydia’s past. I really enjoyed that and I think if it was spelled out and things were an actual mystery this book could be 5 stars!!

**The author kindly sent me an autographed paperback in exchange for a review**

[Katie Warburton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting as it is quite a short book, more like a novella. The storyline was good and I enjoyed reading it. The book was predictable from the start and could have done with more filler, I found it finished too quickly and would have liked it to have been longer with more detail, making it perhaps less predictable. Still, I thought, as a quick read, it was good.

[susan murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book I enjoyed start to finish.
Storyline is easy to follow and humorous at times. The main character is definitely a bit crazy and wants to make sure she gets this role plus do whatever she has to do to finally get the part.

[Aileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just over 100 pages long and this was the sole reason I stuck with it. A story about a serial-killer actress which would have been better if not for so many glaring spelling mistakes and grammatical errors almost on every page, which just got irritating.

[Charlotte O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun easy to read page turner. The main character, a sociopath, decides the best way to secure an acting role is to off the competition in some creative ways. Really enjoyed it, would recommend!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a refreshing book! So different and easy to read. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super quick read being a short story I read it in an hour.
The story is about a psychopath woman who kills four other actresses for a part.
Awarded this book three stars as I felt the character, Lydia could have been a little more developed.
There was a minor twist at the end which is why I awarded it three v two stars.
Kerry Kennedy Author