Agatha Christie is one of my favourite authors in Thrilling fictions. And after rolling over nearly all of her books with my big admiration, I can say that 'And then there were none' is worth to be one of her best. Once you take the book, I guarantee that you couldnot be able to get rid of it until you go to the end no matter how your cat is moaning for her dinner.
There is one interesting thing that both genius detectives, Mr Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple whose names enclose with Agatha's books didnot play in this one. Though, it doesnot make the story less any excited, on the contrary, we get more intrigued by the strangers and the mystery cover them without knowing who could uncover it.
The story started with ten perfect strangers who were invited by Mr U.N.Owen. Ten people from various backgrounds (were) gathered at a beautiful island in a summer vacation with different intentions of working, partying or just enjoying a short holiday. Then, right after the first night, they all had the same purpose of surviving.
It was at the end of the pleasant
dinner, The Voice came without any warning. The mysterious high and clear voice from some mysterious place started accusing 10 people for the deaths of 30 others. Those were murders which they had commited directly or indirectly in the past and had gotten away with the law. Here they raised up again, in an isolated island with an unknown killer to help them pay back their debts. From 10 respectful people, they became 10 horrid killers then 10 pathetic victims...
One by one, following an old nursery rhyme which appeared in 10 single rooms and refered to 10 chinese figurines in the sitting room, they were killed.
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 travelling in Devon
One said he would 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 bumble bee stung one and then there were Five
Five little soldier boys going on for law
One got in 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 walkng in the Zoo
A big bear hugged one and then there were Two
Two little soldier boys sitting in the Sun
One got frizzled up and then ther was One
One little soldier boy left all alone
He went and hanged himself
And then there were None
The killer abode strictly by the rhyme and each time one person died, one figurine disappeared. After searching around the island without finding any stranger, it happened that the criminal was amongst the guests........ but, then there were none survived.....
In some versions, the rhyme was 'Ten little nigger boys' or 'Ten little Indian boys' but maybe because of some racial issues, the publisher have changed it into 'Ten soldier boys'. Though, the rest of the story are kept remained and that is enough to ensure a great and worth reading story.
Agatha Christie's books have sold billions copies in the world with more than 100 languages. She is most widely published author of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespear. She commented on this book: 'Ten people had to die without it becoming ridiculous or the murderer being obvious....I was pleased with what I had made of it'
Her idea has been successful. This has the most unobvious ending I have seen in all my crime novels with the most unexpected murderer, the mystery was kept mysterious to the very final page. The plot seem familiar but the content and details are absolutely unique, those that only ingenius Agatha Christie could think of.
Dont you think that murder is so digusting and horrible and think that you could never harm a fly, not to mention a human being? Well, all of 10 guests were so respectful, in their jobs, their behaviours or manners. But just a moment, because of their carelessness, their selfishness, they killed others. It's so easy to kill: a doctor operated when drunk, a soldier took the food and left his accompany to death in the bush, a lady expelled a maid while she was in need and gave her no choice but drowing herself etc. It's so easy to murder others when we just think of ourselves. We, sometimes, could kill directly or indirectly, not only physically but mentally or emotionally and sometimes we might not aware of it,
Enjoy it and never go to party of someone you're not sure that you know them, especially if it's hold in an island, especially if you have done something guilty (like forget to feed your cat...) 
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29.12.2006 20:48
A superb review! I am ashamed to say I have never read any Agatha Christie novels but I hope to one of these days! Honest! Derek.
27.12.2006 11:18
I don't really like her long novels but her short stories are fantastic! :o)
18.12.2006 22:03
I bought a copy of this today for 85p from a charity shop lol. I recognised the title from a review I read (quite possibly yours) so thought I'd give it a go :-)