And Then There Were None

Agatha Christy is one of the world's best selling authors, having sold over two billion books, with And Then There Were None being her bestselling work, selling over 100 million copies. And for good reason. And Then There Were None is a gripping thriller of the highest caliber with many truly haunting moments, enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and an ending that may well leave many in complete confusion. The twist for this book (and the one that, in my opinion, makes this book so great) is the fact that one of the ten characters, to which you'll grow quite attached, is a murderer.

Story: I wish I could explain more about the story but to be honest, the story is hard to explain without revealing too many spoilers. So for the propose of this review, I will only explain the story up to a certain point. In the first few chapters we are introduced to almost every character in the story. Each seems completely unrelated to the others; a retired judge, a secretary, a soldier of fortune, and a detective, to name a few. Each are invited to spend some time on Indian Island, an island off the coast of Devonshire with a somewhat usual history. Once the eight invited guests and the two staff are gathered, the story begins. After supper the guests and the staff are having a few drinks in the parlor when a disembodied voice accuses all ten individuals of murder, each one after the other. One is accused of drowning a boy, another of murder in the medical field, one of ordering a suicide mission during the great war. This shocks everyone in the room, even causing one lady to faint. After a chapter or so of discussion and figuring out where the accusatory voice came from, the first of the ten is killed. After a quick autopsy by the only doctor on the island, it is revealed that they were killed by use of potassium cyanide, which was placed into the deceased glass of whiskey. But only one of the nine now remaining accused could have put it in their drink.

Themes: This should come as no surprise to anybody, And Then There Were None is a murder mystery, and as such, the themes revolve around murder. It would be hard to say that And Then There Were None is not a violent book, not necessarily graphic, but violent non the less. It should also be noted that there is mild language throughout. I would not recommend this book for anyone under the age of thirteen, or for those who are affected strongly by books.

Opinion: And Then There Were None is one on my favorite books of all time. Only a few other books have sucked me in so completely, and the only one that gave me chills throughout. The characters are likable and you will be constantly trying to figure out who is the killer. The book will constantly surprise you with new developments and keep you on the edge of your seat. The pacing is also excellent. There is a reason that And Then There Were None is the best selling mystery of all time. I'm giving And Then There Were None, a 9.3 out of 10.

- Ron Murphy,