Scan barcode
johannabeek's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
devanshi_2604's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
alongreader's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
4.5
And Then There Were None is widely regarded as one of Agatha Christie’s finest works, and it’s not hard to see why. The story is a masterclass in suspense and tension, bringing together ten strangers who are gradually picked off in accordance with a sinister nursery rhyme. With each murder, the noose tightens as paranoia sets in, and everyone starts to suspect one another.
One of the novel's great strengths is how Christie manages to give each of the characters enough depth and distinct traits that they stand out, despite the fact that they’re all doomed from the start. Each is guilty of a crime, whether through malice, negligence, or circumstance, and the island becomes a place where justice is served—though not in any form they could have imagined. The isolated setting creates an eerie atmosphere, amplifying the sense of entrapment as the characters' numbers dwindle.
What makes And Then There Were None so brilliant is how Christie plays with the reader’s expectations. The pace of the killings, the growing paranoia, and the way in which she drops clues and red herrings ensure that you’re constantly trying to solve the puzzle, second-guessing yourself until the final shocking twist. Even those familiar with the conventions of the mystery genre may find themselves surprised by the end.
The nursery rhyme motif that runs throughout the novel is a stroke of genius, adding a darkly playful tone to the unfolding horror. Every death mirrors the verses in the rhyme, creating a grim sense of inevitability that keeps you turning the pages. The methodical nature of the murders and the underlying question of whether there’s any justice being served make this much more than a simple whodunnit—it’s a haunting exploration of guilt, accountability, and fate. The fact that we're left unsure of some people's guilt or innocence adds an uneasy layer to the story. Christie's writing style is notably direct and to the point, eschewing the in-depth character development and world-building often found in modern fiction.
This particular edition, with its sealed letter revealing the solution only after the reader finishes, adds an interactive element, making the experience feel almost like a puzzle that you’re invited to solve alongside the characters. Even if you’ve read the story before, this version adds a fresh layer of fun.
For recommendations:
- Book: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – For its psychological tension and masterfully built suspense with a surprising twist.
- Movie: Clue (1985) – For a murder mystery with a twist of dark comedy and an isolated setting where the cast is whittled down one by one.
ellas_novels's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
elinec's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
talanafaye's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jasiuuu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve participated in a reading challenge this year to push my reading boundaries and preconceptions. Also to stop me bulk reading Regency Romance novels and longing for me in breeches…
My expectations of ‘And then there were none’ was rather low because I imagined that it would be a rather English and twee story written in a flowery and overly literary style. This was not – for the most part – the case at all. I was genuinely surprised at how much I loved this book and was annoyed that my honeymoon interrupted and stopped me reading it in one sitting.
First impression was that there were far too many characters with rather convoluted histories. How would I remember them all and any on-going plots? Rather easily as it turned out! It helped that the cast was rapidly dwindling, so although there were a great number of characters, they weren’t all around throughout the whole novel.
I rather liked all of the characters; they were all individual with different personalities, pasts and plots. I felt sympathetic toward them, suspicious of them and anxious for them. I was genuinely tense throughout the novel, and yet there wasn’t anything overly sinister about the book, it wasn’t overly creepy or gory. I suppose because it was all so methodical and planned that I felt tense.
I actually suspected the actual killer of being the killer – until a certain event that put me onto a different path – so the ending was genuinely surprising to me. At first I was a little worried that we weren’t going to be told who the killer was! I thought I’d spend the rest of my life wondering. Thankfully this wasn’t the case.
While the writing style was simple but tension building, the characters were empathetic and complex and the plot was wonderfully woven, my favourite element has to be the absolute Britishness of the whole thing. People were being killed left-right and centre, yet the survivors usually got over it, straightened their spines and drank tea together. Sure, there were some internal or muttered suspicions but everyone was so polite to the others.
There was just a delightful moment of machined death and murder, suspicion and tension and then BOOM they’re over it and sitting in the drawing room with tea.
I have always avoided Agatha Christie novels until now, but I'd absolutely read another.
My expectations of ‘And then there were none’ was rather low because I imagined that it would be a rather English and twee story written in a flowery and overly literary style. This was not – for the most part – the case at all. I was genuinely surprised at how much I loved this book and was annoyed that my honeymoon interrupted and stopped me reading it in one sitting.
First impression was that there were far too many characters with rather convoluted histories. How would I remember them all and any on-going plots? Rather easily as it turned out! It helped that the cast was rapidly dwindling, so although there were a great number of characters, they weren’t all around throughout the whole novel.
I rather liked all of the characters; they were all individual with different personalities, pasts and plots. I felt sympathetic toward them, suspicious of them and anxious for them. I was genuinely tense throughout the novel, and yet there wasn’t anything overly sinister about the book, it wasn’t overly creepy or gory. I suppose because it was all so methodical and planned that I felt tense.
I actually suspected the actual killer of being the killer – until a certain event that put me onto a different path – so the ending was genuinely surprising to me. At first I was a little worried that we weren’t going to be told who the killer was! I thought I’d spend the rest of my life wondering. Thankfully this wasn’t the case.
While the writing style was simple but tension building, the characters were empathetic and complex and the plot was wonderfully woven, my favourite element has to be the absolute Britishness of the whole thing. People were being killed left-right and centre, yet the survivors usually got over it, straightened their spines and drank tea together. Sure, there were some internal or muttered suspicions but everyone was so polite to the others.
There was just a delightful moment of machined death and murder, suspicion and tension and then BOOM they’re over it and sitting in the drawing room with tea.
I have always avoided Agatha Christie novels until now, but I'd absolutely read another.