A review by foramen_magnum
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

dark 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

3.5

Agatha Christie at some of her most genre defining -- you know all along that there's some trick, but without a Belgian detective to point it out to you, you go through the whole book not entirely sure what it could be. 

A group of seemingly random people are invited to a mysterious island for various reasons. Quickly, they realize they all have a secret that has led to their invitation.... And may lead to their deaths, as dictated by an eerie children's rhyme. What's worse, the killer seems to be among them-- but who? Will they figure out whodunnit in time for anyone to escape the Island? 

This was a quick read and, as Christie always is, was good fun that leaves a slight tingle up your spine. None of the characters are at all likeable (and those that verge on being so don't fare very well), and the ending is a bit of a twist for twist's sake, but this one is worth the read to understand the way modern mystery thrillers were shaped. 
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