And Then There Were None Book Review: The Perfect Murder Mystery

Title: And Then There Were None

Author: Agatha Christie

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime

Published: 6 November 1939

Pages: 272

My Rating: 4/5

Image Credit: Wikipedia

What happens when ten strangers are invited to a remote island… and start dying one by one? And Then There Were None is a chilling, cleverly plotted mystery that keeps readers guessing until the final page. With its eerie setting and brilliant psychological suspense, it’s no wonder this remains one of Agatha Christie’s most iconic works.

“And Then There Were None” is the world’s best-selling mystery novel, written by Agatha Christie, who is known as the queen of detective novels. The book was first published in 1939 in the United Kingdom and has sold over 100 million copies to date. The original title of the book was “Ten Little Niggers” but later it was changed to “And Then There Were None” which is the last line of the old rhyme “Ten Little Indians” used in the novel’s plot. The genre of the book is crime, mystery, and psychological thriller, which keeps you hooked with the story and binge-read the novel.

The plot of this classic novel revolves around ten people who are invited to an isolated island by an unknown host. Initially, they were not suspicious, but in the evening, after dinner, a gramophone record was played by Thomas Rogers(the butler), who accused each one of them present there of murder. After the announcement, Anthony Marston dies of cyanide poisoning, leaving everyone in utter shock and distrust of each other. The next morning, Mrs.Rogers was found dead in her bed, followed by the deaths of General MacArthur and Mr.Rogers. 

Death after death was happening, and people started searching the island to find the killer, but there was no one on the island apart from them. After the death of General MacArthur, everyone came to the conclusion that the murderer was one of them. Two things that caught everyone's attention were the old rhyme “Ten Little Indians” framed in each room and ten figurines of little Indians placed on the dining table. Each death resembled the description in the rhyme, and with each death, one figure was disappearing. 

After the deaths of Emily Brent and Wargrave, only four people were left. Suddenly, Dr. Armstrong went missing, and the next day, Blore also died. Vera and Lombard found Dr. Armstrong’s dead body in the water, confirming that only two of them were left on the island. Vera ends up shooting Lombard dead as they both are suspicious of each other. After returning to the house, Vera found a chair and rope set up for her, and she hanged herself. 

When Scotland Yard officials started an investigation, they found ten dead bodies on the island, and Issac Morris, who invited them to the island on behalf of Mr.Owen, also died, leaving no room for resolving the mystery. Later, a sealed bottle with a letter from the murderer was discovered in the sea. The letter explained who killed everyone, how the killer did that, and the reason behind it. The mystery is resolved at the end of the book, and the last two words of the novel disclose the identity of the culprit. 

The writing was so detail-oriented that I could imagine each character and place described in the story as if I were watching a movie. The writer didn't add anything unnecessary or anything that would detract from our interest in the story. The link between rhyme and the way deaths occurred or the disappearance of figurines from the dining table instilled a thrill not only in the characters but also in the readers. The dread felt by each character after every death and the thought process of the murderer explained in the letter highlighted the psychological crime genre of the book. One more thing that I liked was the writing style - simple and straightforward, nothing extravagant. 

And Then There Were None isn’t just a murder mystery — it’s a haunting exploration of guilt, justice, and human nature. If you enjoy suspense that makes you think and endings that genuinely surprise you, this book is a must-read. Even decades later, Christie proves she’s the queen of crime fiction. As an avid fan of mystery thrillers, this book was worth reading, and I would definitely recommend it to everyone who likes reading. Whether you enjoy the mystery genre or are completely new to reading, you should not miss this masterpiece. 

Have you read this novel? What is your take on the ending? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Are you a fan of mystery thrillers? Read my review of the K-drama Revenge of Others.