Amidst speculation surrounding the name of the new owner of Soldier Island off the coast of Devon, ten people are lured there under false pretences. They are a mixed bunch, men and women, young and old but they all have one thing in common. Each of them is responsible for the death of another person, whether by action or inaction, and it’s not long before a disembodied voice reads out the charges against each of them. And then, one by one, they begin to die. By the third death, it is abundantly clear the murderer is amongst them. And if the nursery rhyme about Ten Little Soldier Boys is adhered to, all of them will die soon.
I haven’t read an Agatha Christie novel since my teens and I enjoyed it as much as when I first discovered crime fiction. This story is 85 years old and it still feels fresh. The writing style gives nothing away as to its age, and is a fine example of the extremely talented mind of the author as she crafts the ultimate locked room mystery. This edition is perfect for the armchair detective, as it encourages the reader to submit their own theory as to the identity of the killer before the truth is revealed to them in the final chapter by means of a download for ebooks or a sealed envelope at the back of the print edition. I just love this way of presenting the ending to one of her finest mysteries.

Look, I’m usually that annoying person who smugly predicts whodunnit by chapter three, no matter whether it’s a psychological thriller or a murder mystery. It’s why mysteries and thrillers and I have an on-and-off relationship, I’m tired of clocking the formula. But then I decided to go toe-to-toe with And Then There Were None—and a special edition, no less, where you get to lock in your guess before unlocking the final chapter. Oh, I thought, how cute. Agatha, prepare to be outsmarted.

First guess? I thought I had it dialled. But Christie cackled in my face from her grave and spun me in circles. Safe to say, this isn’t just any murder mystery, it’s a masterclass in misdirection.

With each chapter, Agatha crescendoed the tension and suspense, leaving me whispering, “I didn’t see that coming.” Consider my “always guesses the twist/whodunnit” ego officially humbled.

If you haven’t picked up Christie and you think you’re some kind of sleuthing genius, grab this edition. Consider it a reality check. My thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the read this fantastic book.

This is my first Agatha Christy book and I have wanted to read her work for a while now so was happy to have the opportunity to read this latest edition. The book is presented to us by Agatha Christy herself, in a prologue, and the ending with the final solution via a letter by the culprit. This is a must read for anyone who loves a murder mystery. It is clever, suspenseful, entertaining and a real page turner. The case is, ten strangers stuck on an island, a murder amongst them, can you catch the killer before it’s too late? My detective skills were lacking but maybe yours won’t!

And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie
Ten strangers arrive on an island invited by an unknown host. Each of them has a secret to hide and a crime for which they must pay. The strangers include a reckless playboy, a troubled Harley Street doctor, a formidable judge, an uncouth detective, an unscrupulous mercenary, a God-fearing spinster, two restless servants, a highly decorated general and an anxious secretary. One by one they are picked off. Who will survive? And who is the killer?
Copies of an ominous nursery rhyme hang in each room, the murders mimicking the awful fates of its 'Ten Little Soldier Boys.
Every time I reread this outstanding thriller I marvel at Christie's magnificence. Truly the most thrilling novel of all time and testament to Christie's brilliance. Still, many years after first reading it, I get chills.
If you still haven't read this best selling thriller I suggest you address that immediately!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 five stars, always five stars!!
"We're not going to leave the island. None of us will ever leave. It's the end, you see - the end of everything..."

I’ve just finished the latest edition of this book, published 10th October 2024 by Harper Collins UK. It’s a unique version presented to us by Agatha Christie herself in the prologue and ending with the final solution presented in a letter by the culprit which you access via a QR code once you’ve voted for who you think did it. Genius!
I have to say my secret sleuthing skills came up short but what a terrific read. The quintessential closed room mystery: ten strangers stranded on an island, a murderer amongst them. Can they catch the killer before it’s too late. This is so clever and an absolute page turner, full of foreboding and tension. An absolute must read for fans of murder mysteries and especially Agatha Christie, the outright queen of the genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for a review.

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/10/24/review-and-then-there-were-none-by-agatha-christie/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Loved It, especially the reveal

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is a book that I’ve wanted to read for some time. I bought, a few years ago, a copy of a paperback version and I think I also might have had a kindle version but when I saw this on Netgalley, well, firstly, I knew that it would give me the push I needed to pick it up and secondly, I was fascinated about this collector’s edition and the way the ending is revealed.

So, if you’re not familiar with And Then There Were None its a closed room mystery that takes place on an island where a number of guests have been invited for a mystery weekend. One by one the guests begin to die and it soon becomes apparent that a murderer is amongst the party.

I had such a good time with this.

Having read Christie before I had an idea of what to expect with the style. The writing is very easy to get along with. The style is, I suppose, dated, I think the original was probably written in the 1940s and the characters, the dialogue and the set up is reflective of that but I loved it.

As mentioned, we have a number of characters that arrive at Soldier Island to be met by the housekeeper and butler. Only ten people in total. The island is completely cut off from the mainland and stormy weather makes it impossible for the inhabitants to leave once the murders begin.

In each room is an old nursery rhyme and on the dining room table are ten pottery soldier statues – which slowly but surely disappear in line with the murders.

None of the characters know each other (apart from the butler and housekeeper who are man and wife).

Quite early in the story an ominous and intimidating record is played to the guests in which they are all accused of murder. This of course causes immediate outrage and much stomping about followed by loud declarations of innocence. Within fairly short order we have our first victim. To begin with the guests think this may have been a suicide and although they all still feel uncomfortable and wish to leave the island they don’t at this point have any other fears – until the next body appears – two dead bodies in such a short period, even though they don’t immediately stand out as murder, it’s a bit of a coincidence. And then the third body turns up and it becomes clear to all that their lives are in danger.

So, much searching of the island and the house ensues. Some of the party have taken to solitary confinement and reflection, almost with a resigned feeling of the inevitable. Of course, the island is small and practically barren with no hidey holes. Likewise the house is a modern structure, clean lines and also very little room for evasion.

What I really liked about this.

The pacing is great. There’s always something going on.

The mystery. I’m pretty certain I’ve seen an adaptation of this but if I have I still didn’t guess the ending correctly. To be fair my impatience got the better of me. I started trying to work things out methodically and, not blowing my own trumpet, I thought I’d made quite a good job of coming up with the answer – but – well, firstly I was wrong, secondly there is a rather large clue which I’d completely overlooked and thirdly, there’s an element to the solution that I was totally closed off to. Plus, as I mentioned, my impatience got the better of me and I was so excited to read the ending I just went for the first person that I thought sounded feasible. Perhaps if I’d have taken long and reasoned things through – well, I don’t know.

The characters, I don’t think any of them are particularly easy to like – which isn’t to say I strongly disliked any of them. But, they’re all keeping secrets and some of them are definitely guilty and guilt ridden. I don’t think you’re supposed to love them to be honest which is just as well because the body count rises very quickly.

I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this. If you like a fast paced murder mystery, short, snappy and full of intrigue then you need to give it a shot. The clues are all there, my only advice, don’t be like me and rush into your conclusion.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 very entertaining stars

Wow. What a whodunit read. I have never read an Agatha Christie book before but I am now going to seek all the others out. I loved this book. Quite a few books recently have been set on an isolated island but this one tops all those other books. Well written and kept me captive to keep reading. I especially loved the QR code at the end to find out whodunit. The mark of a good book is whether I’ve managed to guess the ending, this one I didn’t guess the culprit although I had my suspicions but wasn’t quite there on the correct person. Read this, you won’t be disappointed

The Queen of the murder mystery! A masterpiece that so many other thrillers have surely been based upon, even loosely. How many other more recent books have been set on a small isolated island? I was so glad that as a retired detective I worked out who the killer was!
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A must-read classic Agatha Christie whodunnit that cleverly weaves a murder mystery around a nursery rhyme. Ten people are invited to an island for the weekend. They arrive to find themselves accused of murders that they got away with and threatened that justice will be doled out during their stay. The nursery rhyme counts down their numbers from 10 to 0 as each member is murdered. Whilst the language is a product of the era in which it was written, the story is as captivating and thrilling as the day it was written. Every time you thing you have narrowed down the suspect, they die! This new version is superb with its concealed final chapter enabling you to do a big final reveal. #andthentherewerenone #agathachristie #netgalley

Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for a review. Can't believe I'm saying this but this is my first Agatha Christie book I've read and I loved it. Short sharp chapters, a great who done it, and by omitting the last chapter and asking us who we think did it, I must admit I didn't guess correctly! Loved that the final chapter was sent after by email where everything was wrapped up. This is a story of 10 strangers who all meet on 'Soldier Island' and realise they have been sent there for insidious reasons. As one by one their numbers drop can you work out who the culprit is? I will be looking for more from this author and will be recommending this book to others.

I truly love Agatha Christie and all her books. I started reading when I was a teenager and now I’m nearing 40 I can’t help but have them as my go to read. I really loved ‘ And then there were none ‘. I’ve been lucky to receive physical copy that has an envelope at the back with the killers name. It’s a great murder mystery book.

This was my first Agatha Christie and I obviously can't talk too much about the plot. What I can say is, what a brilliant mind. The complexity of the plot, written in few words was epic. So many thrillers are predictable but this kept me guessing and my prediction was totally wrong. I also loved the marketing of this re-release. Minds more brilliant than mine might work out the clues, but I loved not knowing until the epilogue.

Somehow I have managed to go almost 50 years on this earth without having read And Then There Were None, or seen any of the adaptations, and, having read this book in this new and inventive format, I'm really glad of that. This special anniversary edition omits the final chapter, allowing the reader an opportunity to log their guess as to the identity of the murderer before downloading the final chapter - a spark of genius marketing which befits Ms Christie's exemplary piece of work. I believe the physical edition contains an envelope inside the back cover. The book is a relatively quick read, engaging throughout and so very cleverly executed. I loved every minute of the reading experience and cannot recommend this new 85th anniversary edition highly enough. Superb gift idea too!

Even though I read this before, it was many years ago, and it was only when I got near the end of the book I suddenly remembered who I thought the killer was. I love Agatha Christie and she really is the queen of the locked room mystery. It’s quite a short novel, and a quick read, and one I really enjoyed it. First published in 1939 this is a story that works well in its era, before the advent of the internet and mobile phones.

Briefly, 10 very different people are all invited to a weekend party on Soldier Island off the Devon coast. 9 of them are hiding a secret that involves murder, one of them is a murderer in waiting. On the first evening a gramophone record is played in which each of the 10 guests is accused of a murder that went unpunished. There are also 10 figures on a table and throughout the house there are copies of a nursery rhyme which are soon seen to portent the deaths of the guests. With bodies falling at a shocking rate the tension for those still alive ramps up…

This is a new addition of the classic Agatha Christie novel in which the reader gets to identify who they think the killer is before they read the final chapter, which explains the who and the why. You must expect some rather inappropriate views, particularly sexist and racial, sadly consistent with life at this time. However, I thought this was a cracking read with a brilliantly plotted storyline that must confuse anyone who hasn’t read the book before or seen the film. A great golden age detective story where you are the detective hunting for clues as to who the purveyor of justice is! A very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie and lived in her home town. This book is a masterpiece! Ten people, brought to an island to pay the price for their unpunished crimes. Both the tension and the body count rise, but who is the killer? The unorthodox plot structure begins to make sense as we consider the effects of conscience. The characters are all guilty of something and all wish to protect their secrets. The police detectives are baffled and another character must solve the heinous crime. The killer themself!

Agatha Christie is undoubtedly one of the finest crime writers I have ever read. The mystery of "and then there were none" has stood the test of time despite the very old fashioned feel the book now has.
I was thoroughly absorbed and enjoyed the way each person, accused of wrongdoing, tried to justify their decisions to fundamentally a group of strangers, all whilst trying to avoid being murdered!
I did not guess correctly, then kicked myself because as soon as you know, it is obvious that the clues were all there.

Still a great read decades after it was first published!

It is a surprising fact that 85 years have passed since one of the most baffling crime novels was ever published in 1939. Of course I’m talking about, And Then There Were None. The novel starts off with ten people invited for weekend Solder Island in Devon. They find themselves trapped and alone, killed off one by one for their unpunished crimes.

This book’s trope of killing off people on an isolated island has been replicated but not surpassed by the queen of crime herself, Agatha Christie. From the outset, the chilling game of cat and mouse beginning with that creepy gramophone record keeps the reader glued to the pages. The novel cleverly weaves its way through the psychology of the characters and the methodical order of the killings. The questions of justice, morality, sanity, and humanity are all floating in the background of the plot. A very dark, disturbing novel where the reader is invited as a guest into the dining room to use their deduction skills to the fullest. Can you guess the murderer?

Like stepping into a Time Machine - And Then There Were None is a classic Agatha Christie, but with an even more tortured twist in the story than usual. Fishermen in Cornwall rarely encounter as many red herrings as Ms Christie scatters in the pages of this book, and the challenge posed to the reader in teasing the truth from the carefully camouflaged clues and the unhelpful red herrings will delight those whose reading pleasure is enhanced by the intellectual (OK - that may be overselling it!) challenge of identifying the culprit in this unusual serial killings yarn.

Agatha Christie rarely disappoints, and certainly not in this enjoyable read.

Knowing how much I enjoy Agatha Christie I'm surprised I hadn't yet read this, or watched an adaptation. It meant this edition was perfect for a puzzler like me. I was more keenly aware than is usually be of my trying to gather evidence as I read the book, knowing that I'd have to go on record with my accusation before being confirmed right or wrong.

I was wrong!

An excellent book I should have read long before now, but this was definitely the best way to discover it. Thank you HarperCollins for my copy.

Fantastic tale of 10 strangers being called to visit soldier island, where one by one the not so innocent individuals meet their end. With noone else on the island, one of them must be the murderer. The tension, the twists and all the while the clues are there. A thoroughly enjoyable read. All the more satisfying with that final chapter!