Dear readers, this blog will not be a book review; rather, it will be just an observation from my end. There is no doubt that this thriller, “And Then There Were None,” is loved by many across the globe. I picked this one up when I was in the phase of thriller reads. I am done now and back to my rom-com zone.
Why did I pick this one?
After reading many of Holleen Coover’s books a few months ago, I wanted another thriller to read. My love for thrillers started with Dan brown, The Inferno still haunts me. There was a World Book Fair in Delhi, and my eldest wanted to pick a few books. While looking for a good thriller read on the aisle, I heard a couple deep into a discussion. There were two books left on the upper shelf, the same book, same author, yet different covers. I turned and saw the most beautiful red book cover I have ever seen. The guy was taller, and I knew I won’t be able to reach the book before him, so I prayed.
Dear god, please let them pick the other one with the brown cover, and god answered 🙂 They picked the other, leaving the gorgeous red hardcover book for me. I grabbed it with both my hands and went for the billing. When I came back home, and showed my prized possession to the man of the house. He smiled. DO you like it? I asked in anticipation, and he replied, “I don’t know anything about the book, but I like this goofy smile on your face, I am sure it’s worth it”.
For three days, I kept staring at the book and walking away. Why aren’t you reading it? he asked. But then it will be over in a day, and I won’t have anything to be excited about, I replied. I know myself, binge reading is my addiction. It is impossible to put the book down if I start liking it.
The next week, I started reading it and casually opened the last page, drum roll please, I found a letter from the author tucked away in the envelope. My eyes popped out as I read the disclaimer:
PROPERTY OF SCOTLAND YARD WARNING THE ENCLOSED EXHIBIT SHOULD NOT BE HANDLED UNTIL YOU HAVE READ ALL THE EVIDENCE. FAILURE TO COMPLY MAY BE HARMFUL TO THE CASE.
I finished the book in two days, read the letter, and then took a sigh of relief and a bit of disappointment.
Blurb
In 1939, with Europe on the brink of war, ten strangers are invited to Soldier Island, a secluded island off the coast of Devon. The guests are brought there under mysterious circumstances, with the promise of a vacation from their varied lives. However, upon arrival, they find that the host, the elusive Mr. U.N. Owen, is nowhere to be found.
The atmosphere becomes tense as each guest is confronted with an accusation. An accusation of a horrific crime they have committed in the past, yet no one knows how their host could have known such details. When one of the guests is found dead under suspicious circumstances, panic sets in.
As the island becomes more isolated with each passing hour, the survivors come to a terrifying realization: the killer is among them. But the fear doesn’t end there. The murderer is not only hiding in plain sight, he or she is preparing to strike again and again, one by one, until no one is left.
What I liked and disliked about the book?
Is it overhyped? probably not. Is it one of the finest thrillers I have read? Nope. Did you know, there is a series adaptation (2015) of this book with the same title?
It is a cult favorite novel; millions of copies have been sold over the years, making it top many charts. However, for me, the first few pages were difficult to follow the characters. With so many characters, although each had their own space in the story, the initial build-up part becomes a bit crowded to follow.
As is often the case with thrillers, the story needs a single moment to completely shift the reader’s focus. A little into the story, about 20 or 30 pages. The story completely changed its pace and tone, pulling me in. The whole killing is based on a nursery rhyme, which has 10 stanzas describing the death of each soldier.
I think reading more of Agatha Christie’s novels will be a better idea to familiarize myself with her work and to find that x-factor that people often talk about in her stories. Do you have any recommendations for thriller novels or any fiction novels? The choices of books that I pick keep changing with the season and my mood swings 🙂
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I had a similar experience when I read my first Christie. It takes a while to get into her writing style. I adore this book and have seen the series as well. The book was better, of course. I quite enjoyed Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh.