And Then There Were None

Yes. And then there were none. I just finished reading this mystery novel by bestselling author, Agatha Christie. It’s absolutely chilling and grips you till the end. I’ll definitely check out more of Agatha’s work after this. Hehe.

The story told about ten strangers who were summoned as weekend guests to a private island off the coast of Devon. These ten people are really a strange assortment. They were a successful Dr. Amstrong. Miss Emily Brent, an elderly spinster, neat and prim and very religious. Ex-policeman Mr. Blore, who now runs a detective agency. Miss Vera Claythorne, a young teacher looking for secretarial holiday post for extra money during the school holiday. Philip Lombard, a man who has travelled most of the world. General Macarthur, retired military. Anthony Marston, a young handsome reckless guy from rich family. Mr and Mrs. Rogers, house servant. Finally, Mr. Justice Wargrave, a retired judge. The only thing they have in common is that all of them have a wicked past that will soon be revealed but neither willing to admit.

As they arrived together at the Indian Island, they were delighted to find a beautiful house waiting and look forward to spend a good time there. Strangely though, they’re host and hostess, supposedly to be eccentric millionaire is nowhere on the island. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, hired as the house servant arrived earlier on instructions through a letter then informed them that their unknown host is delayed and will only arrive the next day. This news also came through a letter. Meanwhile they should be shown to their rooms and dinner will be served. During dinner they noticed that at the centre of the table there’s little china figures, ten of them likely to resemble ten little Indian boys. Indian Island, get it?

After dinner is when the truth begins to reveal. As they were sipping coffee in the drawing-room, a strange voice belted through the room. The voice reads out charges of indictment to each one of them stating the crime of murder they had committed in the past. Of course it took everyone by shock. I think I won’t go into detail here. It will ruin the surprise. Let’s just say that after that one by one of them die. Murdered. And every time a person dies, one little Indian boy went missing from the dining table. Though they search the island thoroughly, they found nobody else. Their host never shows up. This leaves only one logical explanation, that the murderer is one of them. They now eyed each other with suspicion yet they have to work with each other in order to survive and to find a way out of the island.

The murders were carried out parallel with an old nursery rhyme. I’m sure you’ve heard it before. The poem was hanged over the mantelpiece in every room in the house. Creepy nursery rhyme I must say. I think it was altered a bit to suit the Indian Island.

Ten little Indian boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.

Nine little Indian boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.

Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.

Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.

Six little Indian boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.

Five little Indian boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were four.

Four little Indian boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.

Three little Indian boys walking in the Zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.

Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was one.

One little Indian boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself and then there were none.

You could probably guess the ending. As the title suggests, and then there were none. But who’s the real killer and why are they being punished on the island. It will leave you guessing till the last page. I keep changing my suspect but I still got it wrong in the end. Good luck! Hehe.