When I think about classic crime stories, And Then There Were None is at the top of my list; a book originally published in 1940 and still truly a masterpiece of crime fiction. It has been renamed several times (see the wiki link below the poem) made into movies and inspired several other writers in their works as well.
And Then There Were None loosely follows the rhyme of Ten Little Soldier Boys, in which a group of people all join together on an island, invited there through mysterious letters. Upon arrival they are all introduced to each other and eventually it’s explained to them why they are really there. When they learn that each person is somehow connected to the death of a person, either intentionally or not, they begin slowly to become paranoid. When the first murder takes place, they want to do everything they can to get off the island. Several different reasons arise on why the boat cannot leave due to weather and the murders continue, one by one.
As they are alone on the island, they begin to start accusing each other outright and forming alliances between each other and who they think they can trust. It is the epitome of what a who-dunnit novel should encompass, and for which Agatha Christie is famous. The precision in which the story unravels and the minimal revelations that the reader gets at each poignant moment will keep the reader fully engaged and in most cases on the edge of your seat. Agatha Christie has perfected the intention of the whodunit mystery, and engages the reader just enough with each clue to have us play along and guess at who the culprit is before the characters do.
Most of her novels range between 200-300 pages which makes them perfect for those looking for a quicker read but each still has a colorful and entertaining mystery. In my opinion you can never go wrong with Agatha Christie.
The currently published, not the original version, of the rhyme goes:
Ten little Soldier boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Soldier boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Soldier Boys travelling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Soldier Boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Soldier Boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Soldier Boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Soldier Boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Soldier Boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two Little Soldier Boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was one.
One little Soldier Boy left all alone;
He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.
