Heard Recently: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
ABOUT THE BOOK
The book is about the mysterious murder of eight people who were invited to Soldier Island, each for different reasons by a host that they have never met. The guests were met by the butler and cook. On their first night on the island, they were all charged, via a gramophone recording, for the crimes they did in the past. Not being able to escape, one by one, they die..
And Then There Were None
Agatha Christie
Narrated by: Hugh Fraser
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Crime
Audio: 5 hours, 36 minutes
Rating: ♣♣♣♣♣
My first audiobook was a success. It was the audio version of SNL’s Tina Fey’s book “Bossypants”. The audiobook after that was a fail. Therefore, I recommend getting an audiobook version if it’s a funny book, narrated by the author or if it’s a mystery, thriller, crime book like Agatha Christie.
The audiobook is short for less than 6 hours. Like an Agatha Christie thriller, the audiobook will just thrill you as you would have read the book or watched an Agatha Christie movie. And Hugh Fraser takes you through the thrill. As the narrator, he did so well. I especially love the accent. LOL!
Ten Little Soldier Boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.
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.
One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight Little Soldier Boys traveling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.
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.
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.
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five Little Soldier Boys going in for law;
One got into Chancery and then there were four.
One got into Chancery and then there were four.
Four Little Soldier Boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
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.
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 got Frizzled up and then there was One.
One Little Soldier Boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself and then there were none.
He went and hanged himself and then there were none.
Frank Green, 1869
This is the clue on how each of the visitor or human being in the island would die. But who the actual killer is, you would have to figure out yourself. No spoilers!
All the visitors seem to be watching and observing the other visitors. Before dinner, Marston seem to recognise Judge Margrave. The coincidence alone is suspicious. Could he be the killer?
Everybody seemed to be having a good time during their first dinner together. Marston and Vera noticed the 10 soldier china decor in the dining room. Everybody talked about how the Soldier poem is framed in all of their bedrooms. After dinner and without warning, a high clear voice spoke, everybody was charged their indictment for having caused death of someone else. They heard a loud thump and found out that Mrs. Rogers collapsed.
Then, Mr. Rogers was questioned about what he knows about “Mr. Owens”, the owner of the island. They realised they were invited under false pretences. One by one, they all confessed about their involvement in the deaths charged to them. The Rogers and Claythorne seemed innocent. After their talk, they decided to leave the island but then there’s no way out of the island. Suddenly, Marston crumpled in the ground and Doctor Armstrong confirmed his death.
The visitors set up a mock up trial and investigation within themselves to solve the murder mystery on the island. One of the visitors actually guessed the correct murderer but the possibility could also be wrong. Then, the visitors can’t seem to be in a place where they should be that it’s easy for them to be accused of as the murderer.
I admit each of the visitors seemed suspicious and each of them are abled murderers. Well, the women visitors seem fragile but the minds of killers and their abilities can surprise you. (That’s just me watching too much TV.) I also thought that maybe there is another person on the island lurking around them. There are many instances wherein you think two of the visitors could be working together as murderers. Then, a chapter after you'd think of a different pair as potential murderers.
Usually thrillers scare the heck out of me, I don’t really enjoy watching or reading suspense or thriller movies or books. But the translator will make you want to listen and find out more.
The invitation alone is very suspicious. It’s that age old warning, “Don’t accept sweets from strangers.” or “Too good to be true.” I know I wouldn’t accept an invitation from someone I know nothing about even if he may seem important, influential or something else. Goosebumps!
I could not find any character that I liked in this book. It’s their guilt and outlook in life that make them all unlikeable. It made me think how the murderer must have felt the need to kill them off. LOL! There wasn’t enough time to form an opinion on Mrs. Rogers and A. Marston. But, I immediately didn’t like them by what the other visitors thought of them and their crime.
The creepiness of it all, the invitation to the island to kill off the people who got off unscathed from a crime they committed will still make you root for what is right. It's not right to take matters or justice into your own hands.
The Visitor’s Cause of Death:
Anthony Marston - Poisoned
Mrs. Rogers - Poisoned
General Macarthur - Bludgeoned
Mr. Rogers - Chopped
Emily Brent - Poisoned
Judge Wargrave - Shot
Doctor Armstrong - Drowned
William Blore - Crushed
Philip Lombard - Shot
Vera Claythorne - Hanged Herself
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