Sunday, 15 November 2026

Island Escape

The November selection for the Read Christie 2026 Challenge, 'Biggest Inspiration', is And Then There Were None (1939). This novel is the best-selling mystery novel in the world, and the one which solidified Christie's position as one of the greatest crime writers in the world.

Eight strangers are invited by Mr and Mrs Owen to visit Soldier Island, a remote rocky isle off the coast of Devon. They are ferried to the island and greeted by husband and wife servants who advise the hosts are not yet present. The guests - including a doctor, a retired judge, a secretary, an army general, an elderly spinster - are shown to their rooms. There they curiously find a framed verse of a child's nursery rhyme about ten little soldiers whose number diminishes as a terrible fate befalls each one. This verse is mirrored by the ten figurines on the centre of the dining table. 

When the guests are gathered together, a gramophone begins to play a recording which accuses each guest of causing the death of a person. Moments later, one of their number dies in a manner which matches the nursery rhyme. And then there were nine. 

The guests all protest their innocence at the crimes of which they are accused. As more guests die, the remainder wonder whether their hosts are hiding somewhere or if the killer is among them. With nowhere to escape, and the body count rising, who will survive?

And Then There Were None is the best-selling mystery novel of all time. Unlike other Christie novels, it does not feature a famous detective, but rather is a self-contained, locked-room mystery.  It moves along at a cracking pace, ratcheting up the tension as the guests scurry to survive. 

Christie was very proud of this novel, precisely because the premise was so difficult to pull off. I really enjoyed the writing and admired Christie's pacing. Her casually racist and antisemetic language is confronting. One of the interesting elements of the novel is how the occupations of the guests are considered to include or exclude them as potential killers, likewise class and gender will rule people in or out. An epilogue reveals the confession of the mastermind behind the plot, which was a relief as I could not figure it out. Makes me want to read it again and see what I missed. 

And Then There Were None is a hugely influential crime novel and one well worth reading.

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