Rating: 
Summary: Agatha's Best
Review: This is one of the best work of Agatha Christie's.
It involves ten strangers alone on an island with mysterious, even murderous pasts. And if that wasn't enough, they all are murdered one at a time according to the nursery rhyme "Five little indians". You will never guess who or what killed them all. I never did.
Rating: 
Summary: Frankly, a captivating idea not fully realized as a story
Review: Agatha Christie's 1939 story idea captures the imagination. Ten strangers who each, in his or her own way, have gotten away with murder gather by invitation at an isolated mansion. Then their unknown host systematically and mockingly murders them one by one. The idea was adapted into a film in 1945, 1965, 1974, and 1989. Reportedly, there was a 1959 TV adaptation. Variants of the plot are perennials on one TV show or another, from Harry O to Quincy to Remington Steele. As someone who has read all of Christie's work and admires it as running the gamut from diverting to entertaining to inspiring, I had high expectations. Unfortunately, neither Christie nor the filmmakers succeeded in bringing this brilliant but limiting idea to life in a truly fulfilling story.Occasionally, a mystery plot can be so ingenious and powerful that it can be a satisfying story in itself. Most often, the best that is achieved by plot alone is an amusing but arid puzzle mystery. For the depth and richness to engage, a novel usually needs to develop to some meaningful degree the characters, their backgrounds, their interaction, their dialogue, the setting, the tone, and any larger themes. The premise of Christie's book is fascinating. As to plot, the book is clever in conception and careful in execution. Compared to the films, the book's assortment of past crimes and depictions of the characters' attitudes toward them are more varied, subtle, and interesting. The book does the best job of presenting the characters in ways in which the reader could actually see them as the murderous host. It is the least sentimental, treating all of them vaguely and suspiciously. This is not necessarily enough to make them convincing killers, but at least it maintains more of a sense of menace, suspense, and purpose than the film versions. The book does the best job of explaining why and how the host carried out the scheme. Yet, even the plot has definite shortcomings. Once the imaginative premise is established, the story becomes thin and formulaic. There is little plot or character development. The characters in the book engage in less deductive reasoning and survival techniques than in the 1945 film. The only real plot twist creates a major logical problem, which the book tries to overcome by implausibly suggesting that the ploy would either trick or "rattle" the murderer. The guests' murders are designed to follow the nursery rhyme and little more. Aside from some cosmetic frills, the poisoning, stabbing, shooting, and head-bashing that go on in the book show, in themselves, no special cunning, skill, strategic advantage, or plausibility. The killer strikes crudely without detection too effortlessly. The storytelling seems flat, frigid, and, at times, slow-paced. There is no lead character to care about. Characters are described largely by catch-phrases (the judge's "tortoise-like" appearance; Lombard's "wolfish smile") or hardly at all (Marston, the Rogerses). Their backgrounds and motives are sketched in summary fashion. The past crimes vary widely in originality, depth, and genuineness. Some -- especially Claythorne's and the general's -- are more subtle, interesting, and powerful than others. Some, like Blore's, Dr. Armstrong's, and Lombard's, are utterly trite, unexplored, and ineffective. However, the book's and films' worst failing is that they have nothing serious to say about the powerful themes that are at the very heart of the story. The story is inherently an observation of human nature in a desperate situation. How do the characters behave? How do they try to reason? How do they try to survive? Also by its very nature -- as the book's last pages acknowledge -- this story is a morality play. How is each of the characters a "criminal"? How is each "beyond the law"? Does each get "justice"? Is justice the point, or simply a "lust" to torture and kill? Is the story about breaking the law or enforcing it, about mistakes or abuses in pursuing justice? None of this is meaningfully addressed. The films (which I have now seen thanks to Amazon.com and hope to separately review elsewhere on this site), are worse in some respects and better in some respects than the book. Each is worth seeing as an attempt to bring to life a compelling but at the same time confining plot concept. Each, like the book, fails to fully realize that idea as a story. Briefly, the 1945 film develops the plot better in some ways than the book and is more entertaining. The cast is outstanding, except Mischa Auer. But the film presents the general and his past crime ineffectively and changes others. Its attempts to make the characters entertaining come at the expense of their plausibility as villains and of the story's seriousness. The climactic scene revealing the host's identity, means, and motives is short, sedate, and unsatisfying. The 1965 film is enjoyable and energetic. But it is not as tightly and richly told, nor as well-acted, as the 1945 version, despite good casting. As in 1945, attempts to make characters comical or appealing sap the suspense. The final scene has more explanation than in 1945, but remains thin and undramatic. The 1974 film takes a different tone than its predecessors. It captures more of a sense of fear, dread, and suspense. Yet, overall, the movie is less substantial and entertaining than the prior versions. The storytelling is so spare and unartful that it is sterile and uninvolving. Other than Stephane Audran, the outstanding cast is unable to breathe life into the characters. The final scene is less effective than before. Everything about the 1989 version seems low-budget, from the cast to the script to the set to the production values. The casting of the doctor is even worse than Frank Stallone as Lombard. And not until Donald Pleasance's final moments on screen does he play his character with any coherence. But Herbert Lom is excellent as the general. And it is left to this film to finally present a dramatic end scene.
Rating:
Summary: And Then There Were None
Review: A chilling murder mystery; this is one of Christie's best!
When eight people are invited to Indian Island, they find the owner mysteriously gone, and a new butler and his wife who have never yet met "U. N. Owen". When at dinner that night a tape accuses each of murder, and one of the guests is poisoned, only slight suspiscion begins. But then the ten Indian boys on the table amount to only nine, and after another murder that follows the Indian nursery poem framed in the guests' rooms leaves only eight, they find themselves all facing death...
Rating: 
Summary: Actually...3.5 stars ^_^
Review: Christie begins with a not-anything-special-but-it's-good sort of story line. Nothing an avid reader hasn't seen before. (I imagine Ellen Raskin got the idea of the Westing Game from this story). We are introduced to Indian Island, once owned by an American millionaire (yes, the story is British), who has sold his estate-on-the-island-- it's the hit of the news, and everyone wants to be there. Problem?--nobody knows exactly who has bought it. Rumors are flying and facts are few. In the meantime, 10 different people, all with various backgrounds are contacted in various ways, none connected directly with the new owner of Indian Island. Reluctantly and happily and angrilly, our guests come to the island and get to know each other during the boat ride. The shock comes after they arrive. It seems that Mr. Owens, the supposed owner of the estate, has not arrived. In fact, it does seem that he does not arrive for the entire duration of their stay! The guests are surprised, but carry on normally, some planning to go back home on the morrow, when the boat comes to the island. When the guests go to their rooms, they see a plaque on the hearth, the grotesque poem of the Indian boys (10, then 9, then 8, and etc, all dying in grotesque ways). They think nothing of this, some even fond of the old rhyme they knew as chidlren. Nor do they think anything strange of the 10 Indian figures placed on the dining table. The real shock comes when suddenly, during a quiet time, a recording booms aloud, stating each of our tenants, and a murder(s) they have committed. Naturally this angers/confuses/arouses suspicion/guilt from our tenants, and they demand explanations. It doesn't help when a guest dies, then another, then another, then another.....all like the ways described in the grotesque poem on the plaque. After the third or fourth death, the remaining guests decide that the murderer (they came to the conclusion that it was a murder), was one of them!! The conclusion is awesome, bringing you to the edge of your chair, with suspense ringing in the air. I can almost guarantee you will be shocked. Can you find the murderer before it's too late?
Rating:
Summary: A spectacular mystery
Review: Ten people are invited to a mysterious island by old friends they know. All the guests become trapped on the island by a vicious storm.It is only after a short while that everyone of them is accused of murder. One by one the guest begin to die deaths relating to an old nursery rhyme entitled "Ten Little Indian Boys". Also, every time a guest dies, one of the china indian figures seated on the table in the dining room dissappear. Eventually the guests realize that the murderer must be one of them since there is no one else on the island. The murderer was a complete shock to me and the story is ingeniously plotted. I recommend this book to any die-hard mystery/crime fans. You will love absolutely love it.
Rating:
Summary: First Rate mystery!
Review: I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie and have read everything she's every written (including her Mary Wwestmacott novels) several times. This is one of her best, with a great plot and great atmosphere on Indian island. Several movies have been made based on this particular book but none has come even remotely close to capturing the excitement of this book. This one keeps you guessing until the very end and the solution to the mystery is very satisfying
Rating:
Summary: You'll never figure it out -- but you'll have fun trying
Review: One August evening, ten guests meet at a mysterious island mansion-owned by an even more mysterious Mr. Owen. They soon discover that they're not on the island for a relaxing summer holiday -- they're there to die. Each one has been accused of a murder -- a murder that couldn't be proven and prosecuted by the courts -- and Mr. Owen is taking justice into his own hands. One by one, guests turn up dead -- each a carefully planned murder. After a search of the island, it's obvious that no one is hidden there -- so the murderer must be one of the guests. But which one? Is it the bitter old maid? The doctor, who could easily possess the deadly chemicals required? Mr. Lombard, who admits to bringing a revolver to the island? As guests try to protect themselves from the murderer, they're forced to decide who can be trusted -- and who can't. In the six-and-a-half hours it takes to listen to this recording, you'll second-guess yourself repeatedly -- and you'll never guess the conclusion. Ten Little Indians is an excellent, captivating mystery written by an extraordinary, well-loved writer. It's hard to imagine a cheery little grandma writing about such sinister murders -- but Dame Agatha Christie did it with refined style.
Rating:
Summary: Keeps you guessing!
Review: As a seasoned mystery fan, I'm fussy about the quality of the mysteries that I read. This classic by Christie will NOT disappoint. She weaves her tale so cleverly, creates characters with such detail, and skillfully sets the scene. If you're like me, this one will drag you in and keep you reading all night long. Pick it up on a Friday night, and you'll be finished sometime on Saturday ... it's that compelling once you get into the plot. And when you think you know who it is, guess again, she'll surprise you. Enough of a spooky-factor to make you nervous as you read. The characters are very believable. Very human and real people she's created for this one. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: And Then There Were None
Review: And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie, is a great book. There are twists and turns, which make the book more exciting and pleasurable to read. I think Agatha Christie is a talented author and makes all of her stories unpredictable. I have read other books by Agatha Christie as well, but this one in particular was very suspenseful. I also think this book is challenging and will make your mind work harder than other books would. This is not an easy book fit for a fifth grader, although from its thin size you may think so. There are hidden meanings in some of the phrases and words that even I had to look up in the dictionary. The plot of this was great. It was exciting how the whole story ties in with a nursery rhyme. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a suspenseful mystery.
By Sarah
Rating:
Summary: And Then There Were None
Review: This is the greatest book in the world! I will never find a better book! I can't wait to read the rest of Agatha Christie's murder mysteries, because this one scared me yet intrigued me the whole way through!
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