Book Club

Non-Series Novels & Stories

For those of you wanting to discuss Agatha Christie's standalone books, such as And Then There Were None. 

Beware spoilers and remember we'll be able to add the most insightful comments to the stories section. 

If you can't find your favourite one, don't worry, we'll be adding them in the coming weeks.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

And Then There Were None

Jemma 05 Sep 09 at 12:14 p.m. GMT

Acknowledged as one of Christie's best novels, this complex plot challenges the reader like no other.

Did you, as the reader, pick up on the carefully planted clues or simply guess at the character who was psychologically most likely to be the killer?

Did the outward lack of commonality of the people assembled on Indian Island confuse you as the reader? Is it possible to guess at why they have been singled out for murder?

When the novel was adapted for the screen, critics complained that the film had not stuck to the book. It was soon realised that Christie herself had written this "new" ending. Which is better?

When has a nursery rhyme ever been that sinister?!

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178 replies

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betty_barnard 17 Sep 09 at 8:22 a.m. GMT

I don't think Christie should have written a different ending at all.  If you don't know the other ending don't read any further.  Christie gave the play a happy ending - if you can have a happy ending after eight people have been murdered!  And the films have followed this ending.  To me the book is just perfect as the wheels of justice have turned full circle.  Perhaps one day another film version will be made with the book ending and if so it will be interesting to see what people make of it. 

go_leafs_nation 17 Sep 09 at 9:52 a.m. GMT

True, but remember that one of Christie's main reasons for writing that alternate ending is because hanging wouldn't have worked too well onstage.

The original ending is the best, IMO. Christie's words succeed in building tension and conveying a sense of guilt and apprehension throughout, and it reaches its climax when it comes to her ending. It's also unexpected, which is always nice. ;)

Personally, I think the killer's identity in ATTWN is far less well "clued" than Christie's other "controversial" novels (most famous being Roger Ackroyd and Orient Express). It still plays fair, but it is a lot harder to spot the killer than you'd think.

I was quite shocked when I first read the ending. I've reread the book many times since.

aurorajayne 18 Sep 09 at 11:53 p.m. GMT

Having grown up watching the early film adaptation starring June Duprez, I was rather astonished when I first read the novel.  However, I think that both are in and of themselves excellent.  I don't think the novel could possibly be any better and is in fact one of my favorite Christie novels.  Realistically, at the time that the novel was adapted, you'd be hard pressed to find a movie studio willing to make a film that ended in such a way.  When Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca was adapted, several key plot points were altered to make one of the characters and the ending a bit more palatable for audiences.  Yet I love both the novel and the film.  All things considered, the adaptations of this terrific novel could be a lot worse, in my opinion.

Julie27 19 Sep 09 at 7:23 p.m. GMT

I have not yet read the novel but a few months ago I saw the old b/w film one saturday afternoon on BBC 2. I watched it with my Mother who is also a huge Christie fan. However, when the film ended my Mother was surprised and told me that the novel does not end the way the film did. However, just now reading these posts regarding these endings I phoned my Mum and told her that the ending in the film was supposed to be that way - so, mystery solved.

asmikhushi 28 Sep 09 at 8:11 a.m. GMT

what exactly happens in the original ending i kno only the edited one

Lone_Wolf 28 Sep 09 at 3:02 p.m. GMT

Despite the villain's plan being a sort of a Xanatos Roulette, that book is one of the AC books that impressed me much. The theme of morality of blind justice is an interesting one - despite technically being an agent of justice, Wargrave is one of the least sympathetic characters in the novel - most of his victims are more sympathetic then him.

bombarded 02 Nov 09 at 8:36 p.m. GMT

in the original ending vera kills phillip like in the ten little indians poem and then she hangs herself.  the police find the ten bodies in the afterward.

HeiseiHolmes 25 Jan 10 at 6:08 p.m. GMT

I'll never forget how I found this book...

I was in my favourite ever bookshop- (now sadly closed a few weeks ago)

and a complete stranger handed me this. All she said was: "If you're looking for Agatha Christie... This is the best one." And then she disappeared like smoke on the breeze! (Well, not really. I'm being poetic again- she just walked away.) But it was a great book, and I wholeheartedly agree with you, Mysterious Stranger Lady.

Read more about this story: And Then There Were None

cameronjhw 25 Feb 10 at 10:22 p.m. GMT

This was the first Christie novel I read and I loved it. This was terrifying, clever, ingenious, and amazing. I did not have much sympathy for the ten characters. However, I did feel a little bit sorry for General Macarthur. I can see how he would want to kill his wife's lover. But the others were only asking for their punishment. Wargrave I thought was a frightening, warped, and sinister man. Emily Brent disturbed me because she was suppose to be a decent Christian lady and yet she kicked Beatrice Taylor out and was not sorry she killed herself. My sympathy tends toward her maid. Lombard, Blore, and Marston are also very rotten. This novel is a perfect combination of how people can escape their past for a while but then it will come back to them and there will be retribution.

MissQuin 26 Feb 10 at 3:43 p.m. GMT

I knew this one was going to be different, but I didnt realise how I would be on the edge of my seat. I was racing towards the end, trying to take in everything. I knew I couldn't read it before I went to sleep, my mind would be still focused on the book.

I kept wondering, was there someone else in the house or island that was killing people, or was it one their number? I even wondered if there was a supernatural element involved. Then the last page you find out..

It's the Judge who scares me. He was a sadist who chose his occupation just to punnish others. His memoir at the end was so twisted. I think AC really got into his character, which must have been disturbing. The idea of people's behaviour during childhood, shaping them as adults reoccurs in several books.

Huntgoddess 07 Mar 10 at 7:13 p.m. GMT

I read this book back in the early '70's. I was in a big hurry to get to the end, to find out what happened. DOH!!

I'll have to read it again, and give myself time to enjoy it, this time.

MissQuin 10 Mar 10 at 3:19 p.m. GMT

Welcome huntgoddess. I know exactly what you mean, I just wanted to finnish and find out what happens in the end. The pace is really breathtaking and the suspense is electric.

monkeyjess1999 13 Mar 10 at 3:54 a.m. GMT

im reading this book right now it is great so far i like the whole concept of the story

Lone_Wolf 15 Mar 10 at 5:11 p.m. GMT

The thing with Judge Wargrave... despite the majority of his victims being pretty outright villainous creeps, most of them are far more likeable them him.

HeiseiHolmes 15 Mar 10 at 6:23 p.m. GMT

If done right, I think this could become a good movie- but only if done right. No added lesbians or nuns.

Lone_Wolf 15 Mar 10 at 7:28 p.m. GMT

There are already some movies based on ATTWN, afaik.

Jane101 21 Mar 10 at 12:15 p.m. GMT

I finished reading this yesterday and I am exhausted! So many characters, so many guilty secrets and so many possibilities for the outcome. I was convinced there was somone else on the island.(I didn't guess who did it!)

I thought the little soldier boys nursery rhym and Vera hanging herself at the end were horrible, but saying that I wouldn't have wanted it to end another way. After all real life doesn't always have a happy ending.

MissQuin 21 Mar 10 at 12:30 p.m. GMT

The nursery rhyme is very disturbing. I'm glad I never read that one as a child.

I also thought there could be someone on the island, but I was left guessing until the last page. I put the book down in a state of shock!

Jane101 27 Mar 10 at 11:50 a.m. GMT

I think I will read it again to see if there are any clues I missed as to the murderers identity.

Number3 29 Mar 10 at 10:38 p.m. GMT

I enjoyed both the novel and the play.  Something I haven't seen mentioned is that readers and audiences of the time it was written had a different set of social values.  So, something that was shocking at the time has a whole different context in the 21st century.