And Then There Were None by Agatha Christe - Summary
This is one of the bestselling psychological thriller and suspenseful novel of Agatha Christe, who is famous for her 66 detective novels.
Ten people were invited by a stranger named U.N.Owen to the Indian Island where there is a house surrounded by sea.
- Justice Wargrave — Judge
- Vera Claythrone — appointed as U.N.Owen’s Secretary
- Philip Lombard — Captain
- Miss Emily Brent — perfectionist
- General MacArthur
- Dr.Armstrong
- Anthony Martson
- Mr.Blore — Ex policeman
- Roger — servant
- Roger’s wife
When all those ten were assembled for a party a tape recorder played in which the murders commited by each of the ten were mentioned. There was a nursery poem found.
“Ten little Indian boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Indian boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Indian boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Indian boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Indian boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Indian boys walking in the Zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two;
Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was one.
One little Indian boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself and then there were none.”
Murders went according to the poem and there is a clue in it. They found that one among them was a murderer. Each time one was suspected what next? who? this was the question revolves around the mind. The author narrated in a way that a reader cannot move his/her eyeballs. You can find the heart pumping like a hell. You couldn’t guess the story and there are lots of twist and turns!
Juzz skip for spoilers!!!!
Anthony Marston was found dead by cyanide drop in the party. Roger’s wife dead by overdosage of sulphanol. The other eight went to search on island for the murderer and found no one and there is no hide spots.Meantime General MacArthur has dead and the other seven came to the conclusion that one among the seven was the murderer.
Rogers has been suspected and the next day he was found dead. Emily writes in the diary that she knows the murderer and suspicion transfers on her due to her activities. She was found dead by a syringe and she was acquitted.
The remaining five sits in the same room watching each other. When Vera goes to sleep someone tries to kill her. When all looks to see her, Justice Wargrave was dead.
Now, only four are there. Dr.Armstrong found missing. And the three went to beach. When Mr.Blore went to house to eat and he was killed.Vera and Lambord thinks, Armstrong did all these. But, Armstrong was found dead near the sea.
Vera picks the Lambord’s revolver and shoots him. She alone comes home and hangs herself. And here comes the twist!
During inspection, the police finds that the chair used when Vera hangs was placed in the corner. And it is understood that the murderer is not Vera.
Later a sucidal note by Justice Wargrave was found, who pretends to look dead who is not actually dead and commited all these murders. He is U.N.Owen. He had a great wish to kill people and he selected ten who commited crimes and carefully designed a mass murder in which the murderer will be mysterious ever!
