Alejandro's Reviews > And Then There Were None
And Then There Were None
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Extraordinary and gripping novel!
I knew that the best way to start reading the literary work by Agatha Christie was choosing her most known book. And There were none is the best-selling mystery novel of all time with 100 million of copies, and the fifth book in the list comprehending all genres. That is something to give to Agatha Christie the respect that she deserves.
Initially this novel on UK was titled Ten Little Niggers, only because the original nursery rhyme was called that but it was obviously seen as racist, then in USA was decided to change the title to Ten Little Indians, but again obviously as seen as racist again, so at the end the title was changed to And There were none, and the nursery rhyme inside the book was changed to "Ten Little Soldiers", curiously enough none member of any army so far as pointed out as racist that final change. I mean, the title was just because a widely known nursery rhyme and none character on the book was afro-american or native-american.
To this, I want to comment that it's lucky that not many children would had more nightmares since a lot of nursery rhymes have truly scary lyrics. No wonder in stuff like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Saphire and Steel were used nursery rhymes with truly scary effects.
Returning to the novel, it was a remarkable reading. Great atmosphere where you feel as trapped as those people on that island.
I want to comment that at some point I figured it out who was the murderer, don't worry, I won't tell it, and I have no doubt that some would say: "Oh, sure! I believe you Sherlock!". However I do indeed discovered it. This is not my first mystery story. I have read several books in the genre and I have watched a lot of TV shows like Murder, She Wrote, Columbo, Criminal Minds, CSI: Miami, etc... And while that doesn't turn me into a detective, in my defense, I knew who was only because I focused on the "why" and not the "how" that certainly I didn't know that. You can say that I did an amateur criminal profile and that helped me to have a suspect of my own that it resulted true. Also, I had some advantage for being Spanish speaking since there is a clue that only can be detected due that not matter that I read the novel on English, but taking in account the very detail that it's indeed a printed novel, I catched something and putting together some clues. Well, I figured it out. Believe or not. It doesn't matter.
Anyway, I think that many of the fun of reading this kind of mystery novels is trying to figure out the culprit during the process of reading the book. Not matter if you guess right or not, always it's rewarding when the mystery is explained. A delicious way to make your neurons to exercise.
Again, knowing who was, or at least thinking that I knew who was, since obviously I couldn't confirm it until reading the whole book, it didn't help me to know how everything was made until it was explained on the novel. Definitely, Agatha Christie is the queen of mystery!
Certainly, this novel isn't only a marvellous detective mystery book but also a truly scary horror story. Priceless setting for a scenario and fantastic twisted character developing.
Appendix: (July 23rd, 2014)
The clue that I found thanks that I am a born Spanish-language speaker:
WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!!
Read ONLY if you already read the novel, since this is a mega-spoiler telling who the culprit is!
I seldom put spoilers in my reviews, but I wrote this appendix basically since I was contacted by several readers asking me about the "big clue" and well, while I don't mind to share it, well, also I don't want to find out later that it was written down in some other review as theirs, taking in account that it seems that only me were the one who noticed that.
(view spoiler)
I knew that the best way to start reading the literary work by Agatha Christie was choosing her most known book. And There were none is the best-selling mystery novel of all time with 100 million of copies, and the fifth book in the list comprehending all genres. That is something to give to Agatha Christie the respect that she deserves.
Initially this novel on UK was titled Ten Little Niggers, only because the original nursery rhyme was called that but it was obviously seen as racist, then in USA was decided to change the title to Ten Little Indians, but again obviously as seen as racist again, so at the end the title was changed to And There were none, and the nursery rhyme inside the book was changed to "Ten Little Soldiers", curiously enough none member of any army so far as pointed out as racist that final change. I mean, the title was just because a widely known nursery rhyme and none character on the book was afro-american or native-american.
To this, I want to comment that it's lucky that not many children would had more nightmares since a lot of nursery rhymes have truly scary lyrics. No wonder in stuff like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Saphire and Steel were used nursery rhymes with truly scary effects.
Returning to the novel, it was a remarkable reading. Great atmosphere where you feel as trapped as those people on that island.
I want to comment that at some point I figured it out who was the murderer, don't worry, I won't tell it, and I have no doubt that some would say: "Oh, sure! I believe you Sherlock!". However I do indeed discovered it. This is not my first mystery story. I have read several books in the genre and I have watched a lot of TV shows like Murder, She Wrote, Columbo, Criminal Minds, CSI: Miami, etc... And while that doesn't turn me into a detective, in my defense, I knew who was only because I focused on the "why" and not the "how" that certainly I didn't know that. You can say that I did an amateur criminal profile and that helped me to have a suspect of my own that it resulted true. Also, I had some advantage for being Spanish speaking since there is a clue that only can be detected due that not matter that I read the novel on English, but taking in account the very detail that it's indeed a printed novel, I catched something and putting together some clues. Well, I figured it out. Believe or not. It doesn't matter.
Anyway, I think that many of the fun of reading this kind of mystery novels is trying to figure out the culprit during the process of reading the book. Not matter if you guess right or not, always it's rewarding when the mystery is explained. A delicious way to make your neurons to exercise.
Again, knowing who was, or at least thinking that I knew who was, since obviously I couldn't confirm it until reading the whole book, it didn't help me to know how everything was made until it was explained on the novel. Definitely, Agatha Christie is the queen of mystery!
Certainly, this novel isn't only a marvellous detective mystery book but also a truly scary horror story. Priceless setting for a scenario and fantastic twisted character developing.
Appendix: (July 23rd, 2014)
The clue that I found thanks that I am a born Spanish-language speaker:
WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!!
Read ONLY if you already read the novel, since this is a mega-spoiler telling who the culprit is!
I seldom put spoilers in my reviews, but I wrote this appendix basically since I was contacted by several readers asking me about the "big clue" and well, while I don't mind to share it, well, also I don't want to find out later that it was written down in some other review as theirs, taking in account that it seems that only me were the one who noticed that.
(view spoiler)
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Henry
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Apr 10, 2014 10:27PM

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Thanks! :)




Truly glad of finding anothe fan of that excellent sci-fi British show! I watched when I was a kid and I had nightmares!!! But still I keep watching it! ;)
Some years ago, I ordered the complete DVD Box with the whole TV series :D
Saphire and Steel rules!!!

Cool, Eve! :D I have no doubt that I will develop a similar obsession from now on ;)

Hi, Jeff! Great minds! ;) Definitely I want to read those two books! :D Most likely I will read the first novel of Poirot first just to get to know better the character and then, definitely I'll read those two books.

Good to know! I will add it to the TBR book list!

Awesome! I want to read your comments about the novel when you read it! :D

:P Hahaha, as I commented it, I focused on the "why" and my suspect was the only one who fit on the amateur profile :P Hehehe
Sometimes I am right, sometimes not, all part of the fun of reading detective novels ;)


That's cool. Definitely even if you remember the outcome I have no doubt that you will enjoy the re-reading experience :) In my case, I have quite good memory but it seems that I have an innate defense mechanism since sometimes when I am re-watching a movie, tv episode or novel, I tend to of not remembering who the culprit is! :P

Hehe ;) :P I was lucky, I think. And certainly while I picked the right suspect, definitely I hadn't a clue of how was done the things.


Thank you! Indeed it's a fantastic novel.

Hahaha :P Thank you! I think I had luck this time!

Excellent to know! :)


I appreciate a lot your kind comments. Truly glad that you enjoy to read my reviews. Thanks so much for reading them. :)

Thank you!
Excellent news! I'll hope that you'd enjoy it as much as me! :D


Good idea! I think I'll re-read this book, too, this summer. I read it decades ago, and I wonder how I'll feel about it when I know the resolution and now that so many years have gone by.

Thank you Lela. Wow! You read them all?! Excellent! :D I'm truly glad of "helping" you to consider to re-read them ;) At least the ones that you enjoy the most, I suppose :D

Hi, Jonathan. I think that indeed this is the best option to try the author if you haven't read her before.
Good reading!

Gaaaah, now you made me curious! >__< And it bugs me - I had three years of Spanish in school and I can't remember much and it seems I didn't catch anything related to that in the novel. Would you mind telling me? Otherwise I'll have to judge you, you know. *puts on judge robe* û_u


You may recommend as much as you wish, Ivonne ;)
I appreciate a lot your recommendations! I'll read those indeed. Hopefully in the near future! Thanks!

Sure, Lina. I send you a friend-vite. It's not big deal that clue that I found but I'd wish to be fellow reader friends too.
Once reader friends, I will tell you about in a private message just to avoid spoil in an open message here.

I decided to write an appendix with a "spoiler" warning, so you may read it there. Still I hope you may wish to accept the friend-vite.
Happy reading.


Thank you! :D

Hi, Licha, until now I noticed your message here. Sorry for delaying so much for doing a reply.