This Paperback Book item from Chancerel International Publishers Ltd was reviewed on 12-Dec-2008.
Search ISBN:1899888225 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. And Then There Were None (Detective English Readers) Reference Book. Classifications : Reading English as a Foreign Language Instruction Foreign Languages Reference Subjects Books Grammar English as a Foreign Language Instruction Foreign Languages Reference Subjects Books General Foreig . Related topics: Reading. Instruction. Foreign Languages. Reference. Subjects. Books. Grammar. Instruction. Foreign Languages. Reference. requestid: 5e4f4a28-fdd3-45ab-9c7f-7f6f6d9bb879
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edition: Abridged Ed
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1) Paperback Book And Then There Were None (Detective English Readers) by Chancerel International Publishers Ltd. Let me say this- I´m a sucker for mysteries, and for a time, Agatha Christie used to be one of my favorite writers. However, this doesn´t seem like an Agatha Christie novel. It seems to be more along the lines of a Phillip Margolin- and yet he is able to do it more effectively.
My issue with this story is that it simply is not a mystery. Now, there is a murderer, but the evidence that points to them is so utterly convoluted and badly described, that it´s extremely difficult to have that "Oh yeah, I KNEW it was them!" reaction, which is one of the reasons why I like to read mysteries. In fact, Ms. Christie seems to KNOW that she didn´t explain the evidence well enough for many people to get it, so she decides that it´s neccesary to create an epilogue, explaining who the killer is, and how they got away with it.
Now, the plot is basicially this- you have 10 strangers, all of whom have committed some sort of crime gathered onto the island, by a mysterious U.N. Owen. Soon they realize that Mr. Owen is a psudonym, and that this person doesn´t actually exist. As members of the group are killed one by one, following a nusery rhyme about ten little "soldier boys" (Or "indians" depending on the version you´re reading), who by the end are all dead, the group tries to find the killer, or figure out who it is in their midst, before he kills them all.
Now, the seeming perfect "alibi" that Ms. Christie devises for her killer is pretty clever, but it requires so many assumptions, and for things to go PERFECTLY for the plan to work. Really, this is true about the murderer´s plan in general. If, at any point, somebody had given into the pressure and shot themselves in the head, the whole plot would have been ruined.
There are legitimately creepy points in this novel, but it feels more like a psychological thriller than a mystery, which is what I bought the book for. I bought this book expecting a mystery, and then there was none.
(I am willing to discuss specifics further in the comments section, not here, as that may spoiler people who haven´t read the book yet.)¤ 2) Paperback Book And Then There Were None (Detective English Readers) by Chancerel International Publishers Ltd. I read this book in 5th grade and thought nothing could even compete. But now I´m able to see its flaws quite clearly. It does keep you guessing, but its not the best mystery and definitely not the best book. Try some Sherlock Holmes for a change.¤ 3) Paperback Book And Then There Were None (Detective English Readers) by Chancerel International Publishers Ltd. "And then there were none", originally titled "Ten little niggers" and later changed for obvious reasons, is the epitome of Mystery in every conceivable fashion.
The gathering of the "guests" to the un-manned ilse, the missing hosts, the announcement, it is all laid out straight from the beginning - you feel as if you are on that island with these poor souls as you read along at break-neck speed!
Who will die first? Who will be next? How will the murderer do each deed? These are questions that you must find the answers to, and do in this exciting page-turner.
She was the Master for a reason, and in "And then there were none" (The film was titled "Ten Little Indians"); you too will see why.¤ 4) Paperback Book And Then There Were None (Detective English Readers) by Chancerel International Publishers Ltd. This awesome book was the beginning of my Agatha Christie and mystery addiction. I´ve read most of her books, and it´s still my favorite! She had me questioning every character the whole time! Everyone should read this book!¤ 5) Paperback Book And Then There Were None (Detective English Readers) by Chancerel International Publishers Ltd. "Ten little Indian boys went out to dine..."
And so starts the nursery rhyme that was the basis for Agatha Christie´s And Then There Were None (also published as Ten Little Indians). The story opens with 8 people from all walks of life traveling to Indian Island, where they have been invited for a summer holiday by the mysterious U.N. Owen. Upon reaching the island, they discover that their mystery host is no where to be found; the only other people on the island are the butler and his wife. The guests are soon confronted with the reason for their invitation: their host knows about the secrets of their pasts, and has decided that justice must be served.
Truthfully, of the little Christie that I have read so far, this has been my least favorite. Don´t misunderstand, however, I still greatly enjoyed the book! Christie´s knack for misdirection is amazing, leading you to believe with utmost certainty who the killer is, at least until the next chapter when she sheds new light on a new suspect, and then you know for sure that they are the killer, again until the next chapter. What I didn´t like about this book is the murders seemed too contrived and forced to match up with the nursery rhyme. Of course, these murders needed to fit the pattern of the rhyme, otherwise, what would be the point? It just came across as too convenient for me, yet I did enjoy flipping back and forth to the rhyme at the beginning of the book to try to figure out how the next murder would take place!¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 9-Jan-2009, 18998882259781899888221, 680-100-500-690-860-431-781-251-3SB-8 |
