Ten little soldier boys went out to dine;
One choked himself and then there were Nine.
Nine little soldier boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were Eight.
Eight little soldier boys travelling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were Seven.
Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six.
Five little soldier boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were Four.
Four little soldier boys went out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three
Three soldier boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.
Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was One.
One little soldier boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself.
And then there were None
Ten people are lured onto Soldier Island by the mysterious U.N Owen. There were all sent there on work, a doctor, a games mistress, a judge, a police inspector, an army general and some others. But when they all start to die. The rest knew something was going on. The put a name to U.N Owen. They even found out that one of the people was an undercover police inspector named Henry Blore.
This is one of Agatha Christie’s masterpieces. It is quite old-fashioned, as it was published in 1939 (a long time ago). The characters are great, as you feel you could be friends with them. As you come to only two people alive, it becomes real, as if you are there, watching the person die.
Warning: This is an adult book, so I would recommend it to 13+. It doesn’t have any swearing, but some scenes are quite disturbing.
Great, clear review, with the children’s rhyme perfectly encapsulating the chill of the story. I’m impressed you’re on to Agatha Christie already! This was one of the first I read of hers and I was instantly hooked. Some people thought the recent TV adaptation too slow but I didn’t – it brought out the claustrophobia and sheer dead, rotting nastiness of the atmosphere brilliantly.
Yes, the TV adaptation was quite disturbing, especially with the poor old woman in the first episode.
So far I’ve read: And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, The Secret Advesary and Third Girl. I’ve just bought The Mysterious Affair at Styles, to immerse myself into!!
Mango Bubbles Boy.