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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
And Then There Were None summary
Agatha Christie
Brief summary
And Then There Were None is a gripping whodunit by Agatha Christie. Ten strangers, with dark secrets, are invited to an isolated island. As the guests start dying one by one, the survivors must uncover the killer's identity before it's too late.
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And Then There Were None
Summary of key ideas
An Invitation and a Mystery
In Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, ten people are invited to the secluded Soldier Island off the coast of England. Each of them has received an invitation from a Mr. or Mrs. U.N. Owen, but as they arrive, they realize that their hosts are nowhere to be found.
The guests, all coming from different backgrounds, are intrigued by a children's nursery rhyme about ten little soldiers that hangs in each room on the island. Disturbingly, a set of ten solider figurines placed in the dining room begins to correspond with the rhyme as guests start dying one by one.
Fatal Events Unfold
As the guests settle in, they each find a phonograph recording that accuses them of past crimes that have gone unpunished. Soon after, the first guest, Anthony Marston, dies suddenly after choking on his drink, matching the first verse of the nursery rhyme.
More deaths swiftly follow, each eerily mimes the verses of the nursery rhyme as their ten soldier figurines continue to decrease in number. The characters find themselves trapped, with no way of leaving the island and an unseen mastermind killing them one by one.
The Tension Peaks
The guests, dwindled down to just a few, become increasingly paranoid as they suspect one another. Amidst the chaos, Vera Claythorne, a former governess, and Philip Lombard, a soldier of fortune, kindle a romantic relationship.
With every passing event, it becomes evident that the murderer had an intimate understanding of their past misdemeanors and is executing a carefully planned scheme. Dr. Armstrong, previously thought to be a victim, is revealed to be the killer’s accomplice, only to be murdered himself.
A Bleak Conclusion
The mystery reaches its zenith when Lombard, presumed to be the murderer, is shot by Vera. Left alone, Vera hangs herself, following the final verse of the nursery rhyme. When the police eventually discover the closed-scene murders days later, they are baffled.
The novel concludes with a postscript about a confession in a bottle by Justice Wargrave, the mastermind behind the deadly plot. It’s revealed that he meticulously planned his suicide to look like a murder as part of his scheme. In And Then There Were None, Christie delivers an engaging and suspenseful narrative where everyone is a suspect, and no one is safe.
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What is And Then There Were None about?
And Then There Were None is a thrilling murder mystery by Agatha Christie. Ten strangers are lured to a secluded island, only to discover that they have one thing in common: a dark secret. As they are picked off one by one, the remaining guests must uncover the killer's identity before they become the next victim. Full of suspense and twists, this classic novel keeps you guessing until the very end.
Who should read And Then There Were None?
- Mystery enthusiasts looking for an engaging and suspenseful read
- Readers who appreciate clever plot twists and intricate storytelling
- Fans of Agatha Christie's works or classic crime fiction in general
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