Intermittent Mechanism

By Alex Ding

Among Agatha Christie’s works, I believe that “And Then There Were None” stands out as a masterpiece of suspense and psychological intrigue. As I first started reading, I was familiarly introduced to the set-up of the classic mystery story, as Christie introduces the reader to each of the characters (suspects) individually. These first few chapters might serve a purpose in solving the murder cases to follow, however, I found it more enjoyable personally if it served a purpose in expanding the lore of the story’s world and left the mystery-solving to Christie. 

The set-up to “And Then There Were None” is a very interesting premise: ten strangers, each with a dark secret to hide, are lured to a remote island under various pretexts. As all ten strangers gather into a Mr. Un Owen’s house on his island, they soon realize that they have been brought together under various circumstances that were not foregoing with what they expected. With no way to escape and no one to trust, they find themselves trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse. What makes this mystery especially interesting is that everyone is immediately a suspect: although the reader might suspect everyone from their experiences in previous mystery novels, what is new is that everyone in the story suspects each other as well, creating an environment of suspicion that is evident from the first few chapters onwards.

The mystery deepens as the guests begin to die, one by one, in accordance with a chilling nursery rhyme displayed prominently in the mansion. With each death, tensions rise, suspicions mount, and alliances shift as everyone becomes a potential suspect. Yet, amidst the paranoia and fear, the true identity of the killer remains shrouded in secrecy. One of the most remarkable aspects of “And Then There Were None” is Christie’s ability to create a sense of claustrophobia and isolation, despite the vastness of the island setting. Christie creates a closed world inside the island that the ten guests are in and crafts a mystery narrative that works well with the setup that she has created. She transports readers to a world where danger lurks around every corner and trust is a scarce commodity. As the characters grapple with their own fears and insecurities, readers are drawn deeper, unable to put down the book until the mystery is revealed.

Central to the novel’s appeal is its cast of diverse and enigmatic characters, each with their own hidden agendas and murky pasts. From the aloof Dr. Armstrong to the stern Judge Wargrave, Christie populates her narrative with a colorful array of personalities, each person is concealing secrets that reveal more and more about who potentially is the murderer. As tensions rise and suspicions mount, the true nature of these characters is gradually revealed, adding layers of complexity to an already intricate plot.

“And Then There Were None” also explores deeper themes of guilt, justice, and the nature of evil. Each character is forced to confront their own past misdeeds as they grapple with the consequences of their actions. Through their interactions and inner turmoil, Christie paints a complex portrait of human nature, where the line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred. We are unaware if Vera is committing an “evil” act when she shoots Lombard, as it is entirely possible that she is killing the murderer or that she is the murderer herself.

What sets “And Then There Were None” apart from other mystery novels is Christie’s meticulous attention to detail and her ability to subvert expectations. Just when readers think they have unraveled the mystery, Christie deftly introduces new twists and turns, keeping them guessing until the very end. It is entirely possible for the reader to solve the case before the murderer was revealed, and I do believe that she writes in “fair play”, it is only through deduction and very close reading that this happens.

As the narrative hurtles towards its electrifying conclusion, Christie masterfully ties together the myriad threads of the mystery, revealing the true nature of the killer and the motivations behind their actions. One potential criticism that I might have about the book is the ending, where I felt that the reveal was unsatisfactory and done too soon after the murders happened.  Another potental criticism is that some of the characters die too early in the story and their character arcs are not fully fleshed out. I believe that if Christie made the book 50 pages longer, it should be used in the beginning to more in depth write about the characters who die earlier.

In the end, “And Then There Were None” stands as a testament to Agatha Christie’s unparalleled skill as a storyteller of mystery novels. While reading “And Then There Were None” I was engaged in the story and just reading it for the enjoyment of trying to find out the mystery and knowing more about the characters. Her juxtaposition of the actual murder mysteries with the depth of the characters that she writes is excellent and is one of the reasons her books sell so well in my opinion.