Agatha ChristieGenre: Psychological Thriller
Published: 1939
Personal Rating: 4.5/5
Yearly Count: 47
Ten strangers have been invited by a mysterious host to stay for a visit in the host's luxurious house. This house resides on a private island. Once they all are settled in, they are confronted with the reason why they had been chosen for the occasion. The reason has each member in the house looking at each other with apprehension - and rightfully so. Unfortunately, their time together as a group is limited due to the one-by-one elimination of each house guest.
I really enjoyed this! Throughout the entire book, the level of suspense was kept high by all the twists and turns. It made me eager to get back to it as soon as I could; I was definitely hooked. However, I have to say that the very ending wasn't as exciting as the rest of the book. For some reason, I expected to be wowed and I wasn't, but it was still a very good read and I'm glad I finally made time for it.
I haven't read any Agatha Christie in years. This looks like one to put on my list for sure.
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested, I just finished reading Dancing Above The Waves by Susan Walerstein. I found it to be a real page turner of psychological suspense that kept me hooked from the first page to the very last.
I had to read this for school in 7th grade, and I LOVED it! I definitely need to re-read it one of these days.
ReplyDeleteThat happens with a lot of Christie books. It's very exciting throughout, then all of a sudden it's wrapped up in a nice, neat package. But like you said, they're still fun!
ReplyDeleteLezlie
Ruthie ~ I've read that this one is considered a "classic" and one of the best mysteries Christie ever wrote. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but it was a good one for me.
ReplyDeleteI'll look into the book you mentioned. Thanks.
Debi ~ 7th grade! I can't imagine being assigned this in 7th grade. Whoa! Well, it stands the test of time and age! :)
Lezlie ~ THANK YOU for telling me that! I am an unseasoned AG reader and I wasn't aware that this is an example of her style, not just the plot of this book. It's very helpful to know that, now I will change my thought process as I move through her work. Seriously - that really helps me. :)
I've noticed it mostly in the Poirot books. One of her works that I would highly recommend is "The Murder of Roger Akroyd". That one kept me going right to the very end!
ReplyDeleteLezlie
Yep, I had the coolest 7th grade English teacher. I remember we also analyzed a lot of song lyrics in that class, like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Anyway, 7th grade was a loooong time ago for me, and I still remember how much I loved that book!
ReplyDeleteThe Queen of the Cozies!!! Love Agatha Christie!
ReplyDeleteBy definition of cozy mystery, it's really only Miss Marple. Hercule was a professional sleuth.
Isn't there a short story kinda like this? 10 Little Indians? Maybe I'm totally making it up--it has been a loooooong day. :)
ReplyDeleteI just put it on my Good Reads to read list. Now I am off to add Dancing Above the Waves!!!
ReplyDeleteLezlie ~ Thank you! I will write that one down.
ReplyDeleteDebi ~ Cool teacher is right! :)
Vickie ~ Cozy??? I read that this was a thriller! I just reread your comment. I think you are saying that AG is in general a "cozy mystery" writer, with Miss Marple leading the pack. Got it! :)
Trish ~ Yes, the book is based on the rhyme Ten Little Indians, but AC made up her own version.
I believe the former title of this book was "Ten Little Indians", so you're not crazy, Trish! :-)
ReplyDeleteLezlie
Danielle ~ You snuck in there when I wasn't looking! The book is good; I think you'll enjoy it. But now you have been forewarned that it has a neat little package at the end - no big hoopla. Still good, but just not what I expected.
ReplyDeleteLezlie ~ And I snuck in before you! lol
Any AC Reader ~ I have received many AC recommendations, but they would take me out of order. Are AC series meant to be read in order or do they just contain the same lead characters and would be great standalones? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI read this recently and really enjoyed it as well! Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteSamantha.1020 ~ OH! I'll have to come by to see what you had to say.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteI read it in one sitting when I was thirteen and it scared me to death. Definitely a good book to assign to 7th- and 8th-graders!
I think this is my favorite of all the Agatha Christie books I've read. LOVED it!!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you did too!
Poodlerat ~ I had a hard time putting it down, too!
ReplyDeleteStephanie ~ It was a good one for sure. I've received many other recommendations, so I'm looking forward to many more good mysteries.