And Then There Were NoneAnd Then There Were None
Score Classic
What it's about
Ten strangers are invited to a mansion on an isolated island off the coast of Devon by a host none of them has met. At dinner, a recorded voice accuses each of them of having caused a death and gotten away with it. Then, one by one, they begin to die, following the verses of a nursery rhyme framed in each of their bedrooms. With the island cut off by a storm, the survivors realize the killer must be one of them.
Why it's worth reading
It's the best-selling mystery novel ever written, with about 100 million copies, and a PBS Great American Read pick. It's Agatha Christie's most famous puzzle, and its ending still surprises readers.
You'll love it if you liked
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Rebecca
The Thursday Murder ClubGood to know
There's no detective like Poirot or Marple in this one. Older editions used offensive titles, which have since been changed.
By the numbers
- Readers88 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller74 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #21 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #85 of the 762 classics we rank
- #277 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Agatha Christie
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Curtain
Murder on the Orient Express
Sleeping MurderIf you like this, read next
The Godfather
The Pillars of the Earth
In Cold Blood
The Day of the Jackal
Crime and Punishment
The Spy Who Came in From the ColdExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is And Then There Were None worth reading?
Yes. It's the best-selling mystery novel ever written, with about 100 million copies, and a PBS Great American Read pick. It ranks #277 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is And Then There Were None about?
Ten strangers are invited to a mansion on an isolated island off the coast of Devon by a host none of them has met. At dinner, a recorded voice accuses each of them of having caused a death and gotten away with it. Then, one by one, they begin to die, following the verses of a nursery rhyme framed in each of their bedrooms. With the island cut off by a storm, the survivors realize the killer must be one of them.
How long does it take to read And Then There Were None?
About 3 hours (116 pages), or about 6 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after And Then There Were None?
If you liked it, try The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.