Books like And Then There Were None?

outlander78 · 02-16-2011, 04:24 PM

Hi folks.

My all-time favourite mystery novel is "And Then There Were None" (aka "Ten Little Indians") by Agatha Christie. For those who don't know it, it is the classic story of ten people on an island, being killed off one by one and trying to figure out which of them is the murderer. Two movies and a stage play have also come from the movie; the last one is also one of my favourite movies.

Anyway, I love the puzzle of a group of people in a confined area trying to figure out whodunnit. The setting can be an island, a snowed in resort, a cruise ship ...

The Body in the Ivy is a clever homage, for anyone looking for one, and the recent novella Love Is Murder has a good setting (snowed in ski cabin).

I'm not fussy about era, author or setting - even unedited amateur works on smashwords would be welcome. Can you folks recommend any others of this type?

thanks,
Andrew

Namekuseijin · 02-16-2011, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outlander78

Hi folks.

My all-time favourite mystery novel is "And Then There Were None" (aka "Ten Little Indians") by Agatha Christie. For those who don't know it, it is the classic story of ten people on an island, being killed off one by one and trying to figure out which of them is the murderer. Two movies and a stage play have also come from the movie; the last one is also one of my favourite movies.

reading this description can't help but agreeing with Raymond Chandler and his criticism of Conan Doyle, Christie and other corpse-providers in his essay The simple act of murder. Shouldn't the people in the island be running for their lifes instead of trying to figure out who is the murderer?

of course, despite Chandler's criticism, it is indeed fun and stimulating reading.

outlander78 · 02-16-2011, 04:49 PM

That's the point of the confined area - the mystery is set in a place where running isn't an option. Soldier Island, for example, had one-a-day boat service that was held back for a time by a storm. In the second movie, it was a snow-bound mountain.

Real murder, and life-like fictional murder, isn't entertaining to me, while the puzzle of a cozy, classic murder mystery is.

So ... got a favourite to share?

Serena · 02-16-2011, 05:45 PM

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane is a very good read, with a similar theme.

outlander78 · 02-17-2011, 11:08 AM

Thank you Serena, I will check that one out.

BenG · 02-17-2011, 12:50 PM

There's Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express where the train is stopped by a snowbank after the murder.

outlander78 · 02-17-2011, 01:10 PM

Yes, the Orient Express novel is a classic. I loved the way that ended. Thank you for the suggestion.

elemenoP · 02-17-2011, 03:02 PM

I don't have a book to suggest, but might I recommend a very hilarious send-up of this genre, the movie "Murder by Death?" It stars Peter Falk, Peter Sellers, and Truman Capote among (many) others.

eP

elemenoP · 02-17-2011, 03:26 PM

Also, I was very disappointed to see that almost none of Agatha Christie's novels are in the public domain, but then I checked my local library and they have DOZENS in epub format! Including And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express! So thanks!

eP

outlander78 · 02-17-2011, 03:51 PM

I will try to get a copy - sounds like a great movie.

JoelArnold · 02-22-2011, 12:03 PM

I love both movie versions of And Then There Were None - and there's something about the original b&w version that gives me the chills every time I watch it.

Mike L · 02-22-2011, 12:33 PM

The After House, by Mary Roberts Rhinehart

It's similar to And Then There Were None in that "the killer must still be amongst us".

But the point about the Agatha Christie story is the killer kept on killing, until there were literally none (well, almost).

outlander78 · 02-22-2011, 12:50 PM

Thank you Mike.

Not only does the book sound great, but it is old enough to be free!

For anyone else who is interested, here are legal and free links to The After House, and a list of other books by the same author:

http://www.feedbooks.com/book/3820/the-after-house

http://www.feedbooks.com/author/977

captkjaneway · 02-23-2011, 09:26 PM

Am a big Agatha Christie fan, and particularly like the recent tv adaptations of Poirot with David Suchet, and Miss Marple with Joan Hickson, and laterly Geraldine McEwan (not sure about Julia McKenzie though).

Many of her books have a similar premise, where even when the detective joins the party, deaths still occur.

Always have a Christie book as a 'not sure what I want to read' fallback option

pilotbob · 02-25-2011, 03:56 PM

Mysterious Island by Jules Verne takes place on an island... and there is a mystery... but it's not a murder mystery. The price is right too...

BOb

02-16-2011, 04:24 PM	#1
outlander78 Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 263218 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Arc 7	Books like And Then There Were None? Hi folks. My all-time favourite mystery novel is "And Then There Were None" (aka "Ten Little Indians") by Agatha Christie. For those who don't know it, it is the classic story of ten people on an island, being killed off one by one and trying to figure out which of them is the murderer. Two movies and a stage play have also come from the movie; the last one is also one of my favourite movies. Anyway, I love the puzzle of a group of people in a confined area trying to figure out whodunnit. The setting can be an island, a snowed in resort, a cruise ship ... The Body in the Ivy is a clever homage, for anyone looking for one, and the recent novella Love Is Murder has a good setting (snowed in ski cabin). I'm not fussy about era, author or setting - even unedited amateur works on smashwords would be welcome. Can you folks recommend any others of this type? thanks, Andrew

02-16-2011, 05:45 PM	#4
Serena Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 554408 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kansas City, KS USA Device: Kobo Aura One	Shutter Island Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane is a very good read, with a similar theme.

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02-16-2011, 04:49 PM	#3
outlander78 Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 263218 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Arc 7	That's the point of the confined area - the mystery is set in a place where running isn't an option. Soldier Island, for example, had one-a-day boat service that was held back for a time by a storm. In the second movie, it was a snow-bound mountain. Real murder, and life-like fictional murder, isn't entertaining to me, while the puzzle of a cozy, classic murder mystery is. So ... got a favourite to share?

02-17-2011, 11:08 AM	#5
outlander78 Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 263218 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Arc 7	Thank you Serena, I will check that one out.

02-17-2011, 12:50 PM	#6
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	There's Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express where the train is stopped by a snowbank after the murder.

02-17-2011, 01:10 PM	#7
outlander78 Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 263218 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Arc 7	Yes, the Orient Express novel is a classic. I loved the way that ended. Thank you for the suggestion.

02-17-2011, 03:02 PM	#8
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I don't have a book to suggest, but might I recommend a very hilarious send-up of this genre, the movie "Murder by Death?" It stars Peter Falk, Peter Sellers, and Truman Capote among (many) others. eP

02-17-2011, 03:26 PM	#9
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	Also, I was very disappointed to see that almost none of Agatha Christie's novels are in the public domain, but then I checked my local library and they have DOZENS in epub format! Including And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express! So thanks! eP

02-17-2011, 03:51 PM	#10
outlander78 Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 263218 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Arc 7	I will try to get a copy - sounds like a great movie.

02-22-2011, 12:03 PM	#11
JoelArnold Fanatic Posts: 544 Karma: 1036914 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Savage, MN Device: Kindle 3	I love both movie versions of And Then There Were None - and there's something about the original b&w version that gives me the chills every time I watch it.

02-22-2011, 12:33 PM	#12
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	The After House, by Mary Roberts Rhinehart It's similar to And Then There Were None in that "the killer must still be amongst us". But the point about the Agatha Christie story is the killer kept on killing, until there were literally none (well, almost).

02-22-2011, 12:50 PM	#13
outlander78 Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 263218 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Arc 7	Thank you Mike. Not only does the book sound great, but it is old enough to be free! For anyone else who is interested, here are legal and free links to The After House, and a list of other books by the same author: http://www.feedbooks.com/book/3820/the-after-house http://www.feedbooks.com/author/977

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02-23-2011, 09:26 PM	#14
captkjaneway Cockney Sci-Fi Geek! Posts: 472 Karma: 1463094 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wan Chai, Hong Kong Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Samsung Tab S 8.4", Samsung S6 Edge	Am a big Agatha Christie fan, and particularly like the recent tv adaptations of Poirot with David Suchet, and Miss Marple with Joan Hickson, and laterly Geraldine McEwan (not sure about Julia McKenzie though). Many of her books have a similar premise, where even when the detective joins the party, deaths still occur. Always have a Christie book as a 'not sure what I want to read' fallback option

02-25-2011, 03:56 PM	#15
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Mysterious Island by Jules Verne takes place on an island... and there is a mystery... but it's not a murder mystery. The price is right too... BOb