Mysteries and thrillers always beckon. During my middle-school days, Agatha Christie’s novels were a rage. Palatable, they were a go-to choice, especially books like ‘And Then There Were None.’
While there were a lot of options one could choose from, Christie’s novels were easy to sink your teeth into. Her fast-paced plots offered respite, with steady language that was easy to digest. This respite came in the form of constant second-guessing and being suspicious of every character until the end.
It is no different for ‘And Then There Were None,’ formerly published as ‘Ten Little Indians.’ At its core, the book devises a locked-room mystery that unfolds on an island. The slow revelation of killers in the ultimate answers to the “Ten Little Indians” (or Ten Little Soldier Boys, doing away with its underlying racism) nursery rhyme comes after the tense climax.
Why Readers Love “And Then There Were None”
Agatha Christie, one of the most prolific authors of all time, wrote 66 detective novels. Her book, And Then There Were None, was globally voted to be the World’s Favourite Christie during the 2015 “Agatha Christie’s 125th anniversary.” Read on to find out why readers have a soft spot for it:
- Short and concise plot
- Language is efficiently employed
- Plot is relatively fast-paced
- Writing is sparse with details, not telling of clues
- Challenges the reader to keep guessing until the end
- Unexpected plot developments do not feel out of place
- The happening suspense points in the story do not allow time for judgment of characters’ choices
- Plays fair, as every character could be either victim or perpetrator (especially in the beginning)
Though another locked-room mystery, reading the book brings the reader to the conclusion that the author might have had fun writing it. Christie shares how cumbersome the writing process was, how much effort she had put into execution of good flow, and how much pride she takes in its result.
10 Best Books Like And Then There Were None
After devouring any of Christie’s mystery novels, readers are engulfed with the immediate need to indulge in books with a twist ending. Psychological thrillers like And Then There Were None that would curb the hunger for a splendid plot. While nothing could ever compare, here is a list of 10 suspense novels with multiple suspects that would come close:
1. Yukito Ayatsuji’s The Decagon House Murders
Goodreads Rating: 4.2/5
The Decagon House Murders reveals the appeal of a house to a group of seven university students on their annual Mystery Club trip. They revisit a deserted island that was once scene for a ghastly mass murder. As Ayatsuji’s debut in 1987, this cult classic mystery offers a basic plot with strong focus on characters’ emotions. While characters are picked off one after another, this one is an open invitation among whodunit books.
While it operates on the closed room mystery novels trope, it is a love letter to the original. It is based on, and emulates psychological thrillers like And Then There Were None while also containing influence from works of Ellery Queen and S S Van Dine. Though the plot is simple, it reads like a deduction game with a layout of the house in the beginning.
2. Lucy Foley’s The Guest List
Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5
Serving an invitation to die for, Foley’s plot is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s popular title. Capturing the thrill on a remote island, gathered to celebrate a wedding, Foley’s thirteen guests have hidden motives. When one of the guests is found dead, along with a storm to back up the upset, it’s a race against time for the remaining guests to find out the killer’s identity.
It is a relatively slow-paced closed-room mystery. What makes it work is the multiple plot-twists and climax. The isolation trope helps in creating a foreboding suspense that lingers. It ranks high on the list of mystery books similar to And Then There Were None.
3. Ande Pliego’s You Are Fatally Invited
Goodreads Rating: 3.6/5
When legendary author J R Alastor appeals to his six recipients (and an assistant), his private island writing retreat turns into a nightmare. To be on the guest list is to die for, literally. The guest authors find themselves in trope-filled games stemming from Alastor’s imagination, fun until it turns ominous. The question of survival is surmised.
The premise of this book is similar to, and reads like a re-telling of And Then There Were None. All characters are authors, and You Are Fatally Invited makes use of dark trope games to get the plot moving. The multiple character perspectives play into their conflict and suspicions. Boasts a slow-burn beginning, but things get heated soon after.
4. Ruth Ware’s One by One
Goodreads Rating: 3.7/5
A group of colleagues is trapped at a ski chalet due to a storm on their holiday. When they are trapped, they begin to realize something foreboding. They are picked off by a killer, one by one, reinforcing the title.
Readers claim that this murder mystery thriller is hard to put down. Ware displays tact in her skillful use of basic elements from Christie’s classic, yet manipulates the story based on her whims. This thrill of the search for the killer is amplified by the isolation – the atmosphere sets the tone, especially for the second half of One by One.
5. Rachel Howzell Hall’s They All Fall Down
Goodreads Rating: 2.9/5
Yet another trip of a lifetime, They All Fall Down’s trope offers an isolation plot in a lonely mansion. Off the coast, in a private luxury stay, seven strangers heed the call under false pretenses. When this truth is revealed, they learn that paradise is not always pretty. With every passing accident, suspicion mounts. Will they all fall down?
Some readers claim that this reads closest to Agatha Christie style mysteries. It operates as a homage to And Then There Were None. While some elements feel close to the classic, Hall employs humour until it no longer serves her, that is, when the plot begins to show true colours (as will the killer).
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6. Alice Feeney’s Daisy Darker
Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5
Daisy Darker’s family reunion turns into mass murder. The family gathers in Nana’s tiny gothic house on an island to celebrate her 80th birthday. When the tide comes in, they are stuck there for eight hours. At the stroke of twelve, Nana is found dead. With every passing hour, another family member is targeted. When the past catches up to the present, the killer is bound to be revealed.
Inviting the readers to an emotional upheaval, this psychological thriller brings an armload of surprises at every turn. Among suspense novels, it is recommended that the reader take plot developments as they come, especially since a family drama comes with more potency.
7. Gretchen McNeil’s Ten
Goodreads Rating: 3.6/5
Ten teenagers and a descent into madness? It was supposed to be an exclusive party on Henry Island, until it turned sinister. Thanks to a DVD message: ‘Vengeance is mine,’ deaths become unexplainable. As the party-goers are killed off one by one, it becomes a mad scramble to find the killer. Does Ten become none?
Though ideal for the Young-Adult audience, it proves loyalty to Christie’s mystery while still remaining a teen horror. The plot remains fast-paced, and details are not scant. The epilogue offers a good surprise element, especially if you have yet to read the original.
8. Sōji Shimada’s The Tokyo Zodiac Murders
Goodreads Rating: 4.3/5
Steeped in astrology, alchemy, and the occult, The Tokyo Zodiac Murders presents an original plot. When a dead artist’s murder scheme takes effect from beyond his grave, an amateur detective and astrologer is roped in for answers. It is a cross-country, locked-room mystery that hurtles forward with a horrifying truth.
The author breaks the fourth wall by openly inviting the readers to solve the murder mystery. While the dialogues and paltry prose might seem off-putting, the puzzle-like sequence of the plot keeps readers hooked. If active engagement with the plot is your style, don’t give up on the opportunity to read this one.
9. John Dickson Carr’s The Three Coffins
Goodreads Rating: 3.8/5
Carr’s The Three Coffins landmarks the locked room mystery trope, a Christie favourite. The sixth installment in Dr. Gideon Fell’s series, it was originally published as The Hollow Man. The book follows Dr. Fell’s trail to search for the killer of two victims of impossible crimes. The killer seemed to have vanished after killing the first victim, and struck the second in the middle of an empty street with passersby at either end. Can you catch an invisible man?
The plot unfurls in layers. Yet, with every new development, it is difficult to guess. While critics have pointed out improbability in certain aspects, the complex structure of the plot accommodates its bizarre and mad logic. The author’s intent is easy to visualize once everything is explained.
10. Sarah Pearse’s The Sanatorium
Goodreads Rating: 3.4/5
First installment in the Detective Elin Warner series by Sarah Pearse, The Sanatorium boasts a Gothic thriller plot. Arriving at the former sanatorium, now renovated minimalist five-star hotel Le Sommet, Elin had made room to celebrate. Putting up with her estranged brother and his fiancée should have been troublesome enough. Until the fiancée disappears, and so does another woman. Isolated in the Swiss Alps, the detective is no longer on a holiday.
Reviews claim it delivers the hype as it is uncontrollably engaging. The hotel, Le Sommet, exudes the elements of goth – the building itself comes to life, more a character than mere setting. It keeps you wishing for a just-one-more-page long after it’s over. Like the Christie classic, it draws you in and makes you stay.
Conclusion
Agatha Christie’s masterful tales remain on the top among the favourites of crime fiction. In her favourite classic, the unflinching delivery of the twist ending through the epilogue keeps readers on the edge of their seats. What other books like And Then There Were None have you read from the list? Feel free to drop in more recommendations in the comments!
FAQs
1. What type of book is And Then There Were None?
Plainly, And Then There Were None is a mystery novel, with drama and suspense. Bringing in elements of crime fiction and thrillers, it is a locked-room murder mystery.
2. What book is most similar to And Then There Were None?
Any closed-room mystery could be easily classified under this label, save for its plot execution. Some readers claim Rachel Howzell Hall’s They All Fall Down to be a strong contender, while others consider Yukito Ayatsuji’s The Decagon House Murders on a higher level. Lucy Foley’s The Guest List offers a mirror to the premise. Any of these titles are good options for what to read after And Then There Were None.
3. Is “And Then There Were None” and books like it suitable for teens and young adults?
While Christie’s target audience remains adult readers, it is still recommended for young adults interested in learning the structure of the plot. Similar books that are suitable for teens include Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Inheritance Games, Gretchen McNeil’s Ten, and Holly Jackson’s Five Survive.
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