![]() ![]() The resulting vibe is both sinister and, dare I say, amusing. While the tone of the book is decidedly dark, the take is melodramatic. Christie’s deliberate use of detail grounds a series of disparate plot points that coalesce into a *gasp* shocking revelation. It might sound complex, but once you settle in, the story is quite straightforward. Any every now and then, her characters will make readers cringe-do they not know that splitting up the group never ends well? With each eerie event and new piece of evidence comes more uncertainty of the killer’s motive and identity, up to the last page. Her shifts in perspective keep readers at attention. She lets readers see some of what each character is thinking and why but does not fully disclose any meaningful secrets. (Leonardo da Vinci’s belief that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” definitely rings true here.)Ĭhristie uses the third person, and with each chapter, she focuses on a different character. The simplicity, however, lays the proper groundwork for the unexpected denouement. She is decidedly formulaic in the telling of this story, and her repetitions in verse and action are as artful as they are useful in giving the story momentum. Get past the requisite worldbuilding, though, and relish Christie’s characterization and plot structure, which remains tidy despite myriad twists and turns and red herrings. Some might say that her prose is a bit blasé, particularly as the characters are being introduced. Accusations fly, and emotions run amok as the bad guy is narrowed in upon.Ĭhristie writes robustly yet succinctly. A madman appears to be on the loose, and logic tells us that it must be someone from this isolated group. ![]() Nefarious incidents ensue, with guests turning up dead, one by one. Then, a storm traps everyone on the island. First, a mysterious audio recording plays, its contents accusing each guest of murder. The various guests meet and greet, but things sour quickly. Each invitee agrees to his summons, viewing the opportunity as a reprieve. Set in the 1930s, the story involves a wealthy, enigmatic man who invites a host of people to stay at his estate on a private island off of England’s Devon coast. ![]()
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