Book Review: And Then There Were None

The impression given by the characters is perfect. In their situation, the invitation was appealing, and the destination was also exciting. Justice Wargrave had received a letter from a friend, Constance Culmington. Wargrave thought about the lady, and from how he knew her, the kind of destination was possible. According to Wargrave, the Culmington was a sought of a woman who could buy an island and surround herself with mystery, the logic in the invitation seemed to make sense. Vera Claythorne on the other hand, she was being offered a job. She had been recommended by one Skilled Women's Agency, and terms of payment were attractive. In addition to the job opportunity, she also thought of the destination and the five-pound note, and there was no reason for not going. The characters display a sensible kind of approach considering the different reasons for the invitation.

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Philip Lombard was a friend to Morris, and they knew each other well. Morris had a business proposal for Lombard. Mr. Phillip was to be given a hundred guinea in return for he would travel to Sticklehaven, Devon. Lombard was to be met and motored to Sticklehaven and finally to the Indian island. Finally, Lombard was given the job details, and in his view, he would manage just fine. Lombard was assured that the job was not to last more than a week and there would be no criminal involvements whatsoever. At the moment, the gentleman was broke. Lombard had no choice. The thought of the island as the destination was also lingering in his mind and he could not afford to decline the offer by Morris. In his position, the proposal could still be awesome, and the impression was human.

Miss Brent thought how fantastic the opportunity at hand was. She was going to spend a free holiday at any rate courtesy of one Miss Oliver in the controversial island. Although Brent did not recall Miss Oliver clearly, she knew she had come across her sometime back so she would be familiar. Even though the signature of the correspondent was vague, Miss Brent thought it was a norm to sign illegible. General Macarthur received the invitation letter from one Mr. Owen. This fellow Owen claimed to be a friend to Spoof Leggard's, apparently-and of Johnny Dyer. The two were old cronies of Macarthur, and they wanted to talk over

old times. Considering ho alone he was, it was not a bad idea meeting old friends on an island away from 'troubles,' and so he had to go. Their impression regarding the invitations was perfect. Dr. Armstrong-quite a young man-but so smart. He was happy he was going to have a little leisure, but it was not exactly a holiday. The doctor had received a letter in its vaguest of terms. Besides, there was an accompanying cheque. The cheque was awesome, and the doctor thought the Owens must be rolling in money. He was glad that he was leaving London that morning, for some days on an island off the Devon coast. Armstrong is seen to be gullible, and that fact makes him assume the idiomatic rhyme, and as a result, his death is associated with a "red herring." Then there was Mr. Blore. In his first instance, he is going through a list of names. After analyzing the names, he concludes that "Job ought to be easy enough." He displays a negative impression from the rest.

In the first section of the book, the writer puts it clear that those who were invited by letters did not have a precise knowledge of their correspondent. Although Lombard had been given details, they were also not that clear, but since he was broke, he just had to take it. Therefore from there, it could be foreseen that everything was not as clear. Some of them were expecting to meet with friends while for others it was a business tour. Ironically, all were headed to the same destination. From these confused situations, the reader can know that something is amiss. The writer has created suspense correctly.

She had an authoritative voice. She was a tennis teacher and a secretary. Vera also displays a virtue of patience especially when they realized that the four of them in Oakland station headed to the same place. She decides to remain behind for the next cab. Vera's keen ability was to be fancy. She glanced at Lombard and saw a very distinguished old gentleman. Logically she wondered what such a man could be doing n a seaside guest house. Eventually, she concluded that the host had good connections. Vera was inquisitive. She wanted to know from Lombard more about the so-called Owen. Since Lombard did not have a clue either he dismisses the questions and evades the discussion. On their way to the island from the station, Vera noticed that there was no house visible, only the boldly silhouetted rock with its faint resemblance to a giant Indian's head. There was something sinister about it, and that made her shiver.

Martson was a speeding driver, and he was from France. He refers to the driving in England as hopeless. Tony who had been invited by his friend Barger was fond of drinks, and he just hoped the Owens would do him well. Martson was born in money, meaning whatever he had was not his earnings. He even wonders how those fellows who were not born like him made money. Marston was a type taken without the feeling of moral responsibility which most of us have. He was amoral pagan. Anthony Marston is genuinely unaware of his secret, of his darker side. He is thoughtless, so uncaring and self-centered that he is not even aware. Marston is a reckless young man who doesn't think about much else other than what is directly in front of him and his desires, needs and wants. In conclusion, the gentleman gives an impression of ignorance and laziness ones not to be fancied even by the reader.

The character is observant and judgmental. Narracott analyzes the invited party and concludes that the whole thing is just queer-very queer. He had not seen the Owen, but instructions and payments were always prompt. Fred even thought of the island being owned by one Miss Gabrielle Turl instead, but after observing the guests, only Martson could have fit to be on the guests' list. Dispassionately, he judged them according to appearance. Vera was seen as too ordinary and not glamorous; she did not have a touch of Hollywood. Miss Brent, on the other hand, Narracott could bet that she was just an old maid, the sour kind. Narracott concluded that Miss Brent was tartar. Lombard had quick eyes, and Narracott found him queer from the rest. The fact that even Narracott did not have a clue of Mr. Owen heightens the suspense.

The writer uses sarcasm in a significant way, and that maintains the suspense of the reader. The party had arrived and despite the absence of the Owens, Culmington for War-grave and Oliver for Emily, they were still not much shaken by the fact. Their reaction is evident when the author says they were satisfied with themselves and with life. While having dinner, they got freer and chatted like they had known each other for a long. The setting of the house could not raise eyebrows considering the lots of drinks, the host and a hostess and the plenty of supplies. In the same situation, most probably waiting for the Owens the following day as Mr. Rogers had said, was a perfect idea. A contradicting thought at that moment was not helpful since the boat had already sailed back to the mainland.

Wargrave was a judge by profession. He had arrived in Oakland station in a first class train. He was right in court, and he had a sense of logical thinking. The judge and Armstrong were familiar, they had met in the court long ago, but they could identify each other. The judge inquired whether Armstrong knew a lady by the name Culmington. Armstrong had never heard the name. Wargrave was puzzled when he asked Mr. Rogers and found out that he too was in the same position. Wargrave thought of the possibility that Culmington would be amongst the three

Ladies on the island but the idea was not adding up. He considered Mrs. Rogers but the odd creature; she looked scared to death; therefore, she was no fit to be Culmington.

Armstrong arrived on the island the last one. While on the boat, he had chatted to the boatman. He was anxious about these people, and he wanted to more about them as a result. Narracott the boatman who was also a local dweller was reluctant to talk. The doctor arrived in the island and being there he had mixed feelings. At one time he felt he would like to see himself longer on the island but at the same time, there seemed to be something magical about the island. Armstrong in his confusion thought of leaving his ordinary life behind him and even made vague plans for the future. The doctor is surprised when the judge tells him that there is no host and hostess, he assumes the judge had gone to sleep. The doctor should have taken the statement seriously and think how odd it was instead.

It is their first day on the island, and Emily Brent is in her room reading a Bible. Miss Brent reads by following keenly, but she afterward shuts the Bible and the gong for dinner sounds. For the first time Miss. Brent is now able to see the suspicion in the whole business. Brent had been invited by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, but now Vera was talking of Owens. Miss Brent confirmed she had not encountered anyone by the name Owen before in her life. Vera and Emily had gone to the drawing room after Vera related the ten India figures in the middle of the table with the idiomatic rhyme in everyone's bedroom. The two ladies had already noticed a deviation from the normality, but neither of them spoke of it. It would have been somewhat wise to discuss the queer figures and the rhyme.

She was married to Mr. Rogers. She was frightened, and Vera saw her as a woman walking in mortal fear. Mrs. Rogers seemed very respectable; she claimed to be very good in cooking while his husband was handy about the house. The butler had little queer eyes that shifted from place to place. Vera thought she was frightened of her own shadow from her looks. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers also had no clue of Mr. Owen. They had been invited as butlers, and so for them, it was a job. They had arrived earlier than the rest to act as host and hostess to the guests. From the conversation between Vera and Mrs. Rogers, the reader can conclude that the party had been oddly assorted despite being queer.

It is just amazing how the whole business was planned. After dinner, at a particular time, there came this inhuman, penetrating voice. The voice became evident as it began reading the guests' indictments. Each and everyone was charged with a specific crime. Most of the accusations according to the accused were either the truth or somehow forgotten, but none was a lie. However, the voice puzzled them. It was not clear where the sound had come from as it even specified their position in the house, 'Prisoners at the bar, have you anything to say in your defense?' After the voice was done, there was petrified silence in the room. As expected, there was a confused atmosphere in the house. In this section, the reader is able now to see the reason for the queer formalities all along.

Just a moment after the voice, Rogers dropped the coffee tray. Was it fear or was it guilt. Her wife had also fainted almost simultaneously. Rogers is shaking as he goes for brandy as instructed by the doctor. Rogers had brought the brandy, and he tried to speak to her wife and surprisingly it was successful. Mr. Wargrave was always fast in taking actions; he asked Rogers of the record in the gramophone. The butler explained how he had been given instructions and since he had no knowledge of the content, in his position he had no doubts at all. It was his duty as a butler to take orders since it was a job like any other. The gentleman is sincere in his explanation, and this is proven by the rest when they find out the title of the record was Swan Song. In conclusion, whethe...