Quotes from And Then There Were None

As well as being Agatha Christie's bestselling novel, And Then There Were None is an ingeniously plotted story which the author was very proud to have created. In an Author's Note that precedes the text she muses on the difficulty of writing it, and her pleasure at the results.

I wrote the book after a tremendous amount of planning, and I was pleased with what I had made of it. It was clear, straight-forward, baffling, and yet had a perfectly reasonable explanation;

Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None

A locked room mystery. A country house separated from the rest of civilisation. Ten suspicious characters. The setting, set-up and style of the book is key to its success. These quotes highlight the themes, tension and atmosphere created throughout. In some cases we've removed the speaker to avoid plot spoilers.

The island's reputation has caused a stir amongst the characters...

Soldier Island! Why, there had been nothing else in the papers lately! All sorts of hints and interesting rumours. Though probably they were mostly untrue.

Vera Claythorne, And Then There Were None

The visitors' anticipation is palpable:

He had little leisure. And so, on this August morning, he was glad that he was leaving London and going to be for some days on an island off the Devon coast.

Dr Armstrong, And Then There Were None

This island place ought to be rather good fun—if the weather lasted. Who were these Owens, he wondered?

Tony Martson, And Then There Were None

As we're introduced to each character chapter by chapter, the excitement of the invited party is evident. Upon their arrival at Soldier Island, however, the landscape, and its isolation prompts unease and discomfort.

First impressions of the island:

She had pictured it differently, close to shore, crowned with a beautiful white house. But there was no house visible, only the boldly silhouetted rock with its faint resemblance to a giant head. There was something sinister about it.

Vera Claythorne, And Then There Were None

General Macarthur said: 'Ha! Delightful spot!' But he felt uneasy. Damned odd sort of place.

General Macarthur, And Then There Were None

There was something magical about an island—the mere word suggested fantasy. You lost touch with the world—an island was a world of its own. A world, perhaps, from which you might never return.

Dr Armstrong, And Then There Were None

As the visitors hide their discomfort at their first dinner together, an eerie and threatening announcement rings out from a record player. This warning seems to come from their unknown host...

Into that silence came The Voice. Without warning, inhuman, penetrating… 'Ladies and gentlemen! Silence please!' […] 'You are charged with the following indictments: […]

And Then There Were None

The accusation, that each are responsible for the death(s) of another, spark fear, indignation and outrage amongst the gathered party. They also force them to speculate on who invited them to the island, and why they have all been brought together in this way.

Responses vary hugely to the situation at hand:

Oh, yes. I've no doubt in my own mind that we have been invited here by a madman—probably a dangerous homicidal lunatic.

Justice Wargrave, And Then There Were None

Ought to ferret out the mystery before we go. Whole thing's like a detective story. Positively thrilling.

Tony Marston, And Then There Were None

As the imminent danger facing the visitors crescendos, and one-by-one they begin to die, the hunt for the culprit reaches fever pitch.

There was nothing hidden in this house, nothing concealed. It had no atmosphere about it.

And Then There Were None

We're not going to leave the island…None of us will ever leave…It's the end, you see—the end of everything…

And Then There Were None

They're going mad… They'll all go mad… Afraid of death… we're all afraid of death… I'm afraid of death… Yes, but that doesn't stop death coming…

And Then There Were None

This chilling story has enthralled readers, film and TV viewers, and theatre-goers since Christie wrote it. The plot has inspired plenty of new shows, crime novels and more.