(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Despite Agatha Christie's immense popularity, I've only read one of her books: And Then There Were None. Even though I read it during my teen years (you know, back in the Dark Ages), the haunting poem around which the novel's centered stayed with me. So, when one of my contacts at Harper Collins - which has become the author's global publisher - offered to send me any Christie title I wanted, I chose to re-read this classic murder mystery. And, yes, my dear Watson, the "Ten Little Indians" poem still creeped me out.

As soon as dinner's finished on the first night of the guests' stay in the mansion, they get an inkling of the purpose behind their visit. First, each is accused of a heinous crime. Then, one member of the party dies. More misfortune befalls the guests, until it becomes obvious that someone is murdering them, one by one. Not only that, but the deaths follow the pattern outlined in a macabre poem, copies of which hang on the walls of every guest's bedroom. Stranded on an isolated island with no help in sight, the remaining guests must work together to solve the mystery. Before the killer silences them all.

First published in 1939, And Then There Were None remains a masterpiece of crime fiction. It's a quick read - mostly dialogue - which wastes little time on character development or unnecessary details. It moves quickly, ending with a resolution I should have seen coming (especially considering I'd already read the book once), but didn't. Despite its atmospheric setting, And Then There Were None isn't really a spooky story ... and yet, I slept with the light on the night I read it. It's that suspenseful, that taut. The book may be 72 years old, but, in my opinion, it's still got it going on. If you haven't read it yet, do.

(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of any, although it reminded me a lot of the movie Clue [1985])

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for violence, mild language and vague references to extramarital affairs

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of And Then There Were None from the generous folks at Harper Collins. Thank you!