By: agatha christie
Genre: fiction, mystery
Publication Date: 1939
Publisher’s Description
“Ten people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to an isolated mansion on soldier Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. On the island they are cut off from everything but each other and the inescapable shadows of their own past lives. One by one, the guests share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts. And one by one, they die…
Which among them is the killer and will any of them survive?”
Our Take
this one had us on the edge of our seats! it’s an eerie story that leaves you guessing who the murderer is again and again. the author does an incredible job of making sure you never confidently guess who the culprit is, while also leaving you to wrestle with the idea and morality of taking justice into your own hands.
food to share
if you were to have a last meal, what would it be? that’s the question we couldn’t help but ask ourselves while reading this book. that question left us with a decadent dinner that would have been a very fitting meal if it were in fact your last one on earth…
on the menu:
- potato corn chowder
- sausage stuffed mushrooms
- indian spiced cucumbers
- garlic butter bread
Atmosphere
we decorated the table with the game clue to represent the murder mystery theme, and also had 10 skin tone colored nail polishes in the center of the table to represent the 10 unfortunate “soldier boys”. complete with an apothic and 19 crimes wine to add to the dark feel of the story, as well as “bloody center” raspberry filled Ghirardelli chocolates for a sweet treat. we also had a printed copy of the 10 little soldier boys poem at each place setting.
you can find that printable here.
discussion questions
- who did you suspect at first and how did that change throughout the book?
- why do you think these characters each decided to go to an island without knowing the person of mystery who invited them? would you have done the same?
- after going over each suspect’s background, do you think they deserved to be on the island?
- who do you think deserved to be there the most?
quotes
“I’m afraid of death… yes, but that doesn’t stop death from coming.”
“from now on, it is our task to suspect each and every one amongst us.”
“Ten Little Soldier Boys went out to Dine, one choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine Little Soldier Boys stayed up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight Little Soldier Boys travelling in Devon; One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.
Seven Little Soldier Boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six Little Soldier Boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five Little Soldier Boys going through a door; One stubbed his toe and then there were four.
Four Little Soldier Boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three Little Soldier Boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two Little Soldier Boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was One.
One Little Soldier Boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there were none. “