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Post by gemster on Dec 16, 2018 17:13:47 GMT -5
Sorry this is so early, I’m travelling for work tomorrow so the morning will be a rush & I don’t want to forget! People might still be finishing the book this evening though so best to save any spoilery discussions till we officially kick off tomorrow, I’ll be back to catch up and join in tomorrow evening UK time. What did you think of the book - like, love, loathe? How would you rate it against other Agatha Christie’s you’ve read, or if it was your first AC has it encouraged you to read others? For repeat readers, did you pick up on anything new this time round that you’d forgotten about or hadn’t really registered previously? And most importantly did you guess whodunnit when you first read the book? If you did then I reckon you’re a genius as this one is almost impossible to crack If you didn’t guess then what theories did you have as to who might have dunnit and why?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2018 6:51:10 GMT -5
I’ve always liked the book. I think it’s an interesting take on “vigilante justice”. And the characters aren’t exactly likeable (a skill of AC to give us just enough info on them to *maybe* feel sorry for them; PD James in contrast writes her characters with no redeemable traits).
ETA: I didn’t guess who did it when I first read it but I did figure at least one of the deaths had to be faked. Occam’s Razor and all that.
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Post by bumblebuzz21 on Dec 17, 2018 8:02:20 GMT -5
I liked it! I thought it was pretty dark (darker than the other AC I have read). I definitely did not guess it. I figured that there was someone hiding on the island and they just couldn't find their secret spot.
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Post by ccToast on Dec 17, 2018 8:36:04 GMT -5
Gemster, thank you for leading our discussion! I had not read this book or seen a movie/tv version, and I did not guess whodunit. I had seen tv shows that referenced/spoofed this story, but I couldn't remember whodunit in those either. I was pretty certain that it was one of the ten, and my guess was that it would be the first person who died (Anthony Marston) because he would be the least suspected. (Are we still not revealing the ending?) I really liked this story, but my favorite remains Murder on the Orient Express because I can accept of the vigilante justice in that one. After we finish our discussion, I am going to seek out a video version to see if I'd be better at cracking the mystery if I can see the characters.
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Post by itsrad on Dec 17, 2018 8:36:40 GMT -5
I hadn't read this one before. Which surprised me, I thought I had read it. Nor have I seen any of the adaptations of it. I loved it ... as I said in the other thread, once I started reading I couldn't put it down. From that standpoint, I'd have to say it is one of her better books despite it being far-fetched. I never even got close to figuring it out. I was pretty convinced it was Vera although I couldn't figure out how she engineered it. She seemed the "least likely" so that made me suspicious of her. And then at the end I was sure I had been right until I read the last chapter. Are we worried about spoilers in this thread or are we assuming everybody has finished the book?
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Post by cinderrose on Dec 17, 2018 8:41:22 GMT -5
I read it all the way back in high school. I knew what a red herring was from Ellery Queen. So, I knew we had been misled somewhere. The judge was always at the top of my list, because of his personality. He was a judge known as a hanging judge who manipulated juries and he decided cases on his own. That's exactly what happened on the island. I didn't know how we did it, and it didn't dawn on me he had faked his death.
I liked this book. It was my first Agatha Christie. I was actually deeply disappointed when I found out the rest of her books were not like this one. There was so much more tension that kept on building in this one that wasn't present in her others because there was a lead Detective.
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Cyn
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Post by Cyn on Dec 17, 2018 8:55:00 GMT -5
I stupidly rewatched the BBC movie thisxweekend, so am re-skimming to get the book version straight in my head. There were a few differences between the 2, so I need to settle which was what.
I had never read this, and really liked it. I did chuckle a bit to myself, as AC started off pretty early with the stereotypical at the time anti-Semitic labelling of the Jewish agent character. She definitely had the full representation of privileged down to servant in her cast of characters. I did remember a bit from the first time I watched the tv series though not all the details, so it was interesting to me to read AC's ending.
I am looking forward to seeing the TCM version airing this Thursday morning.
I like mysteries that really mess with the reader's mind-this one fit the bill for me.
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Post by bernelli on Dec 17, 2018 8:57:13 GMT -5
I loved it so much! It was dark and disturbing, and I thought I had guessed whodunit... Anthony Marston -- only because he died first and I thought it'd be easier for the killer to not give himself away so he'd "die" first. But I was so wrong. I did think this was far fetched, but I loved that the murderer relied on conscience and personalities to carry through and help him with his plans. on location 1525, Wargrave states "...one is a dangerous and probably insane criminal" referring to the killer .... I thought that was so clever! He shares this while the remaining "victims" are all accusing each other. Another great use of the red herring, I think.
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lee058
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Post by lee058 on Dec 17, 2018 9:06:45 GMT -5
I have been waiting for this thread to start, and I'm glad that we're here to discuss the book! I thought it was much darker than Agatha Christie's other books, and frankly it creeped me out. Something about everyone dying, one by one, just made me go brr! I saw the BBC version when it was recently on, and thought it was very true to the book. Cyn thanks for telling us about the movie being on TCM this week! Do you know what time? (If not, I'll look it up.) As soon as I saw the phrase, "red herring", I knew someone would be faking their death, but while reading the book, I didn't see how it was possible until the end. I think I've read all of AC's mysteries, and this is definitely the most haunting (see what I did?). Looking forward to reading everybody's posts!
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Post by honeybzzzs on Dec 17, 2018 9:08:35 GMT -5
I like this AC. It was one of the first ones I ever read. Like cinderrose l thought the others didn’t have the tension this one does. I stopped reading AC after that until I was re-introduce to her books through this clublet. Enjoying them now. I had re-read this book a few years ago. This is my third reading. Knowing whodunnit made reading all the dialogue very interesting. I could more readily see where people were being led astray. And STILL I started second guessing whodidit. I had forgotten that the killer ‘died’ that way. And I had forgotten that Dr. Armstrong was in on the plan...
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Cyn
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Post by Cyn on Dec 17, 2018 9:12:50 GMT -5
****correction!!!*******
***TCM airing of 10 Little Indians is on Friday morning at 7:30am ET***
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Post by peacemama on Dec 17, 2018 9:16:24 GMT -5
This is one of my favorite Christie novels, since it is not her traditional detective whodunit. It really highlights her craft as a mystery writer.
When I read it for the first time in high school, I thought there was an 11th person on the island. This time I remembered one death was faked and the doctor was involved, but I didn't recall who was the killer.
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lee058
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Post by lee058 on Dec 17, 2018 9:16:36 GMT -5
Just checked TCM. Actually, it's on Friday at 7:30AM, not 5:30. It looks like it's a lot different from the book, from the synopsis.
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Cyn
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Post by Cyn on Dec 17, 2018 9:19:24 GMT -5
I personally wouldn't characterize this as a 'vigilante' killing , ala Orient Express. The killer had no connection or interest in any of the alleged victims, apart from his self-professed need for justice. This was all about his personal obsessions and ego. When he mentioned indulging his adolescent fantasies, all I could think of was "inner 12 year old" pulling wings off of wasps. One of the signs of the serial killer.
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Post by cinderrose on Dec 17, 2018 9:24:47 GMT -5
Wouldn't the directions say "use spoilers?" The whole thread will be spoilers based on the initial questions.
Upon rereading I will say I never suspected Emily and I am not sure why I dismissed her. She was perfectly happy to let god exact his vengeance on the sinful. She did not see what she did as sinful, only the girl who drowned herself. However, she was very judgmental of the others' sins.
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Post by bernelli on Dec 17, 2018 9:34:18 GMT -5
Did anyone find a slim comparison of this book to the Saw franchise?
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Post by ashtangi on Dec 17, 2018 9:38:01 GMT -5
I read this way back when I was a teenager, and all I remembered is that one of the guests did it but I couldn't remember who! I still didn't figure it out upon re-reading, lol. I think this is one of her best books. It's well written and the plot it pretty tight, despite being a bit far fetched. It freaked me out and kept me interested despite the fact that the characters were pretty much all unlikable. I usually can't read books where I don't like the characters, but I was so interested in the the plot that it made up for the characters.
I listened to the book, and that was helpful because I tend to get so anxious to get to the end that I rush and miss things. Listening really helped me to get all the details, and Dan Stevens (aka Matthew from Downton Abbey) was the narrator and he did an excellent job. That being said, I pretty much binge listened in three days because I loved it.
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Post by melbre on Dec 17, 2018 9:51:22 GMT -5
I loved this book. My favorite so far has been Murder on the Orient Express, but this one is a pretty close second. I have only read a few other AC books and the tone of this one felt very different. I really enjoyed the suspicion and paranoia playing out between the "guests".
My theory of the murderer changed many times during the book. I did suspect the judge for a time, based on how he was leading the conversations. But, I also thought it may have been the doctor and the investigator as well. Until the very end, I thought that the boat operator may have played a part in assisting the killer somehow.
I'll definitely check out the movie version airing this week for comparison.
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allie
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Post by allie on Dec 17, 2018 10:04:01 GMT -5
I liked it, but I found it hard to keep all the different characters straight so I had to refer to the front page that listed them out quite a bit.
This was the first AC book I’ve read and I will probably read something else by her—anyone have any suggestions for a good one?
No, I didn’t guess the ending at all. I was completely surprised. I also thought someone had to be hiding somewhere on the island.
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Post by cinderrose on Dec 17, 2018 10:07:58 GMT -5
Bit of trivia - it was originally Ten Little N****** but they had to change the title for the US audience because of the racism (how were we that progressive??). Then it was Ten Little Indians, and finally Ten Little Soldiers. Regarding the changes in the movie The thing that fascinate me is how the Hollywood adaptation changes the entire book by just changing the ending. I assume Hollywood found it (1) too dark and (2) liked the ability to insert a "boy meets girl and they redeem each other " story. They foiled all the plans, the careful planning, and the deliberate manipulation. That changed the entire story.
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Post by mcmoff on Dec 17, 2018 10:15:03 GMT -5
I enjoyed the book, but now want to re-read it knowing who was doing all the killing. And no, I did not guess, I didn't have a clue. In fact, when I finished the book, I didn't realize there was a Epilogue and was left in limbo until I found it. I should have know there was one!
I will TIVO the movie playing at the end of the week.
This is my 2nd AC book. I read Crocked House last year with the Clubet. My high school education must be lacking because we didn't read it there. And maybe we were supposed to and I didn't. But I found the Orient Express movie boring and never gave it a chance. Some things are just better in book form.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2018 10:15:49 GMT -5
I'm almost finished rereading the book. I originally read it in high school.
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Post by bumblebuzz21 on Dec 17, 2018 10:17:50 GMT -5
Did anyone else have the forward that talked about how impressed with herself AC was in writing this book? I thought it was cute!
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Post by mona on Dec 17, 2018 10:18:17 GMT -5
I have a slight bit of a problem with AG books, which is why I think I never pick them up on my own, despite being a fan of mysteries. I feel that she withholds clues from the reader, or intentionally misleads them. To me, it eliminates the fun of trying to make an actual educated guess about the identity of the murderer. I went back to the very beginning of the book and Wargrave is the first character introduced, and he draws out a note from his pocket inviting him to the island. That aside, I do think she weaves a brilliant and clever mystery that manages to be suspenseful as it unfolds.
Almost at the very beginning I assumed it was one of the guests, but like others I suspected Marston. The reason being that if he got himself out of the way first, it would enable him to rise above suspicion and perform these deeds while everyone's attention was elsewhere. Also, it seemed like a poisoning was the easiest death to fake.
I'm really not sure how we as readers are supposed to feel about the people in the book, or how AG feels about them as she is writing. We are seeing the events unfold from the perspective on the island, and I think that naturally draws you a bit into their sympathy. They have done morally reprehensible things that cannot be touched by law, but idea of violent retribution being doled out by the hand of one individual according to his own sense of justice doesn't sit right with me either.
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Post by ccToast on Dec 17, 2018 10:21:44 GMT -5
Bit of trivia - it was originally Ten Little N****** but they had to change the title for the US audience because of the racism (how were we that progressive??). Then it was Ten Little Indians, and finally Ten Little Soldiers. I had no idea that there was this first title. Were the poems in the other versions also different?
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