Ten Little Indians

 Ten Little Indians by Agatha Christie (1939) 183 pages

Ten strangers are summoned to a tiny island off the coast of England. For some, their invitations are vague enough that they are not even sure who sent it, but they know the island has a luxurious mansion that was built by a rich American, and the trip promises to be a restful vacation. For others, the invitation is for employment. They are dropped off by a boat which goes back to the mainland a mile away. Oddly, though, the host never shows. The cook and the butler have never met the host, either. They serve meals made with provisions that were already on the island when they arrived, just before the guests were due.

In each bedroom is a nursery rhyme. The first stanza goes thus: "Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked on his little self and then there were nine." The stanzas continue until "there were none." After dinner on the first night, a record is played for them, per the instructions left to the butler. Instead of music, the recording names each one of them in turn, calling them murderers. Almost immediately, one of the guests took a large gulp of his drink and fell to the ground, dead. Thus started the progression of deaths. As the guests realize the gravity of the situation, they try to explore every possible hiding place and believe that the only people on the island are themselves. Will they be able to escape their death sentences? This mystery is still thrilling some 82 years after its first publication.