Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

24 reviews

megelizabeth's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

"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."

As a mystery, this is very solid, with a strong atmosphere and sense of place, an intriguing cast of characters, and great building of tension and suspense. I had various theories throughout, none of which were quite right, and felt satisfied, if not entirely shocked, with the ending. This book does some really interesting things, and I can definitely see why it has remained so popular and has influenced so much other work.

In talking about this book, I don't think you can ignore its racist history. Although I read a version with these traces removed, and I wouldn't have known had I not been prompted by other reviews to do some research, I do still feel uncomfortable with regard to the wider context of the book, and it's difficult to entirely separate the newer, revised editions from the original. I really would urge anybody who isn't aware to educate themselves accordingly, as plot-wise this is a great book, and I'm glad that I've now read it, but that doesn't mean we should discount its history.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Suicide

Moderate: Misogyny, Child death, and Racism

Minor: Alcoholism

lavenderlilacs1912's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

And Then There Were None is a stand alone mystery by Agatha Christie that is perhaps her most well-known. Ten visitors arrive on a seemingly deserted and isolated island at the invitation of their mysterious host. What looks to be a relaxing weekend in a modern home turns into a deadly game as each guest is accused of murder by an unknown voice. Then their pursuer starts to pick them off, one by one, all according to a children's nursery rhyme.

I've heard it said that And Then There Were None is one of Christie's best stories and I'd have to agree. It's also one of her darkest, as

none of the main characters make it out alive in the end and the murderer is never caught

. The setup and unfolding of the mystery is unique I can't say I've read any other mystery like it. Christie usually writes cozy murder mysteries, but I would argue that nothing about ATTWN is "cozy." Whereas her Poirot and Marple stories usually have a main character (usually the detective) who is, for the most part, above reproach, ATTWN is different. All the main characters are quite unsympathetic, each being guilty of individual crimes, in the killer's mind. This is quite a psychological murder mystery, where the reader is thrown into each character's head as they reflect on their situations and indeed their own perceived guilt or innocence. And in the end the ambiguity dissipates a little, as each person reveals that they were in fact guilty of their respective crime...they just didn't think so.

The events of the book read like a typical murder mystery, but I also think that ATTWN can also read like a precursor to the modern day slasher films. A cast of morally ambiguous characters getting picked off one by one is definitely a trope in modern horror, with a dash of mystery and psychological thriller thrown into the mix (in this case, though, the characters in ATTWN behave in more intelligent and resourceful ways than the characters in your run of the mill slasher). Yet, that comparison is complicated by the fact that

the "final girl" of ATTWN, Vera Claythorne is 1. Never shown confronting the killer and 2. Is the most damnably guilty and remorseless of them all, her death serving as the final act in the novel before the two epilogues

. 

Which brings me to the ending. That ending is probably the best ending to a book like this, it explains everything yet also offers up more opportunities for discussion, namely about the characters and the themes present throughout the book, namely murder, guilt, and innocence. In conclusion And Then There Were None is a classic for a reason and it's one I can return to and enjoy over and over again 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Addiction

The book was re published with noted changes from the original. In the original edition the poem and the title both contained the N-Word, while the 1st revision changed the wording from N-Word to "Indian". I read the most recent edition, which excises any racial themes from the poem altogether and changed the title. For an analysis of the racial themes of the book you can watch a YouTube video called "Crime and Colonialism: Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None."

elisabethreads's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

Count of everytime the word queer is said: 21. Would make a fantastic drinking game. Not a great book over all. You are better off watching Blues Clues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child death, Car accident, and Alcoholism

Minor: Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Cursing

jojo_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Ableism, Death, Murder, Racism, Gun violence, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Terminal illness, War, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Medical content, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry

scaredykatbooks's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death, Sexism, Antisemitism, Misogyny, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, Suicide, Violence, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Classism, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Abortion, and Suicide

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This has always been my favorite Agatha Christie novel. I hadn’t read it in over thirty years so I tell myself I read it with a fresh look. I was really pleased with how much I enjoyed it. It’s so cleverly constructed that it keeps the reader guessing till the very end. 

The reader sees multiple points of view and thus has shifting sympathies for the characters (if it can be called sympathy as the characters are so despicable). Seemingly impossible things start happening, driving some of the characters to think they’re seeing ghosts or perhaps losing their minds. For such a short book, it’s very complex. 

I’m about to start The Science of Murder: the Forensics of Agatha Christie by Carla Valentine, and I wanted a refresher on Christie’s writing style. I’m glad I chose this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Gun violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Suicide, Car accident, Classism, and Child death

faygof9's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Great book, way better than Murder on the Orient Express and I wish I had read it first. The movie Clue is likely somewhat based on this story as it reminded me of it often. I read the beginning on ebook as I had a hard time keeping the characters straight on audio, then switched between them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Car accident, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Abandonment, Antisemitism, Child death, Gun violence, Suicide, and Medical content

midwifekt's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Colonisation, Suicide, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, and Gaslighting

Minor: War and Medical trauma

mayr3adsab00k's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Murder, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Racism, Antisemitism, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Terminal illness, and Violence

ilariasroom's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Agatha Christie really does live up to the hype. It’s true, I did not see that coming. Also, using an old nursery rhyme to dictate the nature of multiple murders… that’s peak literature I must say. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Racism, Religious bigotry, and War