Goodreads Overview:
First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. And only the dead are above suspicion.
Jacque's Review:
I added this book to my TBR list when I was watching the PBS Great American Read series. I enjoy murder mysteries and felt this was a classic I should probably read. Then it was on my son's freshman year summer reading list, so we decided to read it together.
The book starts out with each of the guests receiving an invitation for an unforgettable week on an exclusive island. Some are enticed through a needed vacation, while others are offered various forms of employment. For example, a doctor is summoned to evaluate Mr. Owen's wife who supposedly refuses to seek medical care. A police officer is asked to investigate/uncover some suspicious activity. A married couple is offered employment as the cook/housekeeper and butler/handyman.
All of the guests appear to have nothing in common, but they soon discover a link between them. A recording accuses each of them of committing a murder the legal system can not hold them accountable for. As the guests begin to die one after the other they realize these are not suicides as they originally thought. They are being targeted and nobody will leave this island alive unless they are "very careful." They search the island and can't find anyone else, so they conclude it must be one of them that is committing the murders. Then they search everyone's possessions. There aren't enough clues to point at anyone, yet the guests are falling faster than dominoes.
This was an interesting tale, but it wasn't your typical murder mystery. The author didn't leave a number of clues that in retrospect should have enabled the reader to solve the mystery on his or her own. There is a very lengthy epilogue that spells out everything that took place on the island. Without this additional information, I don't think anyone could have uncovered the truth. That isn't exactly my idea of a murder mystery. I realize this book was written in the 1930's and times and expectations may have changed. This may have been the norm in that time period, but it wasn't nearly as engaging as trying to solve the mystery yourself. As my son and I were reading we would discuss who we thought was the leading suspect, who was going to get picked off next, etc. Without credible clues and evidence this soon became a fruitless process and my son began to lose interest.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and could piece things together in the end with the help of the epilogue. I do not think Preston was too impressed with the story and was just happy when it was over. If it weren't for the help of an audio book when we had a weekend car trip, I don't think he would have ever finished it.
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