Structure/Length: 16 chapters plus epilogue and manuscript; approx. 300 pages; approx. 6 hours on audio
Protagonist and Central Conflict: Eight houseguests at an isolated island estate begin to be murdered off one by one, their modes of death representing the lines of a children’s rhyme.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Murder; racist language in the original title and original children’s rhyme inspiring the plot; suicide
Agatha Christie, Author
Bio: 1890-1976; born in Devon, England; homeschooled by her mother; studied voice and piano in Paris at 16; served as a nurse during WWI; introduced famous character Hercule Poirot in first published novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1921); wrote over 70 detective and mystery novels in her lifetime, many adapted to stage plays and film; earned the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award in 1955; awarded the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971
Other Works: The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1921); Murder on the Orient Express (1934); Death on the Nile (1937); Evil Under the Sun (1941); A Pocket Full of Rye (1953); Sleeping Murder (1976)
Awards: Credited as being the best-selling mystery novel of all time
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