And Then There Was No One

'''And Then There Was No One''' is the third installment in Gilbert Adair's Evadne Mount trilogy, marking a departure from traditional mystery conventions. The novel takes place at a Sherlock Holmes conference in Meiringen, Switzerland, where a fictional version of Adair himself serves as the narrator. The plot centers on two key events at the conference: the murder of prominent Anglo-Bulgarian writer Gustav Slavorigin and the unexpected appearance of Evadne Mount, who shares royalties with Adair for his previous novels. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Swiss landscapes and literary discussions, mixing elements of classic detective fiction with contemporary storytelling. The book operates on multiple levels, exploring the boundaries between author and character, reality and fiction. It examines themes of authorship, originality, and the complex relationship between creators and their work.

Many readers found this meta-literary mystery too convoluted and self-referential. Several reviews mention confusion over the multiple layers of fiction and reality, with the author inserting himself as a character. Positive reviews highlighted: - Clever homage to Agatha Christie - Complex puzzle structure - Literary references and wordplay Common criticisms: - Too pretentious and self-aware - Difficult to follow multiple narrative threads - Unsatisfying ending - Characters lack depth One reader noted: "It tries too hard to be clever and ends up disappearing into its own navel." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.3/5 (201 ratings) Amazon UK: 3.5/5 (12 reviews) Amazon US: 3.2/5 (8 reviews) The book appears to resonate more with readers who enjoy experimental literary fiction and meta-narratives than with traditional mystery fans. Several reviewers suggest reading the first two books in the trilogy before attempting this one.

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The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz The author writes himself as a character in this murder investigation, blending reality with fiction while examining the relationship between writers and their stories.

If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio A group of Shakespeare students become entangled in a death investigation that mirrors the theatrical works they study, creating layers of performance and reality.

🔍 Meiringen, Switzerland, where the book is set, is famous for being the location of Reichenbach Falls - where Arthur Conan Doyle "killed off" Sherlock Holmes in "The Final Problem" 📚 Gilbert Adair was not only a novelist but also a celebrated film critic, translator, and journalist who wrote for prestigious publications like The Sunday Times and The Independent 🎭 The character Evadne Mount appears in all three books of Adair's mystery trilogy, beginning with "The Act of Roger Murgatroyd" - a clever homage to Agatha Christie's works 🖋️ Adair was known for his pastiche works, including "The Death of the Author" and "Love and Death on Long Island," which often played with postmodern literary techniques 🎬 Several of Adair's works have been adapted for film, including "Love and Death on Long Island" (1997) starring John Hurt and "The Dreamers" (2003) directed by Bernardo Bertolucci