Book Club Discussion Questions for And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

1. Judge Wargrave has a long history of considering crime and those who commit crime. He also calls himself "a man with a strong sense of justice." As result, he seems to feel that he has the expertise and right to single-handedly identify and punish those who have committed crime but have escaped conviction by law. Do you think that any man or woman has the knowledge and the right to single-handedly deal out punishment to others? If so, when is it appropriate for him or her to do so? If not, why not? Explore these questions in a Socratic Seminar.
2. Justice Wargrave feels that some of the guests on Soldier Island are more guilty of murder than others because of the degrees to which they were responsible for the deaths that took place in their pasts. Do you agree that there are degrees of responsibility that can be assigned to those involved in a death? Write a persuasive essay that uses examples from the book, examples from real life, and/or hypothetical examples to support why you feel the way you do.
3. A number of the guests on Soldier Island appear to be recognized, upstanding members of society who contribute positively to their communities. Can a person's acts of service to others erase a poor decision he or she has made in the past? If so, why, when, and how? If not, why not?
4. Emily Brent feels as though God will judge those who commit crimes. Vera Claythorne also suggests that there might be some form of Absolute Justice in the universe (though she doesn't specify that she believe in God). Do you believe, as these women appear to, that what goes around comes around? What reasons do you have for feeling the way you do?
5. Dr. Armstrong is accused of having made a mistake while operating because he was drinking on the job. How accountable should those in the medical profession be for mistakes made on the job? Should they be held to higher standards than those in other professions? Participate in a Socratic Seminar that explores these questions.
6. Of all of the guests who stay on Soldier Island, which one deserves the most sympathy? Explain your answer using specific evidence from the text. Create a presentation that includes visuals wherein you explain your rationale to the class with the goal of convincing others that your position is a reasonable one.
7. At the beginning of the novel, both Lombard and Blore lie about the circumstances surrounding their invitations to the island because they've been contracted to perform jobs during their stays. Is there ever a good reason to tell a lie? Write an essay that defends your answer using real life examples, textual evidence, and/or hypothetical support.

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of William Morrow. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.