Christie’s Vintage Thrill vs. McFadden’s Modern Adrenaline

Books: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, Never Lie by Freida McFadden
Focus: Vintage Thrill vs Modern Adrenaline

A “locked-room” thriller is unlike any other—a setting where the characters cannot escape the location or each other.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is one such famous thriller that has inspired countless adaptations all over the world. Undoubtedly, what the Queen of Crime created is truly one of the most unique settings that stands the test of time: ten invited guests arrive on an island, only to find that not only is the host missing, but they cannot even step off the island. Being stuck there makes matters worse when, one by one, each character is killed. The remaining guests are left to wonder who and how, while the reader is left to wonder why?

And Then There Were None was released in 1939, when time was unhurried and enjoyed. Agatha Christie’s style of describing the setting, allowing each character to take shape in the reader’s mind and planting doubts as the narrative carries on, is a skill one cannot fathom today. She lets details absorb and settle in the mind, slowly building the intensity of the suspense. Mind you, her books are never boring, yet she still manages to create an ample, deep profile for every character.

But today’s thrillers are the complete opposite. Freida McFadden is especially popular for her quick turnaround, piquing the reader’s interest immediately and keeping them hooked. This method is addictive. The narrative is fast-paced and heightened by the reveals, the whiplash-y turns, and then the ultimate hammer on the head—the final twist.

Take McFadden’s book Never Lie for comparison. It is a psychological thriller where, instead of an island, we have a couple stuck in an estate during a brutal blizzard. There are no chapters dedicated purely to setting the scene; instead, there is just pure, unadulterated thrill that creeps in very early in the book.

Having read both books, I love both approaches. The slow and atmospheric storytelling of Christie is a true treat for a thriller enthusiast, as it enables the reader to form a vivid mental image of the story and develop a deep opinion about the characters. It is a pleasure to deconstruct the plot and guess the killer—only to be proven completely wrong when the magic of Christie’s final brainwave hits at the end.

Whereas McFadden’s style is to immediately captivate the reader’s attention using a sharp hook in the very first chapter. She enjoys throwing the reader off with surprising details and backstories, giving you no time to breathe between pages. Such is the adrenaline rush and the inquisitiveness to find out the perpetrator that when the ending comes, none of us is prepared for it. Never Lie, especially, has a climax that has taken every reader by complete surprise.

Both of these methods leave you reeling, but for completely different reasons. Isn’t that fascinating?

The Curator’s Question

Which kind of twist leaves you more satisfied: the meticulously laid chess-match reveal of Agatha Christie, or the sudden hammer-blow ending of Freida McFadden?