Devon

Devon is the English county that provides the geographical setting for the entire narrative of And Then There Were None. It is the location of Indian Island, the isolated rock off the Devon coast where the ten guests are lured and where all the murders take place. The county's coastal landscape—its red earth, steep green lanes, and the sea that surrounds the island—is not merely a backdrop but an active element in the story, shaping the characters' journey, their isolation, and their ultimate fate.

Geography and Setting

Devon is introduced as the destination for all the characters, who travel there by train and car from various parts of England. The journey takes them through the county's characteristic scenery: the train runs through Somerset before reaching Devon, and the final approach to the coast involves a maze of cross-country lanes that are "steep, green and narrow." The landscape is described as having "red earth" and being "so green and luscious looking," a vivid contrast to the more open country that some characters prefer. The nearest station to Indian Island is Oakbridge, and the nearest village is Sticklehaven, a small cluster of cottages with a few fishing boats drawn up on the beach. From Sticklehaven, the island is visible, jutting up out of the sea to the south. The journey from the mainland to the island is made by motor boat, a crossing that takes the guests past the island's rocky profile, which resembles a giant Indian's head.

Indian Island and Isolation

Indian Island itself is situated off the Devon coast, about a mile from the mainland. The island was originally purchased by an American millionaire, Elmer Robson, who built a luxurious modern house on it. The house is described as being "low and square and modern-looking with rounded windows," and it faces south, sheltered from the prevailing winds. The island's geography is crucial to the plot: it is a bare rock with little cover, making it easy to search but impossible to hide on. The only way to land is through a small natural inlet between rocks, and the boatman, Fred Narracott, notes that landing is impossible in a southeasterly wind, when the island can be cut off for a week or more. This isolation is the key to the murderer's plan, as it prevents the victims from escaping and ensures that no help can reach them. The storm that hits the island on the second day, with strong winds and heavy rain, further reinforces their imprisonment, making it impossible for any boat to put out from the mainland.

Narrative Significance

Devon functions as the real-world anchor for the novel's otherwise fantastical and self-contained horror. The specific, named locations—Oakbridge, Sticklehaven, the lanes of Devon—ground the story in a recognizable English landscape, making the events on the island feel more immediate and plausible. The contrast between the peaceful, pastoral beauty of the Devon countryside and the brutal, systematic murders on the island heightens the sense of dread and unreality. The county also serves as a point of origin for some of the characters' past crimes: General Macarthur lives in East Devon, and the nursery rhyme that dictates the murders includes a verse about "Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon," a line that directly foreshadows the fate of the characters who have come to this county. The final, official investigation into the deaths is conducted by Scotland Yard, but the mystery remains unsolved until the discovery of the judge's confession, which was cast into the sea off the Devon coast. The county, therefore, is not just the setting for the crime but also the place where its final, secret explanation is eventually found.