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And then there were none by Agatha Christie
Published in 1939, this has to be all-time favourite isolated location thriller. Ten strangers are invited to an island cut off from the outside world by a mysterious host. Is one of them a killer? I’ve been a huge Christie fan since I was a teenager, and I’m not ashamed to say, Dame Agatha has influenced my writing.
The Invisible Host by Gwen Bristow and Bruce Manning
The Invisible Host was published in 1930 and made into a film in 1934 titled The Ninth Guest. Eight people are invited to a New Orleans Penthouse by an unknown host where they become trapped. A killer is amongst them and is taking them out one by one.
The 12 Days of Murder by Andriena Cordani
The 12 Days of Murder is a great Christmas whodunnit, set in a remote country house in Scotland. It was published in 2023.
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
Published in 2021 and set in an eerie hotel in the Swiss Alps, that was once a sanatorium, The Sanatorium is easily in my top ten isolated location thrillers.
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
Published in 1937, with many splendid adaptions on film right up to the present day, this is one of my favourite books. What better setting for an isolated location than a cruise ship on The Nile where all the guests are suspects?
The Strings of Murder by Oscar de Muriel
Published in 2015, Oscar de Muriel’s falls firmly into the ‘locked room mystery’ genre. A maid swears she hears three musicians playing violins in the night. But only one dead body is found locked in the practice room with no way out. This book really struck a chord with me. Did you see what I did there?
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Published in 2003, with the film starring Leonardo DiCaprio reaching the big screen in 2010, Shutter Island has to be up there in my top ten. This book has all the ingredients of a closed-circle mystery, with its isolated location Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island, and the disappearance of Rachel Solando, one of the patients. However, it puts a very different spin on the genre, which I loved.
The Menu starring Ralph Fiennes
The Menu hit screens in 2022, and stars Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy. This falls into my top ten simply because of the bizarreness of this black comedy. It has the usual elements – a remote island, invited guests, no escape – but takes it to a whole new level.
Identity starring John Cusack
Identity is one of my all-time favourite films. Written by Michael Cooney and directed by James Mangold it was released in 2003. Identity is set in an isolated motel in a rainstorm, where ten strangers get mysteriously bumped off one by one. It was inspired by Agatha Christie’s And then there were none – the book is even mentioned in the film – but it certainly puts a very different and clever spin on the original plot.
Jonathan Creek starring Alan Davies
My list wouldn’t be complete without the BBC’s mystery drama Jonathan Creek, which appeared on our screens from 1997-2016 (and thousands of repeats since). Every episode is a great example of a locked-room mystery, and Alan Davies plays the unassuming, genius lead character to perfection.