Who is the narrator, can she or he read minds, and, more importantly, can we trust her or him?
Third Person (Limited Omniscient)
For the most part, And Then There Were None operates from a third person narrator who observes everything that is happening on Soldier Island as it unfolds. However, the third person narrator also gets to see into selected character’s heads one at a time, picking choosing whose thoughts will be infiltrated at any specific time. For example, when Miss Brent makes breakfast with Vera, we get a glimpse into her inner self:
This girl didn’t understand! Emily wasn’t afraid, naturally—none of the Brents were afraid. All her people were Service people. They faced earth unflinchingly. They led upright lives just as she, Emily Brent, had led an upright life… (11.160)
But we don’t get to see what Miss Brent is thinking during every scene. The thoughts fade in and out of the exposition and dialogue. This neat-o technique helps us to get into the characters’ heads and understand their fears and guilt, but also doesn’t allow us to see who’s actually guilty. Clever, clever Christie!