Santlofer (The Lost Van Gogh) misses the mark with this bloated retread of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. After the death of painter Victor D’Arcangelo, 10 people connected to him—including his widow, his ex-wife, his art dealer, his son, and his brother—accept an invitation to a celebration of life on an isolated island in the Bahamas. Most are wary of the invitation, but persuaded to attend by its insistence they must be present if they want to benefit from D’Arcangelo’s will. Shortly after they arrive, one of D’Arcangelo’s assistants reads a document prepared by the artist that prompts each attendee to share how they either helped or hurt him while he was alive. That gives way to more mind games, and eventually the guests are picked off one by one in goofy, elaborate fashion (one is devoured by a tiger shark). Santlofer fails to put his own spin on the premise, populating the action with creaky characters and resolving the mystery with a yawn-inducing deus ex machina. Even the author’s fans will want to skip this. Agent: Jane von Mehren, Aevitas Creative Management. (Sept.)
