Ten Little Niggers by Agatha Christie

Originally titled “Ten Little Indians” or “And Then There Were None” in later editions to be less offensive, the classic Christie nail-biter draws its name from the children’s counting rhyme and minstrel song, both pivotal to the plot. The US edition, released in January 1940, adopted the title And Then There Were None, taking its final five words from the song. Subsequent American reprints and adaptations embraced this title, while Pocket Books paperbacks used Ten Little Indians from 1964 to 1986.