What happens when a classic Agatha Christie story gets rewritten from the world of comedy? If you add in one very talented writer, you get Fred Van Lente's 10 Dead Comedians, a modern retelling of And Then There Were None, one of the world's most classic and intriguing closed door mysteries. 

Successful comedian Dustin Walker has invited nine other comedians to his private island estate, just off Saint Martin in the Caribbean. A text invitation to work together on a new project went out to a variety of comedians--an insult comic, a prop comic, a retired talk show host, an internet comic, and the hardest working comedian on the road, just to name a few. And each one jumped at the chance to work with Dusty, a comedic icon and inspiration to many. 

But once they all reach the island, things start to go south. The elevator that would take them quickly and easily to the house is out of order, so they all have to make an arduous trip up hundreds of stairs to get to the house. Dusty is nowhere to be seen. And as the various comedians find their rooms and try to make themselves comfortable, they realize that things aren't quite right. 

A meeting in Dusty's writer's room with all the comedians makes things even stranger. A recorded message from him puts all the guests on notice, when he tells them that he accuses them all of crimes against comedy and that no one will leave the island alive. He then puts a noose around his neck and jumps. 

From there, the comedians try to figure out what is going on around them. Is there someone working with Dusty, or was the island sabotaged before his suicide to kill them all? Who can they trust? And as the comedians meet an untimely demise one by one, those who are left have even more reason to get to the bottom of the mystery before it's their turn to die. 

Fred Van Lente's mystery is a classic closed door puzzle with the modern twist of the comedy world thrown in. It's a great ironic twist on the genre, but what's more, it's phenomenally written. You get the fun of the behind-the-scenes comedy industry secrets along with a roster of comedians who all seem a little familiar in a story that is so readable the pages will not stop turning. You just have to keep reading, and Van Lente makes it feel effortless. 10 Dead Comedians is a fantastic read to get lost in, and I recommend it to all mystery fans and comedy fans as well as anyone who loves a book that takes you away for awhile. 

Galleys for 10 Dead Comedians provided by Quirk Books through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.