"And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie

"Ten little Indians going out to dine; One went and choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little Indian boys traveling to Devon; One got left behind and then there were seven. Seven little Indian boys gathering up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little Indian boys playing with a …

…find him a sympathetic character. Far from being a disinterested agent of justice, Wargrave is a sadist, taking perverse pleasure in murder. As a boy, he killed insects for sport, and he brings the same zeal to his task on Indian Island. He never shows pity for his victims; instead, he regards them as pawns to move around and kill in order to create what he terms a "work of art"--his perfect killing spree.