Vera Claythorne

Vera Elizabeth Claythorne is one of the ten little soldiers, she is a young teacher, secretary and ex-governess. A job offer from a person called Una Nancy Owen brought her to the Soldier Island. During dinner the first evening an unknown voice presents a striking resemblance; the ten persons tricked onto the island are all accused guilty of murders. Vera Elizabeth Claythorne had apparently killed a boy called Cyril Ogilvie Hamilton. Sadly the truth agrees with the accusation, but there is more to the story behind the tragic death; the governess Vera Claythorne was engaged to be married to Cyril´s uncle, a man named Hugo Hamilton. They were in desperate need of money, in which drove Vera to commit a devious action. Hugo would inherit a great amount of money if only she could get rid of his nephew Cyril. She succeeded in the first try, but Hugo got suspicious of her interference in the tragic death, and broke the engagement. In the book Vera Claythorne is described as a lively person on the surface, but deep down she is a creature filled to the edge with regret of her previous actions, and the guilt of her crime is practically controlling her. Nevertheless, she is a perfect example of how guilt and regret can control a human life.