August’s theme for the Read Christie 2021 challenge is ‘a story set by the seaside’, which seemed the perfect opportunity to pick up an unread Poirot novel, Evil Under the Sun. It’s set on an island off the coast of Devon, where Hercule Poirot is on holiday at the exclusive Jolly Roger Hotel.
Christie begins by introducing us to all of the people staying at the hotel, including Arlena Stuart, a beautiful former actress. Arlena is described by one of the other characters as ‘the personification of evil’ – and she certainly seems to be causing plenty of trouble. Fellow guest Patrick Redfern can’t take his eyes off her and Arlena appears to be encouraging his attentions, regardless of how hurtful this is to Patrick’s young wife, Christine. Arlena’s own husband, Captain Marshall, claims he hasn’t noticed her behaviour, but is he telling the truth? Meanwhile, Marshall’s teenage daughter from a previous marriage hates her stepmother and resents the way she has come into the family home, bringing scandal and unhappiness with her.
When Arlena’s dead body is found at Pixy Cove, a secluded part of the island, almost everyone becomes a suspect. It’s fortunate that Poirot is already on the scene and can begin investigating immediately! In fact, as he later tells his friend, Captain Hastings, he had begun even before the murder took place…
Hastings said, staring: “But the murder hadn’t happened, then.”
Hercule Poirot sighed. He said: “But already, mon cher, it was very clearly indicated.”
“Then why didn’t you stop it?”
And Hercule Poirot, with a sigh, said as he had said once before in Egypt, that if a person is determined to commit murder it is not easy to prevent them. He does not blame himself for what happened. It was, according to him, inevitable.
Having just read three Miss Marple novels in a row for Read Christie, it made a nice change to get back to Poirot for this month’s read. I usually prefer the Poirots to the Marples and Evil Under the Sun – first published in 1941 – is another good one. Setting the story on a private island, for the use of the hotel guests only, is not just an atmospheric setting but also a clever one as it immediately limits the suspects to those already on the island at the beginning of the book. With his understanding of the kind of person Arlena was, Poirot is quickly able to pick out one suspect as the most likely culprit, but due to timings and alibis it seems impossible that this person could have committed the crime. As the novel progresses, more clues emerge, along with the usual red herrings and misdirections Christie likes to throw in our way!
I didn’t manage to solve the mystery, but once the solution was revealed I could see how perfectly all of the clues fitted together – like a jigsaw puzzle, as Poirot describes it. It did seem that the way in which the crime was carried out depended on a lot of good luck and on people behaving in a certain manner, but I still think Christie was fair with the reader and I have no complaints. I’m now looking forward to September’s book, which will be Crooked House.
She Reads Novels 
One of my favourite Christies – and always love the ones with the Poirot/Hastings pairing!
I think this is my favourite of the eight books I’ve read so far this year for the Christie challenge.
Another Poirot mystery I haven’t read… yet. !t does sound like a fun one. 🙂 I love that it’s set on an island.
Yes, I loved this one. The island is a great setting!
I read this on holiday when staying opposite the very island Christie based her story on, and my review includes photos of some of the places which correspond to places in the novel. https://wp.me/p2oNj1-3Ex
It was a fun story in its own right, and my first Christie since my teens, so I was pleased the circumstances helped in its appreciation! Anyway, your evocative review brought it all back to me. 🙂
I love the photos! That must have added something special to your experience of reading the book.
They did! Also to And The There Were None, similarly written when she stayed on Burgh Island and somewhat based on a less accessible version of it.
One of my favourites to watch but I have never read it! I must now to see if it bares any resemblance, even though I know who the murderer was, I can look for the clues.
I think I’ve seen an adaptation of this one but so long ago I couldn’t remember much about it.
I’ve just finished ‘The Moving Finger’ which was a delight (again with Miss Marple appearing a scant 70 pages before the end!). When I finish her series I’ll turn my attention to Poirot to see how they compare [grin]
I haven’t read The Moving Finger yet, but I will eventually! I prefer the Poirot books, but I do love the Marple ones too.
I’m definitely taking part in this challenge next year, I’ve left Christie for far too long and never read this one which sounds excellent.
I love this challenge as it’s encouraging me to pick up Christies that I might never have got round to otherwise. I hope you’re able to join in next year!