Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie

While I had not read this novel before, I had seen both the TV versions of this Hercule Poirot mystery. One was with Peter Ustinov and the other with David Suchet as Poirot. I have seen the TV film many times, a nice gentle murder mystery unfolding. The book, of course, has more details and one can use imagination to fill in the scene, in the mind’s eye.

Poirot is taking a rare holiday at a hotel that is off shore at high tide. There are other people staying there and the early chapters provide a good picture of the people and their relationships with each other. There is a young couple, wife is a teacher and looked delicate, the husband was young man who was spending a lot of time with another man’s wife who was a well-known actress. The actress’s husband and step daughter are not very happy with this development. There are others who do not approve of this relationship either and gossip is rife. 

Then the body of this well-known actress is found on a small lonely beach which is only accessible via a ladder up the cliff or via a boat. The police come and the investigation begins. Poirot, of course, takes part in the investigation and spends time not only listening in the interviews by the police but also goes about asking questions himself. The victim was not liked by anyone it seemed except the young man she was encouraging. However, his alibi was strong as he had been on the beach in front of the guests at the time of the murder. The other obvious suspect was the husband, who also had an alibi of sorts and on further questioning it was strengthened by another guest. There was also some hint of blackmail. Why is the vicar so driven to talk about evil? Was he really out for a walk as he stated?  What does he know? The other single gentleman is very vocal but starts getting nervous when being questioned, so what is he hiding? He was out alone sailing he said. The step daughter is secretive and does not wish to open up to Poirot. 

The timeframe for the murder was very small and all guests seem to have an alibi, so did someone come from outside and commit the murder? I found the story to have the usual level of intrigue and twist to the plot as befitting an Agatha Christie novel. The little grey cells are truly put to work. The end when it comes is fast and unexpected in the identity of the murderer. There is some difference in a couple of details between the book and the film but it does not detract from the plot and so works out well. I would recommend that you read and see the film.