“Oh, God, she’s been strangled…murdered.”

She, being Arlena Stuart, a beautiful siren, and wife of Captain Marshall. Who on this island of leisure could have done it? “It all boils down to this - was it an outsider, or a guest at the hotel?” Or a jealous husband? Well, Hercule Poirot just so happens to be vacationing at said island, so the job falls to him! A job he is well suited for!

A fun read, one that kept me guessing until all was revealed and I'd discovered that I was wrong on my first, second, and third guesses! And when Poirot suggests the picnic at the end? Très bien! A thoroughly good read and a fun puzzle to attempt to put together!

“Yes, darling,” said Mr. Gardener. (every time that popped up, it gave me a smile!)

“Nothing is needed but physical strength - and the soul of a killer!” ( )

Typical, entertaining Christie book. Of course the revelation has a few ridiculous parts but it's still *believable* so it comes across as inspired rather than frustrating. The book is full of stereotypes but they're entertainingly written and she subverts them a bit. Nothing that would surprise anyone who knows what Christie does, just a solid book with some examples of the flair that shows she was a pretty good writer. ( )

Another banger from the master of the red herring and the impossible-to-guess ending. I loved it. ( )

"It is romantic, yes," agreed Hercule Poirot. "It is peaceful. The sun shines. The sea is blue. But you forget, Miss Brewster, there is evil everywhere under the sun."

Christie, Agatha. Evil Under the Sun: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot series Book 23) (p. 19). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

On holiday at the Jolly Roger seaside resort, Poirot finds himself caught up in a murder when Mrs. Arlena Marshall is found dead. But Poirot has his work cut out for him when all the likely suspects - like her husband and lover have solid alibis.

An intricately plotted murder mystery with lots of red herrings that I once again couldn't crack. A detective I am not. But it was fun to read along and guess who might have committed the crime. I did get a few things right (okay only one thing) - I guessed that the watch had been meddled with, I was just wrong about who had meddled. And I did guess that there was more than one person involved - just not the ones who were actually guilty. I was thinking maybe the women all banded together? I dunno it made sense in my head...

I was a bit disappointed by the ending though. I would've liked for Rosamund to keep her business instead of giving it up to settle with Kenneth Marshall. Both had businesses - one was successful, one was not - it does not make sense for the successful one to give it up. For a relatively progressively woman for her time Christie had some stupid ideas about women and their desires.

Another great murder mystery from Agatha Christie. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars. ( )

This novel is a reworking and extension of one of Christie’s short stories.

At a fashionable summer resort, a beautiful femme fatale is strangled. There are plenty of suspects and motives. A very clever resolution makes perfect sense and isn’t too far-fetched at all. A good outing for Poirot. ( )