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TL;DR: Hercule Poirot is on holiday at a quiet hotel on a small island off the Devon coast. The glamorous actress Arlena Marshall is flirting openly with a married guest, and almost everyone resents her. When Arlena is found strangled on a hidden beach, Poirot must break a set of alibis that seem perfect.
Table of Contents
Evil Under the Sun at a Glance
| Author | Agatha Christie |
| First published | 1941 |
| Type | Mystery novel |
| Best for | readers who want a sunny seaside whodunit with a clever timing puzzle |
Evil Under the Sun is a mystery novel by Agatha Christie, published in 1941. It is one of the best-loved Hercule Poirot holiday mysteries and has been filmed twice. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes murder by strangling, mentions of an earlier killing and drug smuggling.
Main Characters
- Hercule Poirot: The Belgian detective, trying to relax by the sea.
- Arlena Marshall: A beautiful former actress who attracts men and trouble.
- Captain Kenneth Marshall: Arlena's quiet, reserved husband.
- Patrick Redfern: A handsome young man who is openly charmed by Arlena.
- Christine Redfern: Patrick's pale, fragile-seeming wife.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
The hotel
The Jolly Roger Hotel sits on an island linked to the mainland by a causeway at low tide. Guests include Poirot, Captain Marshall with his wife Arlena and his teenage daughter Linda, the young Redferns, the fashion designer Rosamund Darnley, the sporty Emily Brewster, a talkative American couple and a loud businessman, Horace Blatt. Arlena's flirting with Patrick Redfern causes gossip, and Christine seems hurt and helpless.
The body
One morning, Arlena goes off alone on a float, saying nothing about her plans. Patrick and Emily Brewster later row around the island and find her lying on the sand at Pixy Cove. Patrick checks her and announces that she has been strangled, while Emily rows back for help. Inspector Colgate and the chief constable join Poirot in the investigation.
Alibis
Every likely suspect seems to be in the clear. Captain Marshall was typing letters in his room, which a maid confirms. Christine Redfern was sketching with Linda at another cove and checked the time on Linda's watch. Rosamund was reading on the cliff. Poirot also learns about a hidden cave, a bottle thrown from a window and a heroin smuggling ring using the island.
An old case
Poirot studies small clues: a bath run at an odd hour, a pair of scissors, a green cardboard box, and the strange purchases Linda made in the village. He recalls an earlier case, the strangling of a young wife named Alice Corrigan on a moor, in which the husband had an alibi supported by a woman who “found” the body. The pattern is strikingly similar.
The solution
Poirot reveals that Patrick and Christine Redfern planned the murder together. Christine, darkened with fake tan, lay on the beach pretending to be the body while Patrick “discovered” her. Arlena was hiding in the cave, and Patrick killed her after Emily left. Christine had set Linda's watch forward to give herself an alibi. Patrick had taken Arlena's money and had killed before. Both are arrested.
5 Key Takeaways
- The person who finds the body deserves suspicion.
- Time and alibis can be carefully staged.
- Flirtatious victims are not always the dangerous ones.
- Past crimes can reveal a killer's method.
- Quiet, helpless-looking people can hide great strength.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- Appearances on holiday can be as false as anywhere else.
- A good plan uses other people's assumptions.
- Patterns repeat when a method has worked once.
Who Should Read Evil Under the Sun?
Read Evil Under the Sun if you enjoy summer settings, holiday hotels and fair-play puzzles. It suits teens and adults.
About Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie (1890–1976) was an English writer often called the Queen of Crime. She wrote 66 detective novels, featuring detectives such as Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She spent much of her life in Devon, and the Burgh Island Hotel there is often said to have inspired the setting of Evil Under the Sun. She remains the best-selling novelist of all time.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of Evil Under the Sun:
- Why does everyone assume Arlena is the dangerous one?
- How does the island setting help the killers?
- What does the novel say about Captain Marshall's marriage?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether Evil Under the Sun is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of Evil Under the Sun, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
Yes. It is a relaxing yet clever mystery with one of Christie's best tricks.
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What to Read Next
- Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie: another holiday murder for Poirot
- Peril at End House by Agatha Christie: a seaside Poirot mystery
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie: a famous Poirot puzzle
Related: The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie: Summary and Key Takeaways · The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Evil Under the Sun about?
Poirot solves the strangling of a glamorous actress at a seaside hotel.
Who wrote it?
Agatha Christie, in 1941.
Who is the victim?
Arlena Marshall, a former actress.
Who are the killers?
Patrick and Christine Redfern, working together.
How did they create an alibi?
Christine pretended to be the body and changed the time on Linda's watch.
Where is it set?
A hotel on a small tidal island off the coast of Devon, England.
Are there films?
Yes. Peter Ustinov starred in a 1982 version, and David Suchet in a 2001 TV episode.
What age is it for?
Teens and adults.
How long is it?
About 250 pages.
Is it a series book?
It is a Poirot novel, but it can be read on its own.
Who helps Poirot?
Inspector Colgate and the local chief constable, Colonel Weston.
Did the killers murder before?
Yes. Poirot links them to the earlier death of Alice Corrigan.
Is Evil Under the Sun a good beach read?
Yes. It is light, sunny and well paced, but the puzzle is still sharp enough for serious mystery fans.
Is Evil Under the Sun worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for readers who want a sunny seaside whodunit with a clever timing puzzle. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.