Evil Under the Sun Summary

Evil Under the Sun Plot Summary

Covers the whole plot, including the ending.

1. Arrival at Smugglers' Island and the Cast of Characters

   Hercule Poirot, seeking a quiet holiday, arrives at the Jolly Roger Hotel, a fashionable resort on Smugglers' Island, off the coast of Devon. He quickly observes the guests, including the beautiful and provocative former actress Arlena Stuart Marshall, who is vacationing with her seemingly devoted husband, Kenneth Marshall, and his quiet stepdaughter, Linda. Also present are Patrick Redfern and his athletic wife Christine, the wealthy Horace Blatt, the Reverend Stephen Lane, the feminist Rosamund Darnley, and the proprietors, Major Barry and Miss Brewster. Poirot notes the immediate tension created by Arlena's flirtatious behavior, especially with Patrick Redfern, much to the chagrin of his wife Christine, and the apparent distress of her own husband, Kenneth.

2. Arlena's Provocative Presence and Mounting Tensions

   Arlena Stuart continues to openly flirt with Patrick Redfern, much to the exasperation of his wife, Christine, who is often seen looking pale and unwell. Kenneth Marshall, Arlena's husband, appears outwardly calm but is clearly suffering under her public indiscretions. Linda Marshall, Arlena's stepdaughter, openly expresses her hatred for Arlena, wishing her dead and even attempting to use an old spell. Other guests, such as Rosamund Darnley, Arlena's former business partner, and Horace Blatt, a man Arlena has previously swindled, also harbor ill feelings towards her. The atmosphere at the hotel becomes charged with unspoken resentments and jealousies, all centered around Arlena's magnetic yet destructive personality.

3. The Morning of the Murder

   On a sunny morning, the guests disperse for various activities. Arlena Stuart announces her intention to sunbathe alone in Pixy Cove, a secluded beach accessible only by a difficult path or boat. Kenneth Marshall stays at the hotel, writing letters. Linda Marshall goes sailing with Patrick Redfern, who later drops her off at a different cove before returning to pick up his wife, Christine, for a game of tennis. Christine, however, claims to have sprained her ankle and remains in her room. Poirot himself is relaxing, observing the comings and goings. The stage is set for the inevitable tragedy, with alibis beginning to form, or unravel, for each character.

4. Discovery of the Body

   Later that morning, Christine Redfern, having apparently recovered from her ankle sprain, goes for a walk and meets Patrick. They decide to row to Pixy Cove. Upon their arrival, they discover Arlena Stuart's body lying face down on the sand. She has been strangled with her own bikini top. Patrick immediately checks for a pulse, confirming her death, and then races back to the hotel to raise the alarm. Christine remains with the body, visibly distressed. The discovery sends shockwaves through the hotel, confirming Poirot's earlier premonition of 'evil under the sun.' The local police, led by Inspector Japp, are called to the scene.

5. The Initial Investigation and Alibis

   Hercule Poirot, now drawn into the investigation, observes Inspector Japp's initial questioning of the guests. Kenneth Marshall claims he was writing letters. Linda Marshall was sailing with Patrick. Patrick Redfern states he dropped Linda off, then rowed to meet Christine, only to find her at Pixy Cove. Christine claims she was in her room with a sprained ankle, but later went for a walk. Reverend Lane was meditating in a grotto. Rosamund Darnley and Horace Blatt were golfing. Each alibi seems plausible on the surface, but Poirot's keen eye for human psychology immediately detects subtle inconsistencies and hidden motives among the seemingly innocent vacationers. He notes a particularly strong alibi from an unexpected source: a woman who claims to have heard Arlena speaking to someone at the exact time of death, making the strangling seem impossible.

6. The Missing Clock and Other Discrepancies

   Poirot's investigation uncovers several peculiar details. A small, inexpensive clock belonging to Linda Marshall goes missing. There are conflicting reports about the exact time Arlena was last seen alive and the time her body was discovered. A crucial witness, Miss Emily Brewster, claims to have seen Arlena alive and talking to someone at the exact time the murder is believed to have occurred. This seemingly solid alibi for the killer creates a significant puzzle for Poirot. He also learns of Arlena's past as a manipulative woman, notorious for her affairs and for financially exploiting men, including Horace Blatt. These details suggest a more complex motive than a simple crime of passion.

7. Linda's Confession and the Attempted Suicide

   Linda Marshall, under intense emotional strain and guilt over her hatred for Arlena, confesses to Poirot that she attempted to kill her stepmother by placing a piece of gas piping on the beach where Arlena often sunbathed, hoping it would fall on her head. However, she claims her attempt failed. Shortly after, Linda is found unconscious, having attempted suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills. She is saved by quick medical attention. Her confession, though not directly related to Arlena's strangulation, adds another layer of dark intent to the case and highlights the impact Arlena had on those around her, further complicating the investigation.

8. Poirot's Reconstruction and the Role of the Weather

   Poirot, using his 'little grey cells,' meticulously reconstructs the movements of every guest on the morning of the murder, paying close attention to the weather conditions, particularly the heat. He considers the precise timing of each alibi and the physical capabilities of the suspects. He questions the credibility of Christine Redfern's sprained ankle and the exact route taken by Patrick. Poirot also re-examines the witness testimony about Arlena being alive at a certain time, realizing that a crucial element of the crime must have been designed to create a false impression of time and presence. He begins to suspect a far more elaborate and cunning plot than initially thought.

9. The Revelation of the True Plot

   In a dramatic confrontation, Poirot gathers all the suspects and reveals the true murderers: Patrick Redfern and his wife, Christine. He explains that Arlena Stuart was not killed by a lover's quarrel but by a meticulously planned scheme for financial gain. The 'sprained ankle' was a ruse by Christine, who was secretly a strong swimmer. The plan involved Christine strangling Arlena while Patrick created a distraction and a false alibi. Christine then swam back to the hotel, changing into a swimsuit to appear as if she had only just gone for a walk, creating the impression that Arlena was killed later than she actually was. The missing clock and the witness who heard Arlena speak were all part of the elaborate deception.

10. The Details of the Deception

    Poirot explains that Christine, a former actress herself and an accomplished swimmer, was the actual killer. While Patrick was ostensibly sailing with Linda, Christine, feigning a sprained ankle, left her room, swam to Pixy Cove, strangled Arlena, and then swam back to the hotel, arriving before Patrick could pick her up. She then changed, and later 'discovered' the body with Patrick. The 'voice' heard by the witness, Emily Brewster, was actually Patrick throwing his voice to imitate Arlena, creating the illusion that Arlena was alive and speaking at a time when she was already dead. The Redferns, deeply in debt, had targeted Arlena for her wealth, planning to frame Kenneth Marshall.

11. Motive and Aftermath

    Poirot reveals that Patrick and Christine Redfern were not only deeply in debt but also had a history of similar schemes, having previously murdered Patrick's first wife for her inheritance. Their motive for killing Arlena was purely financial, intending to inherit her wealth by framing Kenneth Marshall. They had carefully cultivated a public image as a devoted couple, with Christine feigning illness and timidity, to deflect suspicion. With Poirot's meticulous reconstruction of the crime and the exposure of their elaborate deception, Patrick and Christine Redfern are arrested. Kenneth Marshall is finally free from Arlena's destructive influence, and Linda begins to heal from her trauma, as peace is restored to Smugglers' Island, albeit with the memory of 'evil under the sun.'

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