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"Evil Under the Sun" is a detective fiction novel by British author Agatha Christie, featuring her famous detective Hercule Poirot. The novel, first published in 1941, unfolds at a secluded hotel in Devon where Poirot is vacationing. The tranquility of the resort is disrupted by the presence of the flirtatious and beautiful Arlena Stuart, who captures the attention of several guests and becomes the subject of their animosity.
Arlena is found murdered in a cove, strangled, setting the stage for a classic Christie mystery where everyone has motives and alibis. Poirot meticulously interviews the hotel guests, including Arlena's husband, Kenneth Marshall; her stepdaughter, Linda; a former sweetheart of Kenneth, Rosamund Darnley; and the suspicious couple, Patrick and Christine Redfern, among others.
Following intricate clues and deceptive tactics, Poirot uncovers the fact that Christine Redfern, in collaboration with her husband Patrick, who also has a hidden identity linked to another crime, orchestrated Arlena's murder to set up an alibi and cover Patrick's financial swindling of Arlena. The novel's resolution revolves around Poirot's sharp deduction skills, leading to the exposure of the culprits who used clever misdirections to mislead the investigation.
"Evil Under the Sun" is admired for its complex plot, character dynamics, and the picturesque setting that forms the background for murder, deceit, and mystery, solidifying its status as a compelling read in Christie’s repertoire.