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Rate Evil Under the Sun book

detectivepauljohn 23 Sep 08 at 8:37 a.m. GMT

I think this is the first book i read and bought it a couple of months ago. I love this book especially the plots and the twists and the characters. I was shocked at the end of the story. My favorite characters are The Gardeners(they are both funny) and Rosamund Darnley.I rate this book 9/10. How about you? What can you say bout' the book?

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Agathasmykid 10 Jul 11 at 1:47 a.m. GMT

Just finished evil under the sun...for the third time...definately one of Chistie's best!  Several people have a reason to want the victim dead, and once the killer is revealed the reader is amazed!  It is really great story telling, and should be on anyone's reading list who is a fan of whodunnits.

Hard to say what I enjoyed the most, however it was probably the pacing.  Once the victim is found, it feels the action and suspense do not let up until right at the end..  The story never drags, making it hard to put down. 

 Poirot does catch the killer with very little actual proof, and that maybe the only stumbling block for readers, however I encourage all mystery fans to read it!

Inspector_Kelly 21 Jul 09 at 10:26 a.m. GMT

Evil under the sun if you had to describe it in one word it would be- incredible! The characters are interesting, entertaining and believevable and the setting is amazing. If you've ever been to the actual island it is based on Burgh Island it is just like it with the hotel and everything, Christie also based the And then there were none island as well, the murder is to perfection and oh so clever, no genius! The fact that Poirot is on holiday is just funny as well as the solution. The solution made me gasp and set the standard for all other novels and short stories I read by Christie, it is even nicer in the facsimillie edition with the original cover. Burgh Island is very near Greenway and Torquay. I have been to both and are wonderful and no wonder she thought up such an entertaining, interesting, genius, perfectionist novel. Absouletely 100/10!

tudes 20 Jul 09 at 6:50 p.m. GMT

I loved the book! It was my first AC book and I really enjoyed. The ending was fantastic! I think it's one of the best! I loved all characters and Poirot was fabulous!

TheMole 15 Jul 09 at 5:22 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

I know you like Evil Under the Sun!

But the murders in Triangle at Rhodes were Evil too.

go_leafs_nation 15 Jul 09 at 5:17 p.m. GMT

It still rings false. I love the passage with Stephen Lane too much to change the book's title. I consider it to be aptly titled. After all, what happened was unquestionably evil.

TheMole 15 Jul 09 at 5:14 p.m. GMT

I agree in Arlena's eyes it was not an appointment perhaps a rendezvous or a date, but in a creative sense to Poirot probably, that rendezvous would essentially be to him like an appointment with her fate.

go_leafs_nation 15 Jul 09 at 5:11 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Sorry, but I don't like it at all. It gives too big a hint to the solution, and besides, Arlena probably didn't think of it as an "appointment". Who considers meeting one's lover an "appointment"? It doesn't work.

TheMole 15 Jul 09 at 5:09 p.m. GMT

Oh both titles are wonderfully creative. However there are really no references to the murder(s) that really have much to do w/ the title Evil Under The Sun, just the phrase I mentioned & that you aptly mentioned. I think Appointment with Death does it better justice.

go_leafs_nation 15 Jul 09 at 5:05 p.m. GMT

I disgaree. Poirot had the conversation with Stephen Lane about how everything seemed calm and tranquil, but that evil is omnipresent, even is a "paradise under the sun". That's why I think it is an appropriate title.

Appointment With Death just works for me. I can't put my finger on it, but I like the title as is.

TheMole 15 Jul 09 at 5:02 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

This book is excellent. However many don't like the fact that AC used a book for the premise for Endless Night, but don't mind that she used maybe one or two other books for the premise of Evil Under The Sun. Both are superb books, though!.

And I always thought that the titles Evil Under the Sun & Appointment With Death should be reversed. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR BOTH BOOKS AHEAD!

My reasons: Patrick Redfern had an actual appointment to meet up w/ Arlena before he murdered her. The title would have been quite a clue, but it certainly matches it more than Evil Under the Sun. And the only real reference to the Sun is mentioned in the beginning of the novel & it's in the terms of Poirot's thought process as he watches the "lifeless" bodies lay down on the beach and soak up rays.

As for Appointment With Death - the Evil Under the Sun title suits it better b/c Mrs. Boyton was actually killed as she was lounging under the hot sun!

What does everyone else think?

Frndorfoe 15 Jul 09 at 11:39 a.m. GMT

A very well crafted book. One of the best Hercule Poirot books. I would give it 9/10. The Gardeners and Linda Marshall are the characters I like the most.

HarleyBarley 07 Jul 09 at 2:02 a.m. GMT

I shall say 10/10. An excellent plot, very well crafted, and all so Agatha Christie. A most charming story. Yet I do not understand what made Rosamund Darnley so well-loved. I am more inclined to Christine Redfern, Arlena Marshall, Mr and Mrs Gardener, or even Rev. Stephen Lane rather than her. But overall, fantastic story.

ArlenaSMarshall 09 Apr 09 at 12:19 a.m. GMT

Absolutely LOVED it! I rate it a 101/10. ;-) Arlena Marshall is cool in her own way, which makes her very unique.

detectivepauljohn 27 Jan 09 at 10:27 a.m. GMT

AndThenThereWasTim

there was an extra 90

AndThenThereWasTim 26 Jan 09 at 4:22 a.m. GMT

Absolutely loved it! Ending was amazing as well as the location and characters. Loved the period as well. 100/10 :)

Tommy_A_Jones 24 Jan 09 at 4:57 p.m. GMT

I would give it 10/10 as it has most things I want, as it is set on an Island you could at a stretch think of it as a locked room type of Mystery, the Characters are great, and I wou;d read it again which is always the mark of a Good Book.

detectivepauljohn 24 Jan 09 at 11:10 a.m. GMT

pnerd

why?

pnerd 23 Jan 09 at 2:16 p.m. GMT

I would rate it 10/10.

detectivepauljohn 06 Nov 08 at 11:12 a.m. GMT

WINNEBAGO1901

Hastings appeared in this novel in just a very little scene.

STONEYGATES 04 Nov 08 at 6:16 p.m. GMT

This is one of my favoutires and would give it 9/10 for the book and the same for the film. I'm currently listening to David Suchet reading Evil Under the Sun on AudioBook CD.... V. good.

Tommy_A_Jones 03 Nov 08 at 1:03 p.m. GMT

I loved this book, I loved the Characters I liked both productions for different reasons, I loved the Ustinov version for its Comedic value and the Suchet version because Miss Lemon and Hastings both appeared.

squatty 02 Nov 08 at 11:30 a.m. GMT

The Ustinov version was mainly played for comedy (not saying that is a bad thing as I thought Maggie Smith was fabulous)and therefore the stereotypical American couple were kept in for their comedy value. For the TV version, some pruning needed to be done of the many characters and as the Suchet versions are more serious, it makes sense for the Gardners to bite the dust

go_leafs_nation 01 Nov 08 at 3:53 p.m. GMT

Let's be fair now, some Christies were very complicated and would hardly be able to fit in the 90 minutes a TV adaptation must film it in. That's why I'm O.K. over deleting minor or unimportant characters.

detectivepauljohn 31 Oct 08 at 1:51 p.m. GMT

belgian_in_irelandI dislike tv versions but I really like the David Suchet versions. I dislike because they always change and delete characters. Why do they need to do that? How aout the non-readers who loves mystery movies?

belgian_in_ireland 28 Oct 08 at 8:36 p.m. GMT

I'd also rate it 9/10. It certainly wasn't my first AC book. If I remember correctly, I actually saw the Peter Ustinov film first, before I read the book. But I like the plot and the characters. I especially like Rosamund Darnley. She was also in another Poirot book or story, but I can't remember which one straight away.

tanvi 28 Oct 08 at 5:34 a.m. GMT

Evil under the sun was my 1st AC bk. Somebody had gifted it to me. It was nice.

detectivepauljohn 05 Oct 08 at 3:29 a.m. GMT

the plots are surprising and thrilling me a bit, too

detectivepauljohn 04 Oct 08 at 12:51 p.m. GMT

I agree Anne Beddingfield...

AnneBeddingfield 03 Oct 08 at 1:45 p.m. GMT

Christine Redfern well she's portrayed as a mousy character. She's a bit left out but yet, has an important role to play. Rosamund Darnley is completely different. Even Poirot is quite impressed by her.

detectivepauljohn 03 Oct 08 at 9:52 a.m. GMT

anne_bedingfield what about Christine Redfern?

squatty 02 Oct 08 at 9:52 p.m. GMT

One of my favourites, although I was cross with myself when the murderer is revealed because I think AC used an old trick that she had used on more than one occassion and I should have spotted it. The Peter Ustinov film is gloriously camp, even though it travels a long way from the book

AnneBeddingfield 01 Oct 08 at 2:18 p.m. GMT

I'd give a 9/10 for Evil under the Sun. It an enjoyable story with an interesting plot and with Poirot as flawless as ever.

And well my favourite character is undoubtedly.. Rosamund Darnley!

belgian_in_ireland 30 Sep 08 at 6:45 p.m. GMT

Even though both film adaptations differ from the book, I like both. Peter Ustinov's version has this real holiday atmosphere and although David Suchet's version was a little closer to the book, I prefer the actor playing Kenneth in PU's version and I simply love Maggie Smith in her role. But saying that I also love the DS version. Of course it was a bigger budget version.

Holly 23 Sep 08 at 1:45 p.m. GMT

Along with Death On The Nile, I think this was one of my first Christies. I've always liked it a lot, my favourite characters being Kenneth and Rosamund. 10/10, because I like it as much as DOTN. I like both the TV adaptations, too. Not too many changes there.

Ever listened to the audio book, read by David Suchet? It's brilliant, especially Mr. Gardener's "Yes, darling".