On a secluded island in Devon, retired detective Hercules Poirot attempts a vacation at the Jolly Roger Hotel. The atmosphere curdles when Arlena Marshall, a glamorous actress with a history of triangulation and domestic provocation, is found strangled on a remote beach. Poirot examines a cast of suspects including Arlena’s husband, a smitten young teacher, and a religious fanatic. To solve the crime, he analyzes precise alibis, a mysterious bottle thrown from a window, and the physical limitations of the island’s rocky terrain.
Readers of classic detective fiction choose this title to test their deductive logic against a rigid timeline. The narrative provides all necessary clues for the reader to identify the killer through scrutiny of character behavior and mechanical logistics. Anyone interested in the psychology of public image versus private motive will find logic in Poirot’s methods. The reader leaves with a clear understanding of how premeditated deception can be masked by theatricality and the exploitation of social stereotypes.
Escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1941
- Language
- EN
