EVIL UNDER THE SUN

Did the actress found strangled on the beach deserve to die? Some of the guests at the resort where Hercule Poirot is relaxing say she did, but the Belgian detective thinks otherwise. He takes on the labor of finding her killer--and proving the value of her life. The moral judgments of the guests at Smugglers' Cove give this mystery a dimension beyond the whodunit, making for one of Agatha Christie's best novels. David Timson captures the mood of gossip in the face of tragedy excellently. The abridgment is well done despite the tight three-hour cap, giving the clues fair play without giving them away. Justice--and Christie fans--are well served. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]