Another of my favorite Christies. Like I said in another review, Christie does very well groups of people, be they family ([b:Crooked House|16315|Crooked House|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386923185l/16315.SY75.jpg|1113267]) or fellow travelers ([b:Murder on the Orient Express|853510|Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486131451l/853510.SY75.jpg|2285570]). The characters are all individuals.

Hercule Poirot is vacationing at the Jolly Roger Hotel, Smugglers’ Island, Leathercombe Bay, in southern England. Also present is Arlena Stuart Marshall, a beautiful former actress, her husband, Captain Kenneth Marshall, and his teenage daughter, Linda Marshall.

Arlena loves men and men love her - and she sees no reason why just because she's married she shouldn't have some fun. Of course, for Arlena this means flirting - and more. Meanwhile, her taciturn husband - the epitome of the British gentleman - suffers in silence. Linda, though, is not so silent and her feelings are very obvious. To complicate matters, Kenneth Marshall's childhood friend, Rosamund Darnley, is also at the resort. Then there are the Redferns, Patrick and Christine. Patrick quickly begins a relationship with Arlena that sets the stage for murder.

This is one of the more enjoyable Christies. The characters are well drawn and interesting. Linda lonely, unhappy, and struggling with her feelings about her stepmother's death. Even Arlena is sympathetically drawn. Once I learned her story, I could not help but feel sorry for her. There is an interesting twist at the end. The murderer and the motive are both rather surprising, and I really did not suspect either.

Very well done.