In the novel Evil Under the Sun, Pixy Cove (sometimes spelled Pixie Cove) is a secluded cove and beach on the northwest of Smugglers' Island. A track leads from the hotel to the cliffs above the cove from which a long ladder descends to the beach and cove. The cove is also accessible by boat. Pixy's Cave at one end of the cove begins as a long crack in the rocks but widens into a large cavern inside.
Pixy Cove is described in the book as "a small cove, with rocks dotted fantastically about the beach. It faced nearly north-west and the cliff overhung it a good deal. It was a favourite place for picnic teas. In the morning, when the sun was off it, it was not popular and there was seldom anyone there."
In the course of the novel, Patrick Redfern and Emily Brewster row a boat to Pixy Cove and discover the dead body of Arlena Marshall on the beach.
Agatha Christie based Smuggler's Island on Burgh Island in Devon. From the map of Smuggler's Island before Chapter 1 of the novel, it can be seen that Pixy Cove, situated north west of the hotel, corresponds to the real-life Herring Cove. Like Pixy Cove, Herring Cove is also connected to the hotel by a track. It also faces northwest and is narrow and rocky. The ladder down the cliff is, however, probably fictional.
In adaptations[]
- In the 1982 adaptation the name of the cove is changed to Ladder Bay.
Filming location[]
The 2001 David Suchet adaptation of Evil Under the Sun was filmed on location at Burgh Island, using the premises of the hotel there. However Herring Cove was not used for filming. The scenes of Pixy Cove, including the beach and cave were filmed at Thurlstone Beach on the Devon mainland.