Point of View

The story is written in third person from an omniscient point of view. This is the only real option open to the author because the action takes place in various scenes with various characters playing the most important role of the moment. For example, the story focuses on Richard Jury and his chance meeting with Helen Minton as the story opens and remains focused on Jury for some time as the investigation in Helen's murder is initiated. Then the focus switches to Melrose Plant, where Vivian and Agatha make plans to go to the home of Charles Seaingham for the holiday. With this change of focus, it becomes obvious that limiting the point of view to only that of Jury would have been impossible.

The point of view is limited in what the author offers up as information. There are clues along the way - such...