So, read it I did - this time, in audio form. I would've finished this about two months back, but then the lockdown resulted in a total stop to audio books. But over the last few days I have been able to 'read' 30 minutes here - there. But today, I just had to sit through that last 70 minutes and see it through, for it was engrossing - even while it was during a second reading. I had not forgotten Poirot's role, although I've forgotten who the "perfect murderer" was. I suppose that in her own way Christie was ahead of her time, with some of the suppositions in her books. For example, Dr. Franklin's unconventional pronouncements once life offered him a second chance - or her outlook towards the thoughts of young people, with all their life in front of them. I concede, that I felt that Franklin not caring how this opportunity came about was rather crass, in judgement of the outlook of the next generation as it were - and Christie's reading of this was, to me, was possibly questionable. However she doesn't fail to capture the human factor, which Christie always touches on, that holds its attractions. True, there are the usual stretches and stitches of conveniences that "bring about" the build up of the plot (i.e. 'the gun' here for instance, or the incident of Allerton's 'suggestions' during his London trip ). Despite the contrived parts, one cannot help appreciating it for the subtle philosophical bent the book is rich with. To think, that Dame Christie had given thought to what coud be perfect murder, and has indeed succeeded in identifying it with acceptable conviction ( for example it has not shown 100% success rate ), is proof of the level of thought she had given it. Further, Poirot's dilemma, shows Christie's recognition of the absence of easy decisions in the matter of right and wrong. Poirot in his last moment confessing that he was not sure, is quite modern in outlook - for after all it is book written by her in her 40s, although released in 1975.
Overall it is a delightful read, despite its limitations, and it is Agatha Christie at best.
Glad that I returned to it after all these years.
What a blessing audio books are - what a differentiator time is too - from reading a dog eared, page missing, "settled for" - to being narrated to, behind the wheel, for the lack of a better pass time.
