Book Review: N or M? by Agatha Christie

Book #293 of 2021:

N or M? by Agatha Christie (Tommy and Tuppence #3)

In this 1941 spy thriller, author Agatha Christie reprises her characters of Tommy and Tuppence, last seen in 1929’s short story collection Partners in Crime. The ‘young adventurers’ are now middle-aged and chafing at not being allowed to assist on the front lines of the war effort, but still very much devoted to each other and given to their typical droll commentary. Their lethargy is interrupted when Tommy gets recruited to look into potential German espionage at a distant seaside hotel, and Tuppence sneaks along after him.

As usual for these protagonists, the ensuing tale is a fun romp despite the high stakes, and the book itself is interesting as a historical artifact, both written and set early in World War II. The enemies are Nazis whose antisemitism is explicitly mentioned, and the writer aptly assesses why they might be feeling grievances for their country’s recent international treatment without ever tipping that sympathy too far. Against this contemporary backdrop, the plot has action to keep a reader guessing even if the mystery elements are deduced in advance, and provides plenty of opportunity for the hero and heroine to show off their brains and skill at disguise. It’s a welcome return all around.

Fun random fact that I saw online: the British counter-intelligence service MI5 actually investigated Christie over this book, as she inadvertently named a character Major Bletchley and they were concerned that she had compromising information on the top-secret codebreaking center at Bletchley Park.

[Content warning for gun violence, suicide, child endangerment, and racial slurs.]

★★★★☆

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