N or M?

First Published: 1941

Setting: Leahampton

Starring: Tommy and Tuppence, Albert

Important Other People: Major Bletchley, Commander Haydock, Mrs. Perenna, Sheila Perenna, Mrs. Sprot, Betty Sprot, Carl von Deinim

Tommy and Tuppence, Agatha's husband and wife spy team, come into play at times when patriotism is necessary. We saw them as two young things right after the first World War, and now we see them again, as older, wiser, and with grown-up children. Although the are no longer young and carefree, they still want to do their part in the war. Unfortunately, it is difficult for them to find their niche. They are able, however, to set out on another joint venture, just as they did in The Secret Adversary, one that involves spies, the war, and their marriage.

I like the twists and turns in this book, just as in almost everyone of Agatha's books, but this time everything seems much more urgent. It also seems like everything has a much larger impact than we are used to in her novels. The things Tommy and Tuppence do are so pivotal on a small scale, but it can have a huge impact on the rest of the war. I feel like this novel was helpful to the British public because it gave them something fast-paced and (relatively) lighthearted to become engrossed in, which took their minds off the real danger that was at hand.

From Agatha's autobiography: "...N or M?, a spy story, was in a way a continuation of the second book of mine, The Secret Adversary, featuring Tommy and Tuppence. Now with a grown-up son and daughter, Tommy and Tuppence were bored by finding that nobody wanted them in wartime. However, they made a splendid comeback as a middle-aged pair, and tracked down spies with all their old enthusiasm. I never found any difficulty in writing during the war, as some people did; I suppose because I cut myself off into a different compartment of my mind. I could live in the book among the people I was writing about, and mutter their conversations and see them striding about the room I had invented for them."

Interesting facts: Mr. Carter is mentioned, although does not make an appearance. Actually interesting fact, according, once again, to Matthew Bunson: "Published in 1941, N or M? offered readers in Britain a chance to follow the exploits of two of their favorite characters in a setting very close to home. Britain was in the middle of World War II, and the fun of the book was a welcome relief for fans from the all-too-real daily dangers being posed by the Luftwaffe and the reports of the war overseas. Christie wrote the book in the middle of the frequent bombings during the Blitz."

Favorite? I do love Tommy and Tuppence, and patriotism, and spies. So, yes.

Death by: shooting

Body Count: 2; Cumulative: 82

The Count: Poirot-20, Miss. Marple-1, Tommy and Tuppence-2, Hastings-7, Japp-7, Colonel Race-3, Superintendent Battle-4, George-1, Goby-1, No Recurring Character- 3, Mrs. Oliver-1, Albert- 2

Agatha's Life Lessons: There is a strange anomaly to war. There is respect among adversaries. The young don't see the pity, waste, and horror of war. Being a devoted wife saps the intellect. Anything that mitigates suffering is worthwhile. Anything should be done for construction, not destruction. Flattery should be laid on with a trowel where a man is concerned (I love Tuppence). There is time to weep after the battle.

Up Next: The Body in the Library

The Secret Adversary- Day 3

First Published: 1922

Setting: Mainly London

Starring: Tommy and Tuppence

Important Other People: Mr. Carter, Albert, Julius, Jane Finn

So the most noticeable aspect of The Secret Adversary that makes it different from Agatha's other novels are the chapter endings. Agatha wrote this book as a serialization for a newspaper. Thus, the chapters seem to be adventure after adventure, leaving the reader hanging so as to induce them to read the next installation. The endings seem a bit abrupt compared to her usual chapter endings, and there are also way more plot twists and turns than we might be used to in most of Hercule and Miss Marple's books. The serialization may also explain how things happen that are then explained afterwards, showing that she could not go back and change what she had already written.

Another thing that is really noticeable in this adventure (as well as some of her next novels) is the way that Agatha draws so much of the plot from events that were occurring at the time it was written. From the labor strikes (which still resonate today in some degree) to the Bolsheviks and the Red Scare in general to the talk of supplying the Irish with arms (hints of Roger Casement), Agatha makes good use of what was going on in the world, way more than usually happens in one of her murder mysteries.

Tommy and Tuppence novels are supposed to be different from Hercule and Miss Marple, but in later books, there are more and more similarities between the three. The Secret Adversary really stands out as truly unique, which makes sense as it is technically a different genre. Another thing I like about Tommy and Tuppence as heroes is that they age accordingly with when the books are written, as well as have lives in the meantime that develops them more as characters.

Interesting facts: Japp is briefly mentioned in this book, although I won't give him credit because he is hardly in it at all.

Favorite? Potentially. It's thrilling, and Tuppence is really a wonderful heroine. I also love the Jazz Age feel throughout the book- it's so lighthearted in the midst of the adventure that is going on.

Death by: Cyanide (Mr. Brown)

Body Count: 1; Cumulative: 2

The Count: Poirot-1, Miss. Marple-0, Tommy and Tuppence-1, Hastings-1, Japp-1

Agatha's Life Lessons: "Never tell all you know- not even to the person you know best" (direct quote). Trust with a grain of salt. Never underestimate your adversary. Come to develop true love through marriage (same as in Styles).

Up Next: The Murder on the Links