N or M? is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in 1941 and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in November of the same year. The novel is the first to feature the mature versions of her detectives Tommy and Tuppence, whose previous appearances had been in the adventure The Secret Adversary and the short story collection Partners in Crime. A short review by E.R. Punshon in The Guardian of 30 December 1941 ended with "Mrs Christie shows herself as ingenious as ever, and one admires especially the way in which the hero snores himself out of captivity." Tuppence Beresford looks gloomy as she sends off her husband Tommy to Scotland. He has an “office work. Hush-hush and all that, but not doesn’t sound thrilling .” It is World War II in bleak Britain. Rumour has it that German invasion is in progress and the Fifth Column movement has drawn many supporters in the country. Tommy’s assignment is simple: find two German agents, N and M, in Sans Souci; a guest house on the South coast of England. N is a man and M is a woman –both English. Prior to the assignment, a British agent was killed when he was following a lead to the agents’ whereabouts. Before he dies he says “N and M. Song Susie.” When Tommy arrives, a great surprise is in store. Mrs Perenna, the proprietress, introduces him to other fellow residents. His attention is immediately drawn to Mrs Blenkensop, who sits knitting a balaclava. She is none other than Tuppence… You can listen online to free English audiobook “N or M?” by Agatha Christie on our website. Enjoy it!
