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A review by pinks_paperbacks
N or M? by Agatha Christie
3.0
Want to give 3.5 stars.
This is my first 'Tuppence and Tommy' story as it fits a prompt and was also recommended by a friend. I liked the way it began because I was not aware that Tuppence and Tommy are a married couple. I thought they are professional male detective partners (yes, very specific assumption). So I had to re-read the beginning of the first chapter to process the real nature of their entire (personal and professional) relationship. I also enjoyed realising that Agatha Christie was a feminist (yup, I went there) because of the way she presented Tuppence.
As far as the story is concerned I was not as ecstatic as one would be when the culprit is revealed because there are enough clues to guess that Mrs. Sprot is one of the antagonists. Although Commander Haydock is a surprising treat.
Either I am used to the way a criminal like Mrs. Sprot aka M is described or that I live in a time where such stories are rather common, or both, whichever it may be but I found it extremely stupid of Tuppence (because I did expect Tommy) to disregard Mrs. Sprot as even a suspect. I mean the description for Mrs. Sprot aka M is obvious and I was disappointed that Tuppence, who is portrayed as a creatively intelligent woman, discards M without even an iota of suspicion just because she has a small child named Betty. In fact even Betty is projecting suspicious behaviours and parroting certain key words which is enough evidence for anyone to at least suspect her (supposed) mother.
Other than the aforementioned point the story kept me hooked till the end and Mrs. amd Mr. Beresford adopting Betty is a nice little twist which I am presuming will be followed up on in their other stories. This book does make me want to read other books involving the married detective couple - The Beresfords.
This is my first 'Tuppence and Tommy' story as it fits a prompt and was also recommended by a friend. I liked the way it began because I was not aware that Tuppence and Tommy are a married couple. I thought they are professional male detective partners (yes, very specific assumption). So I had to re-read the beginning of the first chapter to process the real nature of their entire (personal and professional) relationship. I also enjoyed realising that Agatha Christie was a feminist (yup, I went there) because of the way she presented Tuppence.
As far as the story is concerned I was not as ecstatic as one would be when the culprit is revealed because there are enough clues to guess that Mrs. Sprot is one of the antagonists. Although Commander Haydock is a surprising treat.
Either I am used to the way a criminal like Mrs. Sprot aka M is described or that I live in a time where such stories are rather common, or both, whichever it may be but I found it extremely stupid of Tuppence (because I did expect Tommy) to disregard Mrs. Sprot as even a suspect. I mean the description for Mrs. Sprot aka M is obvious and I was disappointed that Tuppence, who is portrayed as a creatively intelligent woman, discards M without even an iota of suspicion just because she has a small child named Betty. In fact even Betty is projecting suspicious behaviours and parroting certain key words which is enough evidence for anyone to at least suspect her (supposed) mother.
Other than the aforementioned point the story kept me hooked till the end and Mrs. amd Mr. Beresford adopting Betty is a nice little twist which I am presuming will be followed up on in their other stories. This book does make me want to read other books involving the married detective couple - The Beresfords.