Hello crime readers and food lovers. Or in this case, cocktail lovers because we are celebrating Agatha Christie’s wartime thriller N or M with an Aperol Betty.  N or M has few references to food. I wonder if Agatha Christie did this intentionally as food was rationed during the war.  Reading about lots of food may have led to readers becoming disgruntled with their Mock Crab and other wartime foods.  I found my inspiration from one of the characters in the novel Betty Sprott, who despite only being a  little girl is key to two pivotal parts of the novel! 

N or M -The Plot

It is 1940 and Tommy and Tuppence Beresford are disheartened because no one wants them for war work.  Tommy is then approached by Mr Grant, the head of the secret service to hunt out some fifth columnists.  Tommy is sent on a top-secret mission to Leahampton, to search out two Nazi agents, a male and a female, known only by their code names, N and M.  Imagine his surprise then on his arrival at the Sans Souci guesthouse to see Tuppence there!  

We have quite the cast of shady characters including

• A landlady who may or may not be Irish
• A German refugee chemist
• A female resident of the Sans Souci who is watching Tuppence very closely
• A mysterious Polish woman hanging about the Sanc Souci
• Little Betty kidnapped 
• The kidnapper killed by a crack shot from Mrs Sprott
• Someone hitting Tommy over the head with a hammer
• Someone holding Tommy captive in their basement

Luckily we have Tommy and Tuppence on hand to figure out who is N and M and save Britain from the evils of Nazism via enemies from within.  . 

This is a thrilling tale that I feel really captures what life might have been like in England during 1940.     I really enjoyed the depiction of “ordinary” life at this time – the talk of the war, everyone having their own theories or having heard “on good authority” what was happening at the front.  The setting for this tale of espionage is perfect and Tommy and Tuppence are as adorable as ever!

N or M  – The Covers

There are some fabulous covers here, lots of French ones, a Danish one and one that I think might be from Hungary.  

The Recipe – Aperol Betty

The Aperol Betty is a very simple but very tasty cocktail with a strong citrussy taste.  It was even easier for me because I didn’t even have to bother to combine the grapefruit and orange juices in the recipe.  We have a tangelo tree (tangelo  = tangerine x grapefruit) in our garden which is currently laden!  (Also look how pretty that bright orange looks on a grey Melbourne winter day!!!!

But anyway, when life gives you this many tangelos, you don’t go buying grapefruit or orange juice! I walked to the garden and chose some lovely fresh fruit for my drink!

Here’s the recipe with the OG ingredients!

Betty had changed her mind and demanded instead:

“Wead me story.”

Tuppence pulled out a rather tattered book from one end of the cupboard – to be interrupted by a squeal from Betty.

“No, no.  Narsty…Bad…”

Agatha Christie – N or M

As an alternative, for anyone who does not drink, the close runner up for this was a Pasta all  N or Ma.  I didn’t make this because I am somewhat allergic to aubergines / eggplants but if you were having an N or M themed dinner, for me, the pasta would be a good choice!

What does Agatha Christie have in with Leonard Dawe? 

First, I hear you ask, who is Leonard Dawe?

Well. he was a crossword compiler for the Daily Telegraph who was investigated by MI5 in 1944 because he published the names of several of the D-Day Landing sites in his crosswords.  

A few years earlier, Agatha Christie got into trouble over the name of one of the characters in N or M.  One of the residents at Sans Souci is Major Bletchley.  In the 1940s, Bletchley Park was the place where code breakers ultimately cracked the German enigma machine.  Of course, neither Dame Agatha nor Leonard Dawe were acting in an untoward manner but they were both investigated by MI5 for their unfortunate choices!  (I really hope that after they questioned her, Dame Agatha then grilled MI5 on their techniques for her next novel)

Links to The Christieverse

There are a few references to the earlier Tommy and Tuppence novel, The Secret Adversary.

Other Food & Drinks Mentioned in N or M

• Whiskey
• Tea 
• Bread and Cheese

As mentioned, last week, I am currently on holiday in beautiful Port Douglas.  Part of my reading material for the trip is The Body In The Library which will be our September Dining with The Dame read.  Marple fans, this one’s for you!

Have a great week!