{
  "id": 16127091,
  "title": "A book called ‘N or M?’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/a-book-called-n-or-m",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-22T23:45:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/a-book-called-n-or-m/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The book titled 'N or M?' takes place during World War II and follows the adventures of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. These characters are the husband-and-wife duo created by Agatha Christie for their wartime escapades. Unable to secure employment during the war due to their age, Tommy and Tuppence meet Mr. Grant, who was sent by their former controller, Mr. Carter. Mr. Grant confides in Tommy about a potential mission to a seaside hotel called Sans Souci in a place called Leahampton. The hotel's proprietor, Mrs. Perenna, is an Irish woman whose first husband was executed as a traitor during World War I. Her daughter is in love with a German refugee, whose two brothers were interned by the Nazis. Other characters include an irritable retired major, an anaemic woman with a baby, an even more anaemic man with a put-upon wife, and a spinster. Tommy plays golf with the major and Commander Haydock, a naval officer who recounts his efforts to keep tabs on a German agent who had made alterations to his residence. The German had fled before he could be apprehended, and Commander Haydock subsequently acquired the property. Tuppence observes a mysterious woman lurking near the house, who turns out to be a Polish refugee who had arrived with relatives. The plot thickens when Carl von Deinim, the German agent, is found planning sabotage at the chemical factory where he works. As Tommy and Tuppence delve deeper into the mystery, they encounter a series of intriguing characters and face numerous challenges, including a dramatic confrontation involving a transmitting set and a parachute drop. Ultimately, the duo, aided by their faithful servant Albert, uncover the truth and bring the German agent to justice, all while evading the Germans who are hot on their trail.",
  "summary": "Tales of Mystery and Suspense – 25 by Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha I so hugely enjoyed the Agatha Christie I borrowed from Madubashini Ratnayake that I was determined to take another when I next visited her. I remember much about most Agatha Christies, but I found one that I recalled thinking quite splendid when I last […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}