N OR M?

This mystery classic, even among Christie's oeuvre, will be a treat for listeners who appreciate the high camp of Christie's idiosyncratic characters and her careful plotting. A cryptic message sets the duo of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford off after a master spy settled in a seaside English village. James Warwick, who has played Tommy for TV and film, sets the atmosphere of menace and suspicion surrounding the "fifth column" of German espionage. Warwick's overplaying of the minor characters makes the story seem too staged. The variety of accents just gets in his way, and he can't seem to fully engage listeners. All the grand heroism and disguises are entertaining, nonetheless, but there are better Christie capers. R.F.W. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 01]