There was a time when the only books I read were by Agatha Christie--and of hers, only mysteries featuring Hercule Poirot.
I've only ever figured out a couple of her gems: The Mousetrap (everyone saw that one coming. Especially when the lights turned on, right Ben?) and The Murder of Rodger Ackroyd (it was the only logical conclusion).
This one fooled me. The Secret Adversary is Christie's first mystery featuring the sleuthing pair, Tommy and Tuppence. The duo are swept up in an inadvertent adventure trying to save Britain from anarchy by finding a girl with some very important papers before the mysterious Mr. Brown can get to her first.
Before we can save Britain and the girl, we must learn some new words.
gamin - street urchin.
gimlet - a tool with a drill bit head and a cross-pieced handle used for boring holes. Most often gimlet is used metaphorically when referring to a piercing look, as in so-and-so giving someone the "gimlet eye."
tantalus - a glass-fronted, locked liquor cabinet. It comes from the Greek myth of Tantalus who was forced to stand chin-deep in water under branches of fruit trees, but unable to eat any fruit or drink any water, thus eternally tantalized, much like someone who can see the liquor in the tantalus but who cannot obtain it without the key.
salver - a serving tray.
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