View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of gun does Mr. Peters have?

2. What is the name of the first detective novel that Latimer wrote?

3. What does the interpreter drink during dinner?

4. What is the name of the mystery novel idea of Colonel Hakis?

5. Who is the author of the quote that begins the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of car does Grodek's chauffeur drive? What does this suggest to Latimer?

2. What does Dimitrios offer Latimer to not leave the apartment and get the police? What happens once Latimer leaves?

3. What is the name of the man who bunks with Latimer on the train? As Latimer leaves, what does he realize about the man?

4. Describe the body the Colonel and Latimer see in the morgue.

5. What does Peters offer Latimer to drink in his apartment? What does Peters encourage Latimer to do as he tells Latimer his story?

6. Who was Peters in business with when he first met Dimitrios? What was his first impression of Dimitrios?

7. What does Mr. Peters' apartment look like? What does Peters show Latimer in his closet?

8. When Latimer leaves Irana, what is strange about his hotel room? Who does he find there? What are both of their reactions?

9. What does Latimer do in order to understand where Dimitrios went after he left Smyrna? Where does he conclude Dimitrios went?

10. What business did Peters get into with Dimitrios? How did their business expand?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Think about the first chapter of the book. Write an essay on the author's establishment of setting, plot, and character, along with his use of foreshadowing on the first page alone. How does Ambler create scene and plot so quickly? How is this emblematic of the detective novel as a genre?

Essay Topic 2

Consider Latimer's search to find records of Dimitrios in Smyrna. How is this an example of the theme of detection in the novel? How does Latimer fall short on his role of detective? What character trait does Latimer possess that interferes with his ability to detect?

Essay Topic 3

Picture Ambler's description of Peters' apartment in Paris. Using thoughtful details, write an essay about the character of Peters from the interior of his apartment.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 659 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample