Archivist Harmeyer stays alive on Jeopardy!

Though Monday's episode of Jeopardy! winded through leaders throughout, often ahead by differing margins, it ultimately came down to a two-contestant face off in the final round.

In Final Jeopardy!, Adriana Harmeyer, the archivist from Purdue, approached the category of "New York Times book reviews" with $12,100 in her bankroll and a $1400 lead over her competitor two lecterns over, Josh Fry.

Fry, a software developer originally from Peachtree Corners, Georgia, had been in the red at one point in the night, but caught fire in the back half of Double Jeopardy! He answered three questions correctly in each of the categories "There's gold in your future," and "animal kingdom."

Eight-hundred dollars flipped hands on one question during Fry's run, when Harmeyer mistook Emma Stone's Oscar, won in March, with the Golden Globe she won in January for her performance in "Poor Things."

Fry pounced with a correct answer, and later, with $1,500 at stake, Fry jumped even closer to Harmeyer. He correctly answered a "Daily Double" with his knowledge of why rats, with their always-growing incisors – "incisors" was the answer – must constantly gnaw.

Fry was second up to answer the "Final Jeopardy!" question, phrased as this:

"In 1958, a review of this book now considered a classic called it repulsive, disgusting and 'highbrow pornography.'"

Fry finished writing as the seconds ticked down on the pleasant tune that acts as the round's question timer. His answer, revealed with a flash across the screen, was "The Catcher and the Rye."

The spectacled young man in his 20s had wagered $1,401 on that selection, which would have been just enough to pass Harmeyer if he had guessed right. The miss dropped him to $9,299.

That left Harmeyer.

If she got it wrong and made an ambitious wager, she would have lost her streak. But as "Lolita," shown as her answer, and Jennings quickly addressed it as correct, she made a face in relief like she was blowing out candles.

The 1955 novel which addresses hebephilia, the sexual interest by adults in pubescent children, was written by Vladimir Nabokov. Originally written in English, fear of censorship in the U.S. (where Nabokov lived) and Britain led to it being first published in Paris.

Though Jennings called the game, "As much of a run as anyone has given Adriana in a number of days," Harmeyer kept her streak alive to nine days, with total winnings of $204,700.

She will play again Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.