Cover Image: The Christie Affair

The Christie Affair

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Member Reviews

If you love a whodunit and are familiar with the eleven days disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1925, then The Christie Affair will be right up your street! The book focuses on Nan O'Dea who is loosely based on the mistress and second wife of Agatha Christie, Nancy Neele and of what happens when Agatha discovers the affair and drives off leaving behind her an abandoned car containing her clothes and driving licence. Whilst you can read about the case online, Nina de Gramont focuses on the other woman in her novel and lets her story be told.

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This book is so captivating. This book is so clever. It is told from the perspective of Archibald Christie’s mistress. It looks at love and grief. Well written

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I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

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"The Christie Affair" is a fictional account of the real life Agatha Christie's disappearance on Friday 3rd December 1926.

The day after Agatha Christie's husband Archie tells her he is divorcing her and leaving her for his mistress Nan, Christie disappeared without a trace, her car was found abandoned by the side of the road with all her possessions inside.

A nationwide search was launched to find the writer.

The story is narrated by Nan, it is a fictional account of what she feels may have happened and why.

Agatha Christie never explained where she had been over the eleven days she was missing. The greatest mystery writer was hiding the greatest secret!!!

This was a fascinating story that I loved from the first page and did not want to put it down. There are plenty of surprises that keep you guessing throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

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I knew very little about Agatha Christie before this but this premise was so interesting so I knew I had to read! Historical fiction isn't one of my favourite genres but this book really did that, and with the mystery, it was truly wonderful. The pacing was a little off, with the first half slow and the last two parts on the faster side, but it definitely made for an engaging read.

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In “The Christie Affair,” Nina de Gramont weaves a mesmerizing tale of love, betrayal, and dark secrets that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. This psychological thriller is a gripping exploration of the complexities of human relationships, wrapped in a web of lies and intrigue.

The story revolves around Christie O’Carroll, a talented artist married to the charming and enigmatic Martin. However, their seemingly perfect marriage begins to unravel when Christie discovers a shocking secret about her husband. As she delves deeper into the truth, she finds herself entangled in a dangerous game of deception and desire.

De Gramont’s writing is atmospheric and compelling, expertly building tension with each turn of the page. The narrative unfolds through alternating perspectives, allowing readers to delve into the minds of Christie and Martin, witnessing their motivations and unraveling their true selves. The author’s skillful use of suspense keeps the readers guessing, never quite sure who to trust or what lies beneath the surface.

The characters in “The Christie Affair” are multi-dimensional and flawed, adding depth to the story. Christie’s emotional journey is captivating, as she grapples with her own desires, doubts, and the consequences of her choices. Martin, with his complex personality, is a compelling enigma, leaving readers torn between sympathy and suspicion.

De Gramont masterfully explores themes of trust, identity, and the fine line between love and obsession. As the layers of deception peel away, the novel poses thought-provoking questions about the nature of truth and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. The author’s exploration of the human psyche adds a compelling psychological depth to the narrative.

“The Christie Affair” is a page-turner that will keep readers engaged until the very end. De Gramont’s skillful storytelling, combined with her ability to create complex and compelling characters, makes this book a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Prepare to be captivated by the twists and turns of this dark and gripping tale, where nothing is as it seems, and the truth hides in the shadows.

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This is a fictional reimagining of the 10 days that Agatha Christie went missing in 1926. In this novel the fictional Nan O’Dea, is having an affair with Agatha’s husband Archie. Nan is not as she seems though and there are other ties throughout the story. There is ‘an invisible thread around our little finger, which connects us to our one true love, no matter what forces try to keep us apart.’ The connection becomes evident as we relive Nan’s traumatic time as an unwed mother in Ireland. The mystery deepens as a group of characters meet in a hotel in Harrogate and death ensues.

The novel has a strong sense of place and also of the changing mores that allow for women to be more than just wives following World War II and the Flu Pandemic of 1918.

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"The Christie Affair" by Nina de Gramont is a fictional novel based on the life of renowned mystery writer Agatha Christie. The book portrays Christie's life in a new light, revealing a darker side of the author that was not previously explored. While the plot is intriguing, the pacing is slow and the characters lack depth. The author's writing style is engaging, but the story is predictable at times. Overall, "The Christie Affair" is a decent read for fans of historical fiction, but it may not be the most gripping or memorable book in the genre.

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An interesting idea on the speculation of the disappearance for Agatha Christie for which the chapters with Agatha in were brilliant. I did not care however for so the character of Nan and her involvement/backstory, There was far too greater portion of the book given to this in my opinion.

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I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. It has taken me a long time to get around to it.

It is an account of Mrs Chrisie's disappearance in December 26 with a large degree of leeway in the actual narrative of events. Using a dual timeline (the literary style of the moment) it follows not only Mrs Christie's privileged and protected life but also the almost diametrically opposed life of Miss O'Dea who lives an impoverished early life and continue to a more emotionally problematic life including pregnancy out of marriage forced adoption and appalling treatment by the Irish Catholic community.

It is an interesting treatment of a factual event but fails to really light up my reading life. There are parts which I felt wouldn't happen and other parts that just lacked vitality in the narrative

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I don’t know if there has been more publicity recently, but the story of Christie’s missing days has been brought to my attention even before I saw this book on Netgalley, so I was keen to snatch it up. On the face of it, the story seemed intriguing; however the story seemed flat and quite unexciting. I don’t think this is the fault of the author- I recently read a biography of Christie which also tells the story of the missing days- and it was equally dull! So, this wasn’t a bad book, it just failed to deliver any or enough drama despite the author’s best efforts!

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I found this book a little bit confusing. I wasn't entirely sure who the narrator was all the time as we jumped from situations with Agatha and Nan.

It also took me a while to get into it, and piece all of the timelines together in the story, The ending was definitely not what I expected.

I am glad that I read this as it has piqued my interest about the real story of Agatha Christie's disappearance.

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Compelling writing but I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it had been marketed differently it's not really about Agatha and her disappearance at all.

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Well-written and an enjoyable read; but it is definitely fiction, and not what is actually believed to have happened. Nevertheless, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries, Christie 'who-done-its'. All the characters, whether real or fictional, are well-rounded, and the story is well-told, and keeps one 'turning the page'.

Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Mantle for an ARC.

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After recently discovering my love of Agatha Christie I knew I had to pick this one up because it sounded so interesting to me. This is a historical fiction novel following Ms. Nan O’Dea who I could have read a whole book on without the Agatha Christie part it was so interesting. It was an interesting take on Agatha Christies disappearance with a delightful storyline and so many twists wrapped in I could not put it down.

In London in 1925 Agatha Christie infamously went missing for eleven days. Her car was found abandoned by the side of the road and all her possessions were left inside. So, what happened? After Nan O’Dea was discovered having an affair with Christie’s husband this novel follows an imaginative journey filled with heartbreak and first love.

The most interesting part of this novel to me was about Nans past. Her life had so many fascinating parts to it that I wanted more. Finding out about her on purposely inserting herself into Archie Christies life as well as the motivation behind it made the novel seem that much more heart-breaking. When talking about Agatha, Nan paints her in such a light that it seems as though the two could have been friends had the circumstances been different.

Although I really enjoyed this book the one issue that I had is that I went into it expecting to read about Agatha Christie only to learn about Nan O’Dea’s life instead. I understand that this book was supposed to be Nan’s account of what happened however, it would have been interesting to expand more on the disappearance and why Agatha Christie decided all those years ago to just vanish.

I loved the ending. It felt like a true Agatha Christie novel with all the mysteries on top of mysteries. The drama was all resolved at the end, but it came with a twist that going into the novel I was not expecting. It allowed you to get wrapped up in the story and at times although the various storylines are confusing it is all explained at the end. Gramont did an amazing job of creating that old fashioned murder mystery with a modern view on it.

Overall, I gave this book four stars just because I would have liked to have seen more about Agatha. However, it was extremely interesting learning about Nan and following her perspective on those eleven days by seeing how she visualised it all. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it kept me guessing through an entertaining game throughout.

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Nan is a character everyone will love to hate, but they should perhaps admire her with equal passion. She envelopes the entirety of this plot in her web and consumes everyone in her path, she is also a wonderful narrator I might add. She has set her sights on Agatha's husband, the life she lives and perhaps even more.

When Agatha, yes the Agatha Christie, disappears in the aftermath of some emotional turmoil, the entire country is searching for her. Is she missing, dead or has she been kidnapped? Has the treacherous husband got something to do with it or Nan perhaps?

What is Nan up to in the background, does she have access to information we aren't privy to? It's an excellently spun web of lies, desires, memories and ultimately one of secrets and hidden truths.

My only complaint about this book is that it is fiction. That it is a story born from the mind of a creative just based on the factual event - the eleven-day disappearance of Agatha Christie in the 1920s. Part of me wishes it actually happened, it's a great scenario and well executed.

It's also nice wee homage to the Queen of Mystery Crime, although she may not have been amused by the drama of her life becoming the scene of a mystery and a crime, however I think readers will certainly appreciate the irony.

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From Doctor Who to historian Lucy Worsley, many great minds have sought to unravel the mystery behind Agatha Christie’s eleven-day disappearance in August of 1926, although the truth behind an event worthy of one of Christie’s own fiendishly clever detective novels remains elusive. In The Christie Affair, Nina de Gramont offers her own solution to the greatest puzzle of Christie’s life.

The story is narrated in engaging fashion by Nan O’Dea, the mistress of Christie’s husband Archie, whose decision to petition for divorce prompted the infamous disappearance in real life. In de Gramont’s version, O’Dea is after more from Christie than simply her husband and the events that transpire in Harrogate after a broken-hearted Christie takes refuge there have their origins in both women’s pasts.

There are two mysteries for readers to unravel as unreliable narrator presents her interpretation of things while taking pains to keep her own motivations and intentions obscured. O’Dea’s reasoning behind pursuing the Christies—both Archie and Agatha—has its roots in a prior life that she would really rather forget, although it also links in to murders in the present day that must be solved if any of them are to live in peace again.

Together, the various strands of the plot add up to a perplexing series of crimes worthy of the Golden Age of Murder and the intricate plotting of Christie herself.

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In 1926 Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days. When she was found in Harrogate she claimed to have no recollection of what happened during that time. The mystery of her disappearance has haunted popular imagination with a number of imaginings of various crimes. Nina de Gramont's The Christie Affair is the latest offering to explore this lore from the golden age of crime.

The Christie Affair explores the mystery from the perspective not of Agatha, but in fact of her husband's mistress, Nan. She is a classic unreliable narrator, plainly telling the reader that she is filling in the narrative gaps with her invented version of events, reimagining scenes that others have relayed to her. Nan's narrative of Agatha's story is interspersed with flashbacks of her own history, a lost love and a scandal in her past. We also see some scenes through the eyes of Chilton, a detective pulled out of retirement to find Christie, but Nan remains behind the narration even when the perspective shifts.

There are two 'mysteries' at the core of the novel, one are two mysterious deaths at the Harrogate hotel where Nan and Detective Chilton are staying. The other is a plot twist and is the story that brings the characters of the novel together. However, this mystery isn't a neat little case for the likes of Poirot and Marple, instead it digs into deeper complexities of human feeling and relationships - not something which can be solved. De Gramont's book is less crime or mystery than a family saga, or clever literary historical fiction.

However, de Gramont keeps narrative tension and momentum, building sympathy for complex and flawed characters, and turning the trope of the 'other woman' on its head. She paints Christie as a pragmatic and confident woman, reckoning with the breakdown of her marriage. Popular imagination has got carried away with Christie's disappearance as like a case from one of her own novels, and while in The Christie Affair there is a dramatic story underpinning the whole incident, Agatha isn't moonlighting as a detective but is simply dealing with personal relationships, and coming to terms with her own feelings.

The Christie Affair is a clever exploration of mystery lore and the very nature of storytelling itself. If you are looking for a Poirot worthy mystery, maybe stick to Christie's own books but if you are a fan of Christie and her life then this book is a wonderful take on her history.

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I found this a difficult read to begin with but the more I read the more intriguing I found it. It was a fascinating read as I wondered why Agatha Christie has disappeared in 1926. I became fascinated by other characters in the book and loved how all the various threads became intertwined, Excellent read.

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