Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As we all know, I loved a cosy mystery and can read them in no time at all. This lived up to that and I devoured it. I love the main character, Eliza, who was bright but so dim in some situations. The Detection Club were, as you’d expect, full of themselves and not a clue between them. Eliza’s background working for Scotland Yard means she’s instinctively curious when one of the club members dies at a dinner and initiation ceremony. Can she solve it before the police can?

As with all good detectives, she has a great “sidekick’ too, in the form of Theo who harbours secret feelings for her and wonders if he can carry on helping without making his feelings known. I loved this sub-story, it was so cute.

I’m looking forward to this series carrying on and will be keeping my eye out for more for sure.

As a fan of Agatha Christie (and someone trying to read more of her books this year), I couldn’t resist this one. While it’s not one of her actual works, I loved the premise of Christie herself being caught in a mystery. The writing style was engaging, and the 1920s literary scene added so much charm. I also enjoyed Eliza as the investigator and apparently this will be a series, so I can’t wait to see where it goes next. A cosy, fun and clever historical mystery.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The story:
It is 1926, and Eliza Baker is just about making ends meet hustling for money at the Gambit Chess Rooms. But when the role of assistant to the secretary of the newly-formed Detection Club comes her way, it turns out not only to be a chance of a more steady income, but also to test her own investigation skills…

When an initiation ceremony ends in murder, Eliza seems to be the only one interested in some real-life sleuthing. When celebrated club member Agatha Christie goes missing, she’s assumed to be the guilty party… but Eliza isn’t so sure. With friend and aspiring writer Theo Sharp, she sets out to find the killer – but will a self-confessed mystery novel hater be able to uncover the truth?

My thoughts:
“The Case of the Christie Conspiracy”, by Kelly Oliver is the first in her new Detection Club Mystery series, and from the title alone I hoped this would be one I’d enjoy!

Anyone who’s a fan of golden age crime will recognise some of the real-life authors that are characters in this story, with the likes of Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley Cox and GK Chesterton making appearances, alongside Agatha Christie herself, of course.

Set at the time of Christie’s much-publicised 11-day disappearance, this story follows Eliza as she takes up the position of assistant to Sayers – secretary of the Detection Club. Eliza has been persuaded to take the role by her sister Jane. Jane works for MI5, and there are rumours that someone among the club’s membership is giving away military secrets... But when an initiation ceremony ends in murder, Eliza is determined to work out what happened.

Helping her is aspiring mystery writer Theo Sharp, who harbours secret feelings for Eliza of which she is completely oblivious. I got real ‘Tommy and Tuppence’ vibes from these two, and their budding romance added an extra layer to the main murder mystery plot.

This was a fun read, and it was enjoyable to imagine how these real-life authors would act in the midst of a real crime. While this story wraps up nicely, there’s also plenty of scope for future books, and I look forward to seeing how this series develops!

Eliza is living in her sister's small flat. She needs to get a job to help with costs and hopefully move out. When the job as assistant to the secretary of the Detection Club comes up she applies. On the second meeting that she attends, her friend Theo, is going to undertake his initiation ceremony.
Things don't go to plan and one of the members is shot dead when the lights are out and no one knows who is responsible.
One of the authors, Agatha Christie doesn't feel well and asks to be taken home. She disappears after that, her car found abandoned at Newlands Corner. The police think that Felix, a publisher is responsible as Eliza uncovers evidence that he was defrauding the dead man.
She is not entirely convinced that he is a murderer and follows the clues until she, with Theo's help, uncovers the truth.
A pleasant read.

As a fan of Agatha Christie, I was immediately drawn to this book by the title, and it did not disappoint! Agatha was not as central to the story as I had anticipated, but that was not a bad thing. There was enough of the Queen of Mystery to tickle my fangirl fancy but not so much as to overshadow the main characters. And I absolutely fell in love with main characters Eliza and Theo! They were the perfect team with Eliza as the logical one and Theo as the creative, and their backstories added layers of depth yet to be unveiled.

I loved the combination of historical figures in the Detection Club and the infamous 11-day disappearance of Agatha Christie. Having read about her disappearance, this was a fun twist on what happened in December of 1926.

The mystery itself is quite cozy without any particular thrill or gore. It had a very Christie-esque feel about its tone, though I solved this one before the end (and I don't usually solve Agatha's). I prefer a mystery that I can't solve, but it was fun all the same. In the end, it was Eliza and Theo that kept drawing me back into the story every time I picked up the book. I am excited to see where this series goes!

Eliza Baker has little interest in the world of fiction, least of all the increasingly popular Agatha Christie. But in order to get a job as assistant to the secretary of the Detection Club—a gathering of murder mystery enthusiasts and authors—she'll have to learn about Christie's work and make nice with her. But on the night the club accepts Eliza's old friend Theo as a member, complete with an overly dramatic initiation ceremony, a man is killed under mysterious circumstances. And the lead suspect seems to be Ms. Christie herself!

While Scotland Yard is on the case, Eliza Baker puts all her talents—both as a clever chess player and as a former member of the force—to the test. While she's leery of "deduction" a la Holmes, the literary-minded Theo makes a bet with her regarding which of them can find the killer first. But the case is a convoluted one. Rather than not enough evidence, there seems to be too much; nearly everyone present seems to have both a motive and a (literal or figurative) smoking gun. Worse still, Agatha Christie has disappeared. Has a guilty murderess fled the scene, or is her life also in danger?

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy weaves real-world history through its narrative, pairing the early days and real members of the Detection Club with the mystery of Christie's eleven-day disappearance. There are hints that Eliza could be a returning sleuth herself, with Theo on deck as a will-they-won't-they paramour and her spy sister Jane asking for further monitoring of the mystery authors. Fans of Christie, and of cozy mysteries, will definitely want to give this one a look. The mystery itself is intriguing and, while astute readers may guess the ending early, the journey is still an enjoyable one.

The start of a new historical cosy mystery series based on the Detection Club, a real-life organization of crime writers in London. The mystery is in the traditional style of the real authors story's and features Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and other authors of the time however they are not the main character's of the book and in fact couldn't solve a mystery unless they wrote it! I did like the use of Agatha Christie’s famous 1926 disappearance as part of the plot. The main character is Eliza Baker and I didn't feel we really got to know her yet and her helper is Theo Sharp a would be writer who is also in quite taken with Eliza so we have the start of the required romance.. Hopeful we will find out more about them as the series develops, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A cute little historical cozy centering on the Detection Club, a real-life organization of crime writers in London. The mystery is nicely plotted, very traditional, and I liked the use of Agatha Christie’s famous 1926 disappearance as part of the plot.

It’s a light, quick read with not a lot of depth and sometimes the romance felt a little cheesy, but overall it’s easy to follow and enjoyable.

‼️ BE WARNED the book discusses The Murder of Roger Ackroyd extensively. If you haven’t read it yet, this book will spoil it for you.

I've read several other novels by Kelly Oliver - in her "Fiona Figg" series.

This book - the first in a new series - is a cosy murder (sounds incongruous I know!) novel. set in London in the 1920s.

The main character - Eliza Baker - is a determined young lady and aspiring writer, trying to make her way in London. Her sister (who works for the secret services) helps her to get a job - which turns out to be assisting the real-life author Dorothy L Sayers with the recently established "Detection Club". As Eliza has previously worked with Scotland Yard, she has valuable skills to offer, and together with her friend Theo (a mysterious chess ace), sets to work investigating a murder - and the disappearance of none other than Agatha Christie.

I enjoyed this novel. The premise was interesting - though the timelines have been tweaked to fit the plot (the Detection Club wasn't formed until later). I liked the way that real-life characters appear throughout the story - a feature of other novels by Kelly Oliver. The inclusion of the chess club was also interesting - and given the popularity of the "Queen's Gambit" tv series I was familiar with some of the terminology.

My only small complaint is that the language used is not entirely correct - featuring many Americanisms, and phrases that would not have been used in 1920s Britain - so a good editor needs to winkle those out in future if aiming at the UK market.

Recommended for fans of "cosy mystery" novels.

This would be an ideal novel to take on a journey or on holiday. I'm looking forward to reading about further adventures of Eliza and Theo.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a fun twist on Agatha Christie that will delight readers from the first page to last. What would happen if Agatha was suspected of foul play? Everyone assumes her guilt, save for Eliza Baker, an assistant to the Detection Club of London. Follow her as she tries to prove Christie's innocence and all the delightful twists and turns that follow.

An interesting and I felt, a different style for the author.

I enjoyed the intrigue and setting (1926) and having such an interesting person as a suspect for the murder was exciting!

Who was the killer, how did it happen and will Eliza Baker find out the truth?

A witty and fun mystery! Looking forward to book 2!

Agatha Christie is about to embark on a new gripping murder case. But this time she's not the author - she's a suspect.

Set in 1926. As a huge fan of Agatha Christie's books, so when I saw this book, I just had to read it. I do like a crime mystery that's set in a bygone era. Eliza Baker got a job as the secretary to Dorothy Sayers, who was the secretary for a group of mystery authors in the Detection Club. Agatha Christie was a member of the club. But when a club member is shot, Agatha Christie is the prime suspect.

This book is a mixture of fact and fiction. This well-written story had me quickly turning the pages. It's clever;y crafted, the characters are well-developed, and likeable, the pace is steady. This is a quick read.

Published 16th February 2025.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #KellyOliver for my ARC of #TheCaseOfTheChristieConspiracy in exchange for an honest review.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is set in 1926. Eliza Baker is a former Scotland Yard investigator and forensics expert, but she left the force after losing her partner in a situation she felt was her fault. Unemployed and living with her sister, who works for MI5, at the start of the book, Eliza earns petty cash playing chess. Her friend, Theo Sharpe, lines up an interview for her with Dorothy Sayers for a position as assistant to help with Dorothy's responsibilities as Secretary of The Deduction Club. When one of the members is murdered at a Club dinner, Eliza takes it upon herself to investigate. The mystery and solution were high points of this book, twisty enough that it took some time to put together. There are many anachronisms, however, including the fact that The Deduction Club had not been founded by 1926, and on the sum they irked me. While I am all for strong female characters, Eliza is a bit too brash and "perfect" for my liking. Furthermore, in an era when women were often treated with bias, sexism and misogyny, Eliza only receives admiration and respect, even from the Scotland Yard detective assigned to the case, which just didn't ring true to me. The ending sets up a second book in the series and I'll probably give it a chance since I did enjoy the mystery in this one.x

First of all, I loved the premise of this book, taking the real Detection Club formed in 1930, with members such as GK Chesterton, Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie herself. And then we have Christie's famed mysterious disappearance, which was never explained. And so we have a mystery where a Club member is shot dead in the dark at a Detection Club meeting, and the day after, Agatha Christie goes missing, a handkerchief with her initials found by the body.

There's competition to solve the case between Eliza Baker - orphan, former war time police officer, now newly appointed assistant to the club Secretary - and her friend Theo Torrent Sharp - aspiring writer. The two regularly hang out at a chess club in London, and both are strong minded and competitive. The novel frequently plays on the contrast of the two characters - Theo being more of a more artistic creature, Eliza favouring more rational logic and science.

It was fun to see the Queen of Crime being under suspicion rather than orchestrating murders in writing, and looking forward to seeing how this series develops.

A quick, mystery with plenty of historically accurate details. It is well written, with a satisfying ending.

A fun quick read.

The main character is Eliza who alongside her friend Theo is trying to solve a murder.

There's a setting of a chess club and the famous authors in the Detection club, although Agatha Christie is mentioned in the title she only makes a limited appearance.

Often the language and phrasing used didn’t feel realistic for England or the 1920s which I found quite jarring and distracting, but it wouldn’t necessarily put me off reading other books by this author and I’ll look out for the next in the series.

As a longtime fan of Agatha Christie and classic mysteries, I couldn’t resist picking up The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, and I’m so glad I did! Kelly Oliver delivers an engrossing historical whodunit that perfectly blends real-life literary figures with a clever fictional mystery.

The story follows Eliza Baker, a former police employee turned assistant to none other than Dorothy L. Sayers, secretary of the famed Detection Club. Right away, I was hooked by Eliza’s intelligence and determination—she’s the kind of protagonist I love to root for. Alongside her is Theo Sharp, a fellow chess enthusiast whose strategic thinking makes him an excellent investigative partner. Their dynamic was one of my favorite aspects of the book, full of intellectual chemistry and subtle romantic tension that added depth to the mystery.

What I enjoyed most was how Oliver brings 1920s London and the literary elite to life. The glimpses into the Detection Club, featuring legendary mystery writers like Christie and Sayers, made my book-loving heart so happy. The mystery itself is well-plotted, filled with twists, red herrings, and sharp dialogue that kept me guessing. I also appreciated how Oliver wove in themes of female independence and ambition, making Eliza’s journey feel both inspiring and relevant.

This book was an absolute joy to read. If you love historical mysteries with strong female leads, clever plotting, and a touch of literary nostalgia, The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a must-read. I’ll definitely be looking for more of Kelly Oliver’s books!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

If you’re a fan of the golden age of British mystery writers and enjoy a quick, easy to read whodunnit, then this book will be for you. It brings to life authors like Dorothy L Sayers, G.K. Chesterton, Anthony Berkeley and the great Agatha Christie. Although the book includes the disappearance in December 1926 of Agatha, she is not the main character in the book, this falls to Eliza Baker. The authors belong to the famous Detection Club and Eliza sets out with Theo to try and solve the murder of one of their members. I believe this is the first in a new series by Kelly Oliver and I look forward to seeing how Eliza and Theo develop in the next book. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for letting me read and review this book.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a new cozy mystery series opener starring a fictionalized version of the best mystery writers ever in the Detection Club. Eliza Baker is tasked with going undercover for MI-5 in the famous Detection Club as an assistant to its secretary to see if one of the top mystery writers is sharing national secrets. Soon afterwards, one of the members is killed during a club function and Eliza begins to investigate with the young Theo. Agatha Christie disappears the day after the murder and becomes a leading suspect. But she’s not the only author under suspicion as each new clue seems to implicate someone new. Twisted and unpredictable, the mystery keeps you guessing along with the pair of interesting sleuths with clear chemistry between them. This was a fun and interesting read in a series that I anticipate reading all of. To clear up any confusion, the main character is Eliza and the mystery writers are all supporting cast including Agatha. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

I thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader copy of “The Case of the Christie Conspiracy.” All opinions and comments are my own.

The real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 is worked into the narrative of Kelly Oliver’s "The Case of the Christie Conspiracy,” as aspiring Detection Club secretary (and failed female police constable) Eliza Baker and her fellow chess aficionado Theo Sharp (who’s mooning over Eliza) find themselves caught up in a case of “bookish” murder, literally as well as figuratively. And good heavens, is someone giving away military secrets, too?

With multiple narrators and appearances from the giants of the Golden Age of fictional mysteries including Dorothy L. Sayers, Anthony Berkeley and G.K. Chesterton, there’s plenty of secrets, twists, and turns to keep readers occupied. At the end, we have a big “drawing room scene” whereby all the authors get to posit their interpretation of whodunit – while Eliza refutes each one, revealing the killer.

The finish sets up for a next book, one I won’t be reading. I didn’t find Eliza and Theo interesting at all (especially the “soap opera” nature of their relationship), and while the book has its moments, it didn’t capture enough of my attention to merit further reading.