The Fabled Realms

Review of

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

The Christie Affair
Published: 2023-02-07
Nina de Gramont’s The Christie Affair is a stunning novel that reimagines the unexplained eleven-day disappearance of Agatha Christie that captivated the world. “Sizzles from its first sentence.”––The Wall Street Journal A Reese’s Book Club Pick Why would the world’s most famous mystery writer disappear for eleven days? What makes a woman desperate enough to destroy another woman’s marriage? How deeply can a person crave revenge? In 1925, Miss Nan O’Dea infiltrated the wealthy, rarefied world of author Agatha Christie and her husband, Archie. In every way, she became a part of their life––first, both Christies. Then, just Archie. Soon, Nan became Archie’s mistress, luring him away from his devoted wife, desperate to marry him. Nan’s plot didn’t begin the day she met Archie and Agatha. It began decades before, in Ireland, when Nan was a young girl. She and the man she loved were a star-crossed couple who were destined to be together––until the Great War, a pandemic, and shameful secrets tore them apart. Then acts of unspeakable cruelty kept them separated. What drives someone to murder? What will someone do in the name of love? What kind of crime can someone never forgive? Nina de Gramont’s brilliant, unforgettable novel explores these questions and more.

The Christie Affair: A Tantalizing Tale with an Identity Crisis

Buckle up, literary sleuths! Nina de Gramont’s “The Christie Affair” promises to crack open one of the most intriguing cold cases in literary history – Agatha Christie’s infamous 11-day disappearance. But hold onto your deerstalker hats, because this book takes more unexpected turns than a game of Clue!

First things first, if you’re expecting a deep dive into Agatha Christie’s vanishing act, you might feel a bit like you’ve shown up to a murder mystery dinner and found yourself at a soap opera instead. Our protagonist isn’t the Queen of Crime herself, but rather Nan O’Dea, the mistress who lured Agatha’s husband away. Talk about a plot twist!

De Gramont weaves a tale more intricate than one of Hercule Poirot’s mustaches, diving deep into Nan’s background. It’s like peeling an onion – layer after layer of secrets, heartbreak, and enough drama to fill a season of Downton Abbey. Who knew the “other woman” could be such a complex character?

The writing is as smooth as a well-mixed martini, and de Gramont’s attention to historical detail will transport you to 1920s England faster than you can say “old sport.” You can practically hear the jazz playing and smell the gin fizzes as you turn the pages.

However, like a long game of Monopoly, the story takes its sweet time getting to the good stuff. There were moments when I found myself checking my watch, wondering if we’d ever get to the main event. But stick with it, dear readers, because the ending is worth the wait – it’s more satisfying than solving a particularly tricky crossword puzzle.

While it may not be the Agatha Christie deep-dive some might expect, “The Christie Affair” is a solid piece of historical fiction that will keep you guessing. It’s like showing up for a whodunit and getting a why-dunit instead – unexpected, but intriguing nonetheless.

So, grab your favorite cuppa, settle into your comfiest armchair, and prepare to be transported to a world of secrets, scandal, and star-crossed lovers. Just don’t expect to solve the mystery of Agatha’s disappearance – that’s one plot twist this book keeps under wraps tighter than a flapper’s headband!


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PJ Flip

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