This book makes Agatha Christie almost a joke of an individual. Since it is told from Nan's point of view she spends the majority speculating on what she thinks Agatha went through during her 11 days. This doesn't allow for the reader to become suspended into the story and makes light of an impactful situation. The premise of the book is phenomenal however the execution just wasn't there for me.

(rated 3/5 due to the GoodReads rating system but really rated 2.5)
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my DRC in exchange for my honest review!

"The Christie Affair" by Nina de Gramont is a fictional story about what transpired during Agatha Christie's eleven day disappearance. Gramont uses real life facts such as Archie Christie's real life affair and asking Agatha for divorce and later, Agatha's amnesia of the eleven days.

I was so excited to read this one. I love Agatha Christie's writing and her eleven day disappearance is one of my favorite mysteries. Unfortunately I found this to be a bit lacking. Gramont has obviously done her research about the event and about the Christies and I wouldn't fault her for that. Instead, I take issue with the heavy handed wokeism in this novel. Our main narrator is Nan, the other woman, and she often says how she does not care about Agatha's feelings really and will happily steal Archie. Without getting into spoilers, I found her just irritating and deplorable. As I read, I felt like Gramont gave Nan such a tearjearker of a backstory with a heavy hand of "feminism" and "womanly justice" because Nan is awful. I didn't feel anything anytime she waxed poetic about the convent, Finabarr, or her sisters; all of that next to lines of her saying that she didn't care who she had to hurt, etc. to get what she wanted...I just did not like her. I'm not one to root for cheaters and the other man/woman/person, so already the book was a pain to read. And while Gramont did a lot of research, this still felt very much like fanfiction especially with Nan's voice and the end (which I know the end was supposed to be fantastical but still). None of the novel really felt like a mystery to me even when the murders happened. It just fell so flat to me.

I will say that I enjoyed Agatha Christie's characterization and the negative way people spoke about/thought about Archie Christie but it just wasn't enough for me to really like this book. A small thing but I also felt like there were so many threads for such a short amount of pages and it never really felt any of the threads were necessary just weird little sojourns down paths that never fleshed out. And again, I HATE that the reader practically gets morally guilted into supporting Nan. It's super gross and manipulative.

This was a great combo of historical fiction, romance, and mystery. The author has taken the long unsolved mystery of Agatha Christie's disappearance and created a can't-put-down book from the perspective of her husband's mistress. I really enjoyed the twists and turns, how Nan's story was peeled back in layers with flashbacks, and the many ways it felt a bit like an AC mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

A fascinating fictional attempt at explaining the eleven-day disappearance of Agatha Christie. I was not informed of this historical event at all, so I enjoyed starting the book with a clean slate. A very creative spin on what could have happened, and the characters involved. Even if it is all speculation, it is a great romantic mystery to lose yourself in for a few hours. I don’t want to give any of it away, so instead, I encourage you to give it a try for yourself.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

The basic facts of a true life fascinating mystery are here - Agatha Christie, the famous author, disappeared for 11 days which spurred an international hunt. Apparently her husband had just told her he wanted a divorce to be with his mistress. With those basic facts, the author takes the reader on a wild ride of well written and developed possibility for those 11 days. And mystery, of course.

I want to start by admitting that I did not know much about the author Agatha Christie prior to reading this book. However, I was very intrigued by this book's premise and definitely did some research as I read. I thoroughly enjoyed the start of this book, but as it continued on the focus seemed to jump around. It felt like these should have been two different books: the story of Nan and her experiences and those of Agatha's. Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more by the author.

Mystery readers know that early in her career, Agatha Christie went missing for 11 days. The police scoured the country for her, and eventually she was found at a resort hotel, claiming amnesia. No definitive explanation for her disappearance has ever been given.

In this novel, de Gramont imagines a story of Christie’s disappearance. But the novel is told by Nan O’Dea, a fictional character based in part on the young woman Christie’s husband, the cad Archie, left her for. For most of the book, we read much more about Nan than Agatha. Nan tells the story of her childhood, a tragic happenstance in her young adulthood, and what she herself did while Agatha Christie was missing—which includes a Christie-style mystery.

When we do read about Agatha, it’s often Nan’s speculation as to what happened, since she wasn’t usually present and has nothing but what others (like Archie) has told her and her own imaginings to go on.

Like a lot of people, I was attracted to this novel because of the Agatha Christie connection. While Agatha is present, for much of the time she’s not much more than a framing device for Nan’s story. And when Agatha does make more of an appearance toward the end of the novel, what de Gramont gives as Christie’s story is unlikely, at best, and almost bizarre. As for Nan’s story, it’s depressing and not at all what I would have chosen to read had I known ahead of time what it would be about.

THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR is a clever reimagining of the mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie. After learning of Archie's notorious affair, Agatha's whereabouts were unknown for 11 days sparking worldwide curiosity and concern.

The narrative is primarily told from Archie Christie's mistress, Nan O' Dea. Her character was well-drawn with complex motives. The pacing did slow a bit during the middle of the story as readers explored Nan's past growing up in Ireland. Overall, I appreciated the unexpected direction Nina de Gramont took the novel and how she incorporated true events with her imaginative vision.

This is an eloquently-written novel that historical fiction and Agatha Christie lovers will enjoy. I did a combination of print and audio which always adds to my reading experience. Beautifully narrated by Lucy Scott, her crisp British accent was a perfect fit.

RATING: 4/5 stars
PUB DATE: February 1, 2022

A big thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan for audio and print ARCs of this novel.

Review will be posted to www.instagram.com/kellyhook.readsbooks/ in advance of publication date with link to post provided via NetGalley.

This the first book by Nina de Gramont that I’ve read. I loved how the story point of was told by Nan the “ other” woman who was having an affair with Archie Christie. Agatha’s disappearance coincided with Nan taking a holiday at the Belforte Hotel. There is a murder of a newlywed couple (who you find out really deserved it) at the hotel that Detective Chilton is now having to solve along with finding out where Agatha Christie has disappeared to. I loved the back story on Nan and Finbarr. How they deeply loved each other and it didn’t work out but you were really hoping it would. How Agatha and Chilton were star crossed lovers that didn’t want the search to end. I would definitely recommend this title to anyone that likes a great mystery as well as historical fiction.

I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and am particularly fascinated by her eleven day disappearance in December 1926. I mean, who isn't, right?! The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont is an interesting take on what happened during those mysterious eleven days. The novel is told from the perspective of Nan O'Dea who is the mistress of Archie Christie, Agatha's husband. Events unfold along the eleven day timeline, but also flash back to different points in time from Nan's past as well as Agatha's. The book also contains an unexpected murder mystery that was rather interesting.

On the whole I feel like this subject is a huge undertaking and my judgment may be clouded by the fact that I read and loved The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict last year, but I had a hard time really getting into this storyline. The timeline jumps were abrupt and difficult to follow whose story I was reading. It would often take me several sentences before I knew what time and perspective was being conveyed. I also found the connections between Nan O'Dea, the murder mystery, and the rationale and goings on with Agatha Christie's disappearance to be convoluted and reaching. I"m sorry to say I didn't find this as compelling as I had hoped. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

It may just be me, but I did not like Nan O’dea for many reasons. As narrator for Agatha Christie’s life and disappearance, Nan comes off whiny, pompous, and arrogant.

I’m a big fan of Agatha Christie and don’t like the light this painted her in.

Though this story wasn’t one of my favorites, I do recommend you read it for yourself because you may enjoy it.

This is an imagining of then cause and what happened during Ms.Christie’s disappearance.


Nan is a compelling narrator at first but the interjection of her past and her voice becomes grating.The writing style loses steam and had me flipping through the last half of the book.


This isn’t a bad book but it isn’t memorable.

This is a fascinating story. Told mostly from the prospective of Nan O'Dea, the woman who had an affair with Agatha Chrsitie's husband and who eventually becomes his wife.

Throughout the story you realize that Nan planned and plotted the whole relationship. It's the why that really reaches out and grabs you.

This story has so many interesting layers, including the relationship between Nan and Agatha that develops during the time Agatha goes missing.

Not usually the kind of story I like, but I am so glad I took a chance. Very entertaining read!

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont is an extremely gripping story. I had no idea what to expect and even though I was 75% through the author still had me guessing. I certainly did not see that turn coming. The tale has twists and turns and keeps the reader anxiously reading until the last word.

I will give all of you a caveat. Agatha Christie is not the main character. The story is told from another woman’s perspective. The main part of the story takes place during an eleven day stretch during 1926. I will not divulge any of the story here but suffice it to say it was well done. The characters were expertly crafted. The setting was so well written that you could smell the sea air. I would wager to say that Christie fans would love to read this side of the coin. It is also a wonderful read for readers of historical fiction.

This may be my first book by Nina de Gramont but it certainly will not be my last. While I catch up on what I have missed, I anxiously await her next book.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press, Nina de Gramont and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

For someone who loves mysteries, as I do, I have never read an Agatha Christie book and have no inclination. However, I do like to read books about authors, especially historical fiction. The author recreates the missing days of Christie in a creative manner. By narrating from the mistress’s perspective, readers will gain a different insight. It was an imaginable read and very interesting.

I adore Agatha Christie and historical fiction so I couldn't wait to read this one! It's a wonderful imagining of what may have happened during Ms. Christie's mysterious 11 day disappearance back in 1925. I always loved that the greatest mystery writer of all time managed to create her own mystery, which continues to intrigue and baffle all of her fans to this day.
Very enjoyable read!

A wonderful we-written dive into the life of Agathie Christie. However, the narrator is the mistress of Agatha's husband, Archie. I was utterly enthralled by the story and felt like I learned a lot of intimate details about the mistress of suspense. Superb!

This book was an intriguing reimagining of the days Agatha Christie disappeared in 1926. It is told from the viewpoint of Nan O'Dea - the Other Woman - who was Archie Christie's mistress and second wife.

As the story develops, we learn about Nan's past and her reasons for pursuing Archie. Along the way there is romance and murder and revenge for a great wrong. The murders were not center stage and seemed to be almost a throw away detail in the bigger picture when they were first described. I liked the echoes to some of Agatha's stories - very MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS.

The story was not fast paced but unfolded in a leisurely manner that still managed to be intensely gripping. Revelation after revelation build a strong picture of Nan and, peripherally, Agatha Christie and Archie Christie who doesn't fare well in this story.

The story also illuminates the time period between the first and second world wars when mores are changing and there is more than a social revolution going on. Nan's history includes horrific details about the fates of unwed mothers and their babies during that time period and in that place. Agatha's own growth, as depicted in this story, is also an example of social change.

This story was an interesting imagining of those missing days in Agatha's life told by a woman who is just a footnote in Agatha's story but a strong main character here.

At times this book was intriguing, creative and interesting but the constant changing of narrator and points-of-view within a chapter was quite annoying and distracting. While the author has provided a well-written narrative, I thought the Agatha Christie part of the story, the mystery of her disappearance, took a back seat to the life and secrets of Nan O'Dea, Archie Christie's mistress.

Despite some short-comings, I did enjoy reading The Christie Affair and am glad that I took the time to read this book. Thanks for St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

An entertaining fictional exploration of Agatha Christie's 11 day disappearance in December 1926, although it doesn't really seek to try to explain said disappearance. I enjoyed how the novel contained a tiny murder mystery, much like an actual Christie novel. While Nan O'Dea, the narrator, is fictional, she is an interesting character. And while the disappearance of Christie is the linchpin around which the novel is centered, it is really the story of Nan, and what it means to love and lose.

"'A long time ago, in another country, I nearly killed a woman. It's a particular feeling, the urge to murder. First comes rage, larger than any you've ever imagined. It takes over your body so completely, it's like a divine force, grabbing hold of your will, your limbs, your psyche. It conveys a strength you never knew you possessed. Your hands, harmless until now, rise up to squeeze another person's life away. There's a joy to it. In retrospect, it's frightening, but I daresay in the moment it feels sweet. The way justice feels sweet.'

So begins The Christie Affair, told from the point of view of Miss Nan O'Dea, a fictional character but based on someone real. In 1925, she infiltrated the wealthy, rarified world of author Agatha Christie and her husband, Archie. A world of London townhomes, country houses, shooting parties, and tennis matches. Nan O'Dea became Archie's mistress, luring him away from his devoted wife. In every way, she became a part of their world--first, both Christies. Then, just Archie.

The question is, why?

And what did it have to do with the mysterious eleven days that Agatha Christie went missing?

The answer takes you back time, to Ireland, to a young girl in love, to a time before The Great War. To a star-crossed couple who were destined to be together--until war and pandemic and shameful secrets tore them apart.

What makes a woman desperate enough to destroy another woman's marriage?
What makes someone vengeful enough to hatch a plot years in the making?
What drives someone to murder?"

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.