Oh my goodness, what a well written book! The Christie Affair is a book you most definitely want to add to your TBR list/pile. Alternating between two timelines - the 11-day disappearance of Agatha Christie in December 1926, and a period 7-12 years prior - the story is narrated by Nan O’Dea, the mistress of Agatha Christie’s husband, Archie. While Agatha’s disappearance was a very real event, and one she never discussed for the rest of her life, the rest of the story, and its characters, are purely fictional.

Although I figured out the mystery and motives of Miss O’Dea pretty early on, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. I highly recommend reading this book.

I really enjoyed reading this, the book is well-written and the premise is amazing. It's historical fiction at it's finest and the story is great.

Wonderful writing mixed with skillful plot. Very interesting to have Nan serve as narrator as well as her full story exposed. Interesting to privy Nan’s perception on what she believed transpired.

I enjoyed the book, utterly entertaining and adept BUT I was really hoping to gather MORE from Agatha. Despite my curiosity, I did feel as if I was an intruder on their marital matters, I felt as if none of this was frankly my business, far too intimate to eavesdrop upon the love triangle actually fearsome quintet.

Characterization was well done.

Despite a tinge of disappointment the stellar writing and nimble talent from the authoress far made up from what I was hoping for. A pleasant surprise indeed. Unexpected and well done, thunderbolt.

I really enjoyed this creative take on Agatha Christie's eleven-day disappearance. Told from the perspective of the affair partner of Christie's husband, this novel weaves some true facts of the novelist's disappearance with compelling fiction created by de Gramont. It was nice to see Agatha depicted as a woman reclaiming her agency. not just as a spurned or broken woman. This novel is less about Christie, and more about how tragedies like WWI and Irish mother-and-baby homes shaped the survivors. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction and mysteries.

4.5 Stars! This book was practically perfection! I literally loved every second of this book and could not get enough. I had to borrow time for all parts of my life to sneak and find time to read this absolutely anywhere and everywhere. I knew nothing about Agatha Christie prior to reading this book, but I want to know everything now.

I am blown away! This book is a hidden gem! It is told from the mistress' point of view and you think you will hate everything about this woman, but in the end you have a whole new point of view that you never expected to have. My only gripe is that the ending left me wanting. I did not want what the author wanted to give us, a false happy ending. I wanted to know the real ending especially since this is about real people. I wanted to know how it ended for everyone in real life.

Aside from that I cannot sing the praises of this book enough! Highly highly recommend!!!! Twisty and crazy, keeps you on your toes and wanting more, long after the story ends.

Agatha Christie - before JK Rowling she topped the list of best-selling authors. But for Mrs. Christie, there was more to the story than wildly successful mystery novels - she once caused quite a stir when she disappeared herself. The Christie Affair by Nina e Gramont works through this tantalizing episode and adds in feminism, history, and page-turning intrigue. The story allows for all the what-ifs and what-maybes that delve into what happens to humans after the unthinkable transpires. Excellent use of plot twists and red herrings. LOVED.

I really wanted to love this book. I love historical fiction. I love when an author takes a true event and reimagines it. The Christie Affair sounded like my kind of book. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it. I liked the premise but felt it moved so slow. I found myself bored, and when I get bored, I'm tempted to DNF the book. I didn't though.

As slow as it went for me, I did push on. Thankfully, around the 70% mark of the book, the story really came together and ended strong.

The Christie Affair tells the story about the 11-day disappearance of Agatha Christie. But it also tells the story of Nan O'Dea, the mistress of Arthur Christie. I found Nan's story more enthralling than the actual disappearance of Agatha Christie.

With the strong ending, it ended up being a 3-star read for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review..

3.5 stars. An extremely creative spin, based upon Agatha Christie’s actual disappearance for eleven days that has mystified people for decades, a disappearance that may have been caused by Agatha’s husband (Archie), his affair with Nan O’Dea, and his telling Agatha that he is leaving her. De Gramont tells this story not from the viewpoint of Agatha, but from that of Nan, and what follows is a haunting tale of mischief, romance, vendetta, and a bit of murder thrown in for good measure.

If you are an Agatha Christie fan, you should enjoy this one — even though the focus is on Nan and there is not a whole lot of Agatha in it. Nonetheless, it is a good, satisfying read.

Archie Christies' mistress Nan, tells this story that centers around the days in 1926 Agatha Christie disappeared. She never told anyone where she was or what she did. This is the fictional story of what may have happened during those missing days.

I might have enjoyed this more if I was able to read it at longer sittings. As it was, I read a chapter here and a chapter there making the story choppy. My fault, not the author's.

I love historical fiction and this was a fun read into the period of an author I have loved. I'd be happy if this was indeed the read story.

The Christie Affair is not as much about Agatha Christie, but her husband's fictional mistress. The author uses Agatha's disappearance to frame the story and past life of Archie Christie's mistress Nan O'Dea. The mystery in the novel is slight, but the author does a great job of making Nan mysterious as she reveals different layers that make up that character. I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel and as a huge fan of Agatha Christie, it was an interesting interpretation layered with fact of her disappearance. The cast of characters are rich, three-dimensional, and each has specific role in uncovering the truth. I applaud Nina de Gramont's take on Agatha Christie and I look forward to reading her next novel.

3.5/5 stars!

<b>The Christie Affair</b> is a historical fiction novel that I quickly jumped on based on the title and the cover without really focusing on the synopsis to learn what it’s about. I found it to be an interesting novel as it allowed me to know a little bit more about the renowned author, Agatha Christie, and a hypothesis about why she may have have disappeared for 11 days. As I knew very little about Agatha Christie herself, I was surprised to learn that she had indeed disappeared for 11 days with no rhyme or reason why.

The story de Gramont portrays as a potential fictional hypothesis as to what led up to and happened during Agatha’s disappearance through the eyes of Nan O’Dea is a good one.

The writing style was a bit different then what I had expected. It was written as though Nan knew everything that was happening with other characters, in thought and action, as if she was always present or all-knowing, which I found to be a bit weird.

The plot itself is filled with multiple twists and turns that I didn’t expect and overall comes together nicely at the end. However, I have to admit, I did not enjoy the middle aspect of the novel, say from 35-65% of it. I found it to be monotonous and dull. I would have much preferred a story focusing on the ‘star-crossed lovers’ rather than Agatha and Archie. That being said, by the end of the novel I began to understand the reasoning behind all the information shared once the plot came to its end.

For the characters… I didn’t ever really care for Agatha or Archie. I found them to be flat and they left a lot to be desired. I developed a love-hate relationship with Nan. Nan’s character was more developed than the rest, but I have to say, I didn’t particularly like her, especially as we neared the end of the novel.

All in all, it was a decent read.

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St Martin’s Press, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own. Upon publishing of this novel, I will also be posting my review to Amazon Canada.</i>

This was not at all what I was expecting! I did find it phenomenally written. With fantastic character development! Unique, well written, and unputdownable! Highly recommend, especially to those whom enjoy historical fiction, which is realistic, and has some mystery entwined!

Will make sure to buzz around and use Top Amazon reviewer number on release!

Wow!! What an engaging and interesting look into the "what if" of Agatha Christie's notorious disappearance. Highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

What would you do if you knew your husband was having an affair, and eventually stops bothering to hide it? What would you do if you didn't want this to be your life any more?

What would you do if your child was stolen from you before the love of your life had a chance to marry you? Who would you chase? Your baby, who is being raised as if they belonged to a new family, or the man who wants to marry you and have a family with you?
And what happens when you find your child?
What would you do if you ever found the people who took your child from you, and who did unspeakable things to so many other vulnerable women?

These are the questions that the women in the Christie Affair deal with as their lives are interwoven in unexpected ways.

Historical, witty, and complex. Fun read.

Another take on Agatha Christie’s 11 day disappearance. What makes this one fresh and interesting? This time we get the other woman’s point of view. It is a nice twist to focus this tale on the two women involved.
This would be a good choice for book discussion.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

I tried with this novel! I wanted so badly to enjoy it, but I couldn't get into it. I may give it another shot again in the future. However, now just wasn't that time and I struggled. I honestly think it has more to do with me and what I'm wanting to read at the moment, though!

Hair pullin', name callin', smacks with the back of the hand, and cocktails thrown........

Now that's what you'd expect when the wife encounters the paramour. But ladies were ladies back then even if their backdoor antics spoke otherwise.

The Christie Affair introduces us to London in December of 1926 when Agatha Christie will run up against the truest of shocking storylines involving herself, her husband Archie, and Miss Nana O'Dea. Archie, the despicable cad, confronts Agatha that he is leaving her. Our Agatha never saw it coming. Agatha has sold more copies of her novels than anyone else on Earth........yet she should have had Hercule Poirot riding next to her for the reveal. Begging, pleading, and acts of desperation fill the room. Aggie......just cut the creep loose.

And just the day before, Agatha had lunch with Nan O'Dea. And Agatha picked up the tab.

Nina de Gramont takes quite the liberty in her telling. The Christie Affair should have been entitled The O'Dea Affair. De Gramont leads with Nan O'Dea as the voice of her novel. Yes, we are at the receiving end of the paramour's point of view in all things. And that voice leads to very treacherous behavior. We'll get a deeper understanding (though fictional) of what led to the disintegration of the Christie marriage. And De Gramont reveal a transformation of Agatha Christie in the process.

De Gramont takes us back to County Cork, Ireland in 1919 where the young Nan O'Dea will be residing with the Sisters of Mercy Convent. Nan will be among those "wayward girls" brought back into the fold by the so-called "kindly" nuns. I must tell you that De Gramont should have written an entire novel gleaned from this setting alone. Her descriptors are raw and revealing and give somewhat of an insight into the coming of age of Nana O'Dea. There's an abundance of happenings.

And then we are thrust into the mystery of Agatha Christie's disappearance in 1926 shortly after finding out her husband's affair. She went missing for eleven days. Her car was found on the side of the road with no Agatha. Later, Agatha claimed no memory of what happened to her during those lost days. She refused to speak of it thereafter. Now that would have been one of her best-selling novels had she considered writing her memoir.

Nina de Gramont is a splendid writer. No doubt whatsoever. She was adventurous to take on the point of view of "the other woman" in this famous affair. She must know that the vast majority of readers would be Team Agatha so there's not a lot of sympathy for Nan O'Dea. Other books have been written in regard to Agatha. The Christie Affair is an interesting take on a very intriguing mystery surrounding one of the most famous fictional writers of the time.

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Nina de Gramont for the opportunity.

Nina de Gramont imagines Agatha Christie’s motivation for her mysterious disappearance in The Christie Affair. The now famous author caused a media sensation and a massive police search in 1926. She was discovered at a spa, signed in under a false name…the name of the women her husband later married.

According to a New York Times article, Christie was interviewed in 1928 interview by The Daily Mail, explaining,
That night I felt terribly miserable. I felt that I could go on no longer. I left home that night in a state of high nervous strain with the intention of doing something desperate. … When I reached a point on the road which I thought was near the quarry, I turned the car off the road down the hill toward it. I left the wheel and let the car run. The car struck something with a jerk and pulled up suddenly. I was flung against the steering wheel, and my head hit something. Up to this moment I was Mrs. Christie.
1928 interview with Agatha Christie

de Gramont tells the story through Archie Christie’s mistress, the fictional Nan O’Dea. Archie is in lust with Nan, and thinks it is love. Although he had pursued the engaged Agatha to be his wife, and they have a daughter together, he is ready give it up for Nan. Agatha is crushed, still in love with him. Desperate, she seduces him into bed, only to watch him leave her for a weekend away with Nan.

A stunned Agatha drives away in her car, and after a near accident, leaves her car behind. She later turns up at a spa where Nan O’Dea is hiding out because of the publicity around her lover’s wife. Over the next days, Nan’s backstory is revealed and her motivation for pursing Archie, even if it means giving up her true love. There are mysterious deaths at the spa. And a shell-shocked policeman, Chilton, sent to search for the missing Agatha, and staying at the spa, becomes involved in more ways than one!

In this story thus far I have described to you a variety of crimes. But none–none–is more heinous, more violent, more unconscionable, than this one. The theft of my baby. from The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

I was surprised to find myself quite immersed in the book, especially Nan’s story which takes readers into Catholic Ireland, the Sisters of Mercy convent home for unwed mothers, and the brutal separation of mothers and babes.

I was struck by subtle details in scenes that made the characters come alive. Nan’s beloved childhood friend Finbarr returns from WWI altered, his inner light dimmed, and Chilton has one good arm and the ‘jitters.’

I did question Nan’s ability to know how characters behaved after she left the room, and her in depth understanding of character’s inner emotional life. Most readers will be too immersed in the world of the novel to care.

The Christie Affair is an enjoyable, haunting story.

Well now, that was a well-told story. The narrator told the story in something like a combination of 1st person and 3rd person. That narrative shouldn't have worked at all, but I really liked it, and it suited the story perfectly. This was a very plausible explanation for the week Agatha Christie disappeared, where she was, what she might have done. It is all twisted up with the mistress that Archie Christie wound up marrying in the end and rather believable.

It had red herrings. It had a very nice plot twist that mirrored one of Christie's most-loved books (not telling you which one or that would give away a major plot twist). It had a bit of a love story (or two or three).

I'll definitely watch for more from this author.

What an interesting story line, albeit sometimes a bit confusing because it jumped in time often. The most poignant portions were the chapters Here lies Sister Mary.. I just can’t imagine the pain and hurt some young mothers endured.

I enjoyed this story with its twists and turns.