I have always been a huge fan of Agatha Christie and always wondered about her famous disappearance that has never been fully explained or resolved to this day. Lindsay Jayne Ashford has taken on this question in a fictionalized account that is both interesting and entertaining.
Agatha Christie is at a crossroad in her life. Her marriage is over and she needs a fresh start; not to mention a break from everything to find herself again. She decides to take a trip on the Orient Express but little does she know that she is not the only woman with secrets on the train.
I enjoyed Agatha Christie's character so much. She was so complex and I could understand her frame of mind and the reasons why she did what she did. I found the other main characters not quite as developed but that was fine as Agatha is the main character in the story and they seemed to be more in a supporting role to the main story. All in all, I found myself immersed in the book and really liked how the ending came together.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers (via Netgalley) for free in exchange for a honest review.

So basically The Woman on the Orient Express is a story how Agatha Christie could have met her husband. But it's not just a love story, it's also a mystery. And as this trip to Orient happans before she wrote her famous stories Murder on the Orient Express and Murder in Mesopotamia this story has many hints, how she found her ideas for these books. The story is mostly fiction, but some things are true.

The story begins with Agatha boarding Orient Express under Mary Miller name. She wants to get away from London, from her ex-husbands new wedding and from journalists. She gets a surprise cabinmate Katharine Keeling, who is on her way to her second wedding but there is a reason why she is not sure, it's a good idea to get married again. Nancy Nelson is running away from her husband and she is hoping that her lover will join her, that they will go together to Baghdad where she can reveal to him her secret. They all start the journey alone but little by little they will form friendships through saving each other lives or by just being there when a friendly shoulder is needed.

Agatha meets Max Mallowan early on on their trip (in reality she met him couple of years later) and when they reach Baghdad Katharine introduces them again at her wedding. After Agatha and Nancy have settled in Baghdad Max takes them to archaeological dig in Ur, where Katharine and her new husband work. The most dramatic things happen and biggest secrets are revealed in Ur.

This story is a mix of Christie's real life, her books and pure fiction. There were some things that irked me a bit, there were parts that were too slow and some parts that were too ruched, but all in all, it's an interesting story and it's fun to find familiar parts from Agatha's books.

I really enjoyed this book. I think Agatha Christie would approve! It definitely has a style similar to hers. It's a fictional novel, but it's loosely based on true events in Agatha Christie's life. The story follows Ms. Christie and two other women as they travel to Baghdad on the Orient Express. I liked how the background of each woman was received layer by layer, and I thought the character development of each lady was great. It's not so much a whodunit-type mystery as a "what exactly happened those many years ago" story. I'm glad I discovered this book! Great read!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.

This is a thriller based on partially true instances. Protagonist of the book- the Legendary Agatha Christie . She has just broken away from her husband and decided to embark on a journey to Baghdad . On the train she meets the very attractive and mysterious Katherine and the dainty Nancy. Each woman has a secret of her own , and they are thrown together as they are all travelling by the Orient express . The book takes one through the breathtaking journey they undertake , the scenic locales of Venice , Istanbul , Baghdad and many other places...
The book is a tad slow in the first half, and Agatha is a lot different from what I had imagined her to be . But once the train journey progresses , so does the plot. The book is full of secrets , a few predicted, and some others , I did not see them coming.
The journey of these women takes one through the colorful heritage , culture and delectable food of the Arabic tribes. The description of the places is rich and dripping with sensuous details that have you yearning to visit these places.
The archaeological sites and the details make it all the more interesting ..
It is a rather touching tale of how these women make certain decisions for themselves , and shows how time and situations unite people against all odds .
It is a story of emotions , bonds and sacrifices we all make as life throws us in the most odd scenarios .
Overall : a book full of salivating travel details, blossoming bonds and the awe- inspiring strength of strong women ❤
P.s : The author has based a lot of characters in the book, and the journey itself on real events- brownie points for the fine blend of facts and fiction

Brilliant!!! This blend of historical facts with fictional elements is well crafted and brings a personal touch to a woman who, by the nature of her reputation is typically an icon for mystery! I could not put this title down and will make sure all my adult readers get to experience this story!

Fun read for all Agatha Christie lovers. The author did well in drawing out references in Christie's books and building out various characters. Having read all of Agatha Christie's books growing up and re-reading recently, this was a fun glimpse into Christie's own life.

Different to what I was expecting - reviews are mixed. Three stories intertwine on a journey on the Orient Express with Agatha front and centre. Apart from a little to-ing and fro-ing at the start to get characters sorted, it quite readable. I don't mind a little artistic licence when it comes to plausibly filling in the gaps or maybe adding a little twist.

Charming book, well written, with interesting characters and fully captures the romance of train travel through exotic locations, back in an age when the world was a much larger place.