The Christie Affair

“The Christie Affair” by Nina de Gramont is a captivating historical fiction tale that offers its own spin on the famous writer Agatha Christie’s disappearance. Told from the perspective of the mistress that drives Mr. and Mrs. Christie apart, comes a harrowing tale of murder, mischief, and romance that will shock and stun readers.

Finding out this story was going to be told from the mistress’s perspective was a bit disappointing. The fascination with the Christie Affair has to do with Agatha’s disappearance and where she went for those eleven days. What can “the other woman” offer in this story that will stand out amongst all the other tales of infidelity? What can she offer that will possibly be of interest? As it turns out, “the other woman,” “the homewrecker,” “the seductress,” has a lot to say. Gramont flips the stereotype of temptress on its head and presents a woman with a complicated and tragic backstory that readers will immediately be taken with.

This character-driven novel shows the fragility and cruelty of human nature. This novel touches on a lot of tough subjects that may be triggering in an attempt to reveal human suffering in its intimate form, but also on a larger scale with the war that occurred around this time period. Gramont creates characters that are morally grey, who do terrible things because they feel it’s their only option … or maybe because they’re desperate. While some characters are easy to hate, readers will sympathize and root for most of them.

Toss in a bit of a murder mystery in a true Agatha Christie fashion and this is a tale with an unstoppable pace that will be easily devoured. “The Christie Affair” by Nina de Gramont comes highly recommended for its sympathetic characters, the unexpected twists and turns, a bit of murder-mystery, and an original tale inspired by Agatha’s eleven-day disappearance and the woman responsible for it. This is definitely a novel to be on the lookout for on its expected publication date of February 1st, 2021.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for inviting me to read this e-arc and giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts and opinions in this review!

A surprisingly engaging read.
Agatha Christie disappeared after being told by her Husband that he wants a divorce.
This book is told mostly from the point of view of the Mistress, which gives quite the little twist.
This is definitely a multi genre book. Historical fiction, but also a thriller.
Read it when released and find out for yourself. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#stmartinspress
#ninadegramont

Let me start out by saying that Agatha Christie is my all-time favorite author and her personal life is just as intriguing as her books. This book was absolutely fantastic. We begin with the other woman. It's all right, clench your teeth, It's the reaction most of us get when we hear that phrase right. The author gives us the other woman in the form of Nan, competing for Agatha's husband Archie Christie. The interesting thing is, she gives us a back story as to why man is so set on getting Archie Christie.

The heartbreaking thing is that Agatha is truly a lovely woman and her mother has recently passed away. Suddenly to add to all the drama, Agatha Christie disappears. She is just beginning to reach the heights of her career, not as successful as she will become, not the household name she will achieve, however a nationwide search begins. Will they find her? Is she truly dead?

This is a fantastic page-turning book with several deaths in it. It is a fiction so don't take it as the gospel truth. (The real Other Woman was Nancy Neele but has been renamed Nan O'Dea.)

I had a difficult time putting this book down and I think it would make an excellent movie. I definitely recommend this book.

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont is an excellent historical fiction novel that is so unique, gripping, and engaging. I highly recommend it.

This is a wonderfully suspenseful story that depicts what could have happened during the short time frame Agatha Christie was missing not from the author’s perspective, nor from her questionable husband’s perspective, but in the voice of the “other woman” Nan O’Dea.

This is fresh, fascinating, includes twists, turns, suspense, mystery, and truly was enjoyable from beginning to end. I dare anyone read this and not be completely drawn in!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

The other woman: Grr. That's the usual and understandable reaction, isn't it? In The Christie Affair, Nina de Gramont has Nan, the other woman competing for Agatha Christie's husband, act as the omniscient narrator. As the story continues, we learn why Nan is so keen on Archie Christie.

Archie is so keen on Nan that he adds to his wife's misery at just having lost her mother. He tells her he wants a divorce.

And Agatha Christie disappears. She was at the beginning of her career and, although successful, had not achieved the household name status we associate with her today. Despite a nationwide search, and pictures plastered in newspapers throughout the country, no one can find her.

Until someone does.

This book is a real page-turner, and just when you think things couldn't get stranger, two suspicious deaths pop up. Much of the book is fictional and it was fun to see what the search engines could prove or disprove. Nancy Neele has been renamed Nan O'Dea in The Christie Affair.

But Agatha, Archie, and Nancy were real people, caught in their own tragic love triangle. Archie did marry Nancy and they remained married until her death 30 years later.

Nina de Gramont has written a book that is hard to put down.

Absolutely loved this hist-fic mystery about the disappearance of Agatha Christie, as told by her husband’s lover. The deftly written tale grips with twists and turns that keep you pinned to the last page. Highly recommended for Christie fans and lovers of thrilling historical fiction!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 01 Feb 2022
#TheChristieAffair #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.

Part love story. Part mystery. Whole epically amazing beautiful imaginative tale of what could have happened during Agatha Christies 11 missing days.

Told from the perspective of Agatha's husbands mistress, I almost didn't read this book. Just from the synopsis I got the feeling this would he sympathetic to the mistress. But it's not. Its a beautiful tale that spans Nan's lifetime and centers on those lost 11 days. We find out why Nan is with another woman's husband. We find out Agatha's strength and power as a woman when women didn't have much power. And we watch them both fall in love. With who? Well that's why you have to read the book!

This is one of the hands down best books I've read this year. Giving more details will ruin the experience but I promise, it's worth the read. Pre order, and wait. Unfortunately. This one isn't out untol February 1, 2022.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Nina de Gramont for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was an original and entertaining mystery, with well-drawn characters and an interesting plot. Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Oh what a delightful book! It was a conundrum wrapped up in a mystery with historical fiction and romance. And what was truly amazing was that it could be all of those things successfully. This is a book that even Agatha would have enjoyed reading (well I hope so anyway). In the beginning I thought that Nan’s back story was just an introduction to her character and I maybe didn’t pay enough attention, which was a mistake because ultimately this is really all about Nan. And the author did a fabulous job rolling a really good story into the mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie - now that is creative. As the story develops and Chilton appears on the scene you get the feel of an Agatha Christie book, lots of characters all staying together with sudden deaths and things that are not quite what they seem. You can start to guess who the murderer is and tie up the loose ends but the solution stays just a little out of your grasp until that AH HA moment. I could nit pick a little with the change from Nan’s narration of events she was involved in to conversations that she would have no way of knowing what was said, but this is a minor detail and necessary to carry the story along. I received an ARC from the publisher St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley and I appreciate the opportunity to read this intriguing book.

In 1926 Agatha Christie famously went missing for 11 days; after resurfacing she maintained that she had no memory of what happened. This novel offers a twisty story of her disappearance and how it is tangled up with that of the women her husband was leaving her for. Told from the perspective of the mistress (Nan) the
story alternates from the days during Agatha's disappearance to Nan’s childhood/personal history.
Upon learning that her husband is leaving her for another woman, Agatha packs up her typewriter and leaves her home. When she fails to return a nation-wide manhunt ensues. Nan also leaves for the country to avoid any related scandal. Eventually inspector Chilton discovers both women and becomes ensnared in the drama.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t know what to expect with it being from the point of view of the mistress, however it really worked well. I loved that he story was about the complicated relationship between the women and not so much about the affair. In the classic style of Agatha Christie herself there are many plot-twists and all the seemingly unrelated people and events tie up perfectly in the end.
This is a great read to curl up with on a cozy evening! Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I love when a historical fiction story is mixed with a mystery! This gave me a The Mystery of Mrs. Christie vibes! This story was told in the point of view of Agatha Christie's husband's mistress. The thrill completes the story! With its twists and turns, the page keeps turning. I am highly recommending this book to anyone who loves Agatha Christie and historical fiction fanatics!!

Agatha Christie. Probably the most revered female mystery writer to date. Everyone with an interest in her life knows that she disappeared for eleven days at one point. She gave no explanation, no one knew where she had been, and to this day it is unexplained. However, this wonderful tale takes that information and creates a terrific story of an affair, a scorned wife and an unapologetic mistress. A really great read. I will definitely revisit this book in the future!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing this copy in exchange for my unpaid, honest review.,

Never underestimate a mother’s love…

Nan O’Dea tells this captivating tale in her own words. She doesn’t sugarcoat the fact she almost killed a woman or that she planned the affair she’s now having with Agatha Christie’s husband. Her intent? To end their marriage, so she can become the next Mrs. Christie, but not for the reasons you may think.

Subjugation of women’s rights in the 1920s meant pregnancy out of wedlock was a horrific sin and must be kept hidden at all costs.

When Nan finds herself pregnant with the love of her life’s baby, and afraid of her father’s reaction, she makes her way to Ireland, sure that he will marry her and all will be well. But instead, she finds him on his deathbed. The parents ship her off to a convent for unwed mothers and that’s where the horror truly begins.

Years later, Nan is on a mission and the only one standing in her way is Agatha. Then the author goes missing and all of England is in an uproar.

This story is based on true events on Agatha’s disappearance and the ensuing manhunt. I was shocked by the cruelty shown by the nuns and priest, though there’s been proof of it over the years.

Nan is incredibly strong, considering all she’s been through, but I don’t agree with her final decision. I’ll let you read the book to find out what that is. Archie didn’t deserve to have either woman in his life- he’s a creep who thinks with his little head instead of listening to his heart.

I felt the most sorry for Finbarr, who loved Nan and only wanted to make her happy. This is one of those books that doesn’t end with a happy-ever-after. Instead, it leaves the reader with an aching heart and a sadness for lost loves.

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

The disappearance of Agatha Christie in December 1926 is brilliantly and creatively delivered in ‘The Christie Affair’. Told through the eyes of Nan O’Dea the lover of Agatha’s husband Archie. This is a well spun tale that provides a twist and turning plot and wonderful characters enveloped in a world of wealth and privilege.
The moment Archie tells his devoted wife that he is leaving her for Nan, who has been a part of the Christie’s lives, the fragility of the heart and the human emotion of his decision is palpable. Was this announcement the reason for Agatha’s eleven day disappearance? Did this cause Agatha’s amnesia?
The lives of each character charter a course throughout these pages. Agatha’s fame as a writer has yet to reach its height, we learn of Nan’s story and her want of Archie, the temptations of greed, the taste of murder and mixed with a sprinkle of cameo appearances by Dorothy Sayer and Arthur Conan Doyle add intrigue to a twisting and turning plot
There are several instances when the authors writing is so similar to that of Mrs. Christie that I felt as if she had ‘ghosted’ Nina de Gramont.
This was a wonderful read and highly recommended.

“The Christie Affair”, and by ‘Christie’ I mean ‘Agatha Christie’ could have been written by Dame Agatha herself. However, Nina De Gramont is the author of this superb mystery that will delight all readers, and especially fans of Agatha Christie.

Ms. Christie’s writings featured memorable continuing characters, who were well-placed in their time and settings and her plots were creative and relied on psychology. Author De Gramont has created a story that reflects all of the strengths of a Christie mystery. So what’s the book about?

The story is told by Nan O’Dea and takes place from just before World War I through 1926 and is set in Ireland and England. She is the mistress of Agatha’s husband, Archie, and soon to become his wife. (Yes, Agatha herself is front and center in this story.) On the evening of December 3, 1926, Agatha Christie drives away from her lovely home in the Berkshire’s and will not be seen again for 11 days. Although this is early in her writing career when she is not that well known, the mystery of her disappearance becomes national and international news. And her disappearance, which really occurred, has never been solved.

Author de Gramont has created a plausible solution to the mystery of Agatha’s disappearance with a spectacular swirl of a mystery, a la Christie. A troubled, but solid constable, and Nan, the character with a heartbreaking past, join a cast of English and Irish characters that would be at home in any Christie novel, at a Yorkshire spa. Murder ensues.

The twist and turns and lovely writing6 will keep any reader in his/her armchair. Each character is fresh and fascinating. The proper English lifestyle between the world wars is beautifully created.

“The Christie Affair” is destined to be a popular book and is at the top of my favorites list. Agatha Christie’s books sales total 4 billion. “The Christie Affair” deserves to do as well.

A beautifully written literate novel about the eleven days in 1925 that Agatha Christie went missing. Betrayal, revenge,
heartbreak, mystery and love all come together in this story told from Christie’s
husband mistress. Lots of twists and turns just like a Christie mystery.

This is historical fiction to the Nth degree and I can’t recommend it enough.

I started this on a Saturday morning and had an extremely difficult time putting it down. The story is seamless, and it drew this reader in deep from the first chapter. The author’s writing is masterful and I was able to see the vivid and lush imagery she gives with her words.

I kept at this one, not stopping once to read from my other current reads. That’s high praise in itself, as any reader of many at one time well knows. This one is definitely going on my re-read list. I’m planning on listening to it on audio in a few months, or next year - the story was amazing.


Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this title. Opinions shared are based on nothing other than my reading experience.

This cleverly plotted, engrossing story will keep you frantically flipping pages to find out what happens next. This takes the story you think you're getting: of a man who leaves his wife for a younger woman, and the wife is so distraught, she disappears for a week, then it turns the trope on his head.

This book is based on the true story of Agatha Christie, the famous author, who, when she found out her husband was having an affair, disappeared for a week, prompting a countrywide hunt for her. She was finally found checked into a spa under her husband's mistress name. And no, telling you that doesn't give you any spoilers. This book was very unexpected, in a good way.

Agatha was memorable as the scorned wife playing her cards to get her husband back. Nan's the clear-eyed younger woman who knows exactly what she's doing and sees all the faults in , but wants him anyway. And Archie Christie is the man who thinks he knows what he wants, until he doesn't. But the further you read, the more unexpected layers these characters have. The two separate love stories that play out are both bittersweet and engaging. There's murder, lust, star-crossed lovers and characters taking charge of their own destiny, despite the societal forces that conspired against them.

This book also takes an insightful look at wealth and privilege, and how it can lead to carelessness with others' lives. If you're a fan of historical fiction, this is one you won't want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.