Nina de Gramont

Nina de Gramont's The Christie Affair is a beguiling novel of star-crossed lovers, heartbreak, revenge, and murder—and a brilliant re-imagination of one of the most talked-about unsolved mysteries of the twentieth century. Every story has its secrets. Every mystery has its motives. “A long time ago, in another country, I nearly killed a woman. It’s a particular feeling, the urge to murder. It takes over your body so completely, it’s like a divine force, grabbing hold of your will, your limbs, your psyche. 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.” The greatest mystery wasn’t Agatha Christie’s disappearance in those eleven infamous days, it’s what she discovered. London, 1925: In a world of townhomes and tennis matches, socialites and shooting parties, Miss Nan O’Dea became Archie Christie’s mistress, luring him away from his devoted and well-known wife, Agatha Christie. The question is, why? Why destroy another woman’s marriage, why hatch a plot years in the making, and why murder? How was Nan O’Dea so intricately tied to those eleven mysterious days that Agatha Christie went missing?

A Novel

The Christie Affair

Melissa Palmer

Great

Great read about the disappearance of Agatha Christie. Interesting plot and characters. Kept me hooked. Well written. I recommend it

Vilandra

Too much of the book was Nan’s backstory for my liking, but the ending is lovely. Would have liked more Agatha, more of the mystery.

Ellie Crawford

My favorite book of 2022 so far!! Highly recommend

A fictional account of the events leading up to and during Agatha Christie's 11 day disappearance in December 1925.

The concept of this book really intrigued me, where could this storyline possibly be developed from. What I got did not disappoint when you reached the twist and you realised how the dual timeline weaved together into the present day.

I listened to this one as audiobook, and I think its the only reason I got through it to be honest, as I found it difficult for the plot to grip me in the beginning and got a little bored in the middle. However, once you reach about 70% through the book and the revelation of how everything slots together, I was desperate to finish and learn everything I could about these characters.

The ending concludes unexpectedly, with a warm fuzzy feeling not before seen in a book proposed as a thriller, but I found it suited the whole premise of the book quite nicely.

Victoria Justice

A fictional account of the events leading up to and during Agatha Christie's 11 day disappearance in December 1925.

The concept of this book really intrigued me, where could this storyline possibly be developed from. What I got did not disappoint when you reached the twist and you realised how the dual timeline weaved together into the present day.

I listened to this one as audiobook, and I think its the only reason I got through it to be honest, as I found it difficult for the plot to grip me in the beginning and got a little bored in the middle. However, once you reach about 70% through the book and the revelation of how everything slots together, I was desperate to finish and learn everything I could about these characters.

The ending concludes unexpectedly, with a warm fuzzy feeling not before seen in a book proposed as a thriller, but I found it suited the whole premise of the book quite nicely.

Cheri McElroy

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up.

I loved the writing and the story kept me turning pages. If it hadn’t been so completely outlandish in its conjectures about the disappearance of Agatha Christie, one of my favorite writers, I would have enjoyed it more.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC.

'A novel that literally out-Christies Agatha. An exciting, moving and delightful read' - JANICE HALLETT, bestselling author of The Appeal 'Elegant, ingenious and hugely enjoyable' - AJ PEARCE, bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird and Yours, Cheerfully In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days. Only I know the truth of her disappearance. I’m no Hercule Poirot. I’m her husband’s mistress. Agatha Christie’s world is one of glamorous society parties, country house weekends, and growing literary fame. Nan O’Dea’s world is something very different. Her attempts to escape a tough London upbringing during the Great War led to a life in Ireland marred by a hidden tragedy. After fighting her way back to England, she’s set her sights on Agatha. Because Agatha Christie has something Nan wants. And it’s not just her husband. Despite their differences, the two women will become the most unlikely of allies. And during the mysterious eleven days that Agatha goes missing, they will unravel a dark secret that only Nan holds the key to . . . The Christie Affair is a stunning novel which reimagines the unexplained eleven-day disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 that captivated the world. 'A genuine marvel' - KRISTIN HANNAH, bestselling author of Firefly Lane and The Four Winds 'An original and captivating read that has stayed inside my head' - JENNY QUINTANA, author of The Missing Girl

J’Naia Stepp

This was beautifully enticing. The narrator did a wonderful job conveying the different character voices and making you want to hear more. The story itself was as much Nan’s as it was Agatha’s. That in of itself made the story even more interesting. Overall it was addicting and intriguing. 

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Hannah Alexander 

ok, so this book was amazing. sometimes I pick up books that Reese book club picks after they were the pick and that is what I did with this one. yes, the beginning was a little slow which is why it is not a 5-star but everything else the plot twist, the way the story went. all of the backstory that, how it connected it to the story was just amazing please read 

Courtney Baker

This book didn't really do it for me. I was prepared to give this book 2 stars, but the last quarter of book really redeemed itself. 

Aundreya Rich

"Where were you?"
"I can't remember." 

The disappearance of Agatha Christie is a story many know and remember. 
A woman lost for 11 days only to be found with a sense of trauma and amnesia.

But what drove her to flee?

An affair between her husband Archie, and mistress Nan, spark a grieving wife to run away without a plan.

Nan on the other hand, has a story. One that unfurls into grief of her own with a sprinkle of hope of starting over.

I loved this book. Nina da Gramont was a new author on my radar who didn't disappoint.
She took a take on a a true moment in history and made it something much more.

Read if you love:
-the writing style of Taylor Jenkins Reid 
-family drama
-the stories behind what's left after war
-star crossed lovers
-new beginnings
-the power of being a woman, wife, and mother
-the country side of Ireland, and city life of England
-a bit of mystery
-historical fiction

Why I dropped a star:
While this story was based off of a true story, I always struggle with a story that is based around adultery. BUT please know while it is the backdrop and important, it is NOT the romance or even the main focus of this amazing book.

Also the ending felt a bit "strange". I knew Nan was the narrator of her story, along with taking on her own "take" of different character POV, the ending of it almost being her book felt disconnected from the intro into the book. Although I did love the HEA aspect.

TW: some topics include adultery, rape, loss of a child, suicide while none of descriptive 

Rating:
story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
steam- while this is a scandal.... this book is less than scandalous 

Song- scared by Jeremy Zucker

Thank you St Martin Press for my Arc. I truly enjoyed it.

The Christie Affair A Novel

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