• The Christie Curse

  • Book Collector Mystery Series, Book 1
  • By: Victoria Abbott
  • Narrated by: Carla Mercer-Meyer
  • Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (393 ratings)

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The Christie Curse  By  cover art

The Christie Curse

By: Victoria Abbott
Narrated by: Carla Mercer-Meyer
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Publisher's summary

Jordan Kelly needs a new job and a new place to live. She's back in Harrison Falls, New York, living with her not so law-abiding uncles, in debt thanks to a credit card-stealing ex and pending grad school loans.

Enter the perfect job, a research position that includes room and board, which will allow her to spend her days hunting down rare mysteries for an avid book collector. There's just one problem: her employer, Vera Van Alst - the most hated citizen of Harrison Falls.

Jordan's first assignment is to track down a rumored Agatha Christie play. It seems easy enough, but Jordan soon finds out that her predecessor was killed while looking for it, and there is still someone out there willing to murder to keep the play out of Vera's hands. Jordan's new job is good...but is it worth her life?

©2013 Penguin Group (USA) Inc. (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Abbott gives readers a nicely crafted mystery." ( RT Book Reviews)

What listeners say about The Christie Curse

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great new cozy series!

With cozy mysteries, it can be really easy to slip over the edge into sappy. This one doesn't do that. It's really quite good, and was so much fun to listen to! Victoria Abbott has done a good job of creating characters that work well together, and a plot that moved well and held my interest from beginning to end.

Jordan Kelly is just out of school and finds a job helping a very disagreeable woman research whether there is a missing Agatha Christie play somewhere in existence. This seems great work for her. Only problem, somebody out there is willing to kill people who are trying to find it. Jordan was raised by uncles who have a questionable relationship with the law, and she may be the only one who intends to make a living in an honest way. But these uncles turn out to be some of the best characters in the book. They may operate ouside the law, but they are there for Jordan when she needs it. She also has a friend, Tiffany, whom she talks to every night by phone and who acts to be a sounding board for Jordan as she sorts out her concerns about who is doing the killing, not ruling out that even a cop she thinks of as "Officer Smiley" could be doing the deeds...finally, Jordan decides to think like Christie's Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple to uncover the murderer.

This book is appealing because it is a clever mystery and has the double appeal of tapping into one of the most famous mystery writers in history. Jordan Kelly and several others who might well be in the next book(s) will be fun to watch develop. The narrator was okay, but there were times when I felt she overdid a couple of the voices. I hope it's just that she hasn't hit her stride yet. I think this was a good first book and look forward to reading the next in the series.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Original and intriguing debut amateur sleuth novel

I RARELY give a book full stars so this was something. I loved the narrator's voice, loved the plot, loved the true interwoven historical details, I even loved how they worked in a believable setting in our modern technologically advanced age! I tire of the "amateur sleuth accused of murder having to clear his/her name" plot lines where I can't see how they are able to get away with so much "sleuthing" even though within them there can be uniqueness. This was such a new, interesting and believable plot for a debut amateur sleuth. Look forward to continuing this series!

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this book...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend this book to any of my friends who enjoy cozy mysteries - and it might be a good book for those who are not familiar with cozies to get started reading them.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the characterizations. I became very fond of Jordan and her uncles (and I was hoping that Officer Smiley would end up being a good guy). Also, the book moved along smoothly and didn't drag. It held my attention throughout.

Have you listened to any of Carla Mercer-Meyer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to any of her other performances, but I have listened to a lot of audio books and I thought her performance was exceptional.

Any additional comments?

I usually have two audio books going at once - one in the house on my Kindle and one in the car on my iPod. This one was in the car, but several times I brought it in because I didn't want to wait until I was on the road again to hear more. That's unusual for me, which is an indication of how much I enjoyed it. I will definitely be getting the remaining books in this series.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

not for me!

I tried this first of a series looking for something new. I was really disappointed. Neither the story nor the characters held my interest. I confess I abandoned the book about half way through because I just really didn't care what happened in the rest of it. It may just be me.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Charming entertainment

Would you listen to The Christie Curse again? Why?

Not sure I would listen again. In fact, can't think of any books I would listen to again but a couple.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was always moving forward and revealing just enough to keep the listener coming back.

Which scene was your favorite?

Any scene with Vera. What a nasty old crone.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

FUNNEY FROM BEGINNING TO END

WELL WORTH YOUR CREDIT, SO MUCH MYSTERY WOUND TOGETHER IS THIS YOUNG GIRLS LIFE. SHE HANDLES IT WELL AS SHE HAS YOU HOOKED FOR HOURS.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An unconventional mystery series with a twist

I listen to only cozy mysteries and have listened to and read many series. I understand what people mean when they say the main character can be annoying, but I found her to be enjoyable. Honestly, the Senora was the most irritating character followed by the policemen. The Senora always butt into conversations and cut off dialogue which was frustrating as a listener. Overall I like that this series flows into one another, all having to do with rare books and deaths. It was a good listen.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

A waste of a credit

This main character is this novel is not the brightest girl in literature. I found her character boring and irritating. The best concept are her Uncles - but they only appear in side pieces and are never fully developed. I was very disappointed in the book.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book!

This was a really good book! I love the mix of sarcasm in with the mystery. The narration was done really well. On the the next in the series.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Decent series

I’ve listened to three of the books so far and the series is okay, but the stories that are weak but the main character and the supporting cast are enjoyable to follow. These are books I will continue to listen to the series when I want some popcorn stories to drive to and something better isn’t available.

Carla Mercer-Meyer is a very good narrator and I would happily listen to anything she reads.

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4 people found this helpful