The Christie Affair

A Novel

By: Nina de Gramont

Narrated by: Lucy Scott

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

A Reese's Book Club Pick

Nina de Gramont's The Christie Affair is a stunning new novel that reimagines the unexplained eleven-day disappearance of Agatha Christie that captivated the world.

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 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

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

©2022 Nina de Gramont (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

2022, Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine, Long-listed

2022, Washington Post Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2022, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2022, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2022, Chapters Indigo Best of the Year, Long-listed

Terrific Book!

This book snuck up on me. It was pretty good at first, well-written, but the deeper in I got, the more multi-layered it became. It had everything: mystery, romance, humor—all delivered in an open-hearted way. In addition to all of that, it’s a loving tribute to Agatha Christie and her work. I finished the book yesterday, and I am still smiling. This book is clever, charming, and intelligent!

Loved it!

I couldn’t quit listening! Very good mystery, loved the characters and the story! I’ll recommend to anyone who’ll listen!

Entertaining and clever

Entertaining and clever story, with lovely narration, that tells an Agatha-style story about Agatha. I also like the perspective the story was told from. Well done.

A good tale…just remember it’s a tale

This is a good story told. That some of the people in it are real figures I. History is inconsequential. They might as well be anyone because the story has no resemblance to their real stories. I do hate to see stories like this made up about historical figures because someone, somewhere will believe them and perpetuate the fiction as truth. Again, let me emphasize that the story could have different names and still be a good story. I suppose attaching Christie’s name elevates it’s intrigue and visibility, but doing so also means portraying Agatha Christie and Nancy Neele, in particular, as characters they weren’t.

Confusing to follow

I found it hard to follow who we were talking about. The person telling the story speaks on things and situations that she has no part of which got confusing. Overall good but not the best.

Great read!

Wonderful story. This is a well written story that is so much fun to read. My favorite book in a long time.

A twist on Agatha Christie

What a fun twist for a writer to create: Agatha the subject, and the writer in the first person, as her romantic rival.

Fascinating!

Takes you on a journey while utilizing some actual events that occurred in the pas. Enjoyed how the author offered up her own twists and turns to keep you on your toes

One of the BEST books I’ve read in years!

One of the best books I’ve read in years! So beautifully written such well developed characters and twists and turns so eloquent. The fact that it’s based on truth is also fun to be able to look back at the actual newspapers from the event. Beautifully narrated I cannot recommend it enough!!

Unique take on Christie's disapearance.

I might have liked the unique perspective (from the "other woman's" point of view) if the writer hadn't written such a shallow, uncharitable version of Agatha. Fun use of some of Christie's plot devices, but didn't care for the ending.