Publication Date: 20/01/2022 ISBN: 9781529054170 Category:

The Christie Affair

Nina de Gramont

Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication Date: 20/01/2022 ISBN: 9781529054170 Category:
Hardback

£16.99

Quantity:

Description

A Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and an instant New York Times bestseller.

Nina de Gramont’s The Christie Affair is a stunning novel which reimagines the unexplained eleven-day disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 that captivated the world.

‘A novel that literally out-Christies Agatha.’ – Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal
‘Scintillating’ – Daily Mail

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 . . .

Romance, enigma and wit in bucketloads’ – Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory
‘A genuine marvel’ – Kristin Hannah, author of Firefly Lane
‘Ingenious’ – AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs Bird

Publisher Review

Nina De Gramont's beautifully written imaginative history of Agatha Christie's disappearance plays out alongside a parallel murder mystery that could have flowed straight from the pen of the great AC herself. An inspired tapestry of fact and fiction places the story perfectly in its historical context. The result is a novel that literally out-Christies Agatha. An exciting, moving and delightful read -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal I was enthralled, moved and entertained by The Christie Affair. This is a book which has it all - romance, enigma and wit in bucketloads. What's more, its devilishly good plot could out-do those written by Agatha Christie herself -- Elizabeth Macneal, bestselling author of The Doll Factory and The Circus of Wonders Elegant, ingenious and hugely enjoyable, Nina de Gramont's The Christie Affair is both an infamous mystery wonderfully explored, and a compelling story of love, adversity, determination and hope -- AJ Pearce, bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird and Yours, Cheerfully The Christie Affair is a genuine marvel. An astonishingly clever novel that manages to be both a deeply satisfying mystery and a profoundly moving story about lost love and the many ways in which grief can shape one's character. Full of unexpected twists and written in beautiful prose . . . Nina de Gramont takes this thread of a story and weaves it into a rich and vibrant tapestry -- Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of Firefly Lane and The Four Winds A completely fascinating and fabulous piece of storytelling. I paced myself as I did not wish to miss one detail of its clever and twisty plot. Bravo to the skill and imagination of the author -- Elizabeth Buchan, author of Two Women in Rome A delightful puzzle of a book, so cleverly constructed but with real heart and soul. The ingenious yet playful mystery keeps you turning the pages right till the end, but the real treasure of the book is the poignant tragedy buried deep in its core. Such a moving and satisfying read. -- Mary Paulson-Ellis, author of The Other Mrs Walker and Emily Noble's Disgrace The story unfolds in a series of carefully placed vignettes you may find yourself reading and rereading, partly to get the details straight, partly to fully savor the well-turned phrases and the dry humor, partly so the book won't have to end, damn it. Devilishly clever, elegantly composed and structured -- simply splendid * Kirkus (Starred Review) * I loved this novel. A clever re-imagining of what happened in the days when Christie disappeared as well as a stunning murder mystery which will keep the reader guessing. The Christie Affair is stylish, compelling and multi-layered, exploring the themes of love, loss, revenge and sacrifice, tugging at our emotions as the truth is revealed. An original and captivating read that has stayed inside my head. -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing Girl and The Hiding Place The Christie Affair is a pitch-perfect hat-trick of a novel, delivering a fascinating glimpse into history, with the sensational and unexplained disappearance of Agatha Christie, a layered and completely satisfying murder mystery, and a moving, emotional rendering of love, loss, revenge and redemption - all with effortlessly stunning prose. I loved every page, and will be recommending this to everyone I know! -- Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife and When the Stars Go Dark A delight: intriguing, fast-paced, and elegantly written. Nina de Gramont takes you on an adventure through the English countryside with as many twists and turns as, well, an Agatha Christie novel. The unlikely alliances, complex motivations and jaw-dropping surprises will keep you riveted until the very last page -- Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train and The Exiles Nina de Gramont's skilful storytelling is exceeded only by her tenderness for her characters, and I was swept up, turning the pages and savoring them, too. This is a cracking good read -- Therese Fowler, author of A Good Neighborhood Immersive, reflexive and propulsive, The Christie Affair is an extremely impressive literary debut which reveals its hidden themes and secrets through a narrative dance brilliantly done. This tale of two very different women who want the very same things in life forges surprising bonds both with its characters and the reader, deliciously subverting our notions of what makes a heroine, mother, writer and wife -- Natalie Jenner, author of The Jane Austen Society Nina de Gramont's novel shines on so many levels, it's hard to keep count: as an ode to Agatha Christie's legacy, as a dashing love story, and as a tribute to complicated, determined women. Magnificent -- Fiona Davis, author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue I read [The Christie Affair] in a single sitting . . . The story combines dark pasts, dangerous liaisons and unforeseen twists into a masterful work reminiscent of one of Christie's enigmatic works. The Christie Affair is both enthralling and beguiling, and will keep readers guessing until the very last page -- Pam Jenoff, author of The Lost Girls of Paris A clever, highly original, mesmerizing tale filled with strange and unexpected turns and concludes it in an unexpected but wholly satisfying manner. With its superb writing, strong characterizations, and wonderfully imaginative plot, this is a must-read * Booklist, Starred Review *

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