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shelfofunread's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The Christie Affair has a fantastic premise: what if there had been a real-life mystery behind the period during 1926 when best-selling novelist Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days? Even better, what if that mystery involved both Christie and her husband Archie's mistress, here re-named Nan O'Dea?
Sadly, for me, the execution didn't deliver on the concept. And that reimagining of Archie's real-life second wife, Nancy Neele, into Nan O'Dea is one of the primary reasons for that.
Nan's personal story is a tragic one involving an Irish lover, an unexpected pregnancy, and a brutal forced incarceration. But it only becomes entwined with Agatha's life towards the end of the novel and has little relevance to her disappearance. Indeed, the 'twist' at the end that links the two women was, to me, both somewhat disrespectful to the real Agatha, Archie, and Nancy and also rather far-fetched and bizarre.
Nan's tale is, in and of itself, a very compelling one - and it is well told by the author, with an evocative sense of both character and place coming across on the page - but I just couldn't understand why the Christie connection had been made.
I understand that this is fiction but the title, blurb, and marketing of The Christie Affair suggested that the book "reimagines the unexplained eleven-day disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 that captivated the world". Yet instead of Nan's story revealing "the truth of [Agatha's] disappearance", it wholly alters several aspects of both Christie and Nancy Neele's lives, replacing the real women with compellingly-written but barely recognisable figures and 'reimagining' their biographies by inventing fictitious romances (for Christie) and traumatic secrets (for Nancy/Nan).
If The Christie Affair hadn't promised to be a novel about Agatha Christie, I suspect I'd have enjoyed it a lot more. It is clear that the author can write a compelling historical novel and create interesting, believable, and empathetic characters. Sadly, the Christie link ended up feeling like little more than a convenient and underutilised hook that detracted from an otherwise interesting - but very different - novel.
Sadly, for me, the execution didn't deliver on the concept. And that reimagining of Archie's real-life second wife, Nancy Neele, into Nan O'Dea is one of the primary reasons for that.
Nan's personal story is a tragic one involving an Irish lover, an unexpected pregnancy, and a brutal forced incarceration. But it only becomes entwined with Agatha's life towards the end of the novel and has little relevance to her disappearance. Indeed, the 'twist' at the end that links the two women was, to me, both somewhat disrespectful to the real Agatha, Archie, and Nancy and also rather far-fetched and bizarre.
Nan's tale is, in and of itself, a very compelling one - and it is well told by the author, with an evocative sense of both character and place coming across on the page - but I just couldn't understand why the Christie connection had been made.
I understand that this is fiction but the title, blurb, and marketing of The Christie Affair suggested that the book "reimagines the unexplained eleven-day disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 that captivated the world". Yet instead of Nan's story revealing "the truth of [Agatha's] disappearance", it wholly alters several aspects of both Christie and Nancy Neele's lives, replacing the real women with compellingly-written but barely recognisable figures and 'reimagining' their biographies by inventing fictitious romances (for Christie) and traumatic secrets (for Nancy/Nan).
If The Christie Affair hadn't promised to be a novel about Agatha Christie, I suspect I'd have enjoyed it a lot more. It is clear that the author can write a compelling historical novel and create interesting, believable, and empathetic characters. Sadly, the Christie link ended up feeling like little more than a convenient and underutilised hook that detracted from an otherwise interesting - but very different - novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and War
catherine_t's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In 1926, Nan O'Dea became Archie Christie's mistress, fulfilling a plot she'd begun years earlier, in Ireland, when she was just a teenager. Moving back and forth in time, Nan recounts the events that led her to this moment, and the disappearance of Agatha Christie for eleven days.
My mother really enjoyed this book. I, on the other hand, did not. Yes, I am well aware that this book is fiction. It doesn't purport to solve the mystery of Christie's real-life disappearance (something which Christie herself never discussed, not even in her <i>Autobiography</i>). But the way it characterizes both Christies just struck me as false, hollow. Starting out, I couldn't understand why certain real-life details were changed (the Christies' daughter being named Teddy, for instance, not Rosalind, and Agatha using a typewriter when she was known to write longhand and have a secretary type the manuscript). In fact, it's these little niggling oddities that kept pulling me out of the story. Perhaps if I weren't such a devotee of Christie (I've read two biographies, most of her novels, and am eagerly awaiting the release of Lucy Worsley's biography of Christie later this year), these things wouldn't have bothered me, but they did.
Maybe this book isn't for those of us who know Christie and her work. As I said, my mother really enjoyed the book, and she's read one biography and a handful of the novels (I think). If you can consider this more of an alternate-universe version of Christie, perhaps you'll enjoy it more than I did.
My mother really enjoyed this book. I, on the other hand, did not. Yes, I am well aware that this book is fiction. It doesn't purport to solve the mystery of Christie's real-life disappearance (something which Christie herself never discussed, not even in her <i>Autobiography</i>). But the way it characterizes both Christies just struck me as false, hollow. Starting out, I couldn't understand why certain real-life details were changed (the Christies' daughter being named Teddy, for instance, not Rosalind, and Agatha using a typewriter when she was known to write longhand and have a secretary type the manuscript). In fact, it's these little niggling oddities that kept pulling me out of the story. Perhaps if I weren't such a devotee of Christie (I've read two biographies, most of her novels, and am eagerly awaiting the release of Lucy Worsley's biography of Christie later this year), these things wouldn't have bothered me, but they did.
Maybe this book isn't for those of us who know Christie and her work. As I said, my mother really enjoyed the book, and she's read one biography and a handful of the novels (I think). If you can consider this more of an alternate-universe version of Christie, perhaps you'll enjoy it more than I did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent
kaylamoran's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a 5 star prediction for me, and it fell so flat. It never managed to get me to care about the characters, despite all of its efforts. It's not bad per se but I'm extremely disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and War
cerizeseries's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
krisrow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
thatswhatkatread's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
jessgreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Rating: ⭐⭐✨⬜⬜
Title: The Christie Affair
Author: Nina de Gramont
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: London, England
Month Read: February 2022
Book Type: Hardcover
Publication: 2022
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 311
*Book of the Month Selection
TRIGGER WARNING-
Abuse / Infidelity / Murder / Kidnapping / Trauma / Religious Abuse / Rape
"Perhaps a woman has a different kind of measuring stick. For when it might be acceptable, or even necessary, to commit a murder."
No Spoiler Summary:
The Christie Affair is a fiction take on Agatha Christie's mysterious 11 day disappearance told in the POV's of Agatha, and her husband's mistress, Nan. You follow both women through the days before, during, and slightly after the disappearance takes place. You also follow Nan through her past, filled with trauma, treachery, and abuse.
Review:
I'm not quite sure how I felt about this novel, and I think the completely fabricated storylines sort of lost me a bit more than I thought they would. For fans of Agatha, I think this misses the mark quite a bit on being a good mystery novel, and Nan's stakes in this seem incredibly far fetched (and a little forced.)
Nan's past was an incredibly hard part of this book to get through, for me, and I could have probably just read an entire book about this and enjoyed it a lot more. The Irish Catholic religion and the harm they did to unmarried women is disgusting, and as a newer Mom this sent me into rages. I cannot imagine what all of these women went through, and it just hurts so much to know that religion, and those who upheld it, caused people so much pain.
I wish we got to know Archie more, besides just being the man in the center of these two women.I feel like he was really underdeveloped and one sided, and I left the novel unsure why anyone even wanted him in the firs place.
See more reviews at: https://jessgreads.wixsite.com
"As if the sheer force of her anguish had made her, inexplicably, the most important person on earth"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
blueeyesandbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
I liked this one a lot, it just felt a bit slow for me. I also didn't realize going in, how much it would hurt my heart. This may be a spoiler but one of the main themes throughout the book is loss of a child, which is hard for me to read as a mother. I did find the story of AC very interesting though, especially since I have just started reading her books.
I found it ironic that the first quote in the book is from Death on the Nile, which I finished just before this one, and the story takes place right before her book The Big Four was released - which is the AC book I'm reading this month. A little irony that made me feel connected to the book 🙂
If you are an Agatha Christie fan, I would suggest reading this one.
I found it ironic that the first quote in the book is from Death on the Nile, which I finished just before this one, and the story takes place right before her book The Big Four was released - which is the AC book I'm reading this month. A little irony that made me feel connected to the book 🙂
If you are an Agatha Christie fan, I would suggest reading this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual assault
Moderate: Miscarriage
readingisadoingword's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book was not exactly what I had expected.
By using Agatha Christie in the title and alluding to her infamous disappearance, I expected a fictionalised version of what happened to Agatha during this time. What I got however was the story of Nan O'Dea.
Nan's story was one of hard times, unfortunate circumstances and the suffocating judgment of women's conduct in the inter-war years. A "star-crossed" love affair and her sweetheart's illness change the course of her life, leaving her with a deep grief and an all encompassing obsession.
Nan's story was engaging and heart wrenching and would have stood on its own two feet without the inclusion of Agatha Christie.
Christie's disappearance feels somewhat shoe-horned in, as does the very briefly skimmed over murder mystery.
I think this is what didn't sit well with me - there was no need for Nan's story to be told through this medium.
I did like the relationships in the book: the friendships between the different women, the somewhat unsentimental view of marriage and the not so happy every after ending.
The narrative style was unsettling . The story is told through Nan's voice as if she were an omniscient narrator, whereas she recognises herself that she isn't. Her asides throughout drew me out of the story somewhat and it was occasionally hard to keep track.
The ultimate question surrounding Teddy remains essentially unanswered and I wasn't a fan of that ambiguity. I felt the reader needed a definite resolution to know whether Nan's ploys and sacrifices had been worth it.
So if you want a story about how young, pregnant, unmarried women were treated in the inter war years (in Ireland in particular) and the lengths they may go to for revenge and resolution, than this the book for you.
If you want a story about Agatha Christie and her disappearance then ... not so much.
I received this as an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
By using Agatha Christie in the title and alluding to her infamous disappearance, I expected a fictionalised version of what happened to Agatha during this time. What I got however was the story of Nan O'Dea.
Nan's story was one of hard times, unfortunate circumstances and the suffocating judgment of women's conduct in the inter-war years. A "star-crossed" love affair and her sweetheart's illness change the course of her life, leaving her with a deep grief and an all encompassing obsession.
Nan's story was engaging and heart wrenching and would have stood on its own two feet without the inclusion of Agatha Christie.
Christie's disappearance feels somewhat shoe-horned in, as does the very briefly skimmed over murder mystery.
I think this is what didn't sit well with me - there was no need for Nan's story to be told through this medium.
I did like the relationships in the book: the friendships between the different women, the somewhat unsentimental view of marriage and the not so happy every after ending.
The narrative style was unsettling . The story is told through Nan's voice as if she were an omniscient narrator, whereas she recognises herself that she isn't. Her asides throughout drew me out of the story somewhat and it was occasionally hard to keep track.
The ultimate question surrounding Teddy remains essentially unanswered and I wasn't a fan of that ambiguity. I felt the reader needed a definite resolution to know whether Nan's ploys and sacrifices had been worth it.
So if you want a story about how young, pregnant, unmarried women were treated in the inter war years (in Ireland in particular) and the lengths they may go to for revenge and resolution, than this the book for you.
If you want a story about Agatha Christie and her disappearance then ... not so much.
I received this as an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
vixenreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
For a book about Agatha Christie’s disappointment, it runs into more cliches than a bad mystery novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Racism
There is starvation and emotional abuse of young woman at the hand of religious figures.