The age of disappearing women. It had been going on forever. Thousands of us vanished, with not a single police officer searching. Not a word from the newspapers. Only out long absences and quiet returns. If we ever returned at all.
The Christie Affair
by Nina de Gramont
Genre: Historical Fiction
About: Nan O'Dea is about to get what she wants: Archie Christie is going to leave his wife and marry her. But when he asks Agatha for a divorce, it results in the famous author going missing. Where she goes and who she sees for those few days are a secret that Nan, her rival in love, knows only too well.
The Good
One of the things I love about Agatha Christie novels was her ability to draw character. Whether from the dialogue, description or mannerism, her characters all came across so effortlessly and Nina de Gramont has this ability too. The characters here are really memorable, and though their histories are mostly fictional, they feel real. Their experiences are at times utterly heart-breaking to read, but there are also happy memories that add a charm and beauty to the novel. The setting was equally well thought out. We get context of life before and after the First World War, as well as a lot of before and after moments for the characters that give depth and reflect the innocence lost after the war, or after experiencing deep tragedy.
The Bad
This isn't exactly a murder mystery novel, the one added in is presumably as a homage rather than the main purpose of writing, but it was disappointing to have this added in so half-heartedly. It comes after the 100 page mark and is quickly brushed aside. The reveal worked but wasn't shocking and how it all came together didn't feel very Christie to me - it was too simple, with all the components fitting along the same thread.
The Somewhat Iffy
I wish this had been written in third person instead of Nan speaking directly to the reader. I enjoyed de Garmont's writing style, but the story didn't make sense to be coming directly to us from Nan. Sometimes the scenes read like omniscient third person and it would take me out of it to suddenly come across an 'I' as Nan didn't have a place in the scene. I could understand the sections in Ireland coming directly from Nan's POV, but the majority of the rest of the novel would have read far more logically as third person. Or I could have enjoyed a split POV of Chilton acting like a true detective and making the murder mystery more of an element to the story.
Overall
An enjoyable, fictionalised account of Agatha Christie's disappearance told from the unconventional viewpoint of the mistress. I loved the characters and there are a lot of moments that will stick with me, but the mystery components didn't quite hit the Christie mark for me.
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