The Christie Affair

I love to read novels about libraries, bookstores, or authors, especially if there’s a kernel of historical truth in there. Nina de Gramont’s new novel, The Christie Affair, imagines what really happened when Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days in 1926. After a massive manhunt across England, Christie reappeared in a hotel, claiming she didn’t remember what happened. The Christie Affair imagines that time from the point of view of her husband’s mistress. Why did his mistress, who didn’t love Archie, put in motion a plan that took years to see to fruition, to steal him away from Agatha? And what exactly happened to Agatha in those 11 days? Did she really not remember, or was she simply trying to reclaim her life? The best novels find a way to make every character sympathetic in some way, to help the reader understand why they made less than honorable choices, and I found myself alternately rooting for different characters throughout the book. The book left a deep impression on me, still echoing months later.