This book winged along at a great pace, and never lingered too long to get stuck. The intriguing plot, including one of the nastiest "baddies" I've come across, worked well and gave Mrs. Christie a chance to become intimately part of her own genre. The action was of prime importance, and character development took a backseat, but this fits into the mystery. Highly enjoyed it, and hoping it's just the beginning for the likable Mrs. Christie. Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

In December 1926, mystery writer Agatha Christie disappeared from her home and her seven-year-old daughter Rosalind; 11 days later, she turned up in a hotel - safe and sound, but according to her, unable to recall what had happened. Later, biographer Andrew Norman reportedly wrote that she suffered from amnesia and was suicidal, and much speculation has come from other sources. Was it a publicity stunt to draw attention to her books? Was she distraught over learning of her husband (at the time) Archie's mistress, Theresa Neele?

To this day, the mystery of her disappearance remains unknown. The author, however, has given it his twist in this book - creating an engrossing account of the missing time in a work worthy of the late, great English crime novelist, playwright and writer of short stories that seems to me to be well-researched. A little far-fetched? Perhaps, but no more so than one of Christie's own novels.

The tale begins as Christie is saved from falling in front of an oncoming train. Or was she? It seems her "rescuer," a physician, has darker things in mind. His offer of comfort as they share tea in a cafe following the near-fatal accident quickly becomes an offer of another sort entirely. The not-so-good doctor, it seems, knows everything there is to know about Christie and her family - including her husband's infidelity. Unless she follows his plan to the letter - the first step of which is that she must disappear - he'll reveal all and possibly even cause physical harm to Christie's young daughter.

So begins her frightening journey into a fictional adventure that mirrors all too closely the intricate novels for which she is becoming well known. It is a journey filled with intrigue, cover-ups and murder; throughout, Christie's resourcefulness is put to the test as she tries to extricate herself from the tasks she's being blackmailed into doing without jeopardizing the lives of her family, friends, and even herself. How (and to what extent) she pulls that off is the stuff of this clever, well-researched novel. Well done!

Today's review is another one of those books I just read on a whim--and ended up loving! This is an author I've never read before, but the story idea intrigued me, so I gave it a try. I love Agatha Christie's novels. Well, I love Hercule Poirot. I'm not a fan of Tommy and Tuppence, and I've never tried Miss Marple--but, all in good time! Last fall I had the opportunity to read a new novel called The Woman on the Orient Express by Lindsay Jayne Ashford. It was a fictional account of a real trip that Agatha Christie took on the Orient Express after her divorce from her husband, Archie. Obviously, this trip was the inspiration for Murder on the Orient Express, which is one of my favorite of her books. It was while reading this book that I learned of Ms. Christie's breakdown.

In 1926 Agatha Christie's marriage fell apart when her husband had an affair, and wanted a divorce. One cold night Ms. Christie disappeared into the darkness. Her car was discovered in a ravine the next morning with her coat and driver's license inside. So began the search for the famous novelist, who was reported to be suffering stress caused by her mother's recent death, as well as her difficulty finishing a new novel. Some people believed her to be dead, and they even drained a pond, and scoured fields to search for her body. However, others claimed to see her, with one sighting including her dancing alone in a hotel bar to a song called, "Yes, We Have No Bananas." Ten days later Ms. Christie was discovered, and she seemed to have some sort of amnesia, not remembering many of the members of her own family, and calling Archie her brother. To this day, no one knows exactly where she was, or what she did for those ten days.

In his new book, A Talent for Murder, Andrew Wilson has taken the few facts that are known about those ten days, and built a compelling mystery that would make Agatha herself proud. Andrew Wilson's story begins as Ms. Christie prepares to board the underground to travel to her club in London. She is nearly shoved off the platform into the path of a coming train, but then pulled back to safety at the last minute. A man claiming to be a doctor offers to help her. She finds out that this man has been following and studying her for a long time, and now he has a plan. He is impressed with her ability to kill people in her books, so he is going to blackmail her into killing his wife. Agatha is so afraid of what he'll do to her family, she feels she has no choice but to do what he says. So she sets off on the most harrowing ten days of her life, and she will never be the same again.

This plot may seem a bit far-fetched, but this author makes it totally believable. I wanted to believe that Ms. Christie wouldn't actually kill someone, but the further this book progressed, the more I really thought she would. It really kept me guessing right up until the end. I've always thought it must be difficult to write fiction about true characters, but Mr. Wilson has managed to seamlessly weave together fact and fiction into a great book worth reading. Somehow Andrew Wilson took some seemingly random facts and wove them into a truly intriguing story that will leave you asking yourself, "How far would I go to protect the ones I love?"




I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are m own, and a favorable review was not required.

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Author has great talent. (forgive the play on words). if you like Agatha Christie you will thoroughly enjoy this book. I know I did. Highly recommend

Apart from some irritation that the great Agatha Christie is portrayed as a neurotic hothouse flower, given to fainting when things get tough, and sort of enjoying humiliation this was an entertaining fable. The scorned wife's ploy to get back at her husband perhaps also over the top, there is a menacing misogyny pervading the novel it has to be said, skillfully deployed as it may be. If she weren't Christie I wonder if we'd be as gripped though we would be gripped!

An Agatha Christie mystery wrapped into a novel concerning the famous and unsolved disappearance of Agatha Christie in the mid 1920's. Wilson manages quite well to mimic the style of Agatha Christie, capitalizing on improbable coincidences and quaint early twentieth century morality in a fun who , how and why dunnit. Reccommended.

An intriguing homage that stirs the imagination of the amateur sleuth in all of us

Suspicions, deadlines and a real life mystery that still baffles meld perfectly in this entertaining hunt into the past that follows the voice of Agatha Christie as she confesses all that transpired and her puzzling silence to the world concerning eleven days back in December 1926. A most sensitive case that Christie herself would not even mention in her own autobiography but somebody knows the truth and special arrangements have been kept and decades have passed since the death of the clever writer. The time has come for a tale rife with psychological twisted pressures and a guide who has a mind and talent for murder and concealing secrets.

The beginning of the narrative is innocent as can be but as the events are pushed in the direction of dangerous doubt, the reader is inevitably invited to sit back and observe the rest of the public and many professions speculate and search for clues to the famed author’s whereabouts. This is deftly accomplished by looking in periodically with Superintendent William Kenward, the deputy chief constable who is determined to see to the end and answer: does this case concern inescapable madness, murder or simple explanations? The mystery alone stirs the amateur sleuth in all of us as we know the truth but still hold our breath along with two more views that add to what it would have been like to open the newspaper everyday to find out about a newly discovered scuff on a dirt road or vague conversation with a trembling woman who may or not be Agatha Christie. In this element, the actual known details are cunningly scattered throughout and those little tidbits of specifics are sure to fascinate and compound racing emotions until the final page.

For this reader, as entertaining with actual facts and creative with the still unknown to happenings in 1926, I would have liked more era slang tossed in or additional touches of the always popular locale spread into the back ground. To be honest, if I had not already been familiar with the 1926 disappearance of Agatha Christie by watching a mini summary of the case and base facts many years ago, I would have unfortunately thought this novel set in mid-century America. The side story of the female hobby reporter also added to my list of negatives sadly, I saw the importance of the character but those chapters didn’t seem as polished as Christie’s narrative and took away from the built-up suspense by repeating specifics the reader just finished reviewing in other parts. Irksome negatives aside, I still think A Talent for Murder is one novel that definitely deserves attention and praise. It not only leaves the reader with a temptation to challenge their own little grey cells in solving an unsolved mystery (or two) but it also gently nudges those to take a second glance at the library shelves or sale tables and reacquaint themselves with the Queen of Crime.

*I would like to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for opportunity to read and enjoy A Talent for Murder

Agatha Christie, the famous mystery novelist, is the subject of the suspenseful book, A Talent for Murder. This fictional tale covers the mysterious ten days when Christie disappeared in 1926. No one really knows what happened during those days, but this novel presents one possibility.

Mrs. Christie is having difficulties with her husband, who is having an affair with a younger woman. At that time, this was a very scandalous thing and all attention from the press was to be avoided at all costs. So, when a thoroughly evil villain named Dr. Kurs approaches her with information that he uses to blackmail her, she is forced to comply with his sinister plan. He also threatens the safety of her child.

Dr. Kurs has outlined a plot that will require Mrs. Christie to commit murder, a talent he believes she should possess since he has read her novels. Intent on inheriting a fortune, he wants Christie to murder his wife! Will the famous writer be able to get out of this tight spot without committing the crime?

The story is introduced by a man named John Davison, who supposedly got the entire story from Mrs. Christie herself, but on the condition that the details not be revealed until 40 years after her death. Davison is a mysterious figure who may work in the intelligence services, but it is never outright stated. His friend, Una, is an aspiring reporter and she tries to find out the reason for Mrs. Christie’s disappearance. The narrative throughout the book is told by Mrs. Christie for the most part.

This novel has plenty of suspense! If you are a fan of Agatha Christie, like I am, you will enjoy this tale. I loved her novels when I was younger and checked out every one that my library had. So, this story, involving my favorite author, was very appealing. I had not known about her disappearance, but a Google search turned up information that it was true. This is an interesting take on those lost days. Where was she? What happened to her during that time? Why did she never speak of it?

The characters are well-developed. Mrs. Christie is well-known to her fans, but the others who populate this novel are new. Dr. Kurs is portrayed as the most evil villain imaginable, thinking nothing of murdering people or hurting animals. Una is a young woman who is naïve about many things and this leads her into trouble. As a reader, you may find yourself talking to her and telling her to watch out! The police constable in charge of the investigation is rather more concerned with making a show of doing a good job with the search. He seems to want to make a name for himself and not bring in outside help, as if he believes he should get all the credit if Mrs. Christie is found.

There is plenty of suspense and tension throughout the novel. Readers will find themselves glued to the pages as the story moves along. As the days go on, Mrs. Christie is increasingly worried about being spotted by the press and having the whole thing blow up.

This novel reads, in a way, like one of Agatha Christie’s own stories. There are plot twists and surprises. I think this novel would be enjoyed by anyone who is a fan of Christie’s writing, as well as anyone who loves a good thriller or suspense novel. It is set in a time when shocking violence was not the norm, so there are no bloodbath scenes in it. Except for one very ghoulish scene involving an animal foot, I enjoyed the novel. I recommend this book to all fans of Agatha Christie and anyone who likes a good book to curl up with on a rainy day. This was one good read!

I thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you.
Enjoyed it. Good read.
Will get copies for family and friends