For me, the book is pretty much summed up in the description. What this author has done is to put a different spin on Christie's disappearance, and makes reference to this (the plot behind his first outing with Agatha in "A Talent for Murder".

As much as I love Agatha, and am open to her being inserted into fictional mysteries, I just didn't take to this one - and I don't think not having reading the first book had anything to do with it. I am sure it will appeal to many - I just wasn't feeling the love.

What I did find amusing was the following comment made by Davison to Christie: "I did think ... how an ocean liner would be the perfect setting for one of your books. A closed community, a gruesome murder, a number of suspects all of whom have dark and deadly secrets ..." (Murder on the Nile perhaps..).

1927 and Agatha Christie had been advised by her doctor to have rest and recuperation after the harrowing experiences of the previous few months. Embarking on a cruise to the Canary Islands was a health benefit and to be accompanied by her daughter and the nanny made her cover complete. Mrs Christie was on the hunt for a killer, and she was under the protection of the British Secret Intelligence Service, along with an agent by the name of John Davison.

But the suicide of a young woman on board within the first day of the journey which Mrs Christie witnessed and was unable to prevent, along with strange and suspicious circumstances once they had arrived in the Orotava Valley, had Mrs Christie sure she knew who the killer was. Not knowing who she could trust, her unearthing of secrets had her realizing the evil on the island was dark and dangerous. Would she be able to uncover the killer before it was too late?

A Different Kind of Evil is #2 in the Agatha Christie series after A Talent for Murder, which I enjoyed by author Andrew Wilson. A mildly intriguing plot, it was unfortunately long-winded and rambling in places and I didn’t take to this one as much as the first. Far-fetched and melodramatic, I nevertheless enjoyed Agatha Christie’s character, and that of her daughter and nanny. Recommended to fans of historical mystery.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.