This is an entertaining novel involving historical mystery writers actually solving a mystery. They revealed some of their own ideas and rules for mystery and plot development. I enjoyed it thoroughly!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelly Oliver, and Boldwood Books for the advanced reader copy.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! I love the references to Agatha Christie. That's what initially drew me to this book. I predicted the outcome near the beginning, but I enjoyed watching the characters solve it. However, I didn't particularly care for the characters. Like, I didn't connect with them, and that made it hard to care what happened.

A wonderful historical cosy crime that introduces fiesty Eliza Baker & sidekick Theo Sharp. Appointed assistant to the magnificent Dorothy L Sayers, Eliza becomes embroiled in a murder when an author is shot at a meeting of the Detection Club. Can Eliza piece together the evidence and unlock the clues to find the murderer? Or will the wrong man be framed?

A brilliant new series set in the Golden Age of murder mystery writing. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

The first in a new series centers around Eliza, the new assistant to Dorothy Sayers. Eliza finds herself attending meetings of the Detection Club when one of the members is murdered. Agatha Christie is the immediate suspect, and then she vanishes. Eliza is convinced Agatha is innocent though and sets out to prove it with help from her friend Theo.

I wanted to like this one much more than I did. It took a while to get to the murder, and while I understand some set up is needed, there was a lot here. When the book first starts, Eliza isn't even the assistant to Sayers yet. There is also so much pining by Theo over Eliza that his chapters were just kind of annoying to read. And the ending was just meh for me. It had potential but was just an ok mystery for me.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy was a fun mystery with multiple layers of intrigue. Stolen state secrets and mystery writers who might have murdered one of their own make for an engaging plot. I guess there are other writers who have framed murder mystery writers for murder before, but I found it a fun twist to the norm, and though I am not an expert on the real lives of the writers featured in this book, I found the the mixing of real life murder mystery authors with new created characters interesting. Throw in some romance and a strong female lead, and you've got a good story. Engaging and fun book. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I did not get a chance to read this before it expired. I’m incredibly sad about that as it is something I would have enjoyed immensely. I will plan to purchase and give a review at that time.

The English have a way of writing, don't they? The language is used charmingly, I enjoy reading such books. Probably more so because I grew up with Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. I get instantly attracted to such a beautifully descriptive style of writing.

The writing in this book is simply nostalgic. It was like reading a book from a bygone era.

The story is a who-dun-it. There is a murder but when the Queen of Crime is herself a suspect, it is bound to get exciting. The pace was slow to begin with but after the murder, it picked up pace. Theo and Eliza get together to solve the mystery, and with their romantic feelings thrown in, the book just keeps getting better and better. The hopeless romantic in Theo can't keep calm and it is endearing to experience such old-school feelings.

The climax surprised me. Theo and Eliza are such strong and lovable characters. This is the first book in the series and the story ends at such a cliffhanger, I can't wait to read and find out more!

I would recommend The Case Of The Christie Conspiracy to people who like English mysteries. The author takes actual facts about Agatha Christie and uses them in the story; it is very enjoyable. A must-read for Agatha Christie fans.

This is a great start to a promising series which kept me guessing for quite a while. I enjoyed getting to grips with the two central characters who are multi - layered. You find out a little about their backgrounds as the story developed but there are still things to discover, I am sure and the story ends on a tantalising point. Quirky, determined, clever and self- deprecating- these traits apply to both Theo and Eliza and the chemistry between them is undeniable.

As all good historical novels, the period is captured perfectly through the events and the domestic details. Even the dialogue points to a time gone by. I loved how the story revolved around a mix of fictional and real- life people, with events from their lives woven into the story. You even feel that you are living through an Agatha Christie story with the reveal to a chosen group adhered to. Each of the members of the Detection Club add colour and life to the story. This is a must for all lovers of cozy crime!

In short: paxy entertaining reading full of the period

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3.25 | 😘=2 | 🤬=2 | ⚔️=3 | 🍺/🚬=2 | 14+

summary: a member of the Detection Club (group of golden age age detective mystery writers) is MURDERED at one of their meetings so our heroine has to solve the mystery (and many of the suspects are famous writers like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers! intriguing!)

thoughts: spent the first 90% of the novel going “why is this man here” but now I get it, but like it’s also unfortunate that all the interesting things with his character will inevitably have to happen in the next books and his only personality trait in this one was having a crush.
anyway! this is fine!! I didn’t hate the characterizations of Christie and Sayers, and the 1920s details were fun. basically any murder mystery—regardless of author tbh—that ends with suicide instead of confronting a murderer will always be a bit of a letdown, kind of deflating the tension, so that’s unfortunate, but like…this is fine?? I had fun, and I have an ARC for book two! so!!

i did not enjoy this book, i decided to branch out in another genre than i am used to and i didn't quite like it but i did enjoy the characters in this book but overall it just wasn't for me but thank you netgalley for approving me for this book!

Bringing together the Golden Age writers of the Detection Club with Agatha Christie's disappearance, author Kelly Oliver uses former Scotland Yard police officer Eliza Baker to investigate the murder of one of the club's members after Agatha Christie becomes the prime suspect.

Eliza takes a job as Dorothy L. Sayers' secretary, and in this position she meets the Detection Club members. During an initiation ceremony, with actual weapons present, one of the members is murdered. Suspicion falls on Agatha Christie as she was disoriented and ill after, and, more importantly, considered for expulsion from the group, thanks to her "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", which some of the members felt broke rules all members of the club must follow in their novels.

Eliza immediately begins sleuthing, with Theo, a fellow chess enthusiast and budding mystery writer, helping her. He's got serious unrequited romantic feelings for her, to which Eliza is completely oblivious.

Eliza digs into the writers' lives and relationships, and uncovers medical issues, inheritance questions, and jealousies before she uncovers the perpetrator (which I intuited fairly early on).

This one did not work all that well for me. I liked Eliza, who is forthright and somewhat prickly. I, however, found Theo completely and utterly irritating, and this brought my enjoyment of the book considerably down.

The pacing is good, and there is some humour, and the romance which irritated me, and a nice use of historical figures and events.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Eliza Baker is told to accept an assistant's position at the Detection Club as part of her undercover duties to ferret out which one of it's famous members is leaking military secrets to the enemy. But before she can make much headway, a routine initiation ceremony takes it own deadly turn when one of group is shot dead during the ceremony. Next day, Agatha Christie disappears and suspicion falls on her. With help from her friend, fellow chess player and the newest member of the Detection Club Theo, Eliza takes it upon herself to solve the murder and figure out Agatha's whereabouts.

This was a decent start to a brand new cozy historical mystery series. Eliza and her younger sister both work for the government intelligence department but their backstory is still a bit foggy. It will be interesting to see how the author develops it further alongwith Theo's arc.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Boldwood Books and the author for the digital ARC of the book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫

A fab story and well written. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. Enjoyed every second of reading.

A smattering of true Christie history, wrapped around both characters' literary and a classic mystery, make this a dream of a read for fans of Golden Age crime.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a historical cozy mystery that is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie. The story takes place in 1926 London where Agatha Christie is the suspect in a murder investigation.
The author uses historical details and witty dialogue. It was extremely engaging and was also very suspenseful. I really enjoyed the character of Eliza Baker, she added a fresh perspective to the story.
Overall, this is a must-read for those who enjoy a good cozy mystery!

In this new historical mystery novel starring iconic author Agatha Christie, readers join her in 1926 on the literary circuit and London social scene. As part of the Detection Club, she joins other mystery writers to share ideas and swap secrets, but when an initiation ceremony takes a murder-y turn, Agatha must shift from creating mysteries to solving them. However, disappearing the day after the murder suggests her guilt, so assistant Eliza Baker must investigate the case, clear Agatha’s name, and find the killer before it’s too late. Entertaining against a fantastic 1920s backdrop, readers will love the new Eliza Baker mystery novel for its cast of iconic detective writers, and it stands alone as a single novel while also fitting into the rest of Kelly Oliver’s series. The characters are the star of the novel, and the mystery itself is absolutely fascinating, since it involves Agatha Christie as a prime suspect. Readers will love the historical backdrop and the twists, turns, and suspects available for Eliza’s investigation, as they can solve the mystery alongside her. Well-written, fun, and deeply entertaining, readers will love this new historical mystery novel from Kelly Oliver for its unique cast of suspects and its engrossing story.

Eliza Baker takes on the role of secretary for the Detection Club whih includes illustrious detective novelists such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers. But at one meeting an author is shot dead: one of the Club must be responsible and Agatha goes missing...
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is the first book in a new series set in London in the 1920s.
Eliza becomes employed to be the secretary of the Detection Club. She takes the job at the request of her sister to help her get over events of the recent past, earn some money but also spy on the novelists who may be passing on state secrets. It took me a little while to settle into the book as Eliza has some issues from the past whch are not initially explained but have obviously had a big impact on her emotionally.
Added into the mix is Theo, an aspiring writer who is desperately in love with Eliza but she has no idea. The murder throws the pair together as they vie to find out the truth. I enjoyed the gently simmering romantic tension between the two and look forward to seeing how this develops in later books.
The chess motif weaves through the book as both Eliza and Theo are keen players. The Club discusses elements of detective fiction which is fun to then apply to this book itself. I liked the mix of real and fictional characters and the way that the book explains Agatha's real disappearance. (Additional note: there are major spoilers about Agatha's book The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as it is critiqued by the other authors.)
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is an entertaining start to a new series and I look forward to following the escapades of Eliza and Theo.

As a fan of both historical fiction and classic detective stories, this book was an absolute delight to read. Kelly Oliver crafts a clever and immersive mystery that blends real-life literary figures with an intriguing fictional murder, creating a story that is both fun and intellectually engaging. The novel takes place in 1926 and revolves around Agatha Christie's real-life disappearance, reimagining it as part of a larger, sinister mystery. The protagonist, Eliza Baker, is a fantastic lead—sharp, determined, and full of wit. Her interactions with historical figures like Dorothy Sayers add richness to the story, and the way Oliver brings these famous writers to life makes the novel even more enjoyable. The mystery itself is well-paced, filled with twists and red herrings that kept me guessing. The writing is atmospheric, capturing the elegance and intrigue of the 1920s, while also maintaining a lighthearted, cozy feel. If you love classic whodunits, you’ll appreciate the nods to Golden Age detective fiction throughout. If I had to nitpick, I’d say the story occasionally slows down with its historical details, but for me, that added to the immersive experience rather than detracting from it.

Kelly Oliver’s The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a delightful blend of literary homage, historical mystery, and sharp witted adventure. As a fan of Agatha Christie, I was immediately drawn by the premise: London. 1920s. after a gruesome initiation ceremony in the mystery writers group the Detection Club, Agatha Christie goes missing. A book where Agatha Christie is the lady in question?! Sign me up!!

I thought this book was an absolutely enjoyable read- quite fun and mysterious! Historical facts mixed with enjoyable fiction made this book tough to put down and I cannot wait for the next one to come out! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this wonderful read!

If you’re an Agatha Christie fan and looking for something fun to read- read The Case of the Christie Conspiracy!!

Kelly Oliver submerges the reader in the English detective author community in the Case of the Christie Conspiracy. A member of the Detectives' Club is murdered at their meeting and then Agatha Christie disappears. This involves the real life disappearance of Christie for a period which has never been explained. The narrator is the dogsbody for the club when they meet. She works with Theo, a new member of the club, to track down who did what. A good example of the golden age of crime detection. Good read.