A Talent for Murder

Really an enjoyable read, with all the elements of a good Christie murder mystery in it. The story about her missing eleven days could very well be the true one, Convincing and very Christie!

In 1926 Agatha Christie was at the peak of her writing powers, to the world she was the creator of that little Belgian detective Hercule Poirot who had recently appeared in the soon to be classic crime novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, she lived a lifestyle many would desire, and life seemed to be treating her well. However, things were not as wonderful, as one would imagine, she had recently lost her mother, she was struggling to finish her new novel and her husband Archie was having an affair and wanted a divorce. And so, on the 3rd of December Agatha Christie disappeared from her home and was not found for 10 days, there was huge public outcry at her disappearance and a massive police hunt was carried out.

A Talent for Murder deals with Mrs Christie's disappearance, Andrew Wilson fills in her missing days by placing Agatha at the heart of a diabolical murder plot, devised by a man who many who place their trust in. Andrew Wilson has created a crime novel which sits nicely with the Christie canon. Entertaining, feasible plotting and an authentic narrative make this a highly enjoyable read.

I have been an Agatha Christie fan since childhood, and still continue to delve into my collection of her books from time to time, so I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read this novel.
The author clearly knows Agatha Christie's work very well I have been an Agatha Christie fan since childhood, and still continue to delve into my collection of her books from time to time, so I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read this novel.
The author clearly knows Agatha Christie's work very well and has a fondness for it.
It is a very interesting take on what may have caused her disappearance and how she may have coped with and reacted to a murder/ blackmail situation similar to the plot of one of her books.
Andrew Wilson appears to have researched in some depth the circumstances leading up to her stay in Harrogate, the subsequent publicity and how her life was affected afterwards.
He has successfully managed to incorporate actual facts into a fascinating and absorbing fictional account of what could have happened during the time Agatha went missing, including a thoroughly nasty piece of work in the character of Dr Kurs, who could have very easily stepped out of one of Mrs Christie's novels. I have always suspected that she did not like Doctors in real life!
One further aspect of the novel I liked was how Andrew Wilson included Agatha's struggle to finish, and dissatisfaction with one of her novels, I can believe that this probably did happen to her, and it made the portrayal of her character in the book seem more real.
Overall an unusual and entertaining book to read, and one that I am sure all Agatha Christie fans will enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful premise - combine some seemingly unrelated facts with rumours and the odd sighting to explain away the disappearance of Agatha Christie in December 1926. This is a very enjoyable read, in the tradition of Christie herself, well researched and inventive. The characters are mostly very believable, with the exception of the altogether too evil Dr. Kurs, and, although you don't necessarily have to work out 'whodunnit', there are plenty of unexpected plot twists to keep you on your toes. What fun!

No one knows the truth about Agatha Christie's mysterious disappearance in 1926. We can all surmise from what we do know, but what we don't know we can perhaps weave a story around. This is exactly what Andrew Wilson has done in this exciting novel, a must for all Christie fans.

In a strange turn of events it is Christie who has to contemplate murder rather than write about it in her popular growing novels. Can she actually commit a crime?

The majority of the novel is told from Agatha's point of view, we learn of the effect the loss of her mother has had on her, the breakdown of her marriage and the devotion to her child. Is it these things that could possibly drive her to commit a murder?

The rest of the novel's narrative is told in a different way and we see an outsider trying to use the mysterious disappearance to further her career. Using methodology that would not look out of place in any of the Poirot and Marple books it seems that perhaps someone has inadvertently stumbled upon the true reason for the disappearance. Can the truth be revealed before it is too late?

Of course in true Christie style with perhaps a slightly more darker graphic side to events not normally found in her novels, the truth is revealed which will perhaps shock readers. But then did you see what was happening, did you spot the red herrings, the obvious clues. No? I didn't and that is probably what makes this a very clever novel.

We will never know the true story of those ten days of disappearance in 1926. Not even Christie herself refers to them. But a theory or a possibility that it might not have been all that it seems, gives you an excellent start to a story.

If you are a fan of Golden Age Murder or of Christie herself this makes an excellent read as it celebrates what is at the core of Christie's novels and how they still work years after they were published and are as popular today as then.

I really enjoyed this book. The highlight for me was the way the author managed to replicate the style of the genre and the era.

I like the crime thriller genre, when this is mixed with a fictional recreation of a real historical event, this becomes even better.

The real parts of the 'Agatha Christie' story are well researched. The fictional aspects are then cleverly inter-woven with these facts to create a novel which is a creditable whodunnit in its own right.

What at first appeared to be a predictable plot-line eventually became a story with an interesting twist.

Well worth reading if you like reality mixed with fiction, or a classic Cleudo-style crime story.

I give thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK for a copy in exchange for this review.

Thanks Simon & Schuster UK and netgalley for this ARC.

Great mystery and action novel featuring Agatha Christie as you've never seen her before. Part biography/part thrill ride this is one novel I didn't want to end.

On the evening of 3 December 1926, Agatha Christie left her home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, and disappeared. Her car, containing an expired driving licence and a suitcase of clothes, was found abandoned some miles away. She had been troubled lately by both the death of her mother and the breakup of her marriage, although those who knew her considered the disappearance to be totally out of character. Early novels such as The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd had made Christie famous and there was considerable public outcry when news of her disappearance broke. Fearing that she had been murdered, the police organised a massive manhunt, but Christie was not found until eleven days later. She was unharmed and had been staying at the Swan Hydropathic Hotel in Harrogate (where she had registered under the surname of her husband’s mistress) for the duration of her absence.

While Agatha Christie’s disappearance was officially attributed to a mental breakdown brought on by conditions of extreme emotional stress, the fact that Christie herself refused to discuss the matter publicly led to numerous alternative theories being offered. Perhaps because of her reputation for plotting intricate crimes, some suspected that she intended to frame her husband and/or his mistress for her murder, although others thought she had actually intended to kill herself. A more cynical interpretation of the incident held that Christie’s disappearance was a devious attempt to generate publicity for her most recent novel. Although the full truth behind Agatha Christie’s disappearance is unlikely to be discovered, the incident has firmly captured the attention of both conspiracy theorists and mystery lovers alike from 1926 to the present day, and with A Talent for Murder, Andrew Wilson offers his interpretation of events.

Distressed and disorientated by the discovery of her husband Archie’s affair, Agatha Christie is trying to occupy herself in London when an incident on the Underground embroils her in a mystery as twisted and devious as any the Queen of Crime could craft. She encounters Doctor Patrick Kurs, who makes a proposition that both disgusts and intrigues her. Being a great admirer of her talent for murder (in the literary sense), Kurs wants Christie to commit a murder and he is prepared to use blackmail and violence to compel her cooperation. Christie certainly has the knowledge and the skill to kill, but can she use her little grey cells to escape the clutches of Kurs? First, she will have to disappear from life as she knows it…

A Talent for Murder is told partly from the point of view of Agatha Christie herself and partly in the third person. The Christie sections are particularly compelling, as she struggles against fear, depression and anger in an effort to battle wills with Doctor Kurs. She has to keep him happy by coming up with a viable murder plot, while dealing with her own emotional baggage and ensuring that no one recognises her. Andrew Wilson has crafted a believable character and internal dialogue for Christie; even though she is more emotional and unsure of herself in this book than her own writing would imply, it makes sense in the context of the story and offers a logical state of mind in relation to her real-life disappearance. Her intelligence and insight into the criminal brain are brought to the forefront as she reluctantly helps Kurs to formulate the perfect murder, all the while plotting to free herself from the hold he has over her.

Doctor Kurs makes a great villain, albeit one who is arguably too sadistic to feature in one of Christie’s own novels. There is a real sense of malevolence about him, as well as an almost preternatural ability to manipulate and intimidate. He causes Christie to ponder on the nature of morality and criminality in a way that the more ordinary criminal would not. The other supporting characters (some based on real people, others wholly fictional) are also very well drawn. John Davison and Una Crowe generally provide some of the lighter moments of the story, although they both throw themselves into investigating Agatha Christie’s disappearance in different ways and for different reasons. It is also very interesting and somewhat amusing to follow the investigation of Superintendent William Kenward as he attempts to unravel the mystery behind the novelist’s disappearance, with his suspicions firmly focused on murder and Archie Christie.

In addition to the actual story, there is much for the Agatha Christie fan to enjoy in A Talent for Murder. Several of her books are referenced; Christie bemoans the cobbled-together nature of The Big Four and worries about how her writer’s block is delaying work on The Mystery of the Blue Train, while The Murder of Roger Ackroyd holds particular significance for Doctor Kurs. There is something about John Davison and Una Crowe that is very reminiscent of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, while the exploits of Superintendent Kenward are perhaps supposed to have influenced Christie’s later portrayal of various ineffectual police officers. Her dealings with Doctor Kurs also cause Christie to consider the psychology of crime and criminals in much the same way that Hercule Poirot does when he is bringing villains to justice.

A Talent for Murder is a darkly twisting tale of murder and manipulation. It is certainly far removed from many of Agatha Christie’s more cosy offerings, although it provides a good explanation of what might have drawn Christie to crime and mysteries, as well as highlighting her intelligence and gift for plotting. With A Talent for Murder, Andrew Wilson has crafted a great tribute to Agatha Christie and a plausible (from the point of view of a dedicated mystery buff anyway) albeit rather action-packed explanation for her disappearance.

An interesting concept on what happened during her time away.

Having recently read Jared Cade's "Agatha Christie and the Eleven Missing Days" which is a true story about events surrounding Agatha Christie's disappearance I was keen to read Andrew Wilson's novel. The public (and maybe not even her family) have never known why Agatha Christie went missing for those eleven days in 1926. Agatha’s marriage was in trouble due to her husband’s ongoing affair with Miss Neele. She was also traumatised by the recent death of her mother. Andrew Wilson uses these facts and other things about her life to weave a great tale with twists and turns. It’s well written in the style of the period.

There are quite a few references to Agatha Christie's books but it doesn't distract from the story if you haven't read them as indeed I hadn't. Although I suspect it makes this book even more enjoyable if you are able to pick up on the themes from these books.

Once or twice I found the plot a little too unbelievable but it didn't detract from what is a great read.

In the winter of 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared from her home. Nobody knows what happened to Agatha during the days of her disappearance and she refused to talk about it leading it to be one of the mysteries of the modern era. She was a successful author building on her career as a writer with the ever growing popularity of Hercule Piorot but also trying to cope with both the death of her mother and the breakdown​ of her marriage to Archie Christie.
It is widely assumed that Agatha had some sort of mental break down but what Andrew Wilson writes here is a novel of deception, murder and intrigue that Agatha herself was a character in.
The alternative history based the missing period of her life offers a unique mystery in itself but Wilson aims to take it further. It starts with an accident in the underground and a Dr Kurs blackmailing Agatha in a way almost too dark for Christies writings. Will she commit murder most foul?
The story is slow paced but sets the scene where you feel as though you are transported back into 1926. Yes we have no bananas indeed!
The book kept me interested throughout with the feel of a classic whodunnit. Fact and fiction seemed to be woven seemlessly into the novel presenting a story that could have really happened.
I always find fictional stories based on real people a bit uncomfortable to read. As if I'm going against the grain somewhat. However what Andrew Wilson has done here is to write something so exciting Christie could have written it herself. I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this book and would recommend to all Christie fans, Murder mystery fans or just bookworms in general. it's brilliant and I'm interested what other works come from this author.

Andrew Wilson cleverly uses the famous and mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie to imagine what might have happened during that time and hence and the birth of this novel. It is very well written, imitating Christie's own style and the spoken language if the time. Andrew Wilson also makes good use of the known facts of the case and weaves these into the story too.

I love Agatha Christie, I have done since I was child! She was the queen of her art and she remains so 40 years after her death. Her disappearance in Dec 1926 has always intrigued me, this book brings it to glorious life! He sells Agatha as person really well and twists and turns of why she disappeared is worthy of one of her books! All fans should read and strangers should find this a great intro to her world famous canon of books! It's an entertaining and well written book which I would read again. I'm sure Agatha would approve even though she hated the subject of her missing 10 days being mentioned....

I have been an Agatha Christie fan for as long as I can remember, I have all her books, from Poirot to Miss Marple, and is always a pleasure to re-read them.

Andrew really knows agatha Christie as his writing reminds me of her in many ways.

This is such a great book and is really worth a read… so mysterious that now you will want more books like this one from Andrew Wilson.

I have just finished reading A Talent for Murder. Andrew Wilson has caught the right atmosphere for this book. It caught my imagination from the very beginning. It covers the time Agatha Christie went missing. Would she do what was asked of her, sinister though it was. I loved the twist in the tale. a must read for any Agatha Christie fan and anyone else just wanting a good intriguing read.

A Talent For Murder is the latest imagining of what happened to Agatha Christie when she vanished for 11 days in 1926. In this she falls under the blackmailing influence of an insidious doctor. He doesn't want money. He wants Agatha to use her considerable knowledge of murder in a very real and hands on fashion...

I'll let you into a little secret. I read a lot but I have a no reading after 9pm rule. Because I won't sleep it I don't. I know you know what I mean. It's the age old bibliophile issue....the just one more chapter problem....the it's only half 10 I can read a bit more oh hell how did it become 1am fail. Well I finished reading this at half one this morning. That's how much I enjoyed it. Andrew Wilson has brought to life the woman who probably shaped crime fiction into what it is today. Around her he has woven a complex and enthralling story that I think the great lady herself would have approved of.

I received this from Netgalley for an honest review.