The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
MARIE BENEDICT
Synopsis:
In December 1926, Agatha Christie goes missing. Investigators find her empty car on the edge of a deep, gloomy pond, the only clues some tire tracks nearby and a fur coat left in the car — strange for a frigid night. Her husband and daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away.
The puzzle of those missing eleven days has persisted. With her trademark exploration into the shadows of history, acclaimed author Marie Benedict brings us into the world of Agatha Christie, imagining why such a brilliant woman would find herself at the center of such a murky story.
What is real, and what is mystery? What role did her unfaithful husband play, and what was he not telling investigators?
A master storyteller whose clever mind may never be matched, Agatha Christie’s untold history offers perhaps her greatest mystery of all.
Content:
Language: A few minor swear words used sparingly throughout the book.
Violence: Agatha Christie was one of the greatest mystery writers, so this story discusses some murder plots she used in her books, such as poisonings. A police investigation also occurs in the novel for the disappearance of Agatha and at some point it is assumed she might have been murdered. Throughout the story, we also Agatha and Archie in a very unhealthy relationship (though there is no physical abuse).
Sex: Archie and Agatha are shown falling in love, kissing, getting married, and also a few allusions to sex. This isn't a spoiler as it is set up in the first chapters and is an actual part of Agatha Christie's life: Archie has an affair with a woman named Nancy Neele.
LGBTQ: Not present
My Review: It was a fairly easy and enjoyable read. The chapters are short, which I liked. It isn't much of a mystery though, so don't go in expecting grand twists. To be clear, Agatha Christie did disappear for eleven days and then show back up claiming amnesia. No one knows what really happened, but this is the author's idea of how the event unfolded.