The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair: The Detection Club, Book 4, by Kelly Oliver

 Publication June 2, 2026

I'm usually drawn to this series for the history mixed with the story but this time the focus seemed to be, while drawn from a real event, more of an ominous good story than history. Don't get me wrong. I fell into the ooze of the story immediately and I use the word "ooze" deliberately. While we don't get much history here, we do get a grand overview of the moody isle of Sky. That's where Agatha Christie married her archeologist beau Max Mallowen in reality. The tone is essentially set from the first page when Christie associate Eliza Baker's beagle Queenie is being tossed about on on the decks of the ferry taking Eliza and her associate and potential romantic partner Theo to the ceremony to meet up with others. The party had expected to be the only ones at the lodge but discover they're sharing the premises with a hunting party put together by a rather haughty Lord Blackwood. His wife is with him but, well, rather obviously not happy to be there. You'll find out why as you read. Let's just cut to the chase and  say the hunting party of four goes hunting and only three of them return. They all had good reasons to be glad he didn't. 

The author does an excellent job describing the wild, seemingly largely uninhabited area with its many potential dangers. And, what's that talk from lodge hostess, young Maisie, about ghosts? Why is she so nervous? The hunting party just laughs off Lord Blackwood's failure to return, saying it's not out of the usual for him. His wife adds that he has done this before, simply going off to the local village for awhile. Eliza isn't so sure but, well, her Scotland Yard training has her "something isn't right" nerves on edge. As for Theo, he has her back but is more of a dreamy poet type, one fonder of fiction as opposed to Eliza's "just the facts" sensibilities. Hard to believe they've danced around a relationship so far but it's obvious Theo is thoroughly smitten while, shh, as reluctant as her heart is to admit it, Eliza has grown fonder and fonder of him. You'll get the background for her reticence when it comes to being involved as the story goes along. Theo, who is the son of an Earl, came from a much more privileged background than Eliza but has been a disappointment to his father the Earl. Agatha Christie is focused on her upcoming marriage, of course, but one has to believe that both she and friend Dorothy Sayers are taking notes for future books. We meet the groom to be late in the book but also Agatha's daughter, While I probably did know about her, I had long forgotten, so that was a bit of new info to me.

In any case, lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing as you try to nail whodunit before Eliza and Theo. There are some rather spooky scenes. I mean, how does a dead body get out of its grave? Who kidnaps both Agatha's daughter and young Callum, part of the lodge managers' family? For whom or what does the bell toll? (Sorry, couldn't resist.) Would you go merrily traipsing off onto the moors alone with a murderer about? Yep, you guessed it. Eliza does. She also is rather rash in her questioning, in my mind making herself a target. You'll also get to know both Eliza and Theo better as you're given insight into their mind set on their budding romance. And....oh, plenty more, including climbing towering bell towers, wandering through a graveyard, and daring to follow a potential killer into dangerous, seemingly uncharted caves. And, oh, yes, the missing children. 

But, enough teasers. While I was disappointed not to get my usual history lesson this go-round, the odd mix of budding romance and the ominous, spooky mood, and, shiver, some of the events definitely kept me reading. I actually figured out a plot twist fairly early on, yea, me, but still didn't manage to put it all together until the rather unexpected big reveal. I definitely liked seeing Queenie being a real part of the plot rather than just an accessory, too. Virtual treats for Queenie. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for introducing me to this intriguing set of characters and letting me time travel back (September 1930) for an early peek at how life is treating the curious and oh, so, determined Eliza and her back-up and wannabe more than friends friend Theo. That ending definitely has me ready for the next book!

 

The Case of the Christie Curse (The Detection Club Book 3), by Kelly Oliver

 

Publication Feb. 21, 2026

I seem to have missed book two but it didn't matter. As always, Oliver's words flow and it worked well as a standalone. You'll meet the regulars early on, members of the Detection Club, and get a quick feel for each. Eliza and Theo are the leads, however, and the tension and attraction between them intensifies as the story moves along. I looked back at my review of book one and noted that aspect was rather overwhelming but it was obvious from the blurb that this would be a key element this time so I went with the flow. Agatha is in Mesopotamia and sends a cryptic message to them to come there as things simply aren't right. She doesn't say what but, as it turns out, even Agatha Christie isn't quite sure what is going on amidst the heat and sun baked sands and ever changing light of the site of a high stakes artifact evacuation where we'll also meet one Max Mallowan. Christie fans will know his connection. Grin. In any case, Eliza and Theo, along with Dorothy Sayers, yes, that Dorothy Sayers, go. Eliza even manages to smuggle in her trusty beagle Queenie who, trust me, is a star in this installment. An annoying reporter wanting to interview Agatha tags along soon after.

I won't detail the plot, it's a twisty one, but revolves around not just the murder of artifact catalogue worker Julian Larch but what is going on with missing and odd finds amongst the artifacts being found, not to mention a supposed Queen's Curse and spotted sickness plaguing the workers. Author Oliver excels in describing the setting, making me feel the oppressive heat and gritty sand between my teeth at the height of a sand storm. And, oh, boy, if you're claustrophobic, be prepared for a tense scene Eliza and Theo find themselves in. Poor Theo does take quite a beating through this installment, I must say, but it never dulls his growing attraction to the fact based Eliza. Through it all there's a dash of history, cultural conflicts, curses, people being attacked, lost and found diaries, and troubled characters, both real and fictional. Be sure to read the author's note at the end for more on that. There's a dose of humor here and there, too, to relieve the growing tensions. 

Bottom line,  I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be looking for the next in the series. Oliver's writing flows with many a poetic phrasing and there are even quotes from Shakespeare that pop up, albeit a few not quite fully accurate. Nope, not telling you any more. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for giving me this early peek at Eliza and Theo's adventures (and misadventures) in a mysterious world while managing to sneak in the debate about who artifacts found should really belong to, one not quite settled to this day, I think. Readers will get a good overview of what an excavation was like in those days, including things like grids resembling chess boards in Theo's mind, and the scholar's need to create order out of a jumble at times. I'm sorry I missed the second book but will be looking forward to the next, especially after that ending. 

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library , by Amanda Chapman

 

Publication August 26, 2025

First, an admission. I clicked to review this thinking it was a follow-up to another book I'd recently read where Agatha Christie was a very alive character set in her time frame. Imagine my surprise to discover that Christie, who actually plays a much larger role in this book then the one I'd read, is a, well, ghost. Oops. My mistake. One I'm glad I made. I found myself much more caught up in this story than I'd imagined I'd be and enjoyed it a great deal. Ghost Christie is still on top of her sleuthing game, not to mention remembers all her poisons well. She's someone I wouldn't mind knowing, even if I had to settle for the ghostly version.

I won't delve deeply into the plot. It's in that book blurb I neglected to read.  It involves a ghost showing up in Tory Van Dyne's beloved Mystery Guild Library and saying she's bored in the great beyond and is there to help Tory solve a murder, one that hasn't happened yet. Unfortunately, whatever knowledge of the murder she may have had in the great beyond doesn't follow along to the library's dedicated Christie room. Of course, there's a murder. Next thing you know Tory and Christie are being joined by one of the most unlikely sleuthing groups you could imagine. There's Tory, of course, her quirky, self-absorbed socialite/actress sister Nic, Tory's snarky librarian friend, a poorly dressed (in Tory's opinion) NYPD detective, and, no lie, an eleven-year old computer wiz with a father who not only isn't fazed by his daughter's new friends but looks like Colin Farrell. There's even a romance brewing, albeit it's set on slow burn given Tory's own demons. As for the spirited Christie, who is visible to all and quite physically there, she's both listener and sharer of info, not to mention quotes from her books. 

That's all I'm saying other than, no surprise, there's another murder.  Nic seems to be a likely target and, surprisingly, shows a side of her that hasn't really been visible until near the end. I liked these quirky, less than perfect characters. Heck, even the wealthy Van Dyne family's chauffeur is personable,. As for Agatha Christie, let's face it, while unsure of who she is, all the others find her quite comforting with her ability to listen and offer concern. The setting was fun, both the library room created to mirror Christie's real-life office, and the New York setting added fun as we tackle how to get around in one of the most crowed cities in the world. You'll even get to meet library "cats" Patience and Fortitude. If you don't know about them, you will when you finish. Thanks to #BerkleyPublishingGroup for giving me this unexpectedly delightful early look. Hoping this is the start of a series. Well done!

 

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, by Kelly Oliver

 

Publication Feb. 16, 2025

An interesting mix of fact, fiction, history, and mystery....with a dash of romance. Don't let the title confuse you. Although Agatha Christie does make an appearance, she's hardly the central character. That spot falls to Eliza Baker, secretary/assistant to mystery author Dorothy Sayers. While the plot centers about happenings at the Sayers' created Detective Club of mystery authors, including Christie. Eliza is there simply as Sayers' secretary. In fact, she's not even a fan of the genre though you'd never know it when she does turn sleuth.Theo Sharpe, an aspiring mystery writer who has an obvious crush on Eliza, becomes her sleuthing partner/competitor. It really does seem at times like they're more in competition than cooperating, to be honest. In addition to their sleuthing skills, both play a mean game of chess although Theo refuses to play Eliza for reasons that slowly emerge.

While I won't detail the plot, it's wicked clever. It even centers about the Detective Club and its members, including Sayers and Christie. In fact, the inevitable murder occurs during the initiation of Theo into the organization.  Who killed jokester and mystery writer Neville Lively? Christie? I mean, almost the last word from Neville's mouth was "Agatha". Other clues emerge, many pointing to Agatha, others in other directions. It was interesting and almost surprising to see Eliza switch gears from the seemingly bored assistant to sleuth in the blink of an eye (gunshot?). Seeing how evidence was collected and evaluated in 1926 was also interesting, even if readers may be uncertain as to where she gained her skills at this point. At best we know she once worked for Scotland Yard but quit after her partner was killed, an event she blames herself for. To be honest, if the book blurb itself hadn't stated this was a new series, I'd have been sure I'd missed a first book.

The characters involved, both real and fictional, were an interesting lot. Sayers stands out but it's Theo that drew most of my attention. He's SO besotted with Eliza. While he comes from a titled family with money, he's turned his back on all that to write. Unlike Eliza, who believes life is about living it, not writing about it, he's more feelings based. Eliza tends to be procedural and fact driven while he has great respect for hunches. Eliza's sister Jane remains a bit of an enigma, perhaps because she works for British intelligence, something sure to provide plenty of interesting situations for Eliza to become involved in as the series progresses. As for the other characters, largely mystery writers and their family and/or friends, while not fully fleshed out, they seemed likable enough and were easy to differentiate. The author did manage to work in a reference to Christie having enjoyed surfing in Hawaii, I noted, a fun, humanizing aspect. I've always enjoyed Oliver's ability to weave history into her plot but be sure to read her Author's Note at the end to find out who was real and who wasn't if you're unsure. 

While I was a bit put off by the frequency the wannabe romance between Eliza and Theo took center stage, it was interesting to get both points of view at times. It was also a bit disconcerting to see Eliza's sudden, abrupt shift from no real interest in mysteries to being this talented, direct sleuth, even to the point of being almost cruel, when questioning suspects. Had to wonder why they simply answered her questions instead of showing her to the door. Grin. Hopefully that will get better, of course, and there will be less focus on the romance, at least less intensity, although to each their own.

Bottom line, despite my minor quibbles and excellent start to a new series, even if somewhat bewildering at times. The characters and story drew me in and kept my attention. I've always enjoyed author Oliver's ability to somehow weave together a sensible plot that involves real life character in fictional situations, something that definitely attracts this history buff. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for this early intro and peek into the lives of Eliza, Theo, and the rest, including Eliza's dog Queenie. I'm already looking forward to the next book to see how Oliver continues the idea of the Detective Club and what members may become recurring characters. Sayers, surely, especially as Eliza's employer.

A Parfait Crime (A Five-Ingredient Mystery #9), by Maya Corrigan

 Publication October 24, 2023

What a delight. Just like Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap", it kept me guessing until the end. The author does an excellent job weaving modern day murder into the framework of "The Mousetrap," all without giving away its ending, either. As a once-upon-a-time theater buff, both on and off-stage, I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions of the cast and how the casting put main character Val's relationship with Bram in the spotlight, so to speak. Her novice stage actress questions do an excellent job of letting readers unfamiliar with theater understand what is going on, too, as well as the frequent terminology. I'd also forgotten Bram's magic skills, so that was a fun surprise. I did feel like I was right there in the theater with them, especially since doing a reading of a play can be just as stressful and require almost as much preparation as acting it out, a reminder of the teamwork/community of actors needed to make it work. That the play was a known classic would have added that much more pressure. Toss in murder and, well, real murder, and  things were definitely stressful.

I won't belabor the plot, however. The blurb does an excellent job of that and, well, like the mystery of the play, I don't want to give away too much. I'll just say the plot flowed, with occasional pauses that involved food (have snacks handy as you read) and interactions between the characters. I give kudos to author Maya Corrigan for her obvious attention to detail and research that made it all come together. The various characters felt like people we might want to as friends and the five-ingredient recipes at the end will help you deal with the hunger the food sections will create. In the meantime, you'll learn more about the connections between the regular characters, not to mention even some birding expertise. 

One of the things I most appreciated was the inclusion of how our protectors and rescuers are supported in dealing with the trauma that they may encounter on any given day. I mean, let's face it, it has to be traumatic to find not just a dead body from a house fire but a skeletal body in the same house in a freezer. Nope, not explaining. You'll just have to read the book. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for giving me a sneak peek at Val and Granddad's world. I thoroughly enjoyed it and how everyone pulled together to solve crimes. And, loved the ending!

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Deluxe Edition, Agatha Christie

 

Deluxe Edition available Oct. 25, 2022

What a pleasure to be reminded why Agatha Christie is the once and forever Queen of Mystery. It's been years since I first read this one but it was one of the books that started my mystery reading craze. Even knowing "whodunit", it was a delight to renew my acquaintance with Roger Ackroyd. I still found myself fully engrossed in looking for clues that I surely missed my first time reading, appreciating the adroit cleverness of the red herrings and, of course, Hercule Poirot's "little grey cells" as he steadily, expertly identified the killer. Maybe it's time I re-read the classics, huh?

I'm certainly not going to rehash the plot details here. If you haven't read the book or have simply forgotten who was guilty, the joy of this classic is in experiencing it as it unfolds to the startling conclusion. Given the volumes that have been written about not just this book alone but Agatha Christie, let's face it, there's little new I can add other than to echo that it deserves the accolades it has received and to be read and reread and enjoyed over and over. After all, it set the standard, especially for locked room mysteries. 

Kudos to #PushkinPress - #PushkinVertigo for reissuing this deluxe, hard covered edition. It'll make the perfect gift for your mystery loving friends or, well, yourself. Thanks #NetGalley for letting me know about it.

Bake Offed (A Five-Ingredient Mystery #8), by Maya Corrigan

 

Publication Nov. 29, 2022

This one had me hooked from the beginning with its nod to Agatha Christy's use of a list of characters at the beginning of the story. Toss in regular references to not just Christie, particularly "Murder on the Orient Express", Sherlock Holmes, and Miss Marple, and it was fun from the start. Val Deniston and her grandfather, Don, are attending the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest and find themselves involved in a real murder: Who killed Cynthia Sweet? 

Needless to say, surrounded by mystery buffs, the theories and suspects are many. In fact, many in the crowd seem determined to believe the murder and appearance of the police, not to mention the collapse of another attendee in the bar, are all part of the show. Toss in that the hotel was the site of another unsolved mystery a year ago and it's all just too exciting for many to believe reality has intruded again. 

 I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Val and Grandpa Don, both of whom are smart and able to think things through. For Don, however, he is a tad distracted by the disappearance of his Nero Wolfe inspired boxed book of recipes. Is that disappearance somehow connected? Cynthia had been accused of stealing others' ideas before, so why not a genuine, valuable keepsake. And, what does a tea kettle have to do with anything? Why were some attendees going to such extremes to disguise themselves? Poison rings? Inheritances? What would drive someone to murder?

Bottom line, this one grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it until the surprising end. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to this so to speak, mystery fest gathering. Looking forward to spending more time with Val and her grandfather soon. Maybe he'll share more recipes!