“An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more interested he is in her.”  —Agatha Christie

This post is all about big nods for Agatha Christie. Clearly, she has a sense of humor. (Give me an archaeologist or give me death!) And having just finished The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, I can confidently say Miss Marple’s brainchild has got moxie. The famed British crime writer wrote 66 novels and 14 short story collections. She inspired suspense and captivated readers for decades. But Christie’s greatest mystery was left unsolved—her real-life disappearance for 11 days after an argument with her husband has yet to be unlocked.

Almost 100 years later, Marie Benedict, teller of untold women’s stories, takes a crack at explaining Christie’s vanishing act. Benedict weaves two timelines together in her latest—one sheds light on Christie’s early courtship with her husband, Colonel Archibald; and the other explores each day during her inexplicable disappearance. Not surprisingly, this read left me with questions. I wondered how much of the story was fact and how much was pure fiction. (Knowing Benedict, she did ample homework.) And I seriously questioned, despite gender expectations for women in the 20’s, if the prolific Mrs. Christie was really as submissive and sometimes naive as portrayed here? I found that a bit difficult to believe. More than anything, I want to learn more about the matronly author of mystery via her own creative pages. Here’s to you, Agatha!

Posted by Tracy