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Mrs. Christie #1
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library
Book conservator Tory Van Dyne and a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond join forces to catch a killer in this spirited mystery from Amanda Chapman.
Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail, and announces she’s there to help solve a murder— that has not yet happened.
But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.
Aided by an unlikely band of fellow sleuths —including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits—Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”
Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail, and announces she’s there to help solve a murder— that has not yet happened.
But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.
Aided by an unlikely band of fellow sleuths —including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits—Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2025
230 people are currently reading
15041 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Chapman
1 book139 followersAmanda Chapman also writes as Amy Pershing.
Amanda Chapman is a lifelong mystery lover and wordsmith. An enthusiastic fan of traditional mysteries and of New York City she found herself wondering, “What if someone recreated Agatha Christie’s personal library -– even to the furnishings and architecture — in New York City? What would happen in that space?” And thus MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY, the first in a new series, was born.
Amanda Chapman is a lifelong mystery lover and wordsmith. An enthusiastic fan of traditional mysteries and of New York City she found herself wondering, “What if someone recreated Agatha Christie’s personal library -– even to the furnishings and architecture — in New York City? What would happen in that space?” And thus MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY, the first in a new series, was born.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
March 23, 2025
Oh dear, I now know how the murder victim on the Orient Express felt. First, the good. The Christie nuggets throughout and other mystery novel mentions are wonderful. Agatha’s character could have been a huge miss and is also wonderful…..
But, the first person is painful, the MC is painful, and the constant mentions of “my/our” family is/was so rich we can/did/do behave badly, absurdly, whatever is so out of step with the current world that it just reads as ghastly.
Thanks to NetGalley and the pub for an early peek.
But, the first person is painful, the MC is painful, and the constant mentions of “my/our” family is/was so rich we can/did/do behave badly, absurdly, whatever is so out of step with the current world that it just reads as ghastly.
Thanks to NetGalley and the pub for an early peek.
April 14, 2025
Pros: I probably would not have selected this book if it were not for the Agatha Christie inclusion. All of the characters contribute to the story and are likeable. Chapman's descriptions of Tory's place, the Christie room, and the New York Public Library were excellent. I enjoyed the final twist on the murders. The book is a fast, easy read.
Cons: As much as I like the idea of adding Agatha Christie to the mystery, it felt forced. For the first few chapters, Tory refers to Ms. Christie as "the So-Called Ms. Christie." This irritated me for a reason I can't explain. I was glad when it was finally dropped. Throughout, Ms. Christie quotes from her books and each time, either Tory or Adrian point it out in a way that I found tedious.
Overall, the book is worth the read. It is definitely for cozy mystery readers.
Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cons: As much as I like the idea of adding Agatha Christie to the mystery, it felt forced. For the first few chapters, Tory refers to Ms. Christie as "the So-Called Ms. Christie." This irritated me for a reason I can't explain. I was glad when it was finally dropped. Throughout, Ms. Christie quotes from her books and each time, either Tory or Adrian point it out in a way that I found tedious.
Overall, the book is worth the read. It is definitely for cozy mystery readers.
Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Tory Van Dyne is a book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, who, thanks to her old-money New York family, lives in an apartment above the library and its wonderful Christie Room. A room that is not only an architectural replica of Christie’s Greenway library, including reproductions of the “wonderfully eclectic furnishings,” but filled with copies of over 4000 volumes that also fill the Greenway shelves. It is there that Tory finds a woman who claims to be Agatha Christie herself. She asks for a cocktail, and then explains she is there to solve a murder. A murder that has no victim or suspects because it hasn’t happened – yet!
Not sure how to handle her guest, Tory sets out to appease the woman, and then her cousin Nicola, an actress, finds herself embroiled in the investigation of the untimely death of her agent, Howard Calhoun. Mrs. Christie is delighted to help Nicola and Tory uncover the truth. Soon, the three are joined by the Guild’s head librarian, Adrian Gooding, Mairead Butler, a tech-savvy 11-year-old with a cute little Yorkie named Tony (yes, just like Agatha had), and a handsome NYPD detective who needs to find a good tailor, Sebastian Mendez-Cruz, all eager to help solve the case before the body count rises.
The first thing I noticed about this book is that the author, Amanda Chapman, has to be a huge Agatha Christie fan who put in the time to do a lot of research to bring her vision of “What if someone recreated Agatha Christie’s personal library” in New York City and explored the interesting things that could happen there. She hit it out of the park!
Seriously, Agatha, also known as Mrs. Mallowan, on a little vacay just shows up, how would you react? I would be just like Tory and “tread carefully”. Tory hits all the right notes: cautious, friendly, confused, gentle. The woman’s hand was warm; she was drinking cocktails, and she knew all the history. I loved it. The supporting cast is crazy, but it works. An 11-year-old fits right in. The good detective is taken in by Mrs. Mallowan’s charm, knowledge, and the way she works through a set of clues. Librarian Adrian, like Tory, has a lot of questions about the woman, but it also taken in by her and what she offers to the group. All the characters are curious, making them engaging and compelling. I also found the Van Dyne family to be very eccentric and set in their ways. Those weekly mandatory dinners were trying at best, painful at worst.
I loved the setting of the four-story Greek revival townhouse by the park with its library and special rooms: The Agatha Christie Room, the Dashiell Hammett Room, the Edgar Award Winners Room, and the Golden Age Room, on the first two floors, and Tory’s apartment filling the upper two floors. The author’s descriptive details brought the building to life, especially The Christie Room. I felt like I was dropped into an armchair right next to the bar cart with a special classic cocktail in my hand. I could even smell the old books.
There are many moving parts to this mystery, which involves Nicola, two of her friends, and people in their show business world. It was complicated by moving timelines, twisty motives, and unpredictable turns. I enjoyed how they met often in the Christie room to compare notes. Mrs. Christie’s unique mindset, memories, and ability to see things from many different angles helped to move the case forward. Everyone had things to contribute and theories to work through. Mairead flipped open her laptop to take notes and research items on the fly, but had some great ideas, too. I had so much fun just following along with it all that my personal quest to solve the mystery was left at the wayside. I escaped deep into this one and was totally entertained.
The quotes at the start of each chapter were a nice touch.
“I admit,” I said, “that a second murder often cheers things up.” ~Arthur Hastings, The ABC Murders
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library has set this series off to a fantastic start. Ms. Chapman put in the time and energy to give her readers a contemporary mystery with a classic feel, and is a wonderful tribute to the Queen of Crime. She hits the tone perfectly, adds touches of humor and romance while weaving in Christie history in all the right places. I stayed up late reading this one. I am beyond excited to see where she takes this series. I am adding Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library to my Best Reads of 2025. A must-read for mystery lovers and fans of Dame Agatha.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Tory Van Dyne is a book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, who, thanks to her old-money New York family, lives in an apartment above the library and its wonderful Christie Room. A room that is not only an architectural replica of Christie’s Greenway library, including reproductions of the “wonderfully eclectic furnishings,” but filled with copies of over 4000 volumes that also fill the Greenway shelves. It is there that Tory finds a woman who claims to be Agatha Christie herself. She asks for a cocktail, and then explains she is there to solve a murder. A murder that has no victim or suspects because it hasn’t happened – yet!
Not sure how to handle her guest, Tory sets out to appease the woman, and then her cousin Nicola, an actress, finds herself embroiled in the investigation of the untimely death of her agent, Howard Calhoun. Mrs. Christie is delighted to help Nicola and Tory uncover the truth. Soon, the three are joined by the Guild’s head librarian, Adrian Gooding, Mairead Butler, a tech-savvy 11-year-old with a cute little Yorkie named Tony (yes, just like Agatha had), and a handsome NYPD detective who needs to find a good tailor, Sebastian Mendez-Cruz, all eager to help solve the case before the body count rises.
The first thing I noticed about this book is that the author, Amanda Chapman, has to be a huge Agatha Christie fan who put in the time to do a lot of research to bring her vision of “What if someone recreated Agatha Christie’s personal library” in New York City and explored the interesting things that could happen there. She hit it out of the park!
Seriously, Agatha, also known as Mrs. Mallowan, on a little vacay just shows up, how would you react? I would be just like Tory and “tread carefully”. Tory hits all the right notes: cautious, friendly, confused, gentle. The woman’s hand was warm; she was drinking cocktails, and she knew all the history. I loved it. The supporting cast is crazy, but it works. An 11-year-old fits right in. The good detective is taken in by Mrs. Mallowan’s charm, knowledge, and the way she works through a set of clues. Librarian Adrian, like Tory, has a lot of questions about the woman, but it also taken in by her and what she offers to the group. All the characters are curious, making them engaging and compelling. I also found the Van Dyne family to be very eccentric and set in their ways. Those weekly mandatory dinners were trying at best, painful at worst.
I loved the setting of the four-story Greek revival townhouse by the park with its library and special rooms: The Agatha Christie Room, the Dashiell Hammett Room, the Edgar Award Winners Room, and the Golden Age Room, on the first two floors, and Tory’s apartment filling the upper two floors. The author’s descriptive details brought the building to life, especially The Christie Room. I felt like I was dropped into an armchair right next to the bar cart with a special classic cocktail in my hand. I could even smell the old books.
There are many moving parts to this mystery, which involves Nicola, two of her friends, and people in their show business world. It was complicated by moving timelines, twisty motives, and unpredictable turns. I enjoyed how they met often in the Christie room to compare notes. Mrs. Christie’s unique mindset, memories, and ability to see things from many different angles helped to move the case forward. Everyone had things to contribute and theories to work through. Mairead flipped open her laptop to take notes and research items on the fly, but had some great ideas, too. I had so much fun just following along with it all that my personal quest to solve the mystery was left at the wayside. I escaped deep into this one and was totally entertained.
The quotes at the start of each chapter were a nice touch.
“I admit,” I said, “that a second murder often cheers things up.” ~Arthur Hastings, The ABC Murders
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library has set this series off to a fantastic start. Ms. Chapman put in the time and energy to give her readers a contemporary mystery with a classic feel, and is a wonderful tribute to the Queen of Crime. She hits the tone perfectly, adds touches of humor and romance while weaving in Christie history in all the right places. I stayed up late reading this one. I am beyond excited to see where she takes this series. I am adding Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library to my Best Reads of 2025. A must-read for mystery lovers and fans of Dame Agatha.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Read
August 4, 2025I didn't like this as much as I hoped and I can see looking at others' reviews that it's a three star to some and a five star to others.
I predict you will love this book if:
* you enjoy a classic cozy mystery
* you are an Agatha Christie (or historical mystery) fan
* you are open to books with paranormal/magical realism elements
* are okay with a quirky/chatty narrator and a more meandering plot
You may not love it as much if:
* you need a book that keeps you curious and guessing
* you like amateur detectives who fall more into the funny and irreverent lane
* you need a more straightforward and forward-moving plot
If you are looking for other cozy mysteries to read this summer, check out my comprehensive list here!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
I predict you will love this book if:
* you enjoy a classic cozy mystery
* you are an Agatha Christie (or historical mystery) fan
* you are open to books with paranormal/magical realism elements
* are okay with a quirky/chatty narrator and a more meandering plot
You may not love it as much if:
* you need a book that keeps you curious and guessing
* you like amateur detectives who fall more into the funny and irreverent lane
* you need a more straightforward and forward-moving plot
If you are looking for other cozy mysteries to read this summer, check out my comprehensive list here!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
September 26, 2025
I really loved all the nods to Agatha Christie and the author’s love for her and her work really shone through!
The mystery and story itself was lacking for me, however.
The mystery and story itself was lacking for me, however.
September 20, 2025
3.5 ⭐️s rounded up
An absolute delight! A love letter to Dame Agatha and all her many, many fans!
🫖 🔎 🐕 🪡
An absolute delight! A love letter to Dame Agatha and all her many, many fans!
🫖 🔎 🐕 🪡
December 18, 2025
Could not get through chapter 6. Mind- numbingly boring, particularly the constant descriptions of all the high end outfits worn by each shallow character. DNF.
August 21, 2025
This cozy mystery debut by Amanda Chapman was SO, SO, SO much fun and so very clever!! I loved the premise of a library dedicated to Agatha Christie and rare copies of classics set in modern day NYC. When book conservator Tory Van Dyne starts seeing the ghost of Agatha Christie she's at first baffled but when she gets caught up in a murder mystery and Mrs. Christie starts helping, things get really entertaining.
There were a ton of red herrings, a unique form of murder method, lots of fun quotes from Christie's books and a great cast of secondary characters and a touch of romance between Tory and the lead detective investigating the murders. 10/10 recommend and I really hope we get more featuring Tory and Mrs. Christie!
It was also excellent on audio narrated by Patti Murin. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
There were a ton of red herrings, a unique form of murder method, lots of fun quotes from Christie's books and a great cast of secondary characters and a touch of romance between Tory and the lead detective investigating the murders. 10/10 recommend and I really hope we get more featuring Tory and Mrs. Christie!
It was also excellent on audio narrated by Patti Murin. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
October 8, 2025
Already looking forward to book 2.
September 22, 2025
In a word, this book was brilliant. With Agatha Christie herself in a starring role, how could it be anything but? Each character, in their own unique way, found a seamless way of contributing to the mystery and ultimately to its solution. The method of murder was something I'd never encountered, which added to the intrigue. This was one of the best cozies I’ve had the pleasure to read in a very long time.
June 20, 2025
This definitely feels like the start to a series and as such,a little more time is spent to get going than I like but overall, a fun read. Tory Van Dyne has inherited her grandmother’s house in Greenwich Village, a home , reading room and museum in one including an entire floor devoted to the Mystery Guild Library which is open to the public. This floor includes the Christie Room which is an exact replica of Agatha Christie’s own sitting room/ library. Tory runs a small business repairing rare books in the basement. But one day, after hours, a woman appears in the Christie Room claiming to be Agatha Christie. While Tory at first assumes the woman is a mentally unbalanced reader, when her actress cousin’s agent is murdered, Tory is quickly swept up in a murder investigation which will require all the help the mysterious Mrs. Christie can give her to find the killer and keep her cousin safe.
September 17, 2025
I am not a fan of Agatha Christie – she has great stories, but I can’t get into her writing – so I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this one. However, take her quick wit and interesting stories and add Amanda Chapman/Amy Pershing’s wonderful writing and I am hooked! This story had everything: great characters, a twisted plot, a fascinating murder with plenty of suspects. I loved getting to know Agatha Christie through quotes and in the context of the mystery club. Looking forward to more in this series.
September 3, 2025
I’ll need a print copy, the audio was grating.
August 13, 2025
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman is a breezy, cozy mystery set within the exclusive world of New York City's old money elite. The story features Tory Van Dyne, a book conservationist who inherited the Mystery Guild Library and a fabulous Greenwich Village apartment from her grandmother.
One evening a middle aged woman presents herself as Agatha Christie, returned from beyond to solve a murder that hasn’t happened yet. Tory initially thinks that “the so-called Mrs Christie” is having a mental break, but they soon find themselves in the midst of a murder mystery and develop a friendship that helps Tory regain her confidence after a traumatic event.
I definitely became more invested in the story as I got to know all of the unique characters and the bodies began to build up. I especially loved the references to the vintage couture that Tory, her cousin, Nic, and her head librarian, Adrian, all wear, as well as all of the NYC hot spots. The slow burn romance between Tory and the “hot detective” also kept me engaged. Fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate this quick and charming read. 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
One evening a middle aged woman presents herself as Agatha Christie, returned from beyond to solve a murder that hasn’t happened yet. Tory initially thinks that “the so-called Mrs Christie” is having a mental break, but they soon find themselves in the midst of a murder mystery and develop a friendship that helps Tory regain her confidence after a traumatic event.
I definitely became more invested in the story as I got to know all of the unique characters and the bodies began to build up. I especially loved the references to the vintage couture that Tory, her cousin, Nic, and her head librarian, Adrian, all wear, as well as all of the NYC hot spots. The slow burn romance between Tory and the “hot detective” also kept me engaged. Fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate this quick and charming read. 3.75/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2025
A charming take on a “Golden Age” mystery that even includes Agatha herself returning from the grave to help solve murders. Tory is a book conservator and member of an old New York moneyed family which includes fun eccentrics (Great Aunt believes she’s a goldfish) and a grandmother who was a mystery book devotee. Grandmother turned her Washington Square mansion into a Mystery Library, book rare book conservation lab in the basement and sumptuous top 2 floor apartment for Tory. The Library even includes a very precise replica of Agatha Christie’s library from her holiday house in Britain. Tory oversees the Library, dresses in vintage couture, avoids most of her family except for obligatory Sunday dinners and gets her ditzy, self-absorbed cousin Nicola out of scrapes. One evening, Tory goes into the Christie room and finds a woman who introduces herself as Mrs. Mallowan (Agatha’s real last name) who bears an uncanny resemblance to the great lady. Tory believes she is a very enthusiastic Christie fan despite the lady telling her that she is Agatha returned from the grave to help solve a murder. Tory doesn’t know that the first in a series of related murders has already happened and is surprised when Nic shows up at her door with news of the death of her talent agent. Things spin out from there with Tory and an eclectic squad of characters, including a hot detective and Mrs. Mallowan, set out to find whodunit. It’s a fun read…especially if you’re a Christie fan…there are lots of Easter eggs. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.
December 4, 2025
Agatha Christie is my favorite author. And so anything featuring her or her works is going to be something that I instinctively gravitate towards. Obviously, this book falls distinctly into that category. There are several quotes from her books and novels, discussions of her characters, most of which made me smile. Mrs. Christie, as she is called within this book, takes on a Miss Marple type of role, which I also inherently enjoy, given that Miss Marple is my favorite of Agatha Christie's fictional sleuths. But unfortunately, that's all that I liked about this book.
Mrs. Christie is a compelling character. I enjoyed the scenes in which she is speaking or drawing conclusions, pointing out details that others missed. But she (and other characters) have a tendency to quote her books in the middle of conversations. And while that is cute here and there, or at the beginning of chapters, there was far too much of it in this book. I think that if I encountered an author who was constantly quoting their books and characters to me, I'd find them incredibly egotistical. I think this begins as a means of confirming that Mrs. Christie is who she says she is, but is really an odd thing to continue throughout the book and felt out of place.
Speaking of dialogue, this book was all over the place in terms of dialogue. Our narrator is presumably early thirties, with other similar-aged professionals, a young pre-teen, and then several aging blue bloods, and but there were no distinct voices and everyone's speech would change so drastically. Sometimes overly formal, other times blaring modern. There was no consistency and it made the whole thing feel contrived or awkward. This is most noticeable in Tory, our narrator, whose speech in and out of dialogue fluctuated between aging-Victorian-spinster and forced-cringe-millenial. I specifically remember one time that she said that Nic was "jonesing" for something, with quotes around the word and everything and I was just torn out of the story completely.
I also don't understand Tory's focus on fashion or the restaurants of New York. Paragraphs are dedicated to specific outfits and brand names that did not help me visualize the clothing at all (maybe because the brands are totally foreign to me) and most of the time the clothing was unrelated to the story. This is also true when time is spent highlighting certain restaurants or cafes that do not require back stories or any type of context.
The writing embodied the cardinal writing sin of telling but not showing. Pages of exposition that could have been engaging scenes, while at the same time scenes that went absolutely no where. There was one scene where Tory and Nic spend time talking on the phone, explaining that they don't have time to chat and will meet up later (which was completely unnecessary to show or mention at all), investing time to share details of their meeting place (which did not matter for the context of the story or in the future at all), additional writing concerning fashion, and then a one-sided conversation summarizing the details. The words "this could have been an email" just echoed in my head several times.
I'd also say that most of the characters seem particularly blasé about meeting with a ghost, at least the ones who seem to think that. And Mrs. Christie, who died in 1974, seems particularly nonplussed about the ways the world has changed over the last 50 years - technology, civil rights, the LGTBQ+ community, social media - all this and more is glossed over or just simply accepted. And not that I needed a crash course on the world at large, but it always felt so out of place when Mrs. Christie was speaking about something modern and seemed unfamiliar with it, but apparently has nothing to say about these bigger modern topics. Maybe this is a nit-pick just for me but it just kept pulling me out of the story.
And the mystery itself is rather surface level. The culprit is rather obvious, and there aren't many surprises that you can't see coming from a mile away. The whole crime aspect is handled in a rather clunky way. It's not bad, per se, but it's not good either. And when you combine that with the ridiculous romantic sub-plot that was handled even worse (with two thirty-something characters talking and behaving like teenagers), it just didn't make for a compelling or particularly enjoyable read.
At the end of the day, this book is unfortunately very amateurish. The writing is not polished and seems to meander over fashion, New York hotspots, awkward dialogue, and a middling murder mystery. There are hints of greatness here and there, but not enough to really make me excited about the book overall. This appears to be the start of a series, and I'm not convinced I will continue. My love of Agatha Christie can only carry these stories so far.
Mrs. Christie is a compelling character. I enjoyed the scenes in which she is speaking or drawing conclusions, pointing out details that others missed. But she (and other characters) have a tendency to quote her books in the middle of conversations. And while that is cute here and there, or at the beginning of chapters, there was far too much of it in this book. I think that if I encountered an author who was constantly quoting their books and characters to me, I'd find them incredibly egotistical. I think this begins as a means of confirming that Mrs. Christie is who she says she is, but is really an odd thing to continue throughout the book and felt out of place.
Speaking of dialogue, this book was all over the place in terms of dialogue. Our narrator is presumably early thirties, with other similar-aged professionals, a young pre-teen, and then several aging blue bloods, and but there were no distinct voices and everyone's speech would change so drastically. Sometimes overly formal, other times blaring modern. There was no consistency and it made the whole thing feel contrived or awkward. This is most noticeable in Tory, our narrator, whose speech in and out of dialogue fluctuated between aging-Victorian-spinster and forced-cringe-millenial. I specifically remember one time that she said that Nic was "jonesing" for something, with quotes around the word and everything and I was just torn out of the story completely.
I also don't understand Tory's focus on fashion or the restaurants of New York. Paragraphs are dedicated to specific outfits and brand names that did not help me visualize the clothing at all (maybe because the brands are totally foreign to me) and most of the time the clothing was unrelated to the story. This is also true when time is spent highlighting certain restaurants or cafes that do not require back stories or any type of context.
The writing embodied the cardinal writing sin of telling but not showing. Pages of exposition that could have been engaging scenes, while at the same time scenes that went absolutely no where. There was one scene where Tory and Nic spend time talking on the phone, explaining that they don't have time to chat and will meet up later (which was completely unnecessary to show or mention at all), investing time to share details of their meeting place (which did not matter for the context of the story or in the future at all), additional writing concerning fashion, and then a one-sided conversation summarizing the details. The words "this could have been an email" just echoed in my head several times.
I'd also say that most of the characters seem particularly blasé about meeting with a ghost, at least the ones who seem to think that. And Mrs. Christie, who died in 1974, seems particularly nonplussed about the ways the world has changed over the last 50 years - technology, civil rights, the LGTBQ+ community, social media - all this and more is glossed over or just simply accepted. And not that I needed a crash course on the world at large, but it always felt so out of place when Mrs. Christie was speaking about something modern and seemed unfamiliar with it, but apparently has nothing to say about these bigger modern topics. Maybe this is a nit-pick just for me but it just kept pulling me out of the story.
And the mystery itself is rather surface level. The culprit is rather obvious, and there aren't many surprises that you can't see coming from a mile away. The whole crime aspect is handled in a rather clunky way. It's not bad, per se, but it's not good either. And when you combine that with the ridiculous romantic sub-plot that was handled even worse (with two thirty-something characters talking and behaving like teenagers), it just didn't make for a compelling or particularly enjoyable read.
At the end of the day, this book is unfortunately very amateurish. The writing is not polished and seems to meander over fashion, New York hotspots, awkward dialogue, and a middling murder mystery. There are hints of greatness here and there, but not enough to really make me excited about the book overall. This appears to be the start of a series, and I'm not convinced I will continue. My love of Agatha Christie can only carry these stories so far.
October 12, 2025
Loved this story! I’m a fan of Agatha Christie and this book was so fun. I loved the wit and humor, the mystery was beyond good and the characters were fantastic. I really hope we get lots more in this series!
September 29, 2025
When I first picked up Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library, I was excited by the premise. A cozy mystery set in a bookish town, with a main character inspired by Agatha Christie and a quirky cast of literary sleuths? It sounded like the perfect escape—a light, clever read with charm and intrigue. Unfortunately, the actual story didn’t live up to the potential. What could have been a fun, engaging start to a new mystery series turned out to be flat, slow-moving, and disappointingly shallow.
To start with the positives: the concept itself is genuinely appealing. A library filled with mystery lovers, an enigmatic older woman with a past, and a murder to be solved—it’s all very cozy-mystery-by-the-book, and that’s not a bad thing. There’s clearly a love for the genre here, and I could tell that Amanda Chapman was trying to pay homage to classic mystery tropes while also crafting something new. The setting—a small, bookish town with quirky locals—had potential to become a memorable backdrop for an ongoing series. But sadly, the potential never fully materialized.
Where the book really stumbled for me was in the execution. The pacing was slow and uneven, with long stretches where nothing much happened, followed by bursts of plot that felt rushed and poorly integrated. For a mystery novel, tension is essential—there needs to be a compelling sense of curiosity, a reason to keep turning the pages—but here, the central mystery didn’t feel all that mysterious. The clues were either too obvious or inserted too conveniently, and the resolution lacked the kind of satisfying twist or cleverness that makes a mystery worth the ride.
Characterization was another major issue. Mrs. Christie, presumably the heart of the series, never came across as particularly compelling or distinct. For someone meant to carry a story and solve a crime, she felt oddly passive and underdeveloped. Her motivations were murky, her personality inconsistent, and I found it hard to connect with her on any emotional level. The supporting cast, too, felt more like stock characters than real people—quirky for quirkiness’s sake, but without much substance or depth. Even the relationships between characters felt underbaked, with forced dialogue and interactions that didn’t ring true.
I also struggled with the writing style. While some readers may enjoy its simplicity, I found it overly bland and lacking the sharpness or wit that often helps cozy mysteries sparkle. Descriptions were flat, conversations often repetitive, and there were moments where the tone veered into awkward or unintentionally stilted territory. It read like it was trying very hard to be “cozy,” but without the nuance or confidence to really own that voice.
Ultimately, I finished the book more out of obligation than enjoyment. It wasn’t terrible, and I don’t think it was written with bad intentions—it just didn’t work for me.
To start with the positives: the concept itself is genuinely appealing. A library filled with mystery lovers, an enigmatic older woman with a past, and a murder to be solved—it’s all very cozy-mystery-by-the-book, and that’s not a bad thing. There’s clearly a love for the genre here, and I could tell that Amanda Chapman was trying to pay homage to classic mystery tropes while also crafting something new. The setting—a small, bookish town with quirky locals—had potential to become a memorable backdrop for an ongoing series. But sadly, the potential never fully materialized.
Where the book really stumbled for me was in the execution. The pacing was slow and uneven, with long stretches where nothing much happened, followed by bursts of plot that felt rushed and poorly integrated. For a mystery novel, tension is essential—there needs to be a compelling sense of curiosity, a reason to keep turning the pages—but here, the central mystery didn’t feel all that mysterious. The clues were either too obvious or inserted too conveniently, and the resolution lacked the kind of satisfying twist or cleverness that makes a mystery worth the ride.
Characterization was another major issue. Mrs. Christie, presumably the heart of the series, never came across as particularly compelling or distinct. For someone meant to carry a story and solve a crime, she felt oddly passive and underdeveloped. Her motivations were murky, her personality inconsistent, and I found it hard to connect with her on any emotional level. The supporting cast, too, felt more like stock characters than real people—quirky for quirkiness’s sake, but without much substance or depth. Even the relationships between characters felt underbaked, with forced dialogue and interactions that didn’t ring true.
I also struggled with the writing style. While some readers may enjoy its simplicity, I found it overly bland and lacking the sharpness or wit that often helps cozy mysteries sparkle. Descriptions were flat, conversations often repetitive, and there were moments where the tone veered into awkward or unintentionally stilted territory. It read like it was trying very hard to be “cozy,” but without the nuance or confidence to really own that voice.
Ultimately, I finished the book more out of obligation than enjoyment. It wasn’t terrible, and I don’t think it was written with bad intentions—it just didn’t work for me.
February 26, 2026
I really enjoyed this. It was light and quick and fun.
October 25, 2025
Good plot, but I had difficulty warming to the characters. To me, they seemed flat—a great deal of telling rather than showing and repetitive dialogue. I could have done without the lengthy descriptions of the MC’s vintage designer fashion.
There are many good ideas. Chapman clearly loves Manhattan, which is great. Rich settings. The storytelling didn’t match the descriptions of the city and its history and architecture.
Maybe I’m not the right audience for this particular cozy mystery.
There are many good ideas. Chapman clearly loves Manhattan, which is great. Rich settings. The storytelling didn’t match the descriptions of the city and its history and architecture.
Maybe I’m not the right audience for this particular cozy mystery.
July 28, 2025
Agatha Christie takes a field trip from the afterlife to help book conservator Tory Van Dyne solve a couple of murders.
Tory works at the Mystery Guild Library in New York City. The library was started by her grandmother who left the top two floors to Tory as her apartment and the basement as the workshop where she repairs old books. Tory suffered a trauma that has made her reclusive, but she is gradually coming to terms with the trauma.
One of the features of the library is a room set up as a duplicate of Christie's library in England. When her cousin Nic comes to her in distress after her agent was pushed in front of a subway train, Tory agrees to help her cousin, and she is aided by the appearance of a woman who introduces herself as Agatha Christie and who appears in the room set up as her library.
But Tory isn't alone in her investigations. The librarian who is a good friend of hers and who doesn't believe in ghosts is drawn in. So is an eleven-year-old neighbor who is lonely after the death of her mother. And so is police detective Sebastian Mendez-Cruz.
And it is a good thing they have teamed up because the agent is only the first death.
I really enjoyed the frequent quotes from Agatha Christie's works which make up a big part of the Christie character's vocabulary as well as beginning each chapter. I loved Tory's point of view. She has a really quirky sense of humor and a wonderful turn of phrase.
Tory works at the Mystery Guild Library in New York City. The library was started by her grandmother who left the top two floors to Tory as her apartment and the basement as the workshop where she repairs old books. Tory suffered a trauma that has made her reclusive, but she is gradually coming to terms with the trauma.
One of the features of the library is a room set up as a duplicate of Christie's library in England. When her cousin Nic comes to her in distress after her agent was pushed in front of a subway train, Tory agrees to help her cousin, and she is aided by the appearance of a woman who introduces herself as Agatha Christie and who appears in the room set up as her library.
But Tory isn't alone in her investigations. The librarian who is a good friend of hers and who doesn't believe in ghosts is drawn in. So is an eleven-year-old neighbor who is lonely after the death of her mother. And so is police detective Sebastian Mendez-Cruz.
And it is a good thing they have teamed up because the agent is only the first death.
I really enjoyed the frequent quotes from Agatha Christie's works which make up a big part of the Christie character's vocabulary as well as beginning each chapter. I loved Tory's point of view. She has a really quirky sense of humor and a wonderful turn of phrase.
January 4, 2026
If you love Agatha Christie mysteries, then you will adore this who-done-it with the "Queen of Crime" as one of the characters! In this unique story, a lonely book conservator spends her days repairing rare antique books. Her life is unbound and and in need of repair as well. But then she comes face to face with a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on vacation from eternity so that she can help solve a murder.
Author Amanda Chapman has crafted a cozy mystery with a clever plot, and well placed clues. However, the main charm of the novel is the hodgepodge ensemble of lovable characters. Christy fans will not be disappointed. The character of Mrs. Christie is spot on. Her dialog is very clever. The character mainly talks in quotes from the various Christy novels which seamlessly fit into the situation at hand. If two of the main characters didn't silently acknowledge theses quotes to themselves and each other I wouldn't have been sure. She mostly channels the iconic Miss Jane Marple, but there are a lot of Poirot quotes as well. The protagonist, Tory Van Dyne is the levelheaded character who is surrounded by a ditzy actress cousin and a cynical best friend librarian who believes in nothing. Of course, there is a cute kid and a dog too.
I loved spending time with these characters and can't wait to visit them again with a new mystery to solve when the next books is ready.
Author Amanda Chapman has crafted a cozy mystery with a clever plot, and well placed clues. However, the main charm of the novel is the hodgepodge ensemble of lovable characters. Christy fans will not be disappointed. The character of Mrs. Christie is spot on. Her dialog is very clever. The character mainly talks in quotes from the various Christy novels which seamlessly fit into the situation at hand. If two of the main characters didn't silently acknowledge theses quotes to themselves and each other I wouldn't have been sure. She mostly channels the iconic Miss Jane Marple, but there are a lot of Poirot quotes as well. The protagonist, Tory Van Dyne is the levelheaded character who is surrounded by a ditzy actress cousin and a cynical best friend librarian who believes in nothing. Of course, there is a cute kid and a dog too.
I loved spending time with these characters and can't wait to visit them again with a new mystery to solve when the next books is ready.
September 27, 2025
This book is a clever, delightful, cozy mystery. I really enjoyed reading it.
October 17, 2025
Snappy prose, witty dialogue and a self deprecating and funny protagonist make this story a lot of fun. The pacing is fast, and we go from book conservator Tory Van Dyne meeting the ghost of Mrs. Agatha Christie, who’s bored in the afterlife, to Tory's life changing after working with her friends and Mrs. Christie to help solve a couple of homicides. And finding a little romance (just as Mrs. Christie ensured in many of her mysteries).
When Tory meets an old woman who bears a striking resemblance to Afgatha Christie in the Christie Room in the Mystery Guild Library in Manhattan, Tory thinks this supposed Mrs. Christie is a dotty older woman is a Christie fangirl. Tory's not concerned by dottiness, as her old-money New York City family has its share of eccentrics. She is thrown by the older woman's, or Mrs. So-Called Christie as Tory calls her) claim that she is there to help Tory solve a murder.
Tory eventually begins to suspect that So-Called Mrs. Christie, or Mrs. Mallowan, as Tory introduces the woman to Tory's free spirited acting cousin Nicola, is a ghost.
But before she comes to this realization, a murder mystery arrives at her doorstep, in the form of the Nic's dead agent Howard Calhoun. Nic is accompanied by a police detective named Sebastian Mendez-Cruz, whom Tory is instantly attracted to. Nic immediately solicits Mrs. Mallowan's help in solving Howard's murder. Then a fellow actor and friend of Nic's is murdered, too.
Assembling a small group together, including Tory, Nic, Adrian (Tory's friend and coworker), Tory's trainee/mentee young Mairead Butler (in New York with her father, a visiting professor or Celtic history at NYU), Sebastian, and Mrs. Christie, of course, they begin tackling the case by considering the relationships and histories of the dead people that Sebastian would have trouble discovering easily.
Sprinkled throughout the novel are quotes from several of Mrs. Christie's characters, including the inimitable Mrs. Marple and fussy Hercule Poirot.
The group not only discover several vital clues, but do help Sebastian with his case. In the process, Tory begins finally dealing with the trauma she suffered seven years earlier when she was badly injured at a stampede at a club.
This was an amusing funny novel, and I totally loved the characters, the mystery library with a Christie Room, and the many twists and turns this case took. I loved how the ghostly Mrs. Christie managed to keep the many moving parts of the case straight in her head, thanks to her years of plotting what are still, years after their publication, her hugely popular murder mysteries.
I hope we get to see Tory and the gang and Mrs. Christie work together again, as this was such an enjoyable novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
When Tory meets an old woman who bears a striking resemblance to Afgatha Christie in the Christie Room in the Mystery Guild Library in Manhattan, Tory thinks this supposed Mrs. Christie is a dotty older woman is a Christie fangirl. Tory's not concerned by dottiness, as her old-money New York City family has its share of eccentrics. She is thrown by the older woman's, or Mrs. So-Called Christie as Tory calls her) claim that she is there to help Tory solve a murder.
Tory eventually begins to suspect that So-Called Mrs. Christie, or Mrs. Mallowan, as Tory introduces the woman to Tory's free spirited acting cousin Nicola, is a ghost.
But before she comes to this realization, a murder mystery arrives at her doorstep, in the form of the Nic's dead agent Howard Calhoun. Nic is accompanied by a police detective named Sebastian Mendez-Cruz, whom Tory is instantly attracted to. Nic immediately solicits Mrs. Mallowan's help in solving Howard's murder. Then a fellow actor and friend of Nic's is murdered, too.
Assembling a small group together, including Tory, Nic, Adrian (Tory's friend and coworker), Tory's trainee/mentee young Mairead Butler (in New York with her father, a visiting professor or Celtic history at NYU), Sebastian, and Mrs. Christie, of course, they begin tackling the case by considering the relationships and histories of the dead people that Sebastian would have trouble discovering easily.
Sprinkled throughout the novel are quotes from several of Mrs. Christie's characters, including the inimitable Mrs. Marple and fussy Hercule Poirot.
The group not only discover several vital clues, but do help Sebastian with his case. In the process, Tory begins finally dealing with the trauma she suffered seven years earlier when she was badly injured at a stampede at a club.
This was an amusing funny novel, and I totally loved the characters, the mystery library with a Christie Room, and the many twists and turns this case took. I loved how the ghostly Mrs. Christie managed to keep the many moving parts of the case straight in her head, thanks to her years of plotting what are still, years after their publication, her hugely popular murder mysteries.
I hope we get to see Tory and the gang and Mrs. Christie work together again, as this was such an enjoyable novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
January 1, 2026
Short Take: Fun, quirky characters, and you can never go wrong with NYC as your setting (take me back). The writing was very readable, and the main character's asides and inner monologue kept things engaging. If you want a fairly light yet entertaining read, and are someone who enjoys Agatha Christie or fun little escapades set in New York, this book is a good choice. However, if you are expecting a very intricately plotted mystery with twists and turns, then you may be disappointed. Hence, three stars.
Longer Take: At first, I was a little put off by the fact that everyone (except maybe the detective) was super rich and/or privileged, so you never got to see the more realistic side of New York; however, the presence of Agatha Christie helped me justify this somewhat - after all, all the Christie novels I have read were set in upper-class English society, so why not write this novel about the lives of Upper East Side old money folks and a book restorer whose Village apartment overlooks Washington Square Park (can you imagine?!). The main character came off as slightly annoying (due to her privilege and my own envy at her fictional lifestyle, I should admit) but mostly sympathetic, and her arc with the love interest was pretty cute. I wish we had gotten more of their interactions. Some of the side characters came across as pretty one-note, especially Adrian and the Irish kid. Then again, archetypal characters are easier to picture in your head, and are not entirely out of place in an Agatha Christie-ish setting.
Longer Take: At first, I was a little put off by the fact that everyone (except maybe the detective) was super rich and/or privileged, so you never got to see the more realistic side of New York; however, the presence of Agatha Christie helped me justify this somewhat - after all, all the Christie novels I have read were set in upper-class English society, so why not write this novel about the lives of Upper East Side old money folks and a book restorer whose Village apartment overlooks Washington Square Park (can you imagine?!). The main character came off as slightly annoying (due to her privilege and my own envy at her fictional lifestyle, I should admit) but mostly sympathetic, and her arc with the love interest was pretty cute. I wish we had gotten more of their interactions. Some of the side characters came across as pretty one-note, especially Adrian and the Irish kid. Then again, archetypal characters are easier to picture in your head, and are not entirely out of place in an Agatha Christie-ish setting.
December 1, 2025
This was a very unique kind of mystery and I really really enjoyed it!
You can read the description to get the concept of this story which will make clear from the get-go that this a slightly off-center mystery story that will require you to suspend your disbelief a bit. But if the reader is willing to do that, this becomes a cracking good mystery story with much to recommend it!
I loved how (as main character Tory starts out referring to her) "Mrs. so-called Christie" quotes key lines from her own Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, as well as "her" other books throughout the investigation of the mystery at hand which Tory and others recognize immediately. Those are fun moments sprinkled through the story for any fan of Agatha Christie's books.
I also love pretty much any book set in New York City, and the author takes full advantage of the location, including a key scene that takes place in the New York Public Library at a fundraising gala, complete with Tory having "a moment" with Patience and Fortitude (the library's guardian lions for anyone who doesn't know) on her way inside.
We also get the fun of Tory being a member of an old money New York family, and someone who loves fashion with both of those aspects having their moments throughout the story very entertainingly so.
Aside from all this, however, there is an interesting and clever murder mystery for the characters, guided by "so-called Mrs. Christie" to solve with plenty of twists and turns, and clues for those who like to try to beat the characters to the solution. The cast of characters is a bit of a motley crew but all of them are likable and I am very much hoping that the author has more books planned with this concept because I would DEFINITELY read more in this series!!
You can read the description to get the concept of this story which will make clear from the get-go that this a slightly off-center mystery story that will require you to suspend your disbelief a bit. But if the reader is willing to do that, this becomes a cracking good mystery story with much to recommend it!
I loved how (as main character Tory starts out referring to her) "Mrs. so-called Christie" quotes key lines from her own Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, as well as "her" other books throughout the investigation of the mystery at hand which Tory and others recognize immediately. Those are fun moments sprinkled through the story for any fan of Agatha Christie's books.
I also love pretty much any book set in New York City, and the author takes full advantage of the location, including a key scene that takes place in the New York Public Library at a fundraising gala, complete with Tory having "a moment" with Patience and Fortitude (the library's guardian lions for anyone who doesn't know) on her way inside.
We also get the fun of Tory being a member of an old money New York family, and someone who loves fashion with both of those aspects having their moments throughout the story very entertainingly so.
Aside from all this, however, there is an interesting and clever murder mystery for the characters, guided by "so-called Mrs. Christie" to solve with plenty of twists and turns, and clues for those who like to try to beat the characters to the solution. The cast of characters is a bit of a motley crew but all of them are likable and I am very much hoping that the author has more books planned with this concept because I would DEFINITELY read more in this series!!
August 21, 2025
What an absolute delight this book turned out to be! I was instantly charmed by the setting—the Mystery Guild Library in NYC, complete with its own Agatha Christie room. It’s the kind of place every mystery lover dreams of wandering into, and Chapman made it feel so alive that I could practically smell the old books and hear the hush of turning pages.
The story itself has the whimsical, light-hearted charm of a classic Topper movie. The characters are quirky, fun, and thoroughly endearing—just the right mix to keep the tone playful while still weaving in a clever mystery. I loved how each chapter began with an Agatha Christie quote, a touch that felt like both a nod to the Queen of Crime and an invitation into her world.
One of the most clever touches, though, was giving us the ghost of Agatha Christie herself—only present within her own room at the library. She isn’t just a novelty or a gimmick; she feels like a fully realized character with wit, insight, and a mischievous sparkle that makes every one of her appearances a joy. It was such a brilliant way to let Christie’s spirit (quite literally!) hover over the story.
Another bold choice Chapman made was shifting into a script format for one scene. While I wasn’t entirely sure of the reasoning behind that stylistic change, I still enjoyed the way it broke up the flow and added a unique texture to the reading experience.
The pacing stays consistent throughout—never dragging, never rushing—a perfect medium pace that balances character moments with plot twists. And most importantly, Chapman truly captures the essence of an Agatha Christie mystery. The atmosphere, the wit, the careful layering of clues—it all felt like a warm homage to the kind of story that keeps readers guessing with a smile on their faces.
If you’re a fan of cozy, clever mysteries with a touch of whimsy and a lot of heart, Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library is an absolute treat.
The story itself has the whimsical, light-hearted charm of a classic Topper movie. The characters are quirky, fun, and thoroughly endearing—just the right mix to keep the tone playful while still weaving in a clever mystery. I loved how each chapter began with an Agatha Christie quote, a touch that felt like both a nod to the Queen of Crime and an invitation into her world.
One of the most clever touches, though, was giving us the ghost of Agatha Christie herself—only present within her own room at the library. She isn’t just a novelty or a gimmick; she feels like a fully realized character with wit, insight, and a mischievous sparkle that makes every one of her appearances a joy. It was such a brilliant way to let Christie’s spirit (quite literally!) hover over the story.
Another bold choice Chapman made was shifting into a script format for one scene. While I wasn’t entirely sure of the reasoning behind that stylistic change, I still enjoyed the way it broke up the flow and added a unique texture to the reading experience.
The pacing stays consistent throughout—never dragging, never rushing—a perfect medium pace that balances character moments with plot twists. And most importantly, Chapman truly captures the essence of an Agatha Christie mystery. The atmosphere, the wit, the careful layering of clues—it all felt like a warm homage to the kind of story that keeps readers guessing with a smile on their faces.
If you’re a fan of cozy, clever mysteries with a touch of whimsy and a lot of heart, Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library is an absolute treat.
October 13, 2025
So Agatha Christie appears in a specialty mystery library in NY in contemporary times saying that she’s taking a break from the hereafter to help them solve a murder that hasn’t happened. She can only help though by being told things while she’s in the library room — it turns out to be about once a week when various main characters get together to talk about the goings-on after work hours.
The mysteries were interesting. It took a while to sort who knew what, who’s telling the truth, who’s doing what, etc. and it’s a lot of talking. the author weaves in quotes from all the Christie books, where the MC then thinks, “said so-and-so to names-a-character in names-a-book-title”. It was clever at first. Cool to have known the author has not only read them all but seen quotes that could be “reused” in another way. After a few dozen times, they could have been a footnote. It was overly done. Really, who has that sort of recall of over 100 books especially when she (the main POV character) doesn’t quote Agatha at other times.
Then there’s calling her “so-called Agatha Christie” for the first 1/3 of the book — while she’s visiting with her in the library and thinking about her during the conversations and then thinking about it again later, and then when relating the encounter to her coworker. [If you’re reading this electronically, can you do a word count on “so-called”? I listened to the book, and I thought I was going to DNF because it was so annoying.] That’s when her coworker says “why not call her Mrs Mallowan?” Adding “you can’t keep thinking of her as “so-called Agatha Christie”. Her editor should have stepped in sooner.
It’s odd that no one else mentions/wonders who Mrs M really is, came from, etc. even when they are all so smart to figure out a complicated mystery. Suspend all your disbelief at the start.
There wasn’t a sleuth confronts the killer scene or even the detective confronts the killer. Instead, the group of regulars are sitting in the library telling Agatha what happened, what they learned, and she pieces things together. It’s very different sense of mystery conclusion.
I wasn’t fond of the character development. Agatha is a cardboard stereotype of the elderly Mrs. Marple with her clothing, large handbags, and knitting. Nic, the MC cousin, is the flighty, pretty, unintelligent actor — but she can act, memorize lines, and recall dialog (this is handy for the Agatha dumps in the library). The detective is attractive, intelligent, always ahead of the amateurs in sleuthing (he is trained and it’s his job) — with crappy brown suit(s) he habitually wears. I’m not drawn to want to get to know the characters, spend time with them, or imagine where they’ll be if there’s another in the series.
Last, what is the significance of the saying on the paper in the typewriter on the cover that says, “Sometimes all a good mystery needs is a ghost writer”?
The mysteries were interesting. It took a while to sort who knew what, who’s telling the truth, who’s doing what, etc. and it’s a lot of talking. the author weaves in quotes from all the Christie books, where the MC then thinks, “said so-and-so to names-a-character in names-a-book-title”. It was clever at first. Cool to have known the author has not only read them all but seen quotes that could be “reused” in another way. After a few dozen times, they could have been a footnote. It was overly done. Really, who has that sort of recall of over 100 books especially when she (the main POV character) doesn’t quote Agatha at other times.
Then there’s calling her “so-called Agatha Christie” for the first 1/3 of the book — while she’s visiting with her in the library and thinking about her during the conversations and then thinking about it again later, and then when relating the encounter to her coworker. [If you’re reading this electronically, can you do a word count on “so-called”? I listened to the book, and I thought I was going to DNF because it was so annoying.] That’s when her coworker says “why not call her Mrs Mallowan?” Adding “you can’t keep thinking of her as “so-called Agatha Christie”. Her editor should have stepped in sooner.
It’s odd that no one else mentions/wonders who Mrs M really is, came from, etc. even when they are all so smart to figure out a complicated mystery. Suspend all your disbelief at the start.
There wasn’t a sleuth confronts the killer scene or even the detective confronts the killer. Instead, the group of regulars are sitting in the library telling Agatha what happened, what they learned, and she pieces things together. It’s very different sense of mystery conclusion.
I wasn’t fond of the character development. Agatha is a cardboard stereotype of the elderly Mrs. Marple with her clothing, large handbags, and knitting. Nic, the MC cousin, is the flighty, pretty, unintelligent actor — but she can act, memorize lines, and recall dialog (this is handy for the Agatha dumps in the library). The detective is attractive, intelligent, always ahead of the amateurs in sleuthing (he is trained and it’s his job) — with crappy brown suit(s) he habitually wears. I’m not drawn to want to get to know the characters, spend time with them, or imagine where they’ll be if there’s another in the series.
Last, what is the significance of the saying on the paper in the typewriter on the cover that says, “Sometimes all a good mystery needs is a ghost writer”?
November 17, 2025
✏️📙 Themes: Book scam; panic attacks; PTSD; New York Public Library / New York’s Mystery Guild Library; poison; afterlife
⚠️👀 Content Warnings: Animal harm; subway pushing; drug use
This novel reads like a true detective story. Victoria “Tory” Van Dyne, a book conservator at New York’s Mystery Guild Library, discovers that her grandmother, Margaret Jan Van Dyne, recreated Agatha Christie’s library from Greenway House with such detail and care that it somehow forms a portal—one that allows Mrs. Max Mallowan herself, better known to the world as Agatha Christie, to step through. The Queen of Crime not only aids in solving two separate murder mysteries, but she also helps Tory, our main female character, find her own place and her people.
What I loved:
I really enjoyed how Mrs. Max Mallowan guides Detective Sebastian Mendez-Cruz and Tory. She never directly says, “This is the murderer,” but instead nudges them to think, reason, and consider all the clues on their own. The way she helps them connect the dots—without overshadowing them—is both clever and charming. If you love a mystery without graphic violence or sexual content, this one may be right up your alley.
What I didn’t love:
I struggled to connect with the characters. None of them fully clicked for me, and some of the postmortem details and the way certain elements were solved felt like a bit of a stretch.
This clearly sets up the possibility for a series, but I’ll be stepping off here.
⚠️👀 Content Warnings: Animal harm; subway pushing; drug use
This novel reads like a true detective story. Victoria “Tory” Van Dyne, a book conservator at New York’s Mystery Guild Library, discovers that her grandmother, Margaret Jan Van Dyne, recreated Agatha Christie’s library from Greenway House with such detail and care that it somehow forms a portal—one that allows Mrs. Max Mallowan herself, better known to the world as Agatha Christie, to step through. The Queen of Crime not only aids in solving two separate murder mysteries, but she also helps Tory, our main female character, find her own place and her people.
What I loved:
I really enjoyed how Mrs. Max Mallowan guides Detective Sebastian Mendez-Cruz and Tory. She never directly says, “This is the murderer,” but instead nudges them to think, reason, and consider all the clues on their own. The way she helps them connect the dots—without overshadowing them—is both clever and charming. If you love a mystery without graphic violence or sexual content, this one may be right up your alley.
What I didn’t love:
I struggled to connect with the characters. None of them fully clicked for me, and some of the postmortem details and the way certain elements were solved felt like a bit of a stretch.
This clearly sets up the possibility for a series, but I’ll be stepping off here.
September 16, 2025
A light and fun mystery very much in the spirit of Agatha Christie, and also featuring the literal spirit of the great mystery author.
This functions a lot like a high quality cozy mystery, populated by likable characters, charming sense of place, and subtle humor. The mystery itself gets a touch too convoluted and I didn’t love the solve, though the style of it is very much in line with Christie’s also often convoluted but intricate mysteries.
Mostly though, it’s just a fun whodunit, and I loved the way the author worked the ghost of Agatha into the story, as well as her explanations in the author’s note of how she arrived at the idea.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This functions a lot like a high quality cozy mystery, populated by likable characters, charming sense of place, and subtle humor. The mystery itself gets a touch too convoluted and I didn’t love the solve, though the style of it is very much in line with Christie’s also often convoluted but intricate mysteries.
Mostly though, it’s just a fun whodunit, and I loved the way the author worked the ghost of Agatha into the story, as well as her explanations in the author’s note of how she arrived at the idea.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
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