The Mystery of Mrs. Christie

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie is a 2020 mystery and historical fiction novel by author Marie Benedict, a pen name for author and lawyer Heather Terrell. She published her first novel as Terrell, The Chrysalis: A Novel, in 2007 and published her first book under the Benedict pseudonym, The Other Einstein, in 2016. Benedict is known for historical fiction that highlights women in history, particularly those who were overshadowed by famous men. Mrs. Christie is her third novel as Benedict and received popular acclaim; the novel spent time on the New York Times bestseller list, the USA Today bestseller list, the Indie Next list, and earned Benedict a place on the Library Reads Hall of Fame.

Mrs. Christie recreates the 11-day disappearance of mystery author Agatha Christie in 1926. The events of the novel are told via two conflicting narrators: Agatha, who recalls the history of her marriage (in Part 1) and the aftermath of her plan to disappear (in Part 2), and Archie, who recounts his experience of the disappearance in Part 1. (Archie does not narrate in Part 2.) Framed as a domestic noir mystery, Mrs. Christie explores the Christies’ marriage from their introduction, through their courtship, and to Archie’s request for divorce that precipitates Agatha’s disappearance.