A smattering of true Christie history, wrapped around both characters' literary and a classic mystery, make this a dream of a read for fans of Golden Age crime.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a historical cozy mystery that is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie. The story takes place in 1926 London where Agatha Christie is the suspect in a murder investigation.
The author uses historical details and witty dialogue. It was extremely engaging and was also very suspenseful. I really enjoyed the character of Eliza Baker, she added a fresh perspective to the story.
Overall, this is a must-read for those who enjoy a good cozy mystery!

In this new historical mystery novel starring iconic author Agatha Christie, readers join her in 1926 on the literary circuit and London social scene. As part of the Detection Club, she joins other mystery writers to share ideas and swap secrets, but when an initiation ceremony takes a murder-y turn, Agatha must shift from creating mysteries to solving them. However, disappearing the day after the murder suggests her guilt, so assistant Eliza Baker must investigate the case, clear Agatha’s name, and find the killer before it’s too late. Entertaining against a fantastic 1920s backdrop, readers will love the new Eliza Baker mystery novel for its cast of iconic detective writers, and it stands alone as a single novel while also fitting into the rest of Kelly Oliver’s series. The characters are the star of the novel, and the mystery itself is absolutely fascinating, since it involves Agatha Christie as a prime suspect. Readers will love the historical backdrop and the twists, turns, and suspects available for Eliza’s investigation, as they can solve the mystery alongside her. Well-written, fun, and deeply entertaining, readers will love this new historical mystery novel from Kelly Oliver for its unique cast of suspects and its engrossing story.

Eliza Baker takes on the role of secretary for the Detection Club whih includes illustrious detective novelists such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers. But at one meeting an author is shot dead: one of the Club must be responsible and Agatha goes missing...
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is the first book in a new series set in London in the 1920s.
Eliza becomes employed to be the secretary of the Detection Club. She takes the job at the request of her sister to help her get over events of the recent past, earn some money but also spy on the novelists who may be passing on state secrets. It took me a little while to settle into the book as Eliza has some issues from the past whch are not initially explained but have obviously had a big impact on her emotionally.
Added into the mix is Theo, an aspiring writer who is desperately in love with Eliza but she has no idea. The murder throws the pair together as they vie to find out the truth. I enjoyed the gently simmering romantic tension between the two and look forward to seeing how this develops in later books.
The chess motif weaves through the book as both Eliza and Theo are keen players. The Club discusses elements of detective fiction which is fun to then apply to this book itself. I liked the mix of real and fictional characters and the way that the book explains Agatha's real disappearance. (Additional note: there are major spoilers about Agatha's book The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as it is critiqued by the other authors.)
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is an entertaining start to a new series and I look forward to following the escapades of Eliza and Theo.

As a fan of both historical fiction and classic detective stories, this book was an absolute delight to read. Kelly Oliver crafts a clever and immersive mystery that blends real-life literary figures with an intriguing fictional murder, creating a story that is both fun and intellectually engaging. The novel takes place in 1926 and revolves around Agatha Christie's real-life disappearance, reimagining it as part of a larger, sinister mystery. The protagonist, Eliza Baker, is a fantastic lead—sharp, determined, and full of wit. Her interactions with historical figures like Dorothy Sayers add richness to the story, and the way Oliver brings these famous writers to life makes the novel even more enjoyable. The mystery itself is well-paced, filled with twists and red herrings that kept me guessing. The writing is atmospheric, capturing the elegance and intrigue of the 1920s, while also maintaining a lighthearted, cozy feel. If you love classic whodunits, you’ll appreciate the nods to Golden Age detective fiction throughout. If I had to nitpick, I’d say the story occasionally slows down with its historical details, but for me, that added to the immersive experience rather than detracting from it.

Kelly Oliver’s The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a delightful blend of literary homage, historical mystery, and sharp witted adventure. As a fan of Agatha Christie, I was immediately drawn by the premise: London. 1920s. after a gruesome initiation ceremony in the mystery writers group the Detection Club, Agatha Christie goes missing. A book where Agatha Christie is the lady in question?! Sign me up!!

I thought this book was an absolutely enjoyable read- quite fun and mysterious! Historical facts mixed with enjoyable fiction made this book tough to put down and I cannot wait for the next one to come out! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this wonderful read!

If you’re an Agatha Christie fan and looking for something fun to read- read The Case of the Christie Conspiracy!!

Kelly Oliver submerges the reader in the English detective author community in the Case of the Christie Conspiracy. A member of the Detectives' Club is murdered at their meeting and then Agatha Christie disappears. This involves the real life disappearance of Christie for a period which has never been explained. The narrator is the dogsbody for the club when they meet. She works with Theo, a new member of the club, to track down who did what. A good example of the golden age of crime detection. Good read.

First Outing…
The first outing in the Detection Club series of historical mysteries featuring a fictional Agatha Christie. When a member of the famed Detection Club dies in mysterious circumstances, Agatha herself falls under suspicion. A fun mystery with a well formed cast of characters, a nicely crafted atmosphere steeped in the Golden Age and an enjoyable and entertaining plot.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a fantastic new historical mystery by Kelly Oliver.

It’s 1926 and Agatha Christie is the toast of the literary world. Feted by critics and adored by readers, her name is on everyone’s lips, but nothing gives the author greater pleasure than meeting up with her fellow mystery writers at the Detection Club where they share ideas, agonise over plot twists and drink copiously. However, things soon take a sinister turn when an author’s initiation veers towards the gruesome and one of the members of the group is found dead!

Agatha’s gone from writing about crime to being a player in a mystery plot straight from one of her novels. When she disappears a day after the murder, the finger of suspicion begins to point firmly in her direction, however, Eliza Baker, secretary of mystery virtuoso Dorothy Sayers, is convinced that there is more to this case than meets the eye. Can she find out whodunnit before it’s too late? Or will this case end up baffling even someone as enigmatic and intelligent as Eliza?

Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers are two of my favourite crime writers so I absolutely devoured Kelly Oliver’s engaging and immensely enjoyable mystery. A must-read for fans of the Golden Age of Crime Fiction, The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a nail-biting tale of dangerous motives, twisted lies and deadly deceptions from Kelly Oliver every single member of the Detection Club would have been proud to put their name to.

'The Case of the Christie Conspiracy' by Kelly Oliver.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I'm a big fan of the authors previous books so I was really looking forward to this. This book didn't disappoint, I loved that Agatha Christie was in it aswell. The book kept me guessing right till the end.
If you're a fan of cozy crime then give this book a read.

Agatha Christie is about to embark on a new, gripping murder case. But this time, she’s not the author – she’s a suspect…

1926 – Christie is a darling of the literary circuit and the most desired guest in London’s glittering social scene. She can often be found at meetings of the Detection Club – where mystery writers come together to share ideas, swap secrets and drink copiously. But then a fellow author's initiation ceremony takes a gruesome turn, and one of the group ends up dead. Now, Agatha is no longer just the creator of great mystery plots – she’s a player in one.

And when Agatha disappears the day after the murder, she’s widely assumed to be guilty. Only Eliza Baker, assistant to the Club’s enigmatic secretary, Dorothy Sayers, is interested in investigating the case. But in a world where murder is the ultimate plot device, can Eliza piece together the evidence and find the killer before it’s too late?

Thanks to NetGallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.

This is an interesting approach to setting a young sleuth within Agatha Christie's group of cohort authors and their club. On the whole it is a good read and the mystery has a twist. Somehow the relationship between the two main characters just didn't ring with me. Perhaps they will grow on me. I would read the next in the series.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver is a captivating mystery novel that blends history with suspense. The story centres around a detective named Sophie, who delves into the enigmatic disappearance of famous crime writer Agatha Christie in 1926. Oliver’s skilful use of historical details and a modern twist on the classic whodunit formula makes for a highly engaging read.

The novel is both intriguing and thought-provoking, as it questions the true motivations behind Christie’s mysterious vanishing act. Sophie’s journey takes readers through a series of carefully constructed clues and red herrings that keep the suspense high. Oliver also crafts a strong sense of atmosphere, transporting readers to the 1920s and painting a vivid picture of Christie’s life during that time.

One of the book's strengths is its character development, particularly Sophie, whose personal struggles and determination add depth to the narrative. The plot is well-paced, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked until the very end.

While the book occasionally drifts into moments of heavy exposition, The Case of the Christie Conspiracy remains an enjoyable and intelligent read, especially for fans of historical fiction and mystery enthusiasts. Oliver’s writing brings a fresh perspective to the Agatha Christie legend, making it a compelling mystery that will satisfy both casual readers and genre lovers alike.

The publisher blurb states that this new cozy historical mystery is “perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright and T E Kinsey,” and I think that’s a wonderful comp! Fans of historical mysteries – especially from the Golden Age of Mysteries – will enjoy this new take on the famous and mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie.

Eliza is a determined amateur sleuth – rather blunt and not fearful! She made a wonderful pair to the more gentle Theo. I loved that Eliza was hired as an assistant to Dorothy Sayers – it was fun to imagine what that job would be like!

This was a fast paced plot with lots of twists and turns, and I did not solve it on my own! This was a fun start to a new series that I’m looking forward to reading more of in the future!

I typically like the plotting of a Kelly Oliver novel, but not the characters so much. That did not change with her newest novel. I do not like Eliza Baker, and her sister Jane. I felt Eliza was too flighty, didn’t think through somethings, and let’s be honest, she got lucky at the end. Jane was pushy and came off a bit paranoid. I did, however, like Theodore, but wanted him to be more assertive. And just because it has Agatha Christie’s name in the title, she is actually merely a glance in the overall structure of the novel.

This is mystery with a hint of romance, but the romance was stilted in my opinion. There is a cliff hanger at the end, but I think it keeps the reader wanting to know what’s next.

Overall, I rate this novel 3.5 out of 5 stars.

THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE CONSPIRACY by Kelly Oliver
The First Detection Club Mystery

Tragedy has left Eliza Baker listless and unmotivated, living and being supported by her younger sister, Jane. Forced to find a job, Eliza has an interview for the position of secretary to the secretary of The Detection Club. While Eliza thinks these crime writers are a bunch of silly people, her sister believes someone in the group is selling state secrets and wants Eliza to find out who the traitor is. All Eliza finds are a dictatorial boss in the person of Dorothy Sayers and a bunch of squabbling writers playing games. But on the night of her friend Theo's initiation to the club another member winds up dead. The next day Agatha Christie goes missing. A sign of guilt as the victim was trying to expel her from the club? Eliza is determined to not only solve the murder, but find the missing author.

I love historical mysteries and one in which Agatha Christie as a murder suspect? Yes, please. Being somewhat familiar with the Detection Club and its rituals, I was delighted seeing it and them in action...and enjoyed watching Eliza having to gather some of the rather unusual props. Eliza is a unique protagonist. She's smart with a scientific and logical mind. She finds the authors childish and their books just as bad. I like the relationship between her and Theo Sharp which could be likened to a chess match, except each player thinks they're playing a different game!

While I found activities surrounding the Detection Club and its members pretty much spot on one comment did throw me. A character was described looking just like Santa Claus. But this is England, he should be described as looking like Father Christmas! Still, I enjoyed being in England in the 1920s and am looking forward to watching Eliza evolve.

THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE CONSPIRACY brings together some favorite authors from the golden age of detective fiction along with some memorable new characters in a devilishly clever mystery.

I almost didn’t finish this book. I enjoyed the story and the characters but felt like it needed to go into the detail of things a little more. I wanted to know more about the history of the two main characters as it was alluded to an awful lot but never really scratched the surface. There were quite clearly two story lines going on at the same time, but one was neglected until the very end and then picked back up what seemed to be quite sporadically and just not really done justice. I just struggled to feel engaged and felt like it needed a little more *something*..

I adore this authors stories and when I saw the start of this new series, I was intrigued.

What could be better? Set in 1926 with Agatha Christie and many golden age authors have formed a Detection Club.

When a murder happens and Christie seems to have disappeared, the fun journey begins! Cannot wait for more!

A fun read. The characters are interesting and enjoyable. The love story is there, but not omnipresent. The murder case follows the good Agatha Christie tradition. "Meeting" Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers is delightful.
I'm looking forward to reading more books about Eliza Baker and the "Detection Club".

EXCERPT: Eliza Baker tossed the book into the bin. She was no expert on detective fiction, but she knew the author was expected to 'play fair' with the reader. And Mrs. Agatha Christie was not playing fair.
Standing at the stove, she tapped the side of the coffee pot with one finger. Still warm. She lifted it and gave it a swirl. Not much left. She poured herself half a cup and saved the rest for her sister. After all, Jane had made the coffee, not to mention, it was Jane's percolator on Jane's stove in Jane's flat. And although Jane's sister insisted it was a 'pleasure' to have Eliza living with her, Eliza couldn't help but feel like a burden. She was the older sister, after all. She should be providing for Jane, and not the other way around. Hustling chess at The Gambit was not exactly a steady income. She absolutely had to get this job with the Detection Club, even if it meant complimenting Mrs. Christie on her unreliable narrator.

ABOUT 'THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE CONSPIRACY': Agatha Christie is about to embark on a new, gripping murder case. But this time, she’s not the author – she’s a suspect…

1926 – Christie is a darling of the literary circuit and the most desired guest in London’s glittering social scene. She can often be found at meetings of the Detection Club – where mystery writers come together to share ideas, swap secrets and drink copiously. But then a fellow author's initiation ceremony takes a gruesome turn, and one of the group ends up dead. Now, Agatha is no longer just the creator of great mystery plots – she’s a player in one.

And when Agatha disappears the day after the murder, she’s widely assumed to be guilty. Only Eliza Baker, assistant to the Club’s enigmatic secretary, Dorothy Sayers, is interested in investigating the case. But in a world where murder is the ultimate plot device, can Eliza piece together the evidence and find the killer before it’s too late?

MY THOUGHTS: I almost DNF this at 18%. I struggled with the insufferably pompous and arrogant characters, with the exception of Mrs. Christie who is portrayed as rather weak and feeble. Which I am sure that, in real life, she was not.

However, as I try not to DNF a book before at least one third of the way through, I struggled on. Things do take a turn for the better once there is a body and an ensuing investigation, but only marginally. It was enough though to carry me reluctantly through to the end.

So, where do I start? Eliza comes across as either incredibly flippant or totally gung-ho. She has an amazing range of 'skills' including jujitsu and lock-picking and is a font of knowledge on almost every subject imaginable. I really didn't like her attitude towards mystery writers in general and Mrs. Christie in particular - she is dismissive and disparaging. Her interrogation techniques are abysmal, especially considering she has previous experience in the field. She is abrupt, accusatory and rude. What Theo sees in her is totally beyond me.

Mrs. Christie's real life disappearance and subsequent discovery at a luxury Harrogate Hotel and Spa is woven into the story, but it serves more as a distraction than an aid to the plot.

I quite liked the mystery. There is a large pool of suspects for Eliza and Theo to wade through and I enjoyed the resolution. The big reveal is done Agatha Christie style, at a Detection Club meeting with all the possible suspects (and the police) present.

The book continues on for several more chapters after the denouement, setting up for a series. This book would have had more impact had it stopped after the solving of the mystery. The ensuing chapters did nothing to entice me to read the next in the series.

Lovely cover art.

⭐⭐.3

#TheCaseoftheChristieConspiracy #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Kelly Oliver grew up in the Northwest, Montana, Idaho, and Washington states. Her maternal grandfather was a forest ranger committed to saving the trees, and her paternal grandfather was a logger hell bent on cutting them down. On both sides, her ancestors were some of the first settlers in Northern Idaho. In her own unlikely story, Kelly went from eating a steady diet of wild game shot by her dad to becoming a vegetarian while studying philosophy and pondering animal minds. Competing with peers who’d come from private schools and posh families “back East,” Kelly’s working-class backwoods grit has served her well. And much to her parent’s surprise, she’s managed to feed and clothe herself as a professional philosopher.
Kelly lives in Nashville with her partner, Benigno Trigo, and her furry family, Mischief, Mayhem, and Mr. Flan. (source: kellyoliverbooks.com - abridged)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver is a delightful historical whodunnit that reimagines Agatha Christie not as the writer, but as a prime suspect in a murder case. Set in 1926, Christie’s involvement with the prestigious Detection Club takes a dark turn when an initiation ritual leads to a shocking death. When Agatha herself vanishes the next day, suspicion falls heavily on her.

The novel’s real star is Eliza Baker, assistant to the brilliant Dorothy Sayers, who refuses to believe in Christie’s guilt and sets out to unravel the mystery. With a sharp eye for detail and a wit to match, Eliza makes a compelling amateur sleuth. The story is packed with fascinating literary figures, rich historical atmosphere, and plenty of twists that would make Dame Agatha proud.

Oliver’s writing captures the spirit of the Golden Age of crime fiction while offering fresh intrigue. While the pacing slows in some places, the overall mystery is engaging, and the nods to real-life literary legends are a treat for classic mystery lovers.

Final Verdict: A must-read for fans of Agatha Christie and historical mysteries! Kelly Oliver weaves fact and fiction into a compelling, well-crafted mystery that will keep you guessing.