The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

 

 The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont. St. Martin's Press, 2022. Adult fiction.

When Agatha Christie disappeared for almost two weeks in 1926, she left behind her husband Archie and her young daughter. She never answered questions about where she was, what she did, or why she was gone. Nina de Gramont has written a fascinating exploration with her own ideas about it all. The book's main character, other than Agatha, is Nan O'Dea, Archie's mistress. Nan's background and time spent in Ireland are crucial to this tale as is Nan's great love, the handsome Irishman named Finbarr. Even policeman Chilton who investigates gets more than just a minor role! 

Those familiar with the real details of Mrs. Christie's disappearance and the "Great Hunt" for her will revel in this imaginative tale. It is never clear why Nan O' Dea is used rather than Nancy Neele. Rosalind Christie is referred to by her nickname, Teddy.  The Harrogate Hydro, the real hotel, is renamed the Bellefort. The real policeman in charge was Kenward. One suspects all this is connected to copyright regulations since so much is fictionalized. The novel winds its way back and forth in time and supplies tidbits of life after the Christies' divorce. Chapters about the disappearance are cleared labelled chronologically. The chapters from Nan's view of point are called "Here Lies Sister Mary" and that title is explained.  The writing is clear and, at times, simply stunningly lyrical. Even the ending takes the reader to new heights of imagination. 

Readers of this blog will be aware that I love going down the rabbit's hole with biographies and fictions about Agatha Christie, but this title is, by far, my favorite peek at the disappearance. Over a hundred years has gone by, but Mrs. Christie is still thrilling us with her work and her life. This is my favorite book of 2022 so far. 

* If you are interested in historical accounting, read Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life by Laura Thompson (Pegasus Books, 2018). Its 534 pages covers the life of Agatha Christie and gives a quite credible surmise about the disappearance. It also provides details about Agatha's marriage to Max Mallowan as well as Mr. Christie and Rosalind's later lives and includes photographs of relevant people. 

John's Turn by Mac Barnett

 

 John's Turn by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Kate Berube. Candlewick Press, 2022. Children's picture book.

John's school has a traditional that on Fridays in the cafeteria, one student is able to perform for the whole school. One student played a tuba. One student did a card trick. One student told jokes. Now, it's John's turn. 

After breakfast, John puts on his costume: a leotard, pants, and slippers. John is going to do a dance. When Mr. Ross presses PLAY, John begins. Multiple pages show the dance steps as John glides and sways and jumps. He bows, the audience claps. The performance is a success!

In simple words, Barnett tells this story. He tells of John's nerves, but readers will also feel John's confidence. Barnett lets readers know what is expected at a performance. Illustrator Berube does a grand job of adding more to the story with subtle colors and emotions. The dance pages are filled with detail and sequence. The audience members are so typical of an elementary school that many adults will feel they recognize some children! John's smile and the excited clapping of the audience signal John's success. 

Chloe Cates is Missing by Mandy McHugh

 

 Chloe Cates is Missing by Mandy McHugh. Scarlet (an imprint of Penzler Publishers), 2022. Adult fiction. Mystery.

Chloe Cates is the fictional persona of young teen Abby Scarborough. Abby's mom, Jennifer, is the mastermind of a web series that features her daughter and that pays many of the family's bills. On the verge of real stardom, the whole family seems covered in glittery sparkles. Father Jackson and older brother JJ seem impossibly wonderful, and, of course, Mom Jennifer is Mother of the Year online.

But, Jennifer had her own problems as a teen and thinks she has left it all behind her until "Chloe Cates" goes missing. Has Abby just tired of the charade and run away? Or has something more sinister happened to her? When the detective Emilina Stone arrives on the scene, she and Jennifer realize that they were best friends as middle schoolers and share a secret. Will their past influence this case? 

Debut novelist McHugh hits a home run with this twisty modern tale. Told in multiple viewpoints, the fast paced story moves to find the missing girl, dead or alive! McHugh is definitely a talent to watch.