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. All references to “Agatha” refer to the in-text version of the author, while all references to “Christie” denote the real-world Dame Agatha Christie.

All quotes in this guide refer to the 2021 Sourcebooks Landmark e-edition; slight variations in pagination may occur across devices.

Content Warning: This guide discusses emotional abuse and references to death by suicide.

Plot Summary

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie begins with the Prologue entitled “The Beginning,” in which a mysterious narrator—later revealed to be Agatha Christie—warns the recipient of a letter, Agatha’s husband Archie Christie, to follow the instructions in the letter closely. Archie is instructed to cooperate with police and not to let them know what he knows about his wife’s complicity in her disappearance, or else his secret affair with Nancy Neele will be made public.

After the Prologue, the novel splits into two timelines: “The Manuscript,” which depicts young Agatha Miller meeting and eventually marrying Archibald Christie; and “Day X after the Disappearance,” which explores Archie’s experiences after his wife’s disappearance as the investigation to find her continues.

In “The Manuscript,” Archie meets Agatha and convinces her to dance with him at a ball. Archie is intense, which Agatha initially dislikes, but comes to enjoy. They become friends, growing closer and closer despite the disapproval of Agatha’s mother, “Mummy,” and Agatha’s unofficial fiancé, Reggie. Eventually, despite the disapproval of those around them, the two become engaged.

In the Disappearance timeline, Archie is spending the weekend with the Jameses and his mistress, Nancy Neele, to whom he has just become engaged despite still being married to Agatha. He receives a phone call; the police are at his house, Styles, because his wife is missing. Archie heads home, where he finds the letter that appeared in “The Beginning.” Before he speaks to the police he finds it, reads it, and burns it. The only other person who has seen the letter is Charlotte Fisher, governess to Archie’s daughter Rosalind. Archie convinces Charlotte that the police don’t need to know about the letter, lying and saying that it has nothing to do with her disappearance. Charlotte agrees, but Archie is concerned she will say something that makes him seem suspicious. Archie meets Constable Kenward, whom he immediately dislikes.

In “The Manuscript,” Archie leaves to fight in World War I and Agatha remains behind in England, where she works as a war nurse. Archie returns on leave one Christmas and insists they marry immediately, which they do in a hasty, informal ceremony. Two years pass, and Archie is still at war. Agatha, who worries for him daily, has written a mystery novel, though she does not tell anyone about it yet. She eventually tells Archie, who is pleased for her. An issue with his sinuses eventually ends Archie’s career as a pilot, but he is changed after he returns from war, moody and sullen despite Agatha’s efforts to appease him. She struggles with domestic tasks but commits herself to spending as much of her time as possible tending to his needs and anticipating his wants, as encouraged by her mother. Agatha becomes pregnant, which she hopes will cheer Archie, but he is instead angered, thinking the baby will steal her attention from him. After Rosalind is born, Agatha keeps her distance from the baby, seeking to fulfill the promise she makes to Archie that he will always remain her first priority. Soon after, she receives a contract for her first published novel.

In the “Disappearance” section, Archie frets over hiding his affair with Nancy from the police. Agatha’s car is discovered near a local lake, causing rumors that she has died by suicide, though the suitcase and fur coat discovered in the car suggest that she possibly was disoriented from a crash and wandered off. Search parties are organized to check local fields for her. Newspaper coverage increases, which causes Archie to become more anxious. He visits Scotland Yard, asking them to intervene, as he does not trust Kenward, but they refuse.

In “The Manuscript,” it is 1924. Agatha and Archie go on a yearlong world tour as part of Archie’s job, leaving Rosalind behind. Agatha wishes for more time to write but is forced to “babysit” the wives of Archie’s bosses. When they return, Archie loses his job, which causes him to experience low moods. Agatha’s writing career continues to grow, but she struggles to find pleasure in this, due to Archie’s anger and Rosalind’s resentment at having been left alone for so long. They purchase Styles, a house in the country, which Archie likes but Agatha doesn’t. Shortly after, Mummy falls ill and dies before Agatha can get to her. When Agatha requests comfort, Archie goes to Spain without her.

In the “Disappearance” section, Archie grows more restless under surveillance. Another police officer, Goddard, is added to the case, and Archie finds him more sympathetic than Kenward. The press coverage increases and begins to turn on Archie. To strike back, he gives an interview that he thinks will paint him in a positive light, but it backfires, and his relationship with Nancy Neele is made public.

In “The Manuscript,” Archie returns after weeks in Spain and tells Agatha that he has fallen in love with Nancy and wants a divorce. Agatha, who has spent years trying to make Archie happy, feels her world collapse. She convinces him to undertake a three-month trial reconciliation, but it goes poorly. They spend the first half of the three months in the Pyrenees, and Agatha fears that Archie will attempt to kill her. Things do not improve when they return to England. Agatha insists she will only grant Archie a divorce if he names Nancy as his mistress in the proceedings; he refuses, and they fight, which leads to Archie knocking Agatha to the ground on top of a broken teapot. Rosalind and Charlotte find her, bleeding on the floor.

In the “Disappearance” section, Archie searches for evidence of his affair with Nancy, which he has denied. Press coverage continues to blame him, and he grows more and more anxious. Archie receives and reads a packet of papers entitled The Manuscript. Soon after, Kenward and Goddard pound on the door, insisting they be let in.

Part 2 takes place in a single timeline, told from Agatha’s perspective, beginning on the last day of her disappearance. She has spent the past 11 days in a hotel, where she is registered as Mrs. Neele. Archie, Goddard, and Kenward show up. Agatha speaks to Archie in private, insisting that he report that she has amnesia and admit his affair with Nancy. If he doesn’t, she will release The Manuscript, including a section that describes his attempted murder of her. She tells Archie that he has murdered her—murdered the innocent person she once was. She insists the truth come out, to protect her relationship with Rosalind. As the novel concludes, Agatha, determined to live for herself, faces the press to tell her story.