An e book bargain
#MrsChristieattheMysteryGuildLibrary #NetGalley
My thoughts:
Those who enjoy cozy mysteries, are fans of Agatha Christie, are willing to suspend disbelief, enjoy lots of book references, enjoy accurate NYC locations, a murder and a good, fun plot will rush to buy Chapman’s novel. I very much enjoyed it.
I loved the setting. Chapman has created a special library that features a replica of Christie’s own library at Greenway. I wanted to go to this (imaginary) library set on Washington Square and spend the day. Glad I could do so virtually.
Protagonist, Tory has inherited the running of the library from her grandmother. She also is a book restorer. Tory has eccentric relatives, including her cousin Nic. Nic leads to Tory right into suspicious events and murder(s).
Speaking of eccentricity, how is it that Mrs. Mallowan (you should know who she is) is found sitting in the library? She very much wants to be involved in the events of this story.
Some suspension of disbelief is required but do this and there is much to enjoy here. I look forward to what comes next for this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 26 August 2025
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews:
Reviews
“The first in a new series that I know is going to be a delight. Clever, funny, sharp, surprising — Amanda Chapman delivers!”
– Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of City of Girls and Eat, Pray, Love
“Amanda Chapman’s Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library has everything a reader could want in a mystery, including the (possible) ghost of Agatha Christie, the queen of puzzle solvers. Add a whopping good mystery, engaging characters, a little romance, glamorous New York, and you have the perfect cocktail. It’s a sparkling, witty gem with heart, and I can’t wait for the next installment!”
– Deborah Crombie, McCavity Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Scotland Yard mysteries.
“Chapman intrigues and delights with this twisty and funny must-read tale featuring (it appears!) the Queen of Crime herself. Narrator Tory Van Dyne is at first mystified by Mrs. Christie but ends up marveling at how she unravels myriad clues to solve two homicides. Prepare to lose sleep — you won’t want to put this book down.”
– Maddie Day, Agatha Award-winning author of Scone Cold Dead and Murder at Cape Costumers
“Witty, twisty, and utterly enthralling, Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library pays homage to Dame Agatha and is a love song to New York City. I fell in love with the Mystery Guild Library and can’t wait to pay it another visit!”
– Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author and Agatha Award winner
“Chapman has a blast with her contemporary New York setting, resettling British mystery tropes among Manhattan’s rare books community, theatrical circles, and eccentric Upper East Siders. Uncovering a killer, it turns out, can be just as fun in the Big Apple as it is in St. Mary Mead. Fans of classic detective fiction are in for a treat.”
– Publisher’s Weekly starred review
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 