The Case of the Christie Conspiracy: This time, she’s not the author... She’s the suspect! A BRAND NEW brilliant historical cozy mystery from Kelly Oliver for 2025 (The Detection Club Book 1)

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By SM Harrison

Kelly Oliver launches an extraordinary new series with The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, a novel that shimmers with intelligence, wit, and historical allure. With a bold narrative premise—Agatha Christie not as author, but as murder suspect—Oliver crafts a mystery that is both delightfully inventive and intellectually satisfying.

The writing is confident and fluid, adeptly integrating sharp dialogue, immersive period detail, and layered character development. Oliver's prose effortlessly guided the reader through a complex plot that was populated by literary legends and original, clever characters. Her transitions between scenes and voices are seamless and natural, and her pacing is brisk but never rushed. The narrative is significantly enriched and the deductive structure of the investigation is improved by her use of chess as both a literal and metaphorical motif.

At its heart, the novel explores themes of legacy, power, reputation, and the hidden vulnerabilities of even the most celebrated figures. By casting Agatha Christie in a new light—one shadowed by scandal and suspicion—Oliver invites reflection on how public personas can obscure private truths. Through Eliza Baker, a resourceful and unapologetically direct amateur sleuth, the book also examines gender dynamics, ambition, and the cost of pursuing justice in a world governed by appearances.

The novel's intellectual and emotional resonance is irresistible. It provides the anticipated benefits of a cozy historical mystery—clever puzzles, charming settings, and eccentric characters—while also providing perceptive commentary on the stories we choose to believe, authorship, and fame. Her partnership with the thoughtful Theo Sharp introduces a dynamic that is both grounded and full of potential, and Eliza's strength, intellect, and vulnerability make her a striking new presence in the genre.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is not merely a clever whodunit; it is a literary mystery that reimagines the boundaries of the Golden Age of detection while paying homage to it. Kelly Oliver exhibits a profound comprehension of the genre's traditions and potential in this exceptional debut. Eliza Baker, a sleuth who is as refreshingly original as she is fearless, will leave readers eager for the next investigation and for more time in her company.

About the Author

Kelly Oliver

Kelly Oliver is the author of four award-winning bestselling mystery series and dozens of nonfiction books. 

Kelly 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. The only thing they agreed on was Canadian rye whiskey. On both sides, her ancestors were some of the first settlers in Northern Idaho. She went from eating a steady diet of wild game shot by her dad (and playing drums with their hooves) to becoming a vegetarian while studying philosophy and pondering animal minds at Northwestern University where she got a PhD in philosophy. Competing with peers who’d come from private schools and posh families “back East” her working-class backwoods grit served her well. And much to her parent’s surprise, she managed to feed and clothe herself as a professional philosopher before giving up academia to become a mystery writer.