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    A Talent for Murder
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    A Talent for Murder
    Unavailable
    A Talent for Murder
    Ebook351 pages5 hours

    A Talent for Murder

    By Andrew Wilson

    4/5

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    Unavailable in your country

    Unavailable in your country

    About this ebook

    ‘I wouldn't scream if I were you. Unless you want the whole world to learn about your husband and his mistress.’

    Agatha Christie, in London to visit her literary agent, boards a train, preoccupied and flustered in the knowledge that her husband Archie is having an affair. She feels a light touch on her back, causing her to lose her balance, then a sense of someone pulling her to safety from the rush of the incoming train. So begins a terrifying sequence of events. Her rescuer is no guardian angel; rather, he is a blackmailer of the most insidious, manipulative kind. Agatha must use every ounce of her cleverness and resourcefulness to thwart an adversary determined to exploit her genius for murder to kill on his behalf.

     'Wilson not only knows his subject but he deftly moves the tale away from mere literary ventriloquism and into darker territory. Great fun, too’ Observer
     
    'The queen of crime is the central character in this audacious mystery, which reinvents the story of her mysterious disappearance with thrilling results' Guardian

    What readers are saying about A Talent for Murder:

     ‘The initial premise of the story is pure genius, and when the reader realises by the end of chapter one whose head they are inside, goose bumps are guaranteed to occur’ Greg, Goodreads, 4 stars
     
    ‘A darkly twisting tale of murder and manipulation’ Erin Britton, NetGalley, 4 stars
     
    ‘This is a must-read for crime fiction fans, and Agatha Christie fans especially who will discover a new side to the Queen of Crime herself!’ Vincent, Goodreads, 5 stars
     
    ‘I enjoy Agatha Christie and this book did not disappoint. I devoured this book in two days’ Annie, Goodreads, 4 stars
     
    ‘Great mystery and action novel featuring Agatha Christie as you've never seen her before. Part biography/part thrill ride this is one novel I didn't want to end’ Nikkia Neil, NetGalley, 5 stars
     
    ‘An intriguing homage that stirs the imagination of the amateur sleuth in all of us … A Talent for Murder is one novel that definitely deserves attention and praise’ Elspeth G. Perkin, Goodreads, 4 stars
     
    ‘This was a really good read especially for fans of Agatha Christie and even those who have never read her books’ Teresa, Goodreads, 4 stars
     
    ‘So, so enjoyable! Great for book club discussion due to the "real" mystery behind it’ Kaylee Mitchell, Goodreads, 5 stars
     
    ‘A fun read for Christie fans’Roman Clodia, NetGalley, 4 stars

    ‘I'll admit to being totally drawn along by this novel; I couldn't wait to keep reading and find out how it would all turn out.  I really would recommend this book as an interesting account of Christie's missing eleven days; you will be entertained’ Kate Baty, 4 stars, NetGalley
     
    ‘An exciting novel, a must for all Christie fans! Did you see what was happening? Did you spot the red herrings? The obvious clues. No? I didn't and that is probably what makes this a very clever novel’ Joanne D’arcy, NetGalley, 5 stars
     
    ‘A very enjoyable read, in the tradition of Christie herself, well researched and inventive … plenty of unexpected plot twists to keep you on your toes. What fun!’ Lisa Friel, NetGalley, 4 stars
     
    ‘Unusual and entertaining’ Tina Stringer, NetGalley 4 stars
    ‘Entertaining, feasible plotting and an authentic narrative make this a highly enjoyable read’ J Graham, NetGalley, 4 stars
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster UK
    Release dateApr 6, 2017
    ISBN9781471148231
    Unavailable
    A Talent for Murder
    Author

    Andrew Wilson

    Andrew Wilson (PhD, King’s College London) is the teaching pastor at King’s Church London and a columnist for Christianity Today. He is the author of several books, including Incomparable; Echoes of Exodus; and God of All Things. Andrew is married to Rachel and they have three children: Zeke, Anna, and Samuel.

    Read more from Andrew Wilson

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    Reviews for A Talent for Murder

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    • 4/5
      To be clear: This is not a mystery story, but it is a romance, a story told from different perspectives and a fictional history - purporting to be the tale of what transpired when Agatha Christie disappeared prior to her marrying a second time. It is very cinematic - I can imagine a BBC mini series. It also has a sympathetic heroine (Christie) and a cast of bumbling investigators, and people who get in over their heads trying to outwit a particularly dastardly villain. Rather resembles Collins'_The Woman in White_ in tone and fever-pitched action; and even has a scene resembling the one in _The Princess Bride_. The device of splitting perspectives serves to enhance suspense. This is a fast-paced, atmospheric and engaging book that may incite me to read _The Murder of Roger Ackroyd_ again due to the multiple references - while having read it will definitely enhance a reading, it is not a prerequisite.
    • 4/5
      In the past I have written about what I call "coat-tails" books, those that attach themselves to the success of others. I think this is one such book. To be honest, I wouldn't have read it if it wasn't for the reference to Agatha Christie in the blurb. And yet the allure is very strong. I'm not sure there is even a grain of truth in its explanation of what happened to Agatha Christie in those days in which she disappeared in 1926. And yet the book is very persuasive.This novel opens with an "Editor's Note", from someone called John Davison. He tells readers that the novel is the result of an agreement between himself and Mrs Christie.When I first mentioned the idea of this book to her, she was understandably reluctant. However, she agreed to be interviewed on condition that the resulting volume should not be published until at least forty years after her death. I too served my solicitors with notice to the same effect.So here is the first of the puzzles this novel, mainly using Agatha Christie as narrator. It is indeed 41 years since the death of Agatha Christie.This work of fiction presents a story of what caused her disappearance in 1926. The author says that he tried to "make sure the facts surrounding Agatha's disappearance in 1926 were as accurate as possible." He has even included real characters from the time, including Archie Christie, and the police detective William Kenward.So, read it for yourself, and judge how successful you think it is in presenting a plausible story.The final chapter in the book is the first chapter of A DIFFERENT KIND OF EVIL, Andrew Wilson's next Agatha Christie adventure.
    • 4/5
      Agatha Christie went missing for 11 days in December 1926 and her disappearance has never been explained. She was going through a marriage breakdown at the time and some blame that for the disappearance. Another explanation is that she suffered an amnesia attack. Christie never acknowledged the event in her autobiography or discussed it publicly. The result is plenty of speculation about what happened.Author Andrew Wilson has created a scenario which has Christie falling into the clutches of a particularly nasty villain, the doctor of her husband?s mistress. Through blackmail (reflecting the then current perceptions of scandal) and extortion, the doctor orders Christie to murder his wife such that he cannot be blamed. He wants her family fortune for himself. He suggests that Christie use her knowledge of poisons to do the deed. He is thoroughly evil. (Also he has a terrible case of halitosis, the cause of which is never revealed to the reader). The story is told from several points of view: Christie?s, a police inspector?s and a young fledgling journalist and so on. There?s even an appearance by the British secret service.It is a suspenseful and atmospheric novel with a satisfying conclusion. There?s a sequel due to be released next year and I?m looking forward to reading it.