The Christie Curse (Book Collector Mystery Series #1)

This first book in this "old books" series is definitely a winner for mystery lovers, Agatha Christie fans,  Irish con man fans, old books/first edition fans, cat and dog lovers, and fans of determined gutsy woman detectives.  In other words, this is a great fun read!! Jordan Bingham was raised by her less than law abiding, Irish Uncles whom she dearly loves, but after graduating from college, she yearns for a job and home of her own.  Vera Van Alt is a rich, crusty, eccentric, wheelchair bound old woman who "must have" the rumored play written by Agatha Christie during her mysterious eleven day disappearance. Needs converge, and Jordan accepts this "researching" challenge as Vera's newest employee, with a lovely old attic room included in the deal. Unfortunately, one of the first things Jordan finds out is that her predecessor was killed in a mysterious fashion.  Research about Christie's play soon includes chasing down murderers.  Having Uncles that avoid the law becomes an aid in guarding an injured woman, and loosing nosey, unhelpful policeman. Victoria Abbott's cast of characters in this book are worth the read in themselves.  I especially enjoyed the Italian cook who is the boss of her kitchen, and thoroughly enjoys tempting---no demanding, that people "eat, eat , eat" her many delicious meals.  Helping Jordan is also the extremely cute and interested librarian, Lance. Then there's Officer "Smiley", who seems to want to help, but Jordan is concerned that he is always in the right place at the wrong time.   I could go on and on because this book is so interesting and fun to read!  Looking forward to more from Victoria Abbott!

I read a large number of mystery's and have become quite good a guessing who the villian is about 1/2 way through. This is the first one in a number of books that I was completely mystified. The author developed a strong intelligent heroine, without being too cute and this helped keep the reader focused. The characters all had personalities that were quickly developed and were interesting in themselves. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an absorbing read but at the same time moved quickly and did not bog one down in the details. I am putting Victoria Abbott down as an author to look for in the future.

What a terrific summer book! I could not put it down...loved the characters, the plot, and I became totally engrossed in this book! Writing was fun and fresh. I'm hoping it truly is the first in a series; I cannot wait for more.

The Christie Curse is the first book in the A Book Collector Mystery series by Victoria Abbott(Victoria and Mary Jane Maffini. Jordan Bingham would love to have a job and move out on her own. She loves her uncles and they would do, anything for niece. Still it would be nice to be out doing for herself for once. So with her recent Masters in English and a love for the classics she applies for the position of researcher. Soon Jordan finds out that the eccentric recluse, Vera Van Alst, research is to center around a reported play written by Agatha Christie about her disappearance in 1926. Jordan will be replacing Alex Fine who met with an untimely death by being pushed in front of a New York City subway, supposedly in search of the missing play. Jordan finds it strange that she cannot find any notes of work that Alex had already done. One of the first things Jordan does is attend a book fair and tries to get some information on the existence of the manuscript. Jordan soon hears from Karen Smith, one of the booksellers, asking Jordan to meet her back at the fair. Upon arriving back Jordan finds Karen severely beaten and left to die. Jordan returns to the book fair the next day to find the out the young lady who runs the concession stand across from the site where the beating took place has also been attacked. Then when she finds out that the first policeman on the scene at both incidents was the same one that keeps shadowing here, she to really get concerned and moves into the search for the killer mode. It's time to get the help of her not so law abiding uncles. Not that they are bad criminals, but are well known around the police station. With the help of some of their don't ask friends, they are able to help. Plus they have an assortment of vehicles to help Jordan move around unnoticed. Her Uncle Mick and Lucky are real characters and great addition to the book. Mick owns Michael's Fine Antiques, but more than likely there is more dealing in antiques than in the buying and selling of same. They are true gourmets and Jordan enjoys stopping by for Franks and beans or maybe some macaroni and cheese. There might even be a possible romantic interest in the form of Lance, Jordan's go to librarian. I really enjoyed this beginning of a new series and look forward seeing what delicious meals Signora Panetone will be cooking and I wonder what the next rare book Van Alst will have Jordan to search for.

The Christie Curse By: Victoria Abbott Copyright March 2013 Publisher Berkeley Prime Crime In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared—making headlines across the world—only to show up eleven days later at a spa under an assumed name. During those eleven days, did she have time to write a play? Jordan Kelly needs a new job and a new place to live. She’s back in Harrison Falls, New York, living with her not so law-abiding uncles, in debt thanks to a credit card–stealing ex and pending grad school loans. Enter the perfect job, a research position that includes room and board, which will allow her to spend her days hunting down rare mysteries for an avid book collector. There’s just one problem: her employer, Vera Van Alst—the most hated citizen of Harrison Falls. Jordan’s first assignment is to track down a rumored Agatha Christie play. It seems easy enough, but Jordan soon finds out that her predecessor was killed while looking for it, and there is still someone out there willing to murder to keep the play out of Vera’s hands. Jordan’s new job is good…but is it worth her life? Jordan needs a job and that’s something that is not easily available in her home town. She answers an ad in the local newspaper for a position that seems perfectly matched to her degree and skills. When she shows up for the interview she is interviewed by a wheelchair bound women with a scowling face and a nasty temperament. Vera Van Alst is the most hated woman in the town. Her family had previously supplied work for almost all the folks in the town until they shut down the shoe factory that they’d owned for multiple generations. Looking at Jordan Vera tells her that she is wasting her time applying since she is looking for a man to do the job which is the only reason she was asked to appear for the interview, she has a man’s name. Jordan was getting upset with this woman and wished she could just walk, but she needed this job desperately. She needs to get out from under her uncles’ eyes, and to pay off her monstrous student loans. Jordon is finally given a 3 month opportunity to prove herself. She is asked to research and find a missing work of Agatha Christie’s. With a lot of effort Jordon starts tracing the object and finds that she is not only not the first to work for Vera on this project, but that her predecessor died while on a trip into NYC regarding a possible purchase. As the story proceeds Jordan makes new contacts in the book business, puts out calls for information through her uncle’s contacts, and finds herself getting deeper and deeper into a very dark business. This story, the first in a new series by Victoria Abbott is intriguing and full of twists, turns, bad guys, good guys, and players who will show their true colors further into the book. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants more than a cute entertaining read. FTC FULL DISCLOSURE: I received this book from the author, who only asked for a fair and impartial review.

I really enjoyed this first in a series. Jordan is hired by Vera Van Alst, a hard woman hated by the community to find a rumored Agatha Christie play, only to find that her predecessor had been killed. This story takes you on twists and turns and I had many surprises that I didn't see coming. I had no clue who did it, it certainly kept me guessing. I liked Jordan, she's strong with a fun sense of humor, I loved her interactions with Vera. Signora Pantone had me laugh every time she appeared, she reminds me of a few people I know. It came to a satisfactory conclusion for me and I will continue on with this series.

Oh hi one of many books I been wanting to finish but wasn't in the mood and finally, after so long, got around to finishing this where I left off at. Haven't had one of those in a while. Anyway, been in a cozy mystery and just all around mystery books kind of mood lately. So, this book, the writing was really good though I felt the mystery was a little drawn out. I mean that's not a bad thing, but just felt like with most series, I'm used to the fast paced...ness of these cozies. So I was a little surprised that while it does get a little fast paced, it does take its time with the characters and mystery solving. Still enjoyed reading this though. The book theme and well literary references I did like and found the MC likable and wanted her to catch a break and well, was rooting for her. Giving this one a 3.5, a good start to a series that I heard is pretty good. Looking forward to the other books in the series.

What a great first novel. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

Victoria and Mary Jane Maffini have proven that a mother and daughter can collaborate to write a book good enough to keep the reader coming back for more. Jordan Bingham finds her perfect job that also includes accommodations which is good because she also needs a place to stay since she just moved back to Harrison Falls. Her new employer is Vera Van Alst the most hated woman in town, Jordan's job is to find a play (if it exist)written by Agatha Christie when she disappeared for 11 days in 1926. Can Jordan find the elusive play (if it exist) or will she die trying to figure out the mystery like her predecessor? This book will keep you guessing until the end, enjoy! 

The idea behind this potential series is interesting. The author introduced many characters and touched upon many potential plot and character development pathways. No one character was fully fleshed out, but that is not uncommon for a first book. If the author can, in future, develop the main characters more fully and focus her style, the future books in this possible series could prove both entertaining and intriguing. It's easy to see the occasional nod to Dame Christie re: the plucky lead (Tuppence-like), the librarian with the handsome exterior that might be hiding a not so nice interior, but the author also seems to have her own touches. I'd be willing to give a 2nd book a shot.