Book Review: The Case of the Christie Curse By Kelly Oliver

Published February 21, 2026 | By Laura

It’s so wonderful to be welcoming Kelly Oliver to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Case of the Christie Curse.

Mesopotamia, 1930: When Agatha Christie invites fellow members of the Detection Club to witness the famous excavations at the ruins of Ur, Dorothy L. Sayers, her quick-witted assistant Eliza Baker, and Theo Sharp expect ancient wonders – not fresh corpses.

But when an archaeologist is found dead in the sand, whispers of a deadly curse sweep through the camp. Eliza suspects something far more dangerous than superstition. Amid glittering artifacts and fragile alliances, every guest harbors secrets: the Woolleys, whose marriage is shadowed by tragedy; a journalist hungry for scandal; even academic Max Mallowan, whose loyalties are not what they seem.

As theft, forgery, and coded messages surface, the line between archaeology and espionage blurs. And when Eliza and Theo find themselves in danger, they must face not only the truth about the murder – but also the truths they’ve long denied about each other. Can they uncover the killer before the desert claims another victim? Or will this dig unearth secrets too dangerous to survive?

*****

1930.

The Detection Club are called to assist their most famous member, Agatha Christie, in the deserts of Mesopotamia. The Queen of Crime has a strange feeling. When the team arrive, it isn’t long before superstition turns into murder. Can they figure out what is going on before anyone else gets hurt?

I was extremely excited to be invited onto the blog tour for The Case of the Christie Curse, the latest novel in the Detection Club series. Having devoured the previous novel, The Case of the Body on the Orient Express, I couldn’t wait to get started on book 3 of the series. I do thoroughly recommend this series as a whole, but this can be read as a standalone.

Being back with Eliza, Theo, Dorothy, Agatha, and Queenie the beagle was like being back with old friends. You do feel like part of the gang as the mystery begins. Eliza is fearless and I adore her as a character. She follows her own path, not wanting to fit into any box. Theo, oh lovely Theo. I wanted these two to get their act together so much and admit their true feelings to each other. Do they? Well, I am not telling.

Dorothy is brilliant and has no inhibitions. She says what’s on her mind without being cruel. And then there is Agatha. When fact meets fiction, I find it so interesting. She did attend a dig in Mesopotamia in her lifetime and having this fictionalised account of her time there was so fun. Oh, if I could only be in a room with her for five minutes to talk about her writing process.

This novel introduces some new faces including another couple who actually existed – Leonard and Katherine Woolley. We also meet Max Mallowan (Christie’s husband), Professor Habib from Baghdad University, Julian, the dig’s cataloguer, Thomas Griff, a journalist who is obsessed with Agatha, and Joseph, the project’s driver. All bring their own mystery and suspicions to the plot and are all rich in characterization.

The plot unravels so well and is expertly done. Kelly Oliver is such a master at cosy crime. I really did not want to stop reading this book and my husband had to prize my kindle out of my hands just so I would go to sleep. OK, well, not quite but almost. Lol.

Suspense, suspicion and mystery is present all the way through this book and it has you suspecting almost everything and everyone. There were many moments where I worried for the safety of the principal cast, one in particular who I have a soft spot for… well two if you count Queenie. The setting was brilliantly described. I could feel the sandstorms and the heat. I would not cope well in that heat.

OK, no more as I don’t want to spoil it. I REALLY hope this is a series you discover for yourself. Not only was it a brilliant tale, but it has also got me wanting to know even more about Christie’s life. She was a fascinating person.

The Case of the Christie Curse is a thrilling, compelling masterpiece of cosy crime fiction and I loved it. Dear Kelly Oliver, please let there be a book four…please. What if I say pretty please?

(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review).

About Kelly Oliver –

Kelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of three mysteries series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, and the historical cozies The Fiona Figg Mysteries, set in WW1.