Well it seemed like a good idea, and it started out like one but quickly became disappointing. While we may never know what happened during Agatha Christie's missing 10 days, I have to hope it was nothing like the 'fictionalised' version in this book.
Far from celebrating the authour's genius and talent, the writer has instead diluted her brand entirely. She appears weak and manipulated by the most cartoonish of villains and the most ridiculous of plots. The Villain stinks of foul breath, the policeman is fat and stupid, and at every turn the plot shoehorns in a 'fact' from the time to validate each decision as far fetched and silly as it may seem.
It was readable and gripping but instead of putting Ms Christie's undoubted genius int he forefront, she is batted about by plot and machinations of everyone else and is merely along for the ride.
It also annoys me when writers retconn credit for other peoples ideas into their stories, like a time traveler suggesting some of Shakespeare's best lines and him going 'I might use that!' it dilutes the power of the character and the person. Might be funny in a comic setting (like the awesome Upstart Crow) but not when played 'seriously' like this.
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