Hello crime readers and food lovers. Today, we have a sweet treat for you…well, actually, maybe three treats. First, we are dining on a lovely cold lemon soufflé, and we are reading After The Funeral, which is both a Poirot and has one of the most dastardly Christie villains we have ever met! So treats both gustatory and literary are in store!
After The Funeral – The Plot
Richard Abernethie is dead and his family are gathered around to pay their respects. After the funeral, the family gathers at the ancestral home to hear the reading of his will. Family members and Richard’s lawyer are startled when Richard’s somewhat eccentric younger sister Cora states that Richard was murdered. Cora is known within the family for saying outlandish (but true) things. Her remark does not sit well with Mr Entwhistle, the lawyer, who becomes even more disturbed when Cora is brutally murdered the next day.
It turns out that Richard visited Cora just before his death. Did he give her some information that led her to believe his life was in danger? Did someone kill Cora to keep her quiet?
We have:
- No one in the family with a sound alibi for the time Cora was killed.
- Among them, we also have issues with gambling, adultery and madness
- A false confession
- Helen Abernethie (Richard’s sister-in-law) feeling that something was not quite right on the day of the funeral.
- Helen then getting coshed over the head as she calls Entwhistle to tell him what she remembered
- A motif of creepy nuns terrifying Miss Gilchrist, Cora’s companion
- A malachite table and some wax flowers providing a clue as to what might have happened
Poirot goes undercover as Mr Pontalier, a gentleman looking for a large home to house refugees from the war to sort out whodunnit. Even if no one knows who he really is, even after his ruse is discovered.
After The Funeral – The Covers
So. Many. Covers. I know this looks like a lot but I narrowed this down from over 50! These are all wonderful in their own way so instead of calling out my favourites I thought we might go through the translations of some of the names.
The American title is Funerals Are Fatal…which is, yes, true for at least one person. In a similar vein are the Hungarian and Swedish titles Funerals are Dangerous.
The German title translates to “The Bouquet of Wax Flowers”, a deep reference to a plot point in the story.
The French Title translates to The Indiscretions of Hercule Poirot”. I beg your pardon, what? No! That is all wrong! Je n’aime pas le français!
The Recipe: Cold Lemon Soufflé
I returned to my school Home Economics textbook, Cookery The Australian Way, for this recipe. I clearly remember making this way back in class with Mrs Rama, my Home Ec teacher. Delicious then. Delicious now!
“Cold lunch, of course, it had to be. Ham and chicken and tongue and salad. With cold lemon soufflé and apple tart to follow.”
After the Funeral – Agatha Christie
Better to go home cross-country. These bath buns were really excellent. Extraordinary how hungry a funeral made you feel. The soup at Enderby has been delicious – and so was the cold soufflé
After the Funeral – Agatha Christie
Links to the Christieverse
- Poirot refers to the killing of Lord Edgware.
Other Food & Drinks Mentioned in After The Funeral
- Ham
- Chicken
- Tongue
- Jelly
- Charlotte Russe
- Apple Tart
- Creamy Chicken Soup
- Sherry x2
- Chablis
- Tea (several mentions)
- Bath buns
- Hot milk
- Boiled eggs
- Black coffee / Coffee (multiple mentions)
- Champagne
- Macaroni au Gratin
- Pate de foie gras
- (Hot) Toast (mentioned a few times)
- Sole Veronique
- Brandy (multiple mentions)
- Escalope de veau Milanaise
- Poire Flambée
- Ice cream
- Pouilly Fuissé
- Port
- Creme de cacao
- Irish Stew
- Scones
- Drop Cakes
- Strawberry Jam
- Omelette
- Box of chocolates
- Wedding cake
- Beef olives
- Custard Pudding
- Sirop
- Eggs for Breakfast
- Sandwiches
- Beer
- Coffee and biscuits
- Digestives
- Gingernuts
- Brioches
- Chocolate éclairs
- Herbs
- Meringues
January’s read will be They Do It With Mirrors. We’re starting the year with Miss Marple!
Have a great week!
