Hello, crime readers and food lovers! Today’s Dining with The Dame takes us on a culinary journey from the bustling streets of Iraq to the quaint English country village of Chipping Cleghorn. And, as we all know, the English country village is the natural home of one Miss Jane Marple! Our delectable companion for today’s reading is Delicious Death – a delightful and delovely chocolate cake that is sure to satisfy both your taste buds and your thirst for a good mystery. However, it’s important to note that this Delicious Death is not the same one created by Jane Asher in 2010 to celebrate Agatha Christie’s 120th anniversary. I had some difficulty in finding all the necessary ingredients for that particular recipe so as Fleetwood Mac famously suggested, I went my own way on this one!
A Murder is Announced – The Plot
When the inhabitants of Chipping Cleghorn read the following in the local paper, they mostly think it is a joke.
A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th at Little Paddocks at 6:30pm. Friends please accept this, the only intimation.”
Despite this, most of them turn up to Little Paddocks, the home of Letitia Blacklock and Dora “Bunny” Bunner on the 29th at the designated time to find out what is going on.
At exactly 6:30, the lights go out. In the darkness, a gun fires twice. And dead body is found on the ground.
The body turns out to be that of a young man who worked in a hotel in the local town. But why was he there? Who put the weird notice in the paper? And why? Is someone really trying to kill Leticia Blacklock?
We have:
- Forged cheques
- An unused door being oiled
- A missing revolver
- A missing lamp
- Missing photos
- A host of people who might not be who they say they are
- More murders
- And EVERYBODY being utterly horrible to Mitzi the maid
Thank goodness for Miss Marple! Sir Henry Clithering might bizarrely call her the ‘Super Pussy of all old Pussies,’ but she’s the one who’ll solve this mystery and bring peace back to Chipping Cleghorn! Here is a somewhat less unhinged quote from Sir Henry on Miss Marple:
“She’s just the finest Detective God ever made. Natural genius cultivated in a suitable soil…remember that an elderly unmarried woman who knits and gardens is streets ahead of any detective sergeant. She can tell you what might have happened and what ought to have happened and even what actually did happen. And she can tell you why it happened”
A Murder is Announced – Agatha Christie
A Murder is Announced – The Covers
There are some absolutely cracking covers here. I couldn’t find as many foreign covers as usual which was disappointing. However, I feel the calibre of the ones I did find make up for it. Even the weird French one at the bottom which looks like people in a doctor’s waiting room has its own charm!
The Recipe: Delicious Death
“Death!” said Patrick in sepulchral tones. “Delicious death.”.
“Be quiet, Patrick, ” said Miss Blacklock as Miss Bunner gave a little yelp.
“I only meant the special cake that Mitzi makes,” said Patrick apologetically. “You know we always call it Delicious Death”
“Ha, ” Patrick cried dramatically as the party took their places around the dining room table. “What do I see before me? Delicious Death.”
“Hush” said Miss Blacklock. “Don’t let Mitzi hear you. She objects to your name for her cake very much.”
“Nevertheless, Delicious Death it is! Is it Bunny’s birthday cake?”
“Yes, it is, ” said Miss Brunner. “I really am having the most wonderful birthday”.
A Murder is Announced – Agatha Christie
Links to the Christieverse
Edward Swettenham wrote a play called “Elephants Do Forget”. Christie later wrote a novel called “Elephants Can Remember”.
Dermott Cradock, the investigating officer in “A Murder is Announced”, is Sir Henry Clithering’s godson. We previously met Sir Henry, the former head of Scotland Yard, in Murder at the Vicarage and The Body In the Library.
Other Food & Drinks Mentioned in “A Murder is Announced”
- Coffee x3
- Kippers x2
- Toast
- Sherry / Bad Sherry (so many times!)
- Eggs x2
- Stewed Beef
- Goulash
- Cheese Straws x2
- Olives
- (Fancy) Pastries (multiple mentions)
- Cabbages
- Brandy
- Asparagus
- Apples
- Chocolates x3
- Herrings
- Lettuces
- Skim Milk / Milk
- Honey x2
- Vegetable Marrows
- Quinces / Quince Jelly
- Tea x2
- Cakes x2
- Bread
- Margarine and Butter
- Meat Paste
- Meat and two veg
- Eggs
- Cream x2
- Horsemeat
- Sardine Sandwiches
- Tomato Sandwiches
- Wine
- Corn (for hens)
- Side of bacon
- Omelettes
- Fried onions
- Jam
November’s read will be Mrs McGinty’s Dead
Have a great week!
