Olla-Podrida: Agatha Christie

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards, Reviewed

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards is a fun, clever mystery that feels like an Agatha Christie story with a modern twist. Six struggling crime-writing fans are invited to a snowy Yorkshire village to play a murder mystery game for a big prize. But when the fake murder turns real, the old library setting becomes creepy and exciting. Edwards keeps you guessing with a smart plot, fun clues, and a cozy yet tense vibe that’s perfect for a winter read.

The format of the book is unique in that it uses podcast clips, text messages, and journal entries to tell the story. While that definitely makes it feel fresh, it did take a little bit of getting used to. The snowy village and double-mystery idea are great, but only two characters get first-person chapters, which feels uneven. Some of the Trust staff seem more like types than real people, but the story still pulls you in with its fast pace and clever twists.

Overall, it is a charming, suspenseful read for fans of classic mysteries and games like Clue. It’s playful but keeps the stakes high, earning 4.5 stars (rounded to 5). If you love cozy mysteries with a dark edge, this book is a great pick for a chilly night.

You can order your copy here.

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Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Eccles Cakes & a Poirot Tisane

Revisiting a charming post from 2011 for Throwback Thursday. Join me for some Eccles Cakes, a puzzling mystery, and a cup of tea.

The little Belgian with the egg-shaped head who is always in full command of his little grey cells (particularly when it comes to solving a mystery) was fond of his daily tisane. In fact, Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot often accounts this as being the reason why his “little grey cells” are superior to others. My guess is, judging by his rotund frame, that he liked his sweets equally as well, and Londoner that he eventually became, he undoubtedly indulged in the Eccles Cakes available at Fortnum & Mason.

An Eccles cake, named for the borough of Greater Manchester in England, is a small, round cake filled with raisins, currants, and candied orange peel wrapped in a delicate puff pastry and topped with sugar. You don't have to go to London to try one, as they can easily be made at home. I couldn't find orange peel, so made that as well, using what I needed for the cakes, and dipping the rest in chocolate (and boy was that good!). The filling can be made the day ahead, and the cakes can be rather quickly assembled and baked up just in time for afternoon tea. puzzling mystery, and a cup of tea.

This recipe is one I've been using for years. It's from Bon Appetit's November 2002 issue, and is, thus far, the best one I've found for both taste and authenticity.

Eccles Cakes

3/4 cup dried currants
1/3 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped candied orange peel
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (half of 17.3-ounce package), thawed
1 egg, beaten to blend (for glaze)
2 teaspoons sugar

Mix first 8 ingredients in medium bowl until well blended. Filling can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Roll out puff pastry on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out four 6-inch-diameter rounds. Place filling on half of each round, dividing equally. Brush edges of rounds with beaten egg. Fold pastry over filling, creating semicircle and enclosing filling completely. Press edges firmly to seal. Transfer to heavy large baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake pastries until deep golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to rack and cool pastries 5 minutes. Using metal spatula, carefully remove pastries from baking sheet. Cool.