Once again, Mystery Writers of America brings together some of the top mystery writers in the field
in a collection that benefits MWA. This time, though, the book is not a compilation of short stories. Instead, under the guidance of editor Kate White, the authors have contributed recipes to The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook.
The book is as entertaining as you would suspect when all those authors contribute ideas. On the cover it says, “Wickedly Good Recipes”. Not having tried the recipes, I can’t agree on that, but I can say it’s wicked fun. There’s everything from Sue Grafton’s contribution, “Kinsey Millhone’s Famous Peanut Butter & Pickle Sandwich” to just what you would expect from Lee Child, how to make coffee for one. The book is broken down into logical chapters for a cookbook, beginning with breakfast and ending with cocktails. But, it’s only in a compilation by mystery authors that the editor includes historical essays about poisons. White’s short entries also include posts about Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolfe and Edgar Allan Poe.
Mystery fans will not only appreciate the recipes, but also the blurbs that tell about the author, their books, and their websites. Mary Higgins Clark, Louise Penny, James Patterson, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Alafair Burke, Rhys Bowen, and Harlan Coben are just some of the authors that contributed the recipes that number over one hundred. There are recipes for every level of cooking expertise, from Charlaine Harris’ “Very Unsophisticated Supper Dip” to Jacqueline Winspear’s Syllabub.
Are you interested in the book because you like to cook? Or, are you a mystery fan entertained by the recipes and the author’s story behind the recipe? No matter why you’re interested, this beautifully illustrated selection, The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook, will find a welcome home on your shelf.
And, check back tomorrow when there’s a contest for two lucky readers to win a copy of The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook.
The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Edited by Kate White. Quirk Books. 2015. ISBN 9781594747571 (hardcover), 175p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – Kate White’s publicist sent me a copy of the book, hoping I would review it.
