Killer Cocktails: Dangerous Drinks Inspired by History’s Most Nefarious Criminals

by Holly Frey, Maria Trimarchi

From the hosts of the criminally popular podcast Criminalia , Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi, a dangerously delicious cocktail and mocktail book inspired by history’s most notorious (and notoriously overlooked) criminals

Every month, over 200,000 listeners download Criminalia to hear stories of history’s wildest and most devious criminals they never knew existed. But this isn't just any true-crime podcast—more than an engaging history lesson, Criminalia also offers a cocktail recipe to go with each criminal. After all, what pairs better with the story of an identity-shifting murderess who burned her house down to cover up a crime… than a fiery jalapeño cocktail?

In KILLER COCKTAILS, Criminalia cohosts Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi offer listeners a cornucopia of creative and out-of-the-box cocktail (and mocktail!) recipes, inspired by some of the wildest, weirdest, and most bizarre crimes throughout history. Written with their signature wit and humor, KILLER COCKTAILS gives us dozens of recipes, many of which fans have never seen before, expertly paired with its historical dastardly villain. From brutish bodysnatchers and comely conwomen, to poisonous chemists, nefarious mystics, and even a pirate queen, this book is perfect for anyone who loves a juicy, bloody story and a creative cocktail. History and true crime lovers, cocktail enthusiasts, and anyone looking for the perfect gift for their off-beat friend will find much to savor in this wickedly fun book.

Half true crime and history, half mixology, KILLER COCKTAILS is a double-shot of morbid fun—and is sure to satisfy all your darkest cravings for years to come.

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Genres: Cookbooks, Audiobook

256 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a creative idea for a book! Combines true crime stories with dozens of recipes inspired by them, such as Poison Society Punch, The Botanist's Latte, and the Hopeless Romantic. Delish fun!

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mixing 2 of my favorites—true crime & fun drinks?! Sign me up! I love how it is seperated into different types of crime. Seriously, this cocktail recipe book is such a cool/fun concept. I love that each yummy bevvy can be made non-alcoholic as they have each recipe listed. Learning each person’s story and then having a drink that goes along with it is so fun! The drinks are all so different and so interesting. I cannot wait to try as many as I can—and thanks to the mocktail options, I don’t have to wait until 5 o’clock. Also, TIL that those shot glasses on the handle is called jiggers—so this book is a 3-in-1. I learned a lot!

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the hosts of the criminally popular podcast Criminalia, Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi, a dangerously delicious cocktail and mocktail book inspired by history's most notorious (and notoriously overlooked) criminals.

Thank you Hachette Books for sending me a digital ARC of this book! I enjoyed reading this book. Will I make the cocktails or mocktails? No but this was such a fun read and a unique concept for a book. This was so different from anything I’ve ever read. I’ve never read a book with cocktail and mocktail recipes in it. If you like true crime and cocktails or mocktails then I would recommend reading this book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the stories included were wonderful and the recipes included were a wonderful,inspired touch. I had so much fun reading this! If crime and cocktails are your thing then you’ll enjoy this book. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the e ARC for this read/review. My first one! 😁Eee!!

[Windee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book! True Crime stories and a cocktail to go with it. It was fun to read, and I have added purchasing the physical book to my list so that I can have it to peruse the different cocktail recipes.
Thank you Hachette Books and NetGalley for the Advanced reader copy!

[Brianne C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook is a unique take on cocktails. Written by podcast Criminalia's cohosts, it is a spooky twist on a traditional cocktail recipe book.

What I love:
- The 1-2 page little history lessons that they designed each drink around. Such a cute idea! The stories are short enough that you don't feel like it is more history book than cookbook, but instead they add an exciting element to what would otherwise be just a collection of cocktail recipes.
- They include a mocktail version for each drink for those that choose not to drink alcohol, but still want a fancy beverage!

What I didn't love:
- Most recipes included obscure/specialty ingredients that are hard to find. You would likely have to make them yourself in advance. Examples: jalapeno jam, flavored syrups(pumpkin, anise, rose, etc), tart cherry concentrate, culinary rose buds, etc.
- Most recipes didn't actually sound like they would taste good. Often it's just too many conflicting flavors. Example: The Italian Storm consists of espresso vodka(coffee), ginger beer, lemon, simple syrup, and bitters. As an Italian, we like these flavors individually, but mixed is bizarre!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lisa Burbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a devoted fan of the Criminalia podcast, I was thrilled when they announced their book of crime stories paired with cocktail and mocktail recipes. The book did not disappoint! Like the podcast, the stories are short, engaging, and crafted to be as lighthearted as crime tales can be. Each story is followed by a cocktail recipe and its mocktail counterpart, both of which are delicious.

The only reason I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is the lack of an index. After years of listening to Holly Frey, I was surprised by this omission—it seems like something that would be a pet peeve of hers! One evening, we wanted to make a gin-based drink and eagerly turned to the back of the book, only to find there was no way to look up recipes by ingredient. While it’s a fantastic book to read, this missing feature makes it less convenient to reference on a whim.

That said, we resorted to flipping through the pages until we spotted “gin,” and it worked out in the end. Despite this small drawback, the book is a wonderful companion to the podcast and a treat for anyone who enjoys a mix of crime and cocktails!

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the crime enthusiast as well as cocktail enthusiast is a perfect book combining both. From the creators of the popular podcast Criminalia comes the perfect book with cocktail, and Mocktails, to go along with some of the most fascinating crimes in history. Most of these we never knew existed. Each drink is inspired by some of the strangest and wildest crime stories. Every type you can imagine, and some you never knew existed in the world of crime. Recipes like The Botanist's Latte and the Hanged Woman are sure to spark your interest.
This book is perfect for the history and crime lover in your world. It’s a perfect way to get excited in the Halloween season. Plan a great party night of cocktails and crime history. Enjoy this fun book with friends.

[EJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly, this title combines two of my favorite niches: cook/recipebooks and true crime, but it is a FUN one. Cases I've heard of, cases I hadn't + a wide variety of tastes--cocktail and mocktail versions included--for the drink recipes.

Part history, part party, all tasty? What more could I possibly want??

[Non-comprehensive list of] Recipes I want to try:

*Esther Carlson
*The Botanist's Latte
*Can We Just Forget This?
*Sloppy Bishop
*Crystal Clear (maybe this will replace memories of Everclear's taste in the 90's??)
*Ticklish Assistant
*Corpse Juice
*Roman Strength (tbh, this one sounds gross but I'm curious!)
*Skylight

My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for the opportunity to preview this title in exchange for my honest opinion!

[Mal M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved that this cocktail book is so much more than what it seems. Not only does it provide delicious drinks, but every drink comes with a fascinating short story about a crime that links to the cocktail. I also really loved the addition of mocktails for every drink for people that prefer to remain sober. This also included a recipe with the mocktail first out of respect for someone that developed alcoholism as a result of the crime. Overall really well done, I’d for sure buy this one as a gift for a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Erin Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer Cocktails is a fun mix of creativity and storytelling that takes readers on a journey through the art of cocktail-making with a twist of true crime. The book is beautifully illustrated, with photos that make you want to try every drink. The writing style and unique approach make this a must-read for both cocktail enthusiasts and true crime fans alike. It was perfect to help keep busy while hunkering down for hurricanes. I also think this would be a great book to use when hosting a murder mystery night or something similar. I can’t wait to try more of the cocktail recipes in the book. Highly recommend!

[Araya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love the creativeness of this cocktail book you get some true crime stories along with so many different recipes. The flow and the layout of the book was good and I loved how it had the alcoholic versions of the cocktails but also had the non-alcoholic versions for a mocktail if you wanted I think that’s such a cool and inclusive idea. Personally I can’t wait to try out some of these recipes for myself.

Thank you NetGalley.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and unique concept, wonderful cocktail recipes. Highly recommend if you're looking for a cool cocktail book to add to your collection.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Hachette Books, Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi for giving me an ARC of this unique cocktail book!

[Loren Tulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good cookbook, but I’ve never read a cocktail book before this one. It was interesting and I loved the facts scattered through. I’m definitely making some of these recipes when I get a shot!

[Lila]

Breezy cocktail book with tales of a variety of crimes and criminals. Recipes appear to be achievable by most readers with ingredients which are easily obtained. Recommended for fans of true crime podcasts as well as those looking for inspiration for new cocktails.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories aren't long or detailed enough, and corresponding drink recipes by and large don't sound all that appealing.

I really like Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi's podcast Criminalia, where the stories are much more interesting, so this is kind of disappointing.

[Kristen Barenthaler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who enjoys her criminal histories, this book makes for a great way to entice your not-so-deranged friends into a night of debauchery.

[Samantha Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the stories that this book had. The tone of voice was light, making the stories easy to handle. I also appreciated that that provided non-alcoholic versions of the drinks.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combining cocktails and true crime? What's not to love!!

Here you'll find cocktails and mocktails of famous criminals throughout history, from serial killers, witch trials, and the Mayo clinic they have it all!

So blorp out some marshmallow fluff, grab your shakers, and figure out where to get Tiki Bitters!

Rating it a four because it does have some formatting on phone/tablet.