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Recipes for Murder: 66 Dishes That Celebrate the Mysteries of Agatha Christie
Drink and dine with recipes inspired by the best-selling novelist of all time.
Poisons, knives, and bullets riddle the stories of Agatha Christie, but so does food, which she uses to invoke settings, to develop characters, and, of course, to commit murder. This to-die-for cookbook offers recipes written by the author for one accessible, easy-to-follow dish or drink for each of Christie’s 66 mysteries.
Recipes include Fish and Chips at the Seven Dials Club, Literary Luncheon Meringues, Oysters Rockefeller on the Orient Express , Sixpence Blackbird Pie, Orange Marmalade from Gossington Hall, and more. Along the way, you’ll learn how to make an exquisite omelet, how to roast a leg of lamb properly, and how to serve perfectly timed steak frites.
Framing these dishes, are insightful essays and headnotes that detail the history of the recipes, their context in Christie’s life and times, and the roles they play in the source works. Based on extensive research and investigation, all dishes appear traditional to their respective eras, so steak fried for 1923 but marinated and grilled for 1964.
Completing the collection, thematic menus assemble recipes for a Halloween murder mystery gathering, a “Christie for Christmas,” a book club buffet, and other occasions, making it a filling tribute to the grand dame of detective fiction.
RECIPES FOR MURDER has not been prepared, approved, or licensed by Agatha Christie Limited, RLJ Entertainment, or any individual or entity associated with Agatha Christie or her successors.
Poisons, knives, and bullets riddle the stories of Agatha Christie, but so does food, which she uses to invoke settings, to develop characters, and, of course, to commit murder. This to-die-for cookbook offers recipes written by the author for one accessible, easy-to-follow dish or drink for each of Christie’s 66 mysteries.
Recipes include Fish and Chips at the Seven Dials Club, Literary Luncheon Meringues, Oysters Rockefeller on the Orient Express , Sixpence Blackbird Pie, Orange Marmalade from Gossington Hall, and more. Along the way, you’ll learn how to make an exquisite omelet, how to roast a leg of lamb properly, and how to serve perfectly timed steak frites.
Framing these dishes, are insightful essays and headnotes that detail the history of the recipes, their context in Christie’s life and times, and the roles they play in the source works. Based on extensive research and investigation, all dishes appear traditional to their respective eras, so steak fried for 1923 but marinated and grilled for 1964.
Completing the collection, thematic menus assemble recipes for a Halloween murder mystery gathering, a “Christie for Christmas,” a book club buffet, and other occasions, making it a filling tribute to the grand dame of detective fiction.
RECIPES FOR MURDER has not been prepared, approved, or licensed by Agatha Christie Limited, RLJ Entertainment, or any individual or entity associated with Agatha Christie or her successors.
200 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 19, 2025
The forward and introduction should definitely be read. Pierce gives you a clearer picture of why the book is put together the way it is and why some things are included and some are not. It is partially written as social history. As a book of recipes you might find it a little disappointing but there is a lot more to it. Christie began writing her mysteries in the 1920s when servants and large stylish house parties were a thing. As time goes by in her books there is less of that and more of the characters having to make their own coffee. Yes, there is even a recipe included for that. Fortunately, you can try even the 1920s recipes without a full kitchen and wait staff. Just reading about the creamy, sugary food that appeared at deadly dinners is fun. The food and drink was not always the fatal element for Christie, but she was definitely interested in poisons. It is a good idea to keep your strychnine and your spices in different places in any case.
GR friend Negin has a good pattern to follow in cookbooks. She tries 3 recipes at a minimum and I follow her suggestion. First I tried Windsor Brown Soup which sounds so Victorian (which turns out not to be true). Poirot is put off by it after asking the waiter on a train what it is in the story Taken at the Flood. He is told it is eaten by the Windsors. Christie knew that wasn’t true. She was probably poking fun at a bit of working class aspirations and Poirot’s snobbery. I have a hard time following any recipe exactly and don’t care for boiled lamb so I changed it to all beef. I may not have got it completely right but have got to think it was a very bland meat soup. Recipe #2 tried was Lemon Squash on the Karnak from Death on the Nile. Christie has a woman on the cruise say she drinks it without alcohol but we all know she was a tippler. Pierce also says if Miss Marple had been on the cruise it definitely would have included gin. I voted with Miss Marple but it would have been better as a summer drink. English travelers wanted to bring a bit of home on their exotic travels. Recipe #3 tried was Middle Eastern Turkey Stuffing from They Came to Baghdad (1959). Of course there are no turkeys in Baghdad but a character suggests it would be good with fish. It is rice based and again rather bland in spite of various spices and sultanas (golden raisins).
Most of the recipes seem doable if not very exciting. Pierce does a nice job pulling together history, social customs, travel and other things Christie liked to enrich her stories with. It was a fun idea and well executed for anyone who likes Christie mysteries and simple English food of the different decades of the 20th century.
GR friend Negin has a good pattern to follow in cookbooks. She tries 3 recipes at a minimum and I follow her suggestion. First I tried Windsor Brown Soup which sounds so Victorian (which turns out not to be true). Poirot is put off by it after asking the waiter on a train what it is in the story Taken at the Flood. He is told it is eaten by the Windsors. Christie knew that wasn’t true. She was probably poking fun at a bit of working class aspirations and Poirot’s snobbery. I have a hard time following any recipe exactly and don’t care for boiled lamb so I changed it to all beef. I may not have got it completely right but have got to think it was a very bland meat soup. Recipe #2 tried was Lemon Squash on the Karnak from Death on the Nile. Christie has a woman on the cruise say she drinks it without alcohol but we all know she was a tippler. Pierce also says if Miss Marple had been on the cruise it definitely would have included gin. I voted with Miss Marple but it would have been better as a summer drink. English travelers wanted to bring a bit of home on their exotic travels. Recipe #3 tried was Middle Eastern Turkey Stuffing from They Came to Baghdad (1959). Of course there are no turkeys in Baghdad but a character suggests it would be good with fish. It is rice based and again rather bland in spite of various spices and sultanas (golden raisins).
Most of the recipes seem doable if not very exciting. Pierce does a nice job pulling together history, social customs, travel and other things Christie liked to enrich her stories with. It was a fun idea and well executed for anyone who likes Christie mysteries and simple English food of the different decades of the 20th century.
October 18, 2023
A singularly novel cookbook. I really enjoyed this and of course, plan to make some of these.
I can happily report that the Whole Chicken Soup from After the Funeral is very good. I had company on Sunday and made it. Admittedly, I did add mushrooms (everyone thought that was a wonderful addition) but the main of the soup was exactly as the recipe called for it to be. I will say, I wouldn't have attempted this one without my trusty hand immersion blender and marvel that there's even a suggestion in the recipe that one could mash the part that's is called for, by hand! Mad respect to the cooks of days gone by who worked those arm muscles to get this soup smooth and creamy that way.
There are plenty of other recipes I will make that sound lovely. All the lobster options are begging for a party as an excuse. I loved the whole idea and way this was put together and have recommended it to others. I can't wait to make more from this.
Recommended.
I can happily report that the Whole Chicken Soup from After the Funeral is very good. I had company on Sunday and made it. Admittedly, I did add mushrooms (everyone thought that was a wonderful addition) but the main of the soup was exactly as the recipe called for it to be. I will say, I wouldn't have attempted this one without my trusty hand immersion blender and marvel that there's even a suggestion in the recipe that one could mash the part that's is called for, by hand! Mad respect to the cooks of days gone by who worked those arm muscles to get this soup smooth and creamy that way.
There are plenty of other recipes I will make that sound lovely. All the lobster options are begging for a party as an excuse. I loved the whole idea and way this was put together and have recommended it to others. I can't wait to make more from this.
Recommended.
February 7, 2024
This book is perfect for people who have at least two of the following interests: Agatha Christie's mysteries, food & cooking, and the social history involved with both of the previous items. I have been reading Christie's novels in publication order with the Appointment with Agatha group and have been enjoying observing the household changes that Christie documents in her fiction.
Dame Agatha was definitely a foodie. She enjoyed good cuisine and grew up in circumstances that afforded her the privilege of indulging in it. (In her autobiography, she revealed her penchant for drinking cream.) She was able to travel and enthusiastically sampled the food of other cultures. Guests at her home did not go hungry!
When I heard this author interviewed on the radio, I knew that I wanted to peruse this cookbook. Pierce is a fellow Canadian, perfectly situated to mediate between the various cultures who may be interested in this subject. Canada has traditional links to Great Britain, having been colonized and eventually peacefully given independence from that government. We still retain the monarch as head of state and traditions, legal similarities, and spelling idiosyncrasies. However, we also live cheek by jowl with the United States (as our PM Pierre Trudeau observed, we are a mouse sharing a bed with an elephant). English and American recipes use different measurement standards and different food terms (eggplant vs aubergine, for example). Pierce navigates these potentially confusing details gracefully, providing alternative details in parentheses.
Pierce selects one recipe per novel and has developed a modern version (eg. Cornish hens substituted for Blackbirds). I was entertained by the rationale behind her choice for each chapter. Although I won't be attempting any of the recipes, I have no doubt that I could successfully make any of them. I enjoyed learning about the history of certain foods, the cooking methods, and the household support systems. Now I know the difference between shrimp and prawns! Very enjoyable and recommended for Christie readers with culinary aspirations. Have no fear of spoilers, Pierce avoids spilling the beans.
Dame Agatha was definitely a foodie. She enjoyed good cuisine and grew up in circumstances that afforded her the privilege of indulging in it. (In her autobiography, she revealed her penchant for drinking cream.) She was able to travel and enthusiastically sampled the food of other cultures. Guests at her home did not go hungry!
When I heard this author interviewed on the radio, I knew that I wanted to peruse this cookbook. Pierce is a fellow Canadian, perfectly situated to mediate between the various cultures who may be interested in this subject. Canada has traditional links to Great Britain, having been colonized and eventually peacefully given independence from that government. We still retain the monarch as head of state and traditions, legal similarities, and spelling idiosyncrasies. However, we also live cheek by jowl with the United States (as our PM Pierre Trudeau observed, we are a mouse sharing a bed with an elephant). English and American recipes use different measurement standards and different food terms (eggplant vs aubergine, for example). Pierce navigates these potentially confusing details gracefully, providing alternative details in parentheses.
Pierce selects one recipe per novel and has developed a modern version (eg. Cornish hens substituted for Blackbirds). I was entertained by the rationale behind her choice for each chapter. Although I won't be attempting any of the recipes, I have no doubt that I could successfully make any of them. I enjoyed learning about the history of certain foods, the cooking methods, and the household support systems. Now I know the difference between shrimp and prawns! Very enjoyable and recommended for Christie readers with culinary aspirations. Have no fear of spoilers, Pierce avoids spilling the beans.
September 4, 2023
Have you ever gone on a murder mystery theater train ride or stayed overnight in a murder mystery adventure? That’s exactly what came to mind when I saw this book. How cool would it be to create meals based on specific recipes featured in the books that you love?
This author has taken it upon herself to spend hours and years of research to not only pull recipes from Agatha Christie’s stories but she’s also researched and developed the recipes according to how they probably would’ve been made at the time it was written about in the mystery.
This book starts in the 1920s with Agatha Christie’s very first published book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. With a brief explanation of the scene which involves a cup of coffee that may or may not be part of the murder weapon, the author gives us the recipe of how that cup of coffee would have been made.
What a unique and fun book for both the foodie and the mystery lover alike! Can you imagine re-creating a dinner party at your own home that turns into a murder mystery and you’re serving the food directly from parts of your storyline?
That’s exactly what Agatha Christie did because she was a big food lover. If you noticed, there was always some sort of specific food item included in each of her stories.
This book is a trip to read. The author has included little snippets and a bit of back history on the recipe or the book that came from. Plus, just interesting tidbits along the way.
The recipes sound delicious. Many of them are English; some are French, but all are as unique as this recipe book. What a fabulous idea and very well done.
~~~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/recipes-for-...
This author has taken it upon herself to spend hours and years of research to not only pull recipes from Agatha Christie’s stories but she’s also researched and developed the recipes according to how they probably would’ve been made at the time it was written about in the mystery.
This book starts in the 1920s with Agatha Christie’s very first published book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. With a brief explanation of the scene which involves a cup of coffee that may or may not be part of the murder weapon, the author gives us the recipe of how that cup of coffee would have been made.
What a unique and fun book for both the foodie and the mystery lover alike! Can you imagine re-creating a dinner party at your own home that turns into a murder mystery and you’re serving the food directly from parts of your storyline?
That’s exactly what Agatha Christie did because she was a big food lover. If you noticed, there was always some sort of specific food item included in each of her stories.
This book is a trip to read. The author has included little snippets and a bit of back history on the recipe or the book that came from. Plus, just interesting tidbits along the way.
The recipes sound delicious. Many of them are English; some are French, but all are as unique as this recipe book. What a fabulous idea and very well done.
~~~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/recipes-for-...
May 3, 2024
This signed copy of Recipes for Murder: 66 Dishes that Celebrate the Mysteries of Agatha Christie, was gifted to me by my very good friend for my birthday!!!
Author Karen Pierce has painstakingly researched all of Agatha Christie's mysteries and has developed a recipe to accompany each one through the decades. As well, there are plenty of tidbits about Christie's life and travels, and how food played a role in the family. It is interesting book to read, and of course there are plenty of fairly easy recipes to try. There are also menu ideas at the end of the book, like "Tea with Miss Marple" and "Dinner with Poirot and Hastings"which utilize the recipes in the book. Some of the recipes look like something I would like to make, like Derby Day Strawberries and Cream (created for Murder is Easy, 1939) and Canapes Diane (created for Three Act Tragedy, 1934) along with a bunch of others. It would be fun to put a mystery dinner together using some of these recipes.
Although the book itself hasn't been approved by Agatha Christie Limited, I really feel that she would be delighted with this!
Author Karen Pierce has painstakingly researched all of Agatha Christie's mysteries and has developed a recipe to accompany each one through the decades. As well, there are plenty of tidbits about Christie's life and travels, and how food played a role in the family. It is interesting book to read, and of course there are plenty of fairly easy recipes to try. There are also menu ideas at the end of the book, like "Tea with Miss Marple" and "Dinner with Poirot and Hastings"which utilize the recipes in the book. Some of the recipes look like something I would like to make, like Derby Day Strawberries and Cream (created for Murder is Easy, 1939) and Canapes Diane (created for Three Act Tragedy, 1934) along with a bunch of others. It would be fun to put a mystery dinner together using some of these recipes.
Although the book itself hasn't been approved by Agatha Christie Limited, I really feel that she would be delighted with this!
August 26, 2023
This is not a cookbook that you necessarily want to make everything in it. However, it is a great culinary ode to Agatha Christie!
July 17, 2025
Perhaps I am showing my pro-Christie bias here, but this book is so much fun! ❤️📖.
Karen Pierce had brought together a number of her own recipes based on how food or drink is used in Agatha Christie's books. This great cookbook not only gives you great ideas for dinner but explores how Christie cleverly used food and drink to develop the setting for her characters and stories (and sometimes to commit murder too!).
She openly admits the Christie Estate hasn't authorized the book however the recipes are fantastic and for diehard Christie fans, it brings back so many great memories of her books.
My favourites are
📖 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 1926 - Stuffed vegetable marrows (the best AC book in my opinion!)
📖 Murder on the Orient Express 1934 - Oysters Rockefeller
📖 The Moving Finger 1942 - A Perfect Cup of Tea
📖 A Murder is Announced 1950 - Delicious Death Cake
📖 By the Pricking of My Thumbs 1968 - Salmon Cream
📖 Curtain: Poirot's Last Case 1975 - Another Perfect Cup of Tea
PS - as if I don't already love all things AC enough, I suspect we would have gotten along quite well when I read the following in the forward:
' As early as 1901 when Agatha ...was 11, she developed a love of cream: Devonshire cream, clotted cream, double cream...' 😂
I have read this book several times over the last few weeks and it left me feeling better immersed in the works of one of my favourite writers of all time. Having said that, for some reason, my other half breaks out in a sweat whenever I bring out this cookbook. Not sure why! 😳😅
Karen Pierce had brought together a number of her own recipes based on how food or drink is used in Agatha Christie's books. This great cookbook not only gives you great ideas for dinner but explores how Christie cleverly used food and drink to develop the setting for her characters and stories (and sometimes to commit murder too!).
She openly admits the Christie Estate hasn't authorized the book however the recipes are fantastic and for diehard Christie fans, it brings back so many great memories of her books.
My favourites are
📖 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd 1926 - Stuffed vegetable marrows (the best AC book in my opinion!)
📖 Murder on the Orient Express 1934 - Oysters Rockefeller
📖 The Moving Finger 1942 - A Perfect Cup of Tea
📖 A Murder is Announced 1950 - Delicious Death Cake
📖 By the Pricking of My Thumbs 1968 - Salmon Cream
📖 Curtain: Poirot's Last Case 1975 - Another Perfect Cup of Tea
PS - as if I don't already love all things AC enough, I suspect we would have gotten along quite well when I read the following in the forward:
' As early as 1901 when Agatha ...was 11, she developed a love of cream: Devonshire cream, clotted cream, double cream...' 😂
I have read this book several times over the last few weeks and it left me feeling better immersed in the works of one of my favourite writers of all time. Having said that, for some reason, my other half breaks out in a sweat whenever I bring out this cookbook. Not sure why! 😳😅
April 15, 2024
A fun book that follows Ms. Christie's novels in chronological order, highlights how food changed over the decades of her work and provides a recipe from each book. It made me want to go back and read her novels again but this time in chronological order. For such a small cookbook, it was surprising to be to see two oyster recipes, especially since I don't recall them being a highlight in any of Ms. Christie's books and recipes for coffee and tea seem like a cop out. But you don't really get this book for the recipes but rather for their connection to Ms. Christie's vast catalog of books.
April 13, 2025
It's an entertaining cookbook When I deem to set to these I always make every recipe in the book. I had more difficulty with this one because I live very rurally and the recipes are more sophisticated than your average bevy. Wonderfully themed recipes which feel connected to Christie's works. The literary insights are charming, they are well written and not pretentious. I cannot imagine giving a cookbook more than three stars so this is a wonderful addition for all your Christie pursuits.
October 9, 2023
I won this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
The second I saw it I knew I had to have it. I LOVE Agatha Christie and had, over the past few years, introduced my Husband to the world of Poirot. Matching up dishes with certain scenes and movies was a brilliant idea. I wish I had thought of it! These recipes are yummy and I will keep this out where everyone can see it!
The second I saw it I knew I had to have it. I LOVE Agatha Christie and had, over the past few years, introduced my Husband to the world of Poirot. Matching up dishes with certain scenes and movies was a brilliant idea. I wish I had thought of it! These recipes are yummy and I will keep this out where everyone can see it!
October 11, 2023
A lot of research went into this title, and many of the recipes connect very well to a specific title or time period. Some recipes are a stretch, but overall a fun read. I hope to make several of these recipes for a special occasion or a murder mystery night!
April 20, 2024
This was lots of fun. Interesting to see the recipes from the time period. Might have to try a few out, but not all of them. I really liked learning some trivia from Christie’s life and about the various time periods and history of the period.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2025
Do people typically “read” cookbooks? Well I did and this one is super cute and a must have for any Agatha Christie enthusiast. A very nice tribute with enjoyable facts and anecdotes before the recipes.
September 7, 2023
A delightful book! A recipe for each Christie book with some interesting culinary and social history thrown in. Recommended
September 28, 2023
This was a charming book with lovely book references with some mouthwatering recipes!
November 30, 2023
What a fun book! Snippets of mystery and recipes! Perfect for readers that love food and crime!
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February 1, 2024What a delightful book!
February 4, 2024
This is a very niche cookbook but surprisingly has a few good recipes.
February 15, 2024
It’s interesting from a historical, literary standpoint. Would I ever actually make any of the recipes? Probably not. But it’s still a good read for fans of Christie and food.
November 4, 2024
Pleasant read, with a history of how British cuisine changed through the decades of Agatha Christie's writing career and a variety of recipes related to her life and stories.
November 17, 2024
Some of them look fun
January 19, 2025
4/5 stars!
My review here: https://goldenageofdetectivefiction.c...
My review here: https://goldenageofdetectivefiction.c...
June 8, 2025
Not what I was expecting. Recipes of English dishes.
October 18, 2025
It’s a fun book for Agatha Christie fans A nice way to remember well loved books and the great recipes are a bonus!
November 12, 2023
For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
February 1, 2026
This book was right up my alley. Not only is it a cookbook, but it has excellent historical insights in the head notes not only about the recipe itself, but also the life and times of Christie. Truly a cookbook I can "read". A few good recipes, too.
July 11, 2025
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