Book Review: The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook

The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook
Wickedly Good Recipes -From Many Favorite Writers
Edited by Kate White
Quirk Books, March 2015
ISBN 978-1-59474-757-1
Hardcover

This cookbook contains more than 100 recipes, from breakfast to cocktails, great photography and commentary from legendary authors and fun mystery facts. This book will make a wonderful gift for some lucky friend if you can bring yourself to let go. You might as well just order two because once you see this recipe book you won’t want to let go of it.

The introduction includes a reminder of the murder weapon used in Roald Dahl’s 1953 short story “Lamb to the Slaughter”.

The proceeds of the sale of this cookbook go to MWA, an organization founded in 1945 and dedicated to promoting higher regard for crime writing and recognition and respect for those who write within the genre. MWA sponsors the annual Edgar Awards named for Edgar Allan Poe and considered the Academy Awards of mystery writers.

Breakfast includes recipes ranging from Ellie Hatcher’s Rum-Soaked Nutella French Toast to Max Allan Collins’ and Barbara Collins’ Holiday Eggs. Richard Castle gives us his recipe for Morning-After Hotcakes.

For the Appetizer section Nelson DeMille has contributed Male Chauvinist Pigs in the Blanket. This is followed up by Kate White’s A Very Sneaky Bean Dip. There are a number of excellent sounding appetizers to choose from.

The Soup and Salad section contains several recipes that I would like to try right now.

Kate White gives the reader a very good definition of “What Exactly Is A Red Herring?” This refers to a Red Herring in a mystery and not in a recipe.

There is a large section of entrees headed up by David Morrrell’s Thomas De Quincey’s Pasta -Less Pasta. I won’t tell you what takes the place of the pasta so you will need to get the book. I am sure everyone will want Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone’s Famous Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich.

The book contains a chapter on Side Dishes, Desserts and Cocktails. The book contains Metric Conversions which is a very helpful addition. I haven’t named many of the authors in this review but there are so many I know every reader will find at least one favorite author.

Lee Child presents very exact instructions for making Coffee, Pot of One. The recipe even includes the type of coffee and mug to use.

You can’t go wrong with this cookbook. There is a little bit of everything included and some insight into the likes of many of your favorite authors.

Reviewed by Patricia E. Reid, April 2015.