The Malice Domestic anthology series returns with a new take on mysteries in the Agatha Christie tradition — 36 original tales with a culinary bent!
This anthology, which contains a Lady of Ashes short story, won the Anthony Award for Best Anthology. Congratulations to all of my fellow authors.
For more about the Malice Domestic anthologies, visit http://malicedomestic.org/anthologies.html
Tales in this anthology include:
A Cup of Tea, by Parnell Hall
Brown Recluse, by Marcia Adair
A Slice of Heaven, by Laura Brennan
The Extra Ingredient, by Joan Long
A Death in Yelapa, by Leslie Budewitz
The Pie Sisters, by Richard Cass
Too Many Cooks Almost Spoil the Murder, by Lynne Ewing
Pig Lickin’ Good, by Debra H. Goldstein
Quiche Alain, by Marni Graff
Diet of Death, by Ang Pompano
Death at the Willard Hotel, by Verena Rose
Dining Out, by Rosemary McCracken
Snowbirding, by Kristin Kisska
Up Day Down Day Deadly Day, by Ellen Larson
The Secret Blend, by Stacy Woodson
First of the Year, by Gabriel Valjan
Sticky Fingers, by LD Masterson
The Cremains of the Day, by Josh Pachter
Honor Thy Father, by Harriette Sackler
Killer Chocolate Chips, by Ruth McCarty
Sushi Lessons, by Edith Maxwell
The Missing Ingredient for Murderous Intent, by Elizabeth Perona
It’s Canning Season, by Adele Polomski
The Gourmand, by Nancy Cole Silverman
The Blue Ribbon, by Cynthia Kuhn
The Last Word, by Shawn Reilly Simmons
Murder Takes the Cupcake, by Kate Willett
Bull Dog Gravy, by Mark Thielman
Morsels of the Gods, by Victoria Thompson
Mrs. Beeton’s Sausage Stuffing, by Christine Trent
Bring It, by Terry Shames
Gutbombs ’n’ Guinness, by Lisa Preston
Deadly In-Flight Dining, by Sara Rosett
Carne Diem, by Sharon Lynn
Turn the Sage, by Stephen D. Rogers
Bad Ju-Ju, by M.A. Monnin
Signing Mystery Most Edible at the 2019 Malice Domestic Conference, April 2019, in Bethesda, MD.
Backstory
I had the great pleasure of serving on the selection committee for this anthology, the 14th in the Malice Domestic series. It was pure joy to read through dozens and dozens of stories submitted for it, although it was difficult to have to narrow them down to what is presented in the book. Some of the stories had great, twisty endings; others were just deliciously malicious. I hope you will find some new favorite authors within this group.
Malice Domestic presents this annual anthology with a unique theme each year. Recent entries have included “Murder Most Conventional,” “Mystery Most Historical,” and “Mystery Most Geographical.” Entries open between May and August and the selected entries are announced shortly thereafter. The book is always published in time for sale at the next Malice Domestic conference.
My entry to this anthology was “Mrs. Beeton’s Sausage Stuffing.” Fans of the Lady of Ashes series know how much Violet dislikes the eminent home-and-hearth advisor, Mrs. Beeton.
Excerpt
September 1870, London
Violet Harper hated Mrs. Beeton.
Well, perhaps it wasn’t a murderous hate, one that causes a person to seek out knives, pistols, or ropes, but it was a seething animosity nonetheless.
Violet’s years as an undertaker had disciplined her into demonstrating great patience for others. People in mourning were not typically at their best, and it required skill and empathy to deal serenely with some of her more…trying…customers.
But Mrs. Beeton was beyond the pale, Violet thought, as she opened the London Times, hoping her letter to the editor had been printed.
Isabella Beeton was a woman married to Samuel Orchart Beeton, the publisher of The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine. Isabella had started a series of articles on domestic matters for the magazine. Her missives informed women on the precise ways to keep a home, manage servants, and prepare nourishing meals.
It was utterly impossible to follow her exacting instructions without losing one’s mind.
However, British women had gone complete dotty for the woman’s advice. Eventually, Mrs. Beeton’s articles had been compiled into a thick doorstop of a book. It had quickly become a staple of many British homes and had gone through several reissues.
With each edition, the book grew in size—and advice—until this just-published edition, which could inflict serious damage upon someone if used as a weapon.
Violet sighed. Her letter protesting the reverence of Isabella Beeton and suggesting that women not take too much stock in the advice provided in its thousand pages had not made it into yesterday’s paper.
Likely the editor did not want to anger the legion of fans of Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management by printing an angry screed from a woman who was in the minority opinion on Beeton—and who was an undertaker on top of that.
Such unseemly work, people frequently told Violet.
Her husband, Sam, was wholly unconcerned with his wife’s lack of domestic skills, although he usually chided Violet gently when she became frustrated over an inability to live up to Isabella Beeton’s rigid standards.
The shop’s bell jangled as a customer entered, clearing Violet’s mind of her irritation with the publication of a book full of unrealistic expectations for the average woman.
A tall, gaunt man had entered the shop with a newspaper under his arm. Violet stood and came out from behind her walnut and glass countertop full of mourning brooches, fans, gloves, and stationery.
“Good afternoon. I am Mrs. Harper. How may I be of service to you today, sir?”
“I…” The man’s voice cracked. He stopped but quickly recovered himself. “My name is Elliot Latham and I need your assistance. For my wife, Winnie. She…she…” He stopped again.
“Please, Mr. Latham, won’t you sit down?” Violet guided him to one of the overstuffed chairs located on the other side of the shop for consultation.
Once he seemed comfortable enough, with his long legs crossed and his hands working nervously in his lap, Violet asked gently, “How may I be of help to your dear wife?”
Latham pulled the paper out from under his arm and opened it to a particular page near the center of the issue, folding it to emphasize what he wanted Violet to read.
It was her letter to the editor. It had made it into today’s paper.
Violet was nonplussed. “Why are you bringing this to me?” For a moment, she was fearful that Latham was about to accuse her of causing his wife’s death by insulting the sainted Isabella Beeton. However, his actual intent was even more shocking.
“Mrs. Beeton murdered my wife and I want you to help me prove it,” he said.
Excerpt copyright 2019 Christine Trent.