
We make great use of everyone’s recipes and our index all the time and for today, we’re using some of MJ's and Victoria's own favorite past posts with easy and delicious book club treats for your book club.
We love all book clubs whether they meet in someone’s home, a church hall, or a library. We’ve been to gatherings where the hostess served an entire dinner around the dining room table and others where the meal was pot luck on a groaning buffet table. Some groups serve desserts and coffee, other appetisers, cheese and wine. In churches and libraries, people strut their stuff with cookies. It’s all quite wonderful. Even in online book clubs, you get the impression that people are happily munching at their keyboards.
You can put serve then in any little cups or glasses that you have
around. They would still be good if you served them in a jam jar.You'll find the link below!


And now at last a bit about The Christie Curse. Read on:
In 1926,
Agatha Christie disappeared—making headlines across the world—only to show up
eleven days later at a spa under an assumed name. During those eleven days, did
she have time to write a play?
Jordan Kelly needs a new job and a new place to live. She’s back in Harrison Falls, New York, living with her not so law-abiding uncles, in debt thanks to a credit card–stealing ex and pending grad school loans. Enter the perfect job, a research position that includes room and board, which will allow her to spend her days hunting down rare mysteries for an avid book collector. There’s just one problem: her employer, Vera Van Alst is the most hated citizen of Harrison Falls.
Jordan Kelly needs a new job and a new place to live. She’s back in Harrison Falls, New York, living with her not so law-abiding uncles, in debt thanks to a credit card–stealing ex and pending grad school loans. Enter the perfect job, a research position that includes room and board, which will allow her to spend her days hunting down rare mysteries for an avid book collector. There’s just one problem: her employer, Vera Van Alst is the most hated citizen of Harrison Falls.
Make that
two problems: why is that cute young police officer taking such an interest in
her?
Jordan’s first assignment is to track down a rumored unpublished and unproduced Agatha Christie play that may or may not exist. It seems easy enough, but Jordan soon finds out that her predecessor was killed while looking for it, and there is still someone out there willing to murder to keep the play out of Vera’s hands. Jordan’s new job is good…but is it worth her life?
Jordan’s first assignment is to track down a rumored unpublished and unproduced Agatha Christie play that may or may not exist. It seems easy enough, but Jordan soon finds out that her predecessor was killed while looking for it, and there is still someone out there willing to murder to keep the play out of Vera’s hands. Jordan’s new job is good…but is it worth her life?
Now it’s time for us to toss out some questions and
some delicious ideas for your real or dream book club meeting. Here are some questions we often get asked
and some others we’d like to answer.
As most of you know we are a daughter and mother
team writing this series together. We often get asked what it’s like to write
with your mother or your daughter.
That sounds dangerous, people suggest.
That sounds dangerous, people suggest.

What drew you to the Golden Age of Detection?
We have both always read and enjoyed mysteries, something we’re sure we share with you. MJ was raised on Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Rex Stout, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh and the rest of the mystery royalty and Victoria has also read and enjoyed the greats. As book sellers we were both were involved with the Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore in Ottawa. Life in this mystery focused world made total sense to us. We get book collecting and the fascination of the genre.
What can go wrong?
Oh ho. Well, just recently in book three we were discussing Jordan’s Uncle Kevin (who first appears in The Sayers Swindle). MJ thought Kev was wiry and fit and Victoria thought he was pudgy and cuddly. We both agreed that Uncle Kev is always an accident waiting to happen and one step from bringing calamity to himself and others and women seemed to love him, but our vision was two different pictures of the dangerous dude. Despite this, we showed our enduring love and affection by munching a few of these little cookies together. The link is below.
As for Uncle Kev, all will be revealed in The Wolfe Widow (September 2014) Be there.
Speaking of uncles, are any of your relatives, um, criminals?
No, some of them are Irish and others are Italian,
but they’re all solid citizens. A few of them might be known to shout “Eat!
What’s the matter, don’t you like it? Eat now!” but your silver service would
be safe with them. Still, we love Jordan’s crooked uncles and if you can’t have
crooks in mysteries, where can you have them?
People are always eating in The Christie Curse. Why
don’t they ever get fat?

Part of the author’s job is to absorb surplus calories in order to save the characters and the readers from tight waistband syndrome. We hope you appreciate this sacrifice on our part.
But seriously, we think that food enhances a book, engages our senses and makes everything better.
Speaking of better, this might be a good time to serve the chocolate souffle.
Yes, the recipe link is below.
What’s the most fun about writing a mystery book collector series drawn from the twenties and thirties?
Aside from the characters, the books and authors
themselves are wonderful. For The
Christie Curse, we re-read dozens of Agatha Christie books, plays, short
stories and biographies. She’s a great lady who stands the test of time. Both Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers had lives
that were every bit as interesting and exciting as their books. Sometimes more
so. Re-reading all the Sayers mysteries was a labor of love while working on
The Sayers Swindle.
And what about the pug?

What's next in the book collector series?

If you liked the Christie Curse, we know you’ll also enjoy The Sayers Swindle.
Can Jordan keep going straight? Will Vera’s missing Sayers collection be found before Jordan loses her job? What is Walter eating? Look out behind you, there’s a guy with a shovel!
You can pre-order from your favorite bookstore or click here
http://tinyurl.com/lrht
Is there anything else to eat?
Sure thing! Sometimes you have to get a treat on the table and your day's gone wrong and you're out of time. Let's call 8-minute plum cake to the rescue! Well, you do need to allow 25 minutes for it to bake (or you might have one in the freezer like we do) You'll find the link below!
Click this Mystery Lovers Kitchen link below for the oatcake recipe!
http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2010/08/everything-old-is-new-againClick thisMystery Lovers Kitchen link for the chocolate soufflé and chocolate heart cookie blog and recipes:
http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2013/02/two-chocolate-recipes-for-you-on.html
Click this Mystery Lovers Kitchen link for the pot-de-chocolat blog and recipe. http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2011/02/my-not-so-secret-love-affair-with.html
Click this Mystery Lovers Kitchen link for the 8-minute plum cake recipe. http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2013/08/plum-crazy-eight-minute-cake.html
Thanks for coming by! Here's a little bit more about us.
Click this Mystery Lovers Kitchen link for the pot-de-chocolat blog and recipe. http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2011/02/my-not-so-secret-love-affair-with.html
Click this Mystery Lovers Kitchen link for the 8-minute plum cake recipe. http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2013/08/plum-crazy-eight-minute-cake.html
Thanks for coming by! Here's a little bit more about us.
Victoria Abbott is a collaboration between Victoria Maffini
and her mother, Mary Jane Maffini (who insists all of this IS on her
diet).. The Christie Curse, their first
book collector mystery, launched in March 2013 and The Sayers Swindle,
the second in the series will be out in December 2013. Please let them know how
you like it.
There are lots of ways to reach them. Sign up for their newsletter at www.victoria-abbott.com
Pleaase note that Walter the Pug in the series is a dead ringer for Peachy, Victoria's new best friend.
Come over and friend them on Facebook
www.facebook.com/BookCollectorMysteries www.facebook.com/maryjane.maffini
Tell them you love the pug!
www.twitter.com/AbbottMysteries
www.pinterest.com/jbinghamkelly
THANK YOU both for a delightful interview! I have your book ready to read and now that I know more about the authors, I'm even more excited to get started.
ReplyDeleteHow blessed you are to have such a workable mom-daughter relationship. Thanks for sharing your humor with us and your obvious love and respect for each other. :-) Adrienne in Minnesota
Thanks so much, Adrienne! I have been to Minnesota and was impressed with the bookstores and the readers. So glad you came by.
DeleteMJ/Victoria
MJ, I'm so glad you explained the author's waistband phenomenon. I knew something was going on!!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks wonderful--I"m definitely attending your meeting:)
Thanks, Lucy. That was the medical component of the post. Come on down!
DeleteMJ/Vic
Thank you for my morning laugh. I'm so glad that you explained the duty of the author to absorb calories for the characters. That explains so much! I feel the characters really ought to be obligated to take on the dieting and extra exercise for the author. I don't have trouble imagining that Victoria is taller than MJ (that's not a slight because MJ and I are the same height), but funnier? I'm almost afraid to meet Victoria for fear of splitting the seams in my clothes made tight by my hungry characters. How could anyone be funnier than MJ? You two must be hysterical together!
ReplyDelete~Krista
Thank you, Krista! I think you are right that the characters should do the heavy lifting to burn off the calories. My jump to conclusions. But it that enough?
DeleteHugs,
MJ/Victoria
You guys! You are delightful. MJ and Victoria - I loved this! I especially loved "But seriously, we think that food enhances a book, engages our senses and makes everything better." It's a philosophy I embrace, for sure. Cannot wait for The Sayers Swindle! xxoo
ReplyDeleteAnd we know you are a great cook and readers, Kaye! We love your chocolate Kahlua loaf. Mmmm.
DeleteXO
MJ and Victoria, tight waistband syndrome! Too funny. I love it. Love all the chocolate, too, which of course is for health benefits.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving me a chuck.
Daryl / Avery
Thank you, Daryl! Glad we made you laugh. We eat all that cheese and read those cookbooks for the health benefits too! That's just one of the reasons we like your books.
DeleteMJ/Victoria
Enjoyed this so much! How nice to see a mother and daughter doing something so fun together! I'm curious though...do you take turns writing chapters? Sit down together and write at the same time? Inquiring minds want to know! The food looks yummy too--so glad your characters will be absorbing the calories for me! I've already made your plum cake twice and it was a huge hit both times.
ReplyDeleteGood questions, Peg! We plan out the plot line and we each do some of the scenes and cobble them together. We have characters that we each 'own'.
DeleteFor some reason we laugh when we're planning. A big part of the writing is homogenizing the voices,
Looking forward to your book club tomorrow.
You know we make your Christmas pancake all year long!
MJ/Victoria
Excellent and delightful interview, MJ/Victoria, loved every word. Your Book Collector Mystery series is ingeniously devised. Presented to any book club with your tasty recipes who wouldn't say (to quote your uncle--criminal or not :)), "Eat Eat now!"...and read Victoria Abbott's Christie Curse with joy.
ReplyDelete~ Cleo
Thanks for the kind words from the Queen of Coffee! We always enjoy your posts. The signora thinks highly of you too,
DeleteEat!
MJ/Victoria
An entertaining and informative piece chock full of yummy recipes. I want some characters to go to the gym for me!
ReplyDeleteI'll check if they will, Libby. but watch your wallet around those uncles.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you comments.
Cheers,
MJ/Victoria
Wonderful interview ladies. I find your mother and daughter writing team to be such a great idea. I wish that I could have done something like that with my mother.
ReplyDeleteI have not gotten your books yet as I have quite a lot already and many on my wish list, but yours have been added and I will get them ordered as soon as possible as they sound sooooo good. Love having recipes in books and on these blogs; thank you for that as well. Keep up the great work and wishing you continued success.
Thanks so much! We are glad to have you here too as readers are the whole point of writing these books, Glad you like recipes too. You're a perfect fit here at MLK.
DeleteEnjoy your reading!
MJ/Victoria