THE WINTERINGHAM MYSTERY

by Anthony Berkeley

Apparently republished for the first time 2021 after 95 years this is a whodunit set in the Golden age of country house mysteries.

Reading it now almost 100 years after it was written the protagonists actions and attitude seems on occasion naive or plain foolish.

The basic synopsis of the story is: Our hero Stephen Munro, a once well to do man about town, who no longer has an income applies and gets a job working as a footman, at Winteringham Hall, with his loyal batman/valet joining him in this endeavour as an under gardener (shades of Jeeves and Wooster here,).

The Winteringham estate is owned by Lady Susan, described as an old lady (she’s 67 so not so old in my book). She requires a new footman as she intends to do more entertaining and has a party of young things about to join her. In the way of these stories one of the young things, Pauline, is the love of Stephen’s life, though as he has no money he can’t aspire to court and marry her, Pauline arrives engaged to a brute of a very wealthy man and initially snubs Stephen.

As people arrive at the Hall we’re introduced to them, some to be mere caricatures. it’s decided that the after dinner entertainment on the first evening will consist of a séance and this is when one of the young ladies, Cicely disappears. This is the start of the mystery and we are taken down numerous red herring roads to discover just what happened and who did it.

The day after the séance Stephen is elevated, owing to his upper class personality no doubt, from humble footman to welcome house guest. At the same time as the mystery is unfolding the love story between Stephen and Pauline takes place. This ,even more than the mystery shows the difference in morals and expectations in the 1930’s as opposed to today in the 2020’s.

I like many before me, including Agatha Christie didn’t guess all the answers to who did it. I can’t say it was a riveting read, and I had to push myself to finish it in the end, saying all that, I could see the story as a comic mystery serialisation on the TV.

In summary I couldn’t quite make my mind up whether Mr Berkeley wanted to write a mystery or a P.G Woodhouse style comic romance and that’s what lets the story down.

Review by Jan Reading

Scrummy Easter Biscuits

Who doesn't like chocolate or biscuits or even better, combinations of the two?. These Mary Berry fork biscuits are a perfect simple recipe, great for getting the kids involved. A creative way to spend the day over the holidays. They love the rolling of the dough, the squashing with a fork and my addition to the recipe… dipping them in chocolate! It is also a great way for them to develop useful life skills of measuring, weighing and counting.

Ingredients

100g (4oz) butter, softened 50g (2oz) caster sugar 150g (5oz) self-raising flour + 150g of your favourite chocolate!

Method

· Preheat the oven to 180°C /fan 160°C/ gas 4. Lightly butter two baking trays.

· Measure the butter into a bowl and beat to soften.

Gradually beat in the sugar and then the flour. Bring the mixture together with your hands to form a dough.

· Form the dough into 16 balls about the size of a walnut and place spaced well apart on the prepared baking trays.

· Dip a fork in a little water and use this to flatten the biscuits.

· Bake in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes until a very pale golden.

· Lift off the baking tray and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

These biscuits are lovely as they are—buttery crumbly and not too sweet but if you have a sweet tooth and like a bit of chocolate then melt 150g of your favourite chocolate and dip your biscuit or drizzle and leave to set. We have tried all sorts of combinations like sprinkling roasted hazelnuts on the chocolate and drizzling white chocolate and sprinkling freeze dried raspberries on top . Place your biscuits in a kilner jar and enjoy!

These also make a lovely gift with an extra special dose of love.

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