Why Didn’t They Ask Evans – Cucumber Sandwiches

Hello crime readers and food lovers!  Today we are raising our pinky fingers and taking delicate bites from a classic item of British high tea, cucumber sandwiches.  Our book of choice is a standalone Christie novel, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?  Published in 1934, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans came after an amazing run of novels – Murder on the Orient Express and Three Act Tagedy (both also published in 1934), Lord Edgware Dies (1933) and Peril At End House (1932).  And…well…for my mind, it is not in the same calibre as any of these.  There is also not a great deal of food mentioned within its pages. Generic references to cocktail parties, breakfast and afternoon teas abound.  There is even a reference to a  sausage and beer party which sounds like heaps of fun.  But not many specific mentions of food.  So, for my menu, I have taken the liberty of choosing an item that I hope was served at least one of those any afternoon teas, cucumber sandwiches!

Why Didn’t They Ask Evans – The Plot

Bobby James is playing golf near his home in Marchbolt, Wales. As a sudden fog descends Bobby hears a man cry out.  Worried that he may have hit someone with his last shot, Bobby goes to investigate and finds a man lying close to death on a ledge below a cliff.  The man gains consciousness long enough to utter the words “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” before dying.  This sets Bobby and his friend / romantic interest Lady Frances (Frankie) Derwent on a series of adventures that could cost them their lives.

We have:

• Sisters behaving suspiciously
• Beer poisoned with morphia
• Staged car accidents
• Morphine addicts (aka drug fiends! in 1934 parlance)
• Dodgy doctors
• Supposed suicides
• Kidnapping
• Poisoned coffee
• Wicked wives
• And a romantic ending for Bobby and Frankie.

Bobby and Frankie are both very likeable characters and well written.  So it is not the absence of Poirot or Marple which makes this book not one of my favourites.  In fact, the tv adaptation I watched shoehorned Marple into it which to my mind, made the story even worse!.  For me, this is just not a compelling plot.  I think what didn’t work for me was that I LOVE trying to solve the mysteries and the mystery of Evans and why they weren’t asked is almost impossible to solve.  There was some fun along the way though so this is still worth a read even if, to my mind, it was not as good as some of its predecessors.

Why Didn’t They Ask Evans – The Covers

This was called The Boomerang Clue on its American release hence the varied titles.   The modern 1920’s stylised look with Bobby and Frankie on the train. is my favourite.  What is yours?

The Recipe – Cucumber Sandwiches

I used this recipe from The Spruce Eats but I cut my sandwiches into fingers and not triangles. And I buttered one side of the bread so there was only cream cheese on one side.

Other Food & Drinks Mentioned in Why Didn’t They Ask Evans

• Fried Fish
• Coffee (Multiple mentions)
• Sandwiches (a packet)
• Beer (Poisoned with Morphia)
• Cocktail Party & Cocktails (several mentions
• Beer and Sausage Party
• Port
• Tea (several mentions)
• Afternoon tea (several mentions)
• Bacon and Eggs (It wouldn’t be a Christie without it)
• Breakfast
• Toast (two mentions)

Have you read Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?  Am I being too harsh in saying it is one of the worst  Christies to date? I would love to hear from people who love this novel to tell me I’m wrong…And from people like me who think it is just a bit meh.

Beer and sausage party?  Who’s in?

Death in the Clouds will be our read for February and, despite some OMG moments of blatant racism, is to my mind a much better story.  We’ll delve into that in February.  

Happy reading and eating!