#BookTour: Halloween Parade Peril, by Victoria Tait @dollycas #HalloweenParadePeril #VictoriaTait #cozy #mystery #KangaPress #GreatEscapesVirtualBookTours #giveaway

Halloween Parade Peril:
A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth
(A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
by Victoria Tait

About Halloween Parade Peril

Halloween Parade Peril: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
10th in Series
Setting – Ireland
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kanga Press (September 13, 2024)
Number of Pages c. 240
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CM2MGBVY

A spooky spectacle turns deadly when a singer’s voice is silenced forever. Does an amateur sleuth have the ghost of a chance to unmask the killer before the jack-o’-lantern’s candle is snuffed out?
Emerging antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, is excited about traveling to Ireland for a prestigious auction. Alongside her friend, Sergeant Keya Varma, Dotty revels in Dublin’s iconic sights and finds herself spellbound by haunting melodies at the Bram Stoker Festival. But a Halloween parade turns tragic when a musician’s last melody leads to his final breath.

With the police operating a skeleton crew, Keya expresses grave concerns while Dotty carves up excitement at the auction, bidding for a pumpkin full of Irish treasures. But when one of their friends ends up behind bars and another confesses to the crime, this duo of detectives realises the witching hour is near.

Can Dotty piece the eerie puzzle together and unveil the villain before the plot thickens like a witch’s potion?

Join Dotty and her friends in Dublin for the latest instalment of the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series. If a cauldron of quirky characters, bewitching puzzles, and enchanting Irish folklore is what you crave, then Victoria Tait’s spellbinding narrative will keep you captivated until the final page.

Make no bones about it – read Halloween Parade Peril today!

recipe: traditional irish barmbrack

Barmbrack, often shortened to “brack,” is a traditional Irish fuit loaf which holds a special place in the country’s culinary and cultural history.

The sweet, fruity loaf is typically associated with Halloween, or Samhain, a Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.

The name “barmbrack” is derived from the Irish words “bairín” (meaning “loaf”) and “breac” (meaning “speckled”), which together describe the bread’s speckled appearance due to the dried fruits mixed into the dough.

In my book, Halloween Parade Peril, Dotty and her friend Sergeant Keya Varma enjoy a slice of barmbrack in a tea shop while visiting Dublin.

Origins and Ingredients

Barmbrack has its roots in ancient Ireland, where it was originally a simple bread made with flour, water, and yeast. Over time, as sugar and dried fruits became more accessible, the recipe evolved into the sweet loaf that is known today. The dried fruit mix, often consisting of raisins, sultanas, and currants, is typically soaked in tea or whiskey, giving the bread a moist texture and rich flavour.

Unlike many other breads, barmbrack is made without much fat, which allows it to last longer, a quality that was particularly useful in times when preserving food was crucial. The addition of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, which were rare and valuable in olden days, further suggests that barmbrack was a special treat, often reserved for festive occasions.

Barmbrack and Halloween Customs

Barmbrack is most closely associated with Halloween in Ireland, a time when it was traditionally baked and served as part of the celebrations. One of the most intriguing customs involving barmbrack is the practice of baking various objects into the loaf, each of which had a symbolic meaning related to the future of the person who found it in their slice.

Common items hidden in barmbrack included:

A ring: This symbolized that the finder would be married within the year.
A coin: Finding a coin predicted wealth or good fortune.
A pea: This indicated that the person would not marry in the coming year.
A piece of cloth (rag): This symbolized bad luck or poverty.
A stick: Finding a stick suggested disputes or disagreements.

These objects turned the eating of barmbrack into a form of divination, making it a centrepiece of Halloween festivities. Families and friends would gather around the table, eagerly anticipating what the future might hold, as revealed by the contents of their slice of barmbrack.

Modern-Day Barmbrack

Today, barmbrack remains a beloved part of Irish culture, especially around Halloween, although the tradition of baking objects into the loaf has become less common.

It is also enjoyed at other times of the year, especially during autumn and winter, when its warming spices and rich flavours are most appreciated.

In essence, barmbrack is more than just a bread. It is a symbol of Irish history, culture, and tradition, embodying the warmth and spirit of communal celebrations. Whether enjoyed as a simple treat or part of a festive occasion, barmbrack continues to be a cherished part of Ireland’s culinary landscape.

Irish Barmbrack Recipe

Ingredients:

Dried fruit mix (raisins, sultanas, currants): UK: 300g /US: 2 cups
Strong brewed tea (preferably black tea, like Irish Breakfast): UK: 300ml /US: 1¼ cups
Dark brown sugar: UK: 125g /US: ⅔ cup
Self-raising flour: UK: 250g/US: 2 cups
Mixed spice (a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, etc.): UK/US: 1 tsp
Egg: UK/US: 1 large
Optional
- Irish Whiskey: UK/US 2 tsps
- Butter for greasing

Instructions:

Prepare the Fruit:
- Place the dried fruit in a large bowl.
- Pour the brewed tea (and whiskey if using) over the fruit.
- Cover the bowl and let the fruit soak overnight or for at least 4 hours. This helps plump up the fruit and infuse it with flavour.
Preheat the Oven:
- UK: Preheat to 170°C (fan 150°C)/US: Preheat to 325°F.
Prepare the Batter:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the soaked fruit (including any remaining liquid), brown sugar, flour, and mixed spice.
- Add the beaten egg and mix everything together until well combined. The mixture should be thick but pourable.
Bake the Barmbrack:
- Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin (approx. 8 x 4 inches) with parchment paper.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared tin, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Check the barmbrack after 1 hour; if the top is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with foil.
- The barmbrack is done when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Cool and Serve:
- Let the barmbrack cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Slice and serve with butter or enjoy as is. Barmbrack tastes even better after a day or two as the flavours develop.

Notes:

Storage: Store the barmbrack in an airtight container. It keeps well for up to a week.
Serving suggestion: Traditionally, barmbrack is served with a cup of tea.

About Victoria Tait

Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. She’s drawn on her life’s experiences of following her military husband, and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.

Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.

Author Links

Website: https://victoriatait.com/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriataitauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/VictoriaTaitAuthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait

Purchase Links Amazon Books2Read

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 13 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – The Mystery of Writing – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT