We've been rather busy this month, in the nicest possible way: researching 1930s recipe books and whisking, folding, whipping, griddling, baking our way to the perfect Manderley afternoon tea. It wasn't just an excuse to eat lots of cake and crumpets, of course. This was all in the name of celebrating Daphne du Maurier's evocative food descriptions for our chapter on Rebecca.

Alongside recipes for ravioli, delivered to the mouth of Mrs Van Hopper via her "fat, bejewelled fingers", and chicken in aspic as served at the fateful ball, the chapter will have all the recipes required to recreate the entire Manderley afternoon tea spread:

"Those dripping crumpets, I can see them now. Tiny crisp wedges of toast, and piping-hot, flaky scones. Sandwiches of unknown nature, mysteriously flavoured and quite delectable, and that very special gingerbread. Angel cake, that melted in the mouth, and his rather stodgier companion, bursting with peel and raisins."

We've made the introduction to our Rebecca chapter available to read online, right here: https://unbound.com/books/a-gothic-cookbook/excerpt

We'll also be sending out a subscribers' update with our thoroughly tried-and-tested recipe for "that very special gingerbread", laid out in the style of the book with illustration and step-by-step instructions. Spoiler: it's delicious.

Thank you, as ever, to all of you who have so generously supported our cookbook so far. We're nearly halfway there – and it isn't even Halloween yet!

And, as always, please do share our Unbound page as far and wide as you can – it truly does help. We've added some new pledge levels, including a beautiful vintage-style cocktail booklet and cocktail party kit, so do check those out (and upgrade if you can/want to!).

From the shadows/the corner of your eye,

Allie, Ella & Lee