While reading my nightly Agatha Christie novel, I do run across words and ideas that are not familiar to me, being an American. Most Agatha Christie novels, being set in a different time and place, mention food and customs that I like to read more about.
Afternoon tea ( a late lunch) can be a sandwich and drink (hot tea, lemonade, beer). This is different than a high tea- which is more substantial- with sandwiches, scones, and cake. My daughter and mother in law like to visit a local tea room a couple times a year for a festive high tea.
I recently visited a local British shop and purchased fish paste and ham and chicken paste, which is a jarred sandwich filling. The unappetizing name of fish paste, etc is what Americans would call tuna, ham, or chicken SALAD. The taste was acceptable, but the texture was as smooth as paste!
Living Miss Marple 
I enjoyed your chat about fish paste
Carry on Miss Marple
Debbie
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I too wondered what those fish paste sandwiches that Miss Marple had at Bertrams Hotel were all about.
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Hoped to find an actual recipe …that being said, I have been searching Fish Paste recipes and the traditional Fish Paste recipe from the UK seems to be Anchovies and Sardines ground up with tomato paste and spices. I found another that isn’t so UK or traditional that uses Anchovies, sardines AND poached white fish like cod or halibut, haddock or sole, NO tomato products, but added butter, vinegar or lemon juice and spices like mace, mustard, sugar, salt, allspice, cilantro, dill. I prefer this version , personally although I understand it isn’t what Miss Marple would eat.
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