Death Al Dente - Softcover

King, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312970382 ISBN 13: 9780312970383

Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2000

Synopsis

While in Bologna, the Gourmet Detective discovers food and passion are two Italian delicacies to die for...

Dispatched by London's premier restauranteur to find the ultimate Italian chef, the Gourmet Detective heads for Italy undercover. Accompanied by a seductive guide, he sets out to savor the delicacies-- and plumb the secrets-- of the three top contenders. But while sampling the region's gustatory delights, the Gourmet Detective discovers that his secret mission is public knowledge. Who spilled the beans? Are the culinary competitors ready to kill for the job? And when an agricultural magnate is found marinating in a swimming pool, and a killer monk tries to pare him to the core, the Gourmet Detective is ready to give a murderer his just desserts...

About this title

About the Author:

Peter King is a full-time writer who lives in Florida. Death Al Dente is his fourth Gourmet Detective mystery.

From Kirkus Reviews:

The Gourmet Detective, an ex-chef, so far nameless(Spiced to Death, 1997, etc.), has been hired by famed actor/restaurateur Desmond Lansdowne to take on what appears a delightful mission: to travel to Italy and choose the best chef of the three generally acknowledged as that countrys finest. Lansdowne wants to open what he insists will be the best Italian restaurant in London, and the chosen chef will rule its kitchen. Gourmet, whose ostensible mission will be to gather material for a restaurant guide (... la Michelin), is met in Italy by charming Francesca, a friend of Desmonds who runs an escort service and knows everyone. In Bologna, the two are invited by chef Silvio Pellegrini to visit a mozzarella factory and a buffalo herd at his farma visit that ends with Pellegrinis death in what looks like murder. Gourmets life is threatened tooby a man dressed in a monks robe as well as by others. Between dissertations on the wines and regional dishes of various areas, theres a murky plot involving extramarital affairs, legal chicanery, and greedy business dealsmost of it near-incomprehensible except to theatrically handsome policeman Captain Carlo Cataldo, who seems to have a grip on the confusing mess. For some, wines and meals to die for. Others may feel a compelling urge to head for the nearest McDonalds. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0312970382
• ISBN 13: 9780312970383
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 264