The Spice Box - Softcover

Temple, Lou Jane

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0425206653 ISBN 13: 9780425206652

Publisher: Berkley, 2006

Synopsis

Fleeing the Irish potato famine to build a new life in New York City, Bridget takes a job as a cook for the wealthy, powerful Isaac Gold, but her first day ends in tragedy when she stumbles upon the body of her employer's youngest son. Reissue.

About this title

About the Author:

Lou Jane Temple is a caterer in Kansas City, Missouri. A guest chef at the Culinary Institute of America and the James Beard Foundation, she has also been a restaurateur and a food and wine critic. She is the author of the culinary mystery series featuring caterer Heaven Lee.

From Booklist:

Set in New York City during the Civil War, this new series features Bridget Heaney, an orphaned Irish lass who has learned to cook well enough to be hired to work in the kitchen of a prosperous Jewish merchant. On her very first day of work, Bridget discovers the body of her employer's son. None of the characters has much depth, but they are all recognizable: Bridget's fragile sister; the kindly employer; the wronged kitchen maid (Bridget's predecessor); the French chef; the free man of color who is the house steward; and, of course, the butler. The point of view changes sometimes midparagraph, the characters have the sensibilities and speak in the language of the twenty-first rather than the nineteenth century, the food preparation is described with more care and gusto than anything else, and both the crime and the resolution strain credulity. With all that, however, the novel is thoroughly readable, if one is willing to give in to the comforts of formula. Hard to put down, like a bowl of pudding. GraceAnne DeCandido
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About this edition

• Publisher: Berkley
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0425206653
• ISBN 13: 9780425206652
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 336