Death Al Dente (Gourmet Detective Mysteries) - Hardcover

King, Peter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312198914 ISBN 13: 9780312198916

Publisher: St Martins Pr, 1999

Synopsis

The Gourmet Detective did not expect his job to be easy. He had been sent by Desmond Lansdown, respected actor and London's premier restaurateur, to find the best chef in Italy. But even the most difficult tasks can be savored when one enjoys his work, and the sleuth happily immerses himself in his duties, sampling the peninsula's finest cuisine with his beautiful and mysterious guide, Francesca.
But between courses of boccocini - vol au vents filled with chicken giblets and truffles - and strangolopreti - a gnocchi and spinach dish whose name means "priest stranglers" - the determined gourmet begins to suspect that someone is trying to kill him. And when an agricultural magnate with whom he has enjoyed several meals turns up facedown in a swimming pool, the Gourmet Detective must dodge stampeding buffalo, a kamikaze airplane, and a killer monk, while at the same time choosing the perfect chef and solving the perfect murder.

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: St Martins Pr
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0312198914
• ISBN 13: 9780312198916
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 249