Death al Dente: A Gourmet Detective Mystery [Paperback]

Peter King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1999

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.

In a country where chefs enjoy a celebrity status second only to their food, would one kill to be the best? In Death al Dente, the fourth installment in the Gourmet Detective series, the discerning sleuth finds himself embroiled in a sizzling mixture of food and passion. Can he discover the murderer's motive before his own goose is cooked?

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The Gourmet Detective (Spiced to Death, LJ 7/97) ultimately confronts dire danger when called upon to choose which of three talented Italian chefs will work at a fancy new restaurant. Their cooking competition, unfortunately, results in murder and more. Fast fun, delightful characters.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (March 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312291760
• ISBN-13: 978-0312291761
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,495,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars death al dente, May 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Death al Dente: A Gourmet Detective Mystery (Culinary Mysteries) (Paperback)

Peter King's writing, like a fine wine improves with age. "Death al Dente" The fourth book in the Gourmet Detective series, is possibly King's finest work to date. The food descriptions make your mouth water and the information about Italy and Italian wines is truly enlightning. Combine the food, the wine and a multiple murder mystery and you have a book well worth reading. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a penchant for culinary mysteries.

5.0 out of 5 stars Death al Dente, 4th "Gourmet Detective" Novel, February 14, 2012

By 

R. V. Russo (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death Al Dente (Gourmet Detective Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Peter King created the concept of "The Gourmet Detective" with his first novel in that continuing series by that exact name. The Gourmet Detective investigates issues related to gourmet food, fine wines, exotic ingredients and the recipes involved. In this novel, "Death al Dente," the fourth in the continuing series, the Gourmet Detective is sent to Bologna, Italy by his client to evaluate each of three world-class chefs so that one may be lured away to be the star of a new and best Italian restaurant to be located in England.

A common theme throughout these Peter King novels is found herein - that an outwardly simple task is made troublesome by mischief, mayhem and murder, with the Gourmet Detective in the middle of it all. He is helped in this task by his beautiful, wilful and enticing locally-sourced Italian escort, the lovely Francesca, who not only helps solve the crime but is introduced as a key character and a foil to the Gourmet Detective. She also provides an insight as to the author's depiction of beautiful, sexual, passionate and self-confident Italian womanhood.

Taking place in Bologna and the surrounding area, the novel transports you to that classic Italian city, the local life style, it's cuisine, wines, cheeses, archecture and historical value.

This is escapist entertainment and adventure in its purest form, and an inexpensive way to learn about Bologna, its fine cuisine, wines and colorful inhabitants, as portrayed by characters in this novel.