No Just Desserts [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Elisabeth Bastion (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2004

Lucille's New York PR agency is sending her to London to add American ideas to the launch campaign for Sweet Whippo, a new synthetic food product. But once there she becomes the target of a vicious hate campaign: food poisoning, threatening notes, and even a stalker. So when the London test kitchen supervisor dies from a fall, Lucille is determined to prove it wasn't an accident.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Although it is aimed at the "foodie" crowd, Bastion's debut will appeal to a broad range of readers--even those hesitant to set foot in the kitchen. Relying on character instead of recipes, the novel stars fortysomething Lucille Anderson, who makes a bold move when she leaves her New York PR agency and her dull boyfriend to work on the "Sweet Whippo" food account in the firm's London office. A delicious combination of tough and vulnerable, Lucy wins over almost everyone, from her resentful and paranoid new British colleagues to her new love interest, handsome Braxton Clark. When the glamorous Fiona, test-kitchen supervisor, is killed, Lucy begins to investigate the supposed "accident"--and finds herself the target of malicious letters warning her to stop snooping. London scenery and Lucy's romance are pleasant plot accoutrements, and Bastion's British-versus-American chef competition comically mimics Iron Chef and other cable cooking shows. A fun and flavorful outing that will leave readers requesting seconds. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

". . . as frothy as freshly-whipped meringue and just as good."
-- Vincent Lardo, author of McNally's Dare

Product Details

• Hardcover: 349 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (November 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786269995
• ISBN-13: 978-0786269990
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,717,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read, October 2, 2004

By 

Boris Riskin (Sag Harbor, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - No Just Desserts (Hardcover)

Bastion's story of a food critic stuck in London is filled with wry humor and inside stuff on how food people live and work. There are some scenes that are hilarious. In the meantime the action makes you keep turning pages. By all means, buy and read this book.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help Yourself!, July 15, 2004

By 

Marijane Meaker (East Hampton, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - No Just Desserts (Hardcover)

and all the while receiving lethal little signs to the contrary.
Ms. Bastion is a wonderful writer, romantic, wry, knowledgeable, all that you can ask for...and this seems to be the beginning of a new series about Lucille Anderson. I hope it is.It's great!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fun culinary amateur sleuth, July 15, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - No Just Desserts (Hardcover)

Because of her fine ad campaign, MWVB sends New York based public relations expert Lucille Anderson to London for six weeks to add the Americanization side of a promotion to sell Sweet Whippo to the public. The creator of the product Braxton ?Brack? Clark says the synthetic food item reduces sugar, fat, salt and consequently calories while providing fiber.

Her first day on the job leads to Lucile tasting the new product and suffering food poisoning. Next she receives interoffice memo telling the Yank to go home. Lucile and Fiona Gordon, head of the Test Kitchen, are already at the point of hostilities when the Londoner falls down the stairs and dies. A wannabe mystery writer, Lucile cannot resist investigating what has been officially has been called an accident as she thinks otherwise. Meanwhile the local boss Will Hammersmith wants her back in the States and her client Brack is a hunk that makes London swing for her even if she considers him a prime suspect.

This is a fun culinary amateur sleuth mystery starring a fabulous protagonist who makes the tale feels like a gourmet dinner. The fine story line focuses on Lucille?s woes once she disembarks in London. The secondary characters bring London somewhat alive, but are more used as counterpoints to foster better understanding of the novel?s star. Sub-genre readers will appreciate this terrific tale of murder amidst ?modern? cuisine.

Harriet Klausner