The Spice Box [Paperback]

Lou Jane Temple (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 4, 2006

Bridget Heaney is a young Irish girl trying to find her way, like so many others in 1860s New York. Her first break is working in the kitchen for one of New York's most prominent men--Isaac Gold. There, hidden high on a shelf, Bridget finds an old wooden spice box, carved with scenes and filled with recipes--with different handwriting and in different languages: the legacy of generations of cooks, handed down through the years.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The first of a new food-themed historical series, Temple's charming tale of New York City in the Civil War era introduces Bridget Heaney, a clever, streetwise Irish immigrant. The day Bridget starts as an assistant cook in the Manhattan household of wealthy merchant Isaac Gold, she makes a terrible discovery: the body of the family's youngest son, Seth, who'd been missing, crammed inside a dough box. Two gunshot wounds to the chest are the cause of death. The obliging Bridget sets aside her kitchen duties to help the Gold family search for Seth's killer. A delightful mix of upstairs and downstairs characters, a vivid picture of the city's seamy underside, absorbing details of Sephardic Judaism and a fittingly melodramatic climax make this a memorable debut. Agent, Lisa Queen at IMG. (May 3)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (April 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425206653
• ISBN-13: 978-0425206652
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,088,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Historical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New historical mystery, June 9, 2005

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spice Box (Hardcover)

Lou Jane Temple is famous for her culinary mystery series featuring caterer Heaven Lee. This is a new culinary series set before 1900. I did not realize this until I started reading it. I normally shy away from historical mysteries, but I am so glad I read this one. Bridget Henry is an Irish Immigrant. She is all alone now. Her friend helps her get a job as a cook in the home of Isaac Gold, the wealthy owner of a department store.

She finds the body of Mr. Gold's son in the dough box on her first day. He'd been shot twice in the chest. Mr. Gold has no faith in the police finding his son's killer, so he decides he'd better do it. He enlists Bridget's help. He also ends up assisting her in her search for her sister. They set off on many adventures until Mr. Gold's wife tries to put a stop to it. Bridget still assists, but Mr. Gold is not as free to join in.

Bridget finds herself in quite a few interesting situations. She is such a wonderful character, and her interaction with Mr. Gold as well as the rest of the staff is terrific. The setting of the late 1800s really adds to this story. I can't wait to read more in this new series. Ms. Temple has a real winner! I highly recommend it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Taste of New York, May 14, 2005

By 

Lesa Holstine (Glendale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spice Box (Hardcover)

In the past, Lou Jane Temple has written contemporary mysteries about Heather Lee, a restaurant owner in Kansas City, Missouri. She moves back in time to 1860s New York for her latest book, The Spice Box. Bridget Heaney arrived in New York from Ireland as a child, and grew up on the streets and in an orphanage, along with her sister, Maggie. Fortunately for Bridget, she had a love of cooking that brought her to a mansion owned by the Gold family. Bridget's first day in her new job as a cook is disrupted when she finds the murdered body of the son of the household.

In an unusual twist, Bridget teams up with Mr. Gold, her boss and owner of Gold's Department Store, to find his son's killer. As her common sense proves to be a benefit to their search, he learns to trust her, and insists on helping her find her missing sister.

Although this partnership seems unusual, The Spice Box offers a fascinating look at three worlds; the Irish immigrant experience in mid-century New York, and the contrasting worlds of the serving class and upper class. Temple brings Bridget and her world to life while presenting an intriguing mystery.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I'll definitely read the next one too!, June 8, 2005

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spice Box (Hardcover)

Lou Jane Temple's latest novel The Spice Box is a historical mystery set in 1860's New York City.

Bridget Haney is an Irish immigrant who grew up on New York's mean streets and in an orphanage with her sister Maggie. Bridget has always loved to cook and has aspired to cook for a wealthy New York family.

Bridget realizes her dream when she is hired as the Gold family cook. Her first day on the job is marred when she finds the twice-shot body of Seth, the Gold's son, in the dough box. Bridget and Isaac Gold, Seth's father join forces to find the killer and Bridget's missing sister, Maggie.

The Spice Box is an interesting look at 1860's New York life and the differences between the serving class and their employers. Temple has also included some delicious mouth-watering recipes.

While the novel and its characters are somewhat predictable and formulaic, The Spice Box is a satisfying and enjoyable read and worth the time. I'll read her next novel too.