Mystery/Thriller Book Reviews
Page One of SixThe Butter Did It by Phyllis Richman
HarperCollins, June 1998.Paperback, 373 pages.
ISBN: 031218087X.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
On the eve of Washington D.C.'s most-anticipated gourmet
gala, City Tastes, most chefs are slaving away in their
kitchens preparing for the event which stipulates that each
chef must prepare his or her own dishes without help.
Renowned French chef Lawrence Lavain finishes preparing
his famous salmon-stuffed raviolis but never gets the chance to
serve them. Before the event he is found dead on his living room floor, apparently
of a heart attack. While most of his colleagues attribute Lavain's
death to his soaring cholesterol levels his ex-love and current
restaurant critic for the Washington Examiner, Chas Wheatly,
thinks otherwise. With the help of Homer Jones, the homicide
detective on the case who adores fine food, and Chas'
investigative reporter boyfriend, Chas sets out to trap a killer.
Along the way she samples the best food that Washington, D.C.
has to offer and comes to a surprising conclusion about
the role that love can play in her life.
Noted restaurant critic Phyllis Richman has penned a winner with her first foray into mystery writing. Filled with scrumptious descriptions of gourmet delights and an intriguing look into the life of a famous restaurant critic, The Butter Did It succeeds on several levels. The mystery is clever and the characters are vivid and entertaining. A masterful foray into the culinary mystery subgenre, The Butter Did It is a delicious indulgence.
--Claire E. White
Cook's Night Out by Joanne Pence
HarperCollins, Jan., 1998.Paperback, 286 pages.
ISBN: 0061043966.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Chef Angie Amalfi dreams of creating a confection which
will revolutionize the dessert world: the angelina. Unfortunately,
she has no idea whatsoever as to what form the delicious
angelinas will take, so she invests in a number of specialized
kitchen appliances and a ton of chocolate and sets to work.
Batch after batch of rich chocolates of every size and description
are deemed unworthy by Angie and are donated to the Random
Acts of Kindness Mission in San Francisco.
After meeting the charismatic founder of the Mission, Angie
decides to volunteer at the Mission and eventually gets
talked into organizing a huge charity ball. The more
time she spends at the mission, the odder things seem there.
What's worse is her current love, San Francisco police officer
Paavo Smith, is in danger of losing his job when numbers runners
all over the city start turning up dead -- with Paavo's phone number
in their pockets. Although warned away from the Mission by
Paavo because of the shady reputation of the Mission's
biggest supporter, Angie thinks the Mission might be connected
to Paavo's problems and decides to investigate.
Along the way, Angie will whip up a staggering amount of
unusual confections, go undercover as a bag woman and
put herself in danger from a dastardly criminal.
This is the 5th book in the series starring chef and sometime amateur sleuth Angie Amalfi. San Francisco provides an interesting backdrop for the madcap and entertaining adventures of Angie and her longtime love, Paavo. With its lighthearted tone and lovable protagonist, Cook's Night Out is a charming addition to this popular series.
Return to the June 1998 issue of The IWJ.
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