Publishers Weekly
The Gourmet Detective scours New Orleans for a missing cookbook and gastronomical heaven in the latest installment (after last year's Eat, Drink, and Be Buried) of Peter King's mystery series for foodies, Roux the Day. What begins as a reasonably simple mission authenticating an old book of recipes via its most famous dish, oysters Belvedere quickly gets complicated by murder, forgery and a posse of lady chefs who kidnap the epicurean hero. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
During his first visit to New Orleans, the Gourmet Detective (Spiced to Death) investigates not only Cajun and Creole food but also a missing cookbook. Whimsical and entertaining. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
When the coveted cookbook containing five generations of Belvedere family recipes, including the restaurateurs' heralded Oysters Belvedere, comes up for auction, the Gourmet Detective (Eat, Drink, and Be Buried, 2001, etc.) is invited to the Big Easy to authenticate it by a lawyer representing a client he declines to name. There are two immediate problems: The book has disappeared, and five gorgeous women waylay the G.D. and explain that they are "Witches"-that is, Women in the Catering, Hotel, and Eating Services-and they want the G.D. to get that book for them, too. The trail leads to Michael Gambrinus, Bookseller, where someone sits dead in the owner's chair. After a refreshing stop for a beignet and chicory-laced coffee, the G.D. is on the trail again, pausing only for a hefty portion of catfish fillets, then another stop for gumbo sopped up with pain perdu and yet another for high-caloric flummery for dessert. Between bites, the G.D. visits a book forger, learns Cajun and Creole dining idiosyncrasies, confers with a New Orleans cop, rides the St. Charles streetcar line from end to end, and discovers which Witch is two-timing the others, for a wrap-up that demands a celebratory Ramos gin fizz. Less wacky than most Gourmet Detective outings, but readers will find the menu descriptions mouthwatering and crave a sample of shrimp remoulade.
