The Pot Thief Who Studied Escoffier

A Pot Thief Murder Mystery #3

by J. Michael Orenduff

Old Town Albuquerque potter and merchant, Hubie Schuze agrees to create unique chargers for the table settings in a soon-to-open restaurant. The fee is too enticing to pass up, although the restaurateur is not negotiable on the potting site...the plates must be made at the restaurant in Santa Fe. Grumbling about forfeiting the comforts of his tailor-made shop and home, Hubie arranges for his absence, packs his equipment into his Bronco and heads to Santa Fe... Once onsite, Hubie is immersed in the politics, procedures and polemics of the restaurant business. In an effort to negotiate the egos and agendas, Hubie invites the grillardin for cocktails. The inebriated grill cook insists on snoozing in Hubie?s truck, but the next morning, Hubie finds the garde manger there instead?not breathing and as cold as his menu items. Before Hubie can recover from the shock, things spiral out of control at Schnitzel, forcing the eatery to close its doors after the first night. Unwilling to cede defeat, Hubie rallies the troupe and they reopen with a Mexican-Austrian fusion menu. The reviews are rave and the money rolls in, but soon Hubie is faced with that old prophecy ?no good deed goes unpunished.

Genres: Mystery, Humor, Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 2011

About the author

Mike Orenduff grew up in a house so close to the Rio Grand that he could frisbee a tortilla into Mexico. Despite such antics, he ended up in higher education, teaching at thirteen colleges in eight states and three countries. He was also an academic dean three times, an academic vice-president twice, a president four times, and a statewide chancellor once. His supporters say he welcomes new challenges. His critics say he cant hold a job. Newt Gingrich, in his book, To Renew America, called Orenduff A hero to the American People for his pioneering work in distance education.
After taking early retirement form higher education, Mike embarked on a new career as a fiction writer. His play, The Christmas Visitor, has won numerous awards. His murder mystery series has also received many accolades. The first in the series, The Pot Thief Who Studied Pythagoras, won the Dark Oak Mystery Contest and the Kindle version won the 2010 EPIC Award as the eBook of the Year in the Mystery/Suspense Category. The second book in the series, The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy, was recently selected as the Fiction Book of the Year by the Public Safety Writers Association. Although the Pot Thief books are humorous murder mysteries, they also contain serious treatments of the issue of race and ethnicity.
Mike and Lai, his high school sweetheart, wife of forty-five years and noted art historian, have two grown children. Jay is a dean at Columbia University in New York, and Claire teaches art history at Georgia College and more importantly is the mother of their grandson, Bram.

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indian pottery, restaurants and murder

By Charles van Buren
July 22, 2018

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Excellent series modeled to a degree on Lawrence Block's writing. Hubie Schuze is not really a thief by his or my standards. Treasures left buried in the ground are useless. The federal laws putting an end to much treasure hunting are mala prohibita. That is, the activity prohibited is wrong only because the government says that it is. Actions that are wrong in of themselves are mala en sa. These things would be wrong even if no law addressed them. As noted in this novel, the laws prohibiting much treasure hunting were passed at the behest of academia even though there are more sites to dig than there will ever be archaeologists to dig them. A more sensible approach, an idea apparently foreign to many academics and politicians, would be to sell permits to dig on public land with the proviso that anything found would be reported and left in sittu until examined. The government would then have first choice to purhase at fair market value. No space here to add other desirable requirements to such an approach.

This volume in the pot thief series examines restaurants and cooking more than it does pots and archeology. I have an interest in both, so I may have enjoyed the book more than did some. The mystery is intriguing and has a good solution. However, a lot of the pleasure of reading this novel comes from the witty interaction among the characters and from Mr. Orenduff's observations of life.

For those who do not already know, Dr. Orenduff was a college professor and university president before turning to full time writing. His entertaining use of the language reflects this background.

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly I enjoy this light mystery series set in New Mexico with our favorite potter, or Pot Thief, Hubert Schuze. The plots get tighter and the writing gets better with each installment. Here Hubie get involved with making plates for new Austrian-style restaurant in Santa Fe and so a lot of the action moves 90 minutes up I-25 to the state Capital and we get a very interesting look at Hubie as he is involved with a new restaurant where the food is so bad it gets a -2** rating from a local reviewer. But Hubie becomes friends with a lot of the staff, and even assists in trying to reopen a new restaurant. Lots of good food recipes discussed here, along with famous French Chef Escoffier. We have a murder, we have the usual cast of characters and we have a rollicking good time. A fast read, a fun read and a real delight of a series!!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read and engaging mystery from one of my favorites, J. Michael Orenduff. I love Hubie Schuze and his strange assortment of friends. They have the best adventures, and become involved in unusual mysteries. Poor Hubie almost always gets arrested for something, but fortunately, he's (so far) managed to vindicate himself.

Here's a highly intelligent, fun, slightly dishonest protagonist you can become involved with and enjoy matching wits to see if you can come up with the answer before he does!! I highly recommend this series if you enjoy fun, unusual characters!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pot thief Hubie Schuze is back, and in fine form, in his fourth adventure as The Pot Thief. In this one Hubie, who runs a pottery shop in Albuquerque's Old Town, is offered a plus job...to make 100 plates for a new restaurant in Santa Fe. He's offered $25,000 for the job, and who can turn down that sort of cash?

The restaurant will feature Austrian fare, and when he arrives, Hubie is introduced to a cast of characters worthy of J. Michael Orenduff's imagination. But when on of his co-workers winds up dead in the back of Hubie's Bronco, things get a little hairy for the pot thief, and he has to dig his way out of trouble.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love the Pot Thief books. Not only are they set in New Mexico, one of my favorite places, but the characters are well drawn and very entertaining. Hubie is one of my favorite protagonists. He enjoys his life, even if his shop doesn't see much business. He loves spending time with his best friend Suzannah, drinking margaritas and discussing cases. And now, to add to the fun, he has a girlfriend and a dog. The only thing that would make it better was if he added a cat to the mix.

I already have the next Pot Thief book downloaded, but I need to pace myself so I don't catch up to where Mr. Orenduff is in the series, and have to wait for a new one to be released.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The peak of series so far. Funny, warm, sprinkled liberally inside nods to the resident of ABQ. But the zany crew of the chef's brigade are not just cardboard but feel more real than some previous disposable characters. The author is coming into his voice. And a fine one it is becoming.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to like. Easy to read, lots of food to think about enjoying and a murder mystery but wait there's more - fun characters, the landscape and, well just read it and enjoy.

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hubie Schuze is back and in fine form although most of the story takes place in Santa Fe instead of his usual setting in Albuquerque. Hubie doesn't steal any pots in this installment. Instead he is asked to make 100 ceramic chargers for a new Austrian restaurant opening in Santa Fe. Yes, that quintessential old Spanish town seems an odd place for an Austrian restaurant, but Hubie is promised $25,000 if he agrees to make the chargers in the restaurant itself and Hubie always needs the money. Thus propels Hubie into the start-up process, the ground floor of a restaurant's opening. He decides to read about the great French chef Escoffier to learn more about the restaurant business (enlightening the reader as well!). To almost no one's surprise Austrian food does not impress the cognoscenti of Santa Fe. Along the way a body is discovered in Hubie's car and, of course, he is the first suspect (seems to be a pattern with Hubie).

All the usual (but unusual) characters that surround Hubie appear along with a whole new contingent. Hubie's intelligence and humor shine in this story as in all the Pot Thief books. They can be read as stand alone mysteries, but I've enjoyed starting from the beginning. Michael Orenduff is a master story teller!

[G.P. Gottlieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read one of Orenduff's mysteries whenever I need to take a break from heavier fare. I enjoy the charm and wit of Hubie Schuze, a potter who searches for and sells ancient buried Native American pottery found on public land. It's illegal, and sometimes money is tight, so he accepts a $25,000 commission from a newly opening Santa Fe restaurant. Required to stay in town, he learns about restaurants from reading a book on the great chef, Escoffier. He likes some of his fellow employees, but didn’t think much of the guy who ends up dead in the back seat of Hubie’s car. Since he’s a suspect, Hubie gets involved in figuring out who did it and why.

[Wolfgang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one goes deeper into cooking. Made me want to try some of the recipies.

[Alexis]

Wonderful book! Love this series!

[Byron Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

My French is not so good, so I stumbled through parts. I found the series to be worth reading and enjoy the locations.

[Allen Sloan · Rating 3 out of 5]

fyi- Goodreads has this book labeled as #3 in the Pot Thief series. But be advised that chronologically, "The Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein" is third in the storyline. I believe that "...Escoffier" should be listed as #4 in the series.

[Vallery Feldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable especially for people who love to cook.

[Sean Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant. Info-dumpy as to be expected. Know ABQ? You'll get a kick out of all the name-dropping lol

[Thad Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good.

[Barb Swanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable series

Second book I’ve read of the series. Good characters, lots of quarks and interesting twists and turns that keep you engaged.

[Jim Purcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still fun to read.
Hubbie to the rescue as Viennese Cuisine fails to fly in Santa Fe. Viennese/Mex becomes a trendy success, which complicates its role in a swindler’s scheme. A timely rescuer saves him and keeps this lively tale and its quirky perpetrator fit to continue.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good break from the more serious books!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really like this series.

One of my favorites. Just like the The Burglar Who series it's modeled after. Clever, easy, no real suspense or violence. My kind of mystery. I never figure them out, but I don't really try. Just a fun read.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read

[Amber Foxx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hubie Schuze never sets out to be an amateur sleuth, but when bad luck pushes him uncomfortably close to a crime, he’s tries to figure out what’s going on. He’s not stealing pots in this book, but making them, at Schnitzel, the—of all things—Austrian restaurant in Santa Fe that hires Hubie to make some thematic ceramic chargers. Being a man who loves to read, to cook, and to acquire historical and cultural knowledge, Hubie not only studies Escoffier to get into the restaurant frame of mind, but his reading assists in him in solving the mystery. I learned a good deal about Escoffier and about the restaurant business, while being as entertained as I’ve ever been with a Pot Thief book. The humor is delightful, and I found the wordplay between Hubie and his friend Susannah particularly witty in this book. The French terms used in haute cuisine start making Hubie think with every French phrase and cliché that has worked its way into everyday language, and this gets them punning with French and English. (Speaking of wordplay, I was amused that the restaurant’s saucier, an attractive and flirtatious woman, could not have been saucier.) The ongoing stories of Hubie’s and Susannah’s personal lives stay fresh, and other friends and associates in Hubie’s circle make their regular appearances to get him into or help him out of trouble. Each new character has depth and color, even if he or she makes only a brief entrance
This is one of the few mysteries I’ve read lately where I didn’t figure out whodunit, but once it was solved I could see that the author laid the clues out; there were no hidden ones. A couple of them required a better grasp of Spanish than I have, but I have no quibble with the clues in New Mexico mystery being bilingual.

[Lillian Carl]

I picked up this novel in Taos, and it takes place in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. It's part of a series, and is obviously not the first one, but I couldn't find anywhere in the book just what the sequence of volumes is.

The main character is Hubert or Hubie Schuze, a potter and admitted pot thief. His justification for the latter didn't set well with me, but fortunately there was no actual archaeological vandalism in the story.

Hubie gets involved with a start-up Austrian (yes, Austrian!) restaurant in Santa Fe. One of the
workers is murdered. In time Hubie more or less solves the murder. The story is much longer on
voice and humorous wordplay than it is on plot, which is gossamer-thin, and I really could have
used a cast of characters when it came to the staff of the restaurant. But I enjoyed it.

Hubie is a fan of a New Mexico champagne/sparkling wine called Gruet, downing so many gallons
of it in between downing gallons of margaritas that, since I love champagne myself, I went out and
bought a bottle. I'm looking forward to trying it out. His recipes for New Mexico cuisine made my
mouth water.

[Marja McGraw · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pot Thief Who Studied Escoffier is a totally entertaining read. Hubert Schuze is a treasure hunter who became a pot thief due to circumstances. Hubert, or Hubie as his friends call him, is a delightful character who becomes involved in murder quite by chance. This is more of a whodunit than an action-packed thriller, and that's a nice change of pace. In this book Hubie agrees to help as a new restaurant is built. The characters, being involved in food preparation (chefs, etc.), range from friendly to snooty, and they're a lot of fun. Someone leaves a dead body in Hubie's car, and while designing special plates for the new restaurant and helping get the business off the ground, he has to convince the police that he's not the killer.

This is a fun read, and I particularly enjoy the scenes where he and his friend, Susannah, meet to drink, eat and discuss life and death. I easily recommend this book for those looking for a mystery with plenty of entertainment, and in this case, recipes from the restaurant.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pot Thief:Who Studied Escoffier, by J. Michael Orenduff was so interestly, humorous and fast-paced that it became a page turner for me and at times I even forgot the mystery.

This novel was filled with facts regarding the esteemed Escoffier's life, Hubie (the sleuth's) wonderful cooking (wish there were recipes,) a solid murder plot, and the thrill and chaos of opening a restuarant. It was set in Santa Fe, New Mexico which was fun because we were introduced to another fine city and it's history.

I love the characters including the arrogance of Hubie's Attorney, who favors a Patek Philippe Sun/Moon Tourbillon which is a watch of watches. Everything in this book had colors, music, and humor.

Can we hope for the next volume?

[Craig Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Hubie mystery - I learned some fun facts

These books are an homage to Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr mysteries and others. There are frequent mentions of these other fiction novels, their characters and authors. This one included both Bernie and Nero Wolfe. The main character, Hubie Shuze, even has an attorney who is very Wolfe-like down to his closed-eyes concentration and rotund frame. There's always a few interesting historical or philosophical facts to accompany the light mysteries as Hubie reads a book to study up on his current project - in this case creating custom plates for an Austrian restaurant opening in Santa Fe. Good fun and interesting commentary on the history and inner-workings of restaurants and high end cuisine.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series and am glad there are two more waiting for me. Hubie spends a lot of time in Santa Fe helping with the opening of a new restaurant. He is designing the special plates and gets roped into doing a lot more. I enjoy spending time with these characters, and eating and drinking vicariously with them. Look Ma, no hangover!

[Stephanie Raffel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE these book! The characters are wonderful, the plots well thought out and the humor is right up my alley. I love to cook so naturally this particular novel appealed to me a lot. Mike is an amazing author. The New Mexico settings are, I don't know, so like home? :-) I can hardly wait for the next book to come out, The Pot Thief who Studied Billy The Kid.

[Lisa Airey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austrian/New Mexico fusion cuisine? Woohoo! I actually read this book first and it stood alone just fine. Then, having enjoyed the read so thoroughly, I ordered everything the author had written to date and enjoyed them all with Gruet sparkling wine and some great Tex-Mex cooking. You'll want to have both at the ready when you crack the cover.

[Reynolds Darke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short fun mystery set in Albuquerque.
In this one Hubie Shuze gets hired to create a set of chargers (large display plates) for a new restaurant. Then comes murder.
* This book keeps coming back to me, so I have given it another star.
The cooking and restaurant details have added a lot to the book, and I am giving extra credit.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hubie Schurz has agreed to make chargers for an expensive new restaurant opening soon in Santa Fe. The owner insists that Hubie work at the restaurant, where he quickly discovers that the staff is most dissatisfied with the chef. Hubie is also lonely for his store in Albuquerque.