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Gourmet Detective #8
Dine and Die on the Danube Express
Recipes sizzle and intrigue simmers when the Gourmet Detective takes a ride on the twenty-fifth anniversary journey of the world-famous Danube Express.
The stately railroad starts its route in the Alps and cuts through Austria, Hungary, and the former Yugoslavia before pulling up on the shores of the Black Sea in Romania. Along the way, its passengers—hailing from Europe’s business and social elite—sample the best and most enticing foods those countries’ cuisines have to offer, dishes as unfamiliar and exotic as they are delicious. . . .
From Germany, braised lamb with rutabagas, or roast duck—its skin as crackly as phyllo and the meat juicy and flavorful, served with Savoy cabbage, leeks, carrots, onions, and celery . . .
From Austria, stuffed breast of veal with buttered chestnuts, served with braised fennel, watercress, and tarragon . . .
From Hungary, Libermaj, a goose liver pâté seasoned with paprika, pimentos, and scallions, blended with hard-boiled eggs and white wine . . .
From the Balkans, escallopes of veal cooked Dubrovnik style—simmering in onions and mushrooms that have been sautéed in butter and seasoned with thyme and bay leaves . . .
All complemented by some of the finest wines and brandies in the world!
The Gourmet Detective is aboard to see how it’s done; he’s been hired by another luxury rail line to sit back, relax, fill his face, and take notes.
But nothing is ever easy—or safe—where food, money, and celebrity meet, and this trip is no exception. When a celebrated Hungarian stage actress vanishes from the moving train, the Gourmet Detective finds himself enlisted in a desperate search for her abductor, or killer, and for answers in a bizarrely unfolding mystery that, as usual, centers on humanity’s most consuming food!
As the Danube Express chugs into the night, haute cuisine, fine wine, and murder become the main orders of business on this fun and fascinating foray through a world of mouth-watering delights.
The stately railroad starts its route in the Alps and cuts through Austria, Hungary, and the former Yugoslavia before pulling up on the shores of the Black Sea in Romania. Along the way, its passengers—hailing from Europe’s business and social elite—sample the best and most enticing foods those countries’ cuisines have to offer, dishes as unfamiliar and exotic as they are delicious. . . .
From Germany, braised lamb with rutabagas, or roast duck—its skin as crackly as phyllo and the meat juicy and flavorful, served with Savoy cabbage, leeks, carrots, onions, and celery . . .
From Austria, stuffed breast of veal with buttered chestnuts, served with braised fennel, watercress, and tarragon . . .
From Hungary, Libermaj, a goose liver pâté seasoned with paprika, pimentos, and scallions, blended with hard-boiled eggs and white wine . . .
From the Balkans, escallopes of veal cooked Dubrovnik style—simmering in onions and mushrooms that have been sautéed in butter and seasoned with thyme and bay leaves . . .
All complemented by some of the finest wines and brandies in the world!
The Gourmet Detective is aboard to see how it’s done; he’s been hired by another luxury rail line to sit back, relax, fill his face, and take notes.
But nothing is ever easy—or safe—where food, money, and celebrity meet, and this trip is no exception. When a celebrated Hungarian stage actress vanishes from the moving train, the Gourmet Detective finds himself enlisted in a desperate search for her abductor, or killer, and for answers in a bizarrely unfolding mystery that, as usual, centers on humanity’s most consuming food!
As the Danube Express chugs into the night, haute cuisine, fine wine, and murder become the main orders of business on this fun and fascinating foray through a world of mouth-watering delights.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 2003
37 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Peter King
20 books63 followersPeter King is an English born author of mystery fiction, a Cordon Bleu trained chef and a retired metallurgist and aerospace scientist. Before writing full time, he operated a tungsten mine, prospected worldwide and worked on rocket engines for NASA Apollo missions. After retiring in 1991, he began writing fiction and is best known for the Gourmet Detective series and the Jack London historical mysteries. His work blends culinary detail, historical research and classic whodunit storytelling.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 11, 2017
I read the whole book. I struggled with it because I had large type, which has nothing to do with the quality of the book, and with all the foreign names of food. I am not that in to food or wines and their descriptions and could have skipped all of that, but if you are into that and mysteries - this is the book for you. I did enjoy that it took place on a train and it does a nice job of describing the scenery and what the train was like.
June 6, 2012
I liked this Gourmet Detective mystery as much as the previous ones. This one had the added benefit that Iread it just before leaving on a Danube cruise, so it was a great way to whet my appetite (pun intended!)and get into the mood. These books are often part travelogue, and this one falls well into that category. The mystery was OK and the conclusion a little weak. The trip itself was lots of fun!
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February 2, 2015Loved the series. All the locations were interesting and it was fun to read about the different types of food. This one was also a travelogue that made you feel you were on the train looking out at the beautiful sites. The mystery was also well done.
April 21, 2022
I enjoyed the descriptions of the various meals and the travel details. It's clear that the author does quite a lot of research to set his mysteries in interesting places. The specific cuisines are described in mouth-watering detail, even ones I don't think I actually want to try!
I find it amusing that so many of the reviews about this series mention that they don't like "all the stuff about food"! Haha!! What did they expect in a series entitled "The Gourmet Detective"?? The premise of the series is that the main character researches food for a living. He is an expert in many international cuisines, wines, and food businesses. Of course, the books have "stuff about food"!
The murder mysteries are relatively secondary, but the food is always relevant to the story.
I find it amusing that so many of the reviews about this series mention that they don't like "all the stuff about food"! Haha!! What did they expect in a series entitled "The Gourmet Detective"?? The premise of the series is that the main character researches food for a living. He is an expert in many international cuisines, wines, and food businesses. Of course, the books have "stuff about food"!
The murder mysteries are relatively secondary, but the food is always relevant to the story.
June 8, 2017
I'd never read or even heard of this series before, but it's a mystery on train! Of course I read it.
Meh. It's really more about the descriptions of the sights along the way and the detailed explanations of the food and drink than it is about any mystery.
Meh. It's really more about the descriptions of the sights along the way and the detailed explanations of the food and drink than it is about any mystery.
May 22, 2017
This book seemed to taper off a bit in terms of interest and excitement - much more food focus than previous books and less excitement from mystery in the plot. Still a good read!
January 8, 2018
The descriptions of the meals and wines eaten on the train barely kept me interested to read this through to the end to reveal the killer.
July 15, 2018
Started out good but it lost it's flavour 2/3 of the way. Couldn't wait to finish it so I could get onto something better. Scanned the final 80 pages
March 22, 2019
Diverting mystery, even if the motivations were a stretch to believe. End of the series?
August 20, 2020
Terrific food, history and travel story.
August 2, 2025
The luxury and delight of the Danube Express make the Gourmet Detective very happy. But, a missing passenger who is declared dead in a Hungarian newspaper draws him into a familiar intrigue.
November 4, 2021
Took way too long to get to the end because it spent so much time on the food and scenery. It’s not like the food is central to the crime—it really isn’t. At least, about 95% of the food in this book is literally just description and serves no purpose and doesn’t have anything to do with the mystery.
Weirdly: I think its trying to emulate Agatha Christie which I’m all for—e.g Lucy Foley—the only issue is that the dialogue doesn’t fit the time period and the time just feels a little wonky to me. I don’t recall ever reading a date in this book—which makes figuring out WHEN you are quite difficult.
Still a good read. Just keep that in mind.
Weirdly: I think its trying to emulate Agatha Christie which I’m all for—e.g Lucy Foley—the only issue is that the dialogue doesn’t fit the time period and the time just feels a little wonky to me. I don’t recall ever reading a date in this book—which makes figuring out WHEN you are quite difficult.
Still a good read. Just keep that in mind.
June 8, 2017
Okay, hmm... I've read the whole series now. I'm not going to do individual book reviews, some of them are better than others, but they're all enjoyable, quick reads. Then again, throw gourmet food and wine into anything and I'm likely to add some points to it in my mind. Bizarrely, though, given that I gave all the books three stars, I don't know that I recommend them. Had they been written fifty years ago, I'd give them some more slack, but here are my issues with, well, all of them:
The gourmet detective himself, our protagonist, is an unlikable twit. He's a middle aged, pretentious white man, with delusions of self importance. He fancies himself a ladies man and, of course, manages to get one or another into bed (trailed off, never portrayed, just make sure we know it happened, wink, wink) in all or almost all the books. He's misogynistic, racist, and classist. He fancies himself a connoisseur of all things food and wine, and throws about names and terms, most of which the average reader will not have heard of, and will probably just move past without much thought. The problem is, he's pretty much clueless and the mistakes in his descriptions of various ingredients, dishes, and bottles of fermented grape juice are legion.
In short, and yes, I realize I'm generalizing and could be accused of bias myself, he's the sort of detective that a 70+ year old retired upper middle class British metallurgical engineer (who apparently at some point went to the Cordon Bleu cooking school to be trained as a chef, though my bet is he just took a few cooking classes for home cooks, then again, who knows, but it seems he did it after retiring at some point in his 70s) would reimagine himself to be if he were to become a food detective. In short, a sort of Walter Mitty alter ego.
The gourmet detective himself, our protagonist, is an unlikable twit. He's a middle aged, pretentious white man, with delusions of self importance. He fancies himself a ladies man and, of course, manages to get one or another into bed (trailed off, never portrayed, just make sure we know it happened, wink, wink) in all or almost all the books. He's misogynistic, racist, and classist. He fancies himself a connoisseur of all things food and wine, and throws about names and terms, most of which the average reader will not have heard of, and will probably just move past without much thought. The problem is, he's pretty much clueless and the mistakes in his descriptions of various ingredients, dishes, and bottles of fermented grape juice are legion.
In short, and yes, I realize I'm generalizing and could be accused of bias myself, he's the sort of detective that a 70+ year old retired upper middle class British metallurgical engineer (who apparently at some point went to the Cordon Bleu cooking school to be trained as a chef, though my bet is he just took a few cooking classes for home cooks, then again, who knows, but it seems he did it after retiring at some point in his 70s) would reimagine himself to be if he were to become a food detective. In short, a sort of Walter Mitty alter ego.
April 12, 2020
This is really more of a food and travel book than a mystery - the mystery is there but most of the book is about what they ate and what they saw as the train moved through the various countries.
March 18, 2016
I picked up this mystery as I really enjoy the Hallmark movies that are based on the Gourmet Detective series. I knew there'd be differences so I read it with an open mind.
It's a lovely cozy mystery that reads like a travel and food log. The Gourmet Detective (I'll call him GD as I don't believe we ever learn his name), is traveling on the Danube Express when he finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. Descriptions of the food, the wine, and the stunning countries the train visits made me want to jump on the train and enjoy the food and talking with the interesting passengers. Minus the murders!
There are quiet a few characters, and at times had to go back to see who had said what. But the murder, the train ride, and the author's obvious knowledge of food made the time spent reading this book was well worth it.
So were there differences between Hallmark and the GD....yep, (in the books he's British), but I love them both and look forward to going back and starting this series from the beginning.
It's a lovely cozy mystery that reads like a travel and food log. The Gourmet Detective (I'll call him GD as I don't believe we ever learn his name), is traveling on the Danube Express when he finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. Descriptions of the food, the wine, and the stunning countries the train visits made me want to jump on the train and enjoy the food and talking with the interesting passengers. Minus the murders!
There are quiet a few characters, and at times had to go back to see who had said what. But the murder, the train ride, and the author's obvious knowledge of food made the time spent reading this book was well worth it.
So were there differences between Hallmark and the GD....yep, (in the books he's British), but I love them both and look forward to going back and starting this series from the beginning.
September 21, 2016
A delightful book. It's more of a travelogue than a mystery novel, but that is OK with me. The food and wine descriptions are entertaining. I'd have liked there to be a map to follow the train's journey.
The murder mystery is slight over the top, but in the end it didn't matter who was the murderer.
All in all, an entertaining bit of fluff. Recommended for relaxing with a glass of wine (maybe one of the ones mentioned in the book.)
Unfortunately this appears to be the last in the series. I plan to read the previous ones though and hope they are as good as this one.
The murder mystery is slight over the top, but in the end it didn't matter who was the murderer.
All in all, an entertaining bit of fluff. Recommended for relaxing with a glass of wine (maybe one of the ones mentioned in the book.)
Unfortunately this appears to be the last in the series. I plan to read the previous ones though and hope they are as good as this one.
July 30, 2011
I had no clue, when I read "The Gourmet Detective" by Peter King, that I would become addicted to the series of culinary mysteries to which this was the introduction. Now, as I complete reading the eighth and last -- "Dine and Die on the Danube Express" -- it is with a heavy disappointment that there are no more. I even toyed momentarily with the idea of writing the ninth adventure of the Gourmet Detective, who name is never revealed in the first-person narrative, perhap... (show more)
December 3, 2023
This is my second attempt to read one of the books in this series. I struggled with the first, and gave up. . . I saw this novel to its tedious conclusion but was bored to tears throughout.
I am mystified how a food centric mystery on a luxury excursion could possibly be this boring, but this book met that objective. The mystery to me is how this got published, and how the series finds readership.
I am mystified how a food centric mystery on a luxury excursion could possibly be this boring, but this book met that objective. The mystery to me is how this got published, and how the series finds readership.
January 4, 2013
Enjoyable to read but not a masterpiece of literature nor gripping murder mystery. If you like travel and good food, the descriptions of the sumptuous meals on board are delightful. The route taken follows the Danube from Vienna to Bucharest. Follow the progress on a map and Google some of the historic places mentioned for an easy arm-chair excursion into Eastern Europe.
May 7, 2016
If your idea of pleasure is riding a luxurious train, eating gourmet meals and drinking fine wine, you'll get a lot of vicarious enjoyment from this trip with the Food Detective. And you'll find at least one dead body thrown in. Join a magician, an orchestra conductor, a wealthy Swiss businessman, an Italian wine journalist, and many others on a wild ride to Bucharest.
October 29, 2009
The fictional train, Danube Express, makes for an intriguing journey. Hope to someday find out the real name and background of the Gourmet detective.
April 9, 2015
Premise is good.
On a gourmet train thru Hungary.
However, it is boring.
They are carrying grape vines and an unknown Mozart score.
Two deaths by poisoning.
On a gourmet train thru Hungary.
However, it is boring.
They are carrying grape vines and an unknown Mozart score.
Two deaths by poisoning.
September 25, 2015
Good Sleuth
I liked the setting of this book and the plot of a murder on the train. I had some trouble keeping all the characters separated.
I liked the setting of this book and the plot of a murder on the train. I had some trouble keeping all the characters separated.
December 29, 2021
The Gourmet Detective enjoys himself eating, drinking and smelling as he investigates a series of dead and seemingly dead bodies while lux training along the Danube.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews