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Gourmet Detective #4
Death al Dente
In Italy to locate the "best chef" in the entire country, the Gourmet Detective's delectible task is quickly interrupted by the murder of a friendly agricultural magnate. Reprint.
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
42 people are currently reading
306 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 19, 2024
Very suitable for people who like food, italy and crime stories. The detailed meal describtions started to take me out of it a bit towards the end. I'll try another of his food mysteries
November 19, 2023
OK. Read one of these a good number of years ago (likely the 1st, The Gourmet Detective) but didn’t find it of enough interest to read more of them. I picked up this fourth of the eight books in a used book shop recently, and while it’s not earth-shaking it was good enough that I’ll seek out some of the others.
Here the Gourmet Detective (never mentioned by name) is in Italy at the behest of well known actor and restauranteur Desmond Lansdown who has commissioned him to find a chef for an Italian resto he wants to open in London. It seems pretty straightforward until someone decides to remove the dective from the “case,” permanently.
The books seem to provide King with an opportunity to drop his knowledge of food and dining, and drop it he does, almost getting in the way of the story. There is just a whiff of pedantry here, but if you can get past that, the book is a fairly entertaining read.
Here the Gourmet Detective (never mentioned by name) is in Italy at the behest of well known actor and restauranteur Desmond Lansdown who has commissioned him to find a chef for an Italian resto he wants to open in London. It seems pretty straightforward until someone decides to remove the dective from the “case,” permanently.
The books seem to provide King with an opportunity to drop his knowledge of food and dining, and drop it he does, almost getting in the way of the story. There is just a whiff of pedantry here, but if you can get past that, the book is a fairly entertaining read.
November 3, 2020
Gunshots, multiple dead bodies, also multiple murder attempts on our hero ... and yet the story seemed rather light. Not dark or gritty ... I guess it helped that Henry was so appreciative and knowledgeable about all the dishes he enjoyed during his sleuthing.
And he still managed to complete the assignment that brought him to Italy in the first place. And he got the girl ... even if only temporarily. 😂
I shall continue with the series ... skipping around by reading the ones that Hallmark adapted first. 🤪
And he still managed to complete the assignment that brought him to Italy in the first place. And he got the girl ... even if only temporarily. 😂
I shall continue with the series ... skipping around by reading the ones that Hallmark adapted first. 🤪
July 27, 2025
The Gourmet Detective goes to Italy to check out three chefs. This chef will be at the helm of London’s best Italian restaurant, according to GD’s client. Sounds fairly easy but of course it isn’t. Another lively and entertaining read.
June 24, 2017
A nice cozy mystery, easy to read, and focusing on Italian cuisine.
January 15, 2020
This is the second one I have read and the best of the two.
Good cozy mystery with a mature twist
Good cozy mystery with a mature twist
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.
February 10, 2017
First, do not read this book if you are hungry or on Weight Watchers, as I am. I think it took me so long to read because I had to keep putting it down to maintain willpower. The plot evolves around The Gourmet Detective who is hired to go to Italy to find an Italian chef for a London actor and restaurant owner for his new restaurant. I started reading this book because I love to cook and I love mysteries, however, every meal and snack is described in tremendous detail including every wine in the region for every course while the mystery plot is an afterthought and not believable. And the ending is so anticlimactic that I had to go back and read it again to make sure I didn't miss anything.
If you want to read a book about Italian cooking, food specialties and wines, this is the book. If you are looking for a plot, skip it.
If you want to read a book about Italian cooking, food specialties and wines, this is the book. If you are looking for a plot, skip it.
February 13, 2017
I like the TV version much better. at least they have no milking bison stampedes.
February 3, 2009
I ran across this series in the library while I was picking up "O Jerusalem" and thought I'd try it. I remember "Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe" from some years ago and hoped this would be better than that book or the movie...I was wrong. I lumbered through this thing, soreley disappointed by the mystery side of things and extremely bored by the pandering digressions into food, food history, wine, wine history, etc. I did finish the book. I must be a gourmand for punishment.
I will say this for the author. It's the first time I've ever read a mystery where the police SOLVE THE CRIME while the detective stands around and watches. That was a bit unusual. In fact, the chief of police was a much more interesting character than the protagonist. I fear the author grew bored with his central guy as well.
I will not be snacking on any of the other books in this series.
I will say this for the author. It's the first time I've ever read a mystery where the police SOLVE THE CRIME while the detective stands around and watches. That was a bit unusual. In fact, the chief of police was a much more interesting character than the protagonist. I fear the author grew bored with his central guy as well.
I will not be snacking on any of the other books in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2012
Not sure why I enjoy these pedantic cozies by Peter King, but I do. There's always something unusual, and in Death al Dente, the Gourmet Detective is off to Bologna to determine which of three chefs will be most suited to a new London restaurant. Wonderful treatment of regional Italian cuisines and wines, the personalities of chefs and their restaurants and Italian women too.
--Ashland Mystery
--Ashland Mystery
March 9, 2016
The Gourmet Detective is absolutely one of my favorite mystery series and this particular book certainly did not disappoint. What could be better than reading about delicious Italian dishes while traveling through Bologna, Italy, with the Gourmet Detective on his search for the best Italian chef. The book did present an ending twist on who done it after providing much incriminating evidence that could have convicted many of the characters.
July 6, 2015
I read this one on the plane to Italy ... and then passed it on to everyone I was traveling with. I liked it much better than did my sisters. I have read a few of his books and think this one is my favorite so far.
August 25, 2015
a "tasty" read, mainly because of the descriptions of Italian meals and wines, while the plot was far-fetched and flimsy to say the least. I read it mainly because I go to Bologna in a couple of weeks. well, an extra star for the food descriptions.
June 17, 2009
A nice romp through Bologna and Italian wines and foods.
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August 9, 2011A light, entertaining mystery full of descriptions of Italian dishes and wines - made me think that I would really enjoy a culinary tour of Italy some day!
May 4, 2014
So boring, I could not finish.
December 29, 2013
A fast read. One of 'the Gourmet Detective' series. Set in Bologna, Italy. Any foodie will love this book!
April 7, 2015
Fun, light read. It's a "culinary mystery". Do not read while hungry!!!
October 21, 2016
Ok, but really not that entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews