The Butter Did It

Chas Wheatley #1

by Phyllis C. Richman

It is the eve of City Tastes, Washington, D.C.'s gourmet gala featuring the delectable handiwork of the city's culinary stars. Renowned restaurant reviewer Chas Wheatley expects to fill her biting 'Washington Examiner' column with reports of a sassy 'soupe en chamise' or a poor 'palourde en beignets'.

But when chef Lawrence Levain's heart suddenly stops the night before the event, everyone is quick to name his soaring cholesterol as the culprit. Except Chas, whose discriminating senses smell murder.

Armed with her saber-sharp pen and critic's eye for things amiss, Chas circuits the restaurant scene, doling out biting reviews and delicious recipes, while probing into Lawrence's untimely demise. With a dollop of help from her loved ones at home and a 'soupcon' of advice form a secret admirer at work, Chas's tastebuds lead her down a dangerous trail of revenge and murder, where her next bite could be her last.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Food, Humor

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

About the author

Recently retired after reigning as Washington, D.C.'s premier restaurant reviewer, Phyllis Chasanow Richman served as food critic of The Washington Post for more than 23 years. Always donning a disguise to ensure her anonymity, Richman was known for her unbiased, forthright, and accurate assessments of restaurants. In 1998, her first mystery novel, The "Butter Did It" was published by HarperCollins to rave reviews and an Agatha award nomination. "The Butter Did It" features amateur sleuth Chas Wheatley, who just happens to be the restaurant critic for the fictitious Washington Examiner. The series is known for its witty humor, deft plotting and insider's look at the world of gourmet dining.

Reviews

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Butter Did It by Phyllis Richman is the first Chas Wheatley Mystery book. Chas Wheatley is a food critic and restaurant reviewer for the Washington Examiner. When her friend chef Laurence Levain dies, it is initially thought he has suffered a heart attack and Chas is instrumental in pointing the police correctly to murder, and she is herself then targeted by the murderer. I enjoyed this book very much, especially all the food descriptions. The murderer was a bit obvious and Chas seemed a bit slow in her sleuthing- even when being attacked by the murderer, it didn't seem to register with her. There was a lot of time spent on the background and past which made parts of the book drag a little, but overall it was an entertaining read.

[Debra B · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book in this first of a three-book series.

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

This was a highly entertaining book about a restaurant reviewer trying to figure out the murder of a past lover who was a notable Chef.

We are introduced to Chas Wheatley, working for the Washington, D.C. newspaper, Examiner. Chas is a divorced woman with one child who is an adult. Chas is in charge of her life, she is still friends with her ex-husband, Ari, a famous chef himself. Chas is also in a relationship that is at that difficult stage of either committing or moving on. Chas' daughter, Lily lives in Philadelphia in the music world. Chas is not ready for her former lover and friend, Laurence to be murdered.

Chas uses her lover, an investigative reporter to meet a homicide detective and get him working on the case. The detective is leaning towards believing Laurence's death to be natural causes, until Chas receives a death threat.

The book is fast-paced, humorous, sexy, and clever. The murder is a mystery. I figured out the culprit but enjoyed watching Chas figure it out. I look forward to the next book in the series. This book is older but still up to date.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suppose one of the nation's best known, most trusted and widely read restaurant critics turned her writing talents to crafting a culinary mystery? Phyllis C. Richman was the food critic of the Washington Post for nearly thirty years. Known for her sometimes extravagant disguises, intended to prevent restaurateurs from recognizing her, she avoided being photographed to preserve her anonymity. Drawing on her insider's knowledge of restaurants, she wrote The Butter Did It: A Gastronomic Tale of Love and Murder in 1998. It introduces Chas Wheatley, coincidentally the restaurant critic for the fictitious Washington Examiner, who involuntarily becomes an amateur sleuth. Met with critical success (and an Agatha Award nomination), Richman churned "Butter" into a series with Murder on the Gravy Train in 1999 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Ham? in 2001. This is nobody's idea of great literature but it is pleasant reading for the culinarily inclined.

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a first novel, this book was okay. There was nothing that made this book stand out from others in this particular genre theme. It became a bit boring at times but not overly boring. I enjoyed the many food references made through out the book. The main plot/story line was good but the characters were not all that interesting. This book is what I classify as an "in betweener", a book you read in between your favorite authors or as a break from your regular reading schedule. The story centers around the death / murder of superstar chef Laurence Levain. Good friend and one time lover Chas Wheatly, restaurant critic extraordinaire, sets out to find her friends murderer.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this was about a 2.5. But it’s ok. It felt like a somewhat run of the mill cozy. I am not that into fine dining, and the DC setting was there but not overly-prominent in it. The plotline was fairly run of the mill for a cozy. So, nothing particular to pull me in on this one.
There were some weird jokes about men’s anatomy near the end that seemed out of place for the rest of the book’s tone.
This was published in 1997, so it was kind of interesting to see how DC has/hasn’t changed in terms of some of the book’s descriptions.
(I really won’t read the next 2 books in this short series.)

[P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I fell asleep while reading, but why a certain character lied is never addressed. Our main character is a bumbling sleuth who walks around at night in the city, even though someone may be trying to kill her. There were some good moments in the book but overall it was just readable. I was bothered by a loose end left unanswered; but since I live near D.C., I enjoyed reading familiar names of places I have been to or know about.

[Susan R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not guess who the guilty party was until the end. Remembered author from when she was the food critic at the Washington Post, so thought I would give the book a try. A bit dated but have to remember when it was written. Enjoyable book.

[Karen Machin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook - I'd give this book a 3.5. It was entertaining enough to listen to.

[Paulette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute cozy mystery that our book club read - discussion followed at a restaurant.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Setting and characters did not hold my interest.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not good, but not so bad that I didn’t finish it. Clumsy writing and not a girl’s girl to be found. But so very 1990s, which was enjoyable.

[Rose Dempster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read it because of the title and I enjoyed it. Chas playing detective and actually doing a good job made turning each page worth it. Sherele and I could definitely be friends!
Next...book #2

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chas (aka Charlotte Sue) Wheatley is the restaurant critic for the Washington Examiner writing the obituary for Laurence Levain, a well-known Washington chef. What is not known is that Chas and Laurence are friends and had been lovers back in Paris in their younger days. Laurence is found dead from an apparent heart attack the night before a big food gala called City¬Tastes. The death scene has been made to look as if he had been entertaining a woman before he died, but Chas has personal information about Laurence that makes her sure this is not true. Police detective Homer Jones, who loves to eat, Chas' daughter Lily, and various chefs all figure in the story of how Chas solves the mystery. Phyllis Richman is the restaurant critic for the Washington Post, which added to my enjoyment of the book.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1 in the Chas Wheatley series. Finalist 1997 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. First of a short (3 entries) fun series, followed by Murder on the Gravy Train (1999).

Wash. DC restaurant critic Chas Wheatley series - Washington's finest French chef, Laurence Levain, is dead, and all of D.C. thinks the culprit was too much foie gras. All, that is, except for Chas Wheatley, the city's most famous restaurant critic. Still carrying a torch for Levain after a passionate romance they shared years before, she's convinced that his death was more than a simple case of too much cholesterol -- it was a case of murder. Enlisting the aid of detective/gourmand Homer Jones, she launches an investigation and soon finds herself in more trouble than she bargained for.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has a catchy title and LOTS of characters. The food critic in D.C. sets off to solve the mystery of the death of her good friend and one time lover, Laurance Levain. There are any number of suspects, and we meet her daughter Lily, ex-husband and now gay chef, Ari, as well as Marcel, Marie Claire, people at the newspaper and a police detective, Homer. This book seems to bog down toward the end, and has a little too much padding. There is an interesting sounding dessert recipe at the end.

[Michael Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another semi whiney female with lots of relationship issues. Reporter who is the restaurant critic for a DC paper whose former husband is a caterer and whose former lover is killed. At first she is just a link in the chain of evidence but then she chooses to investigate further. One stumble after another and she finally gets the answer. The food concept has been overdone but she is a newsperson with friends and family with various skills. So we will try #2 and see if this is worth further reads. Series started in the 2008 and this the only one on the list in this series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

With such great promise, this was quite disappointing. Too many red herrings. Too many side stories. And particularly annoying are the patronizing explanations to tell the reader the source of quotes. Surely most readers are familiar with "You're a Christian Martyr" from The Glass Menagerie. Also most tedious was the main character's life story, as well as the rather cliche-ridden descriptions of food.

[Jocelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know mystery novels are sometimes rather thin - this one certainly felt so - and admittedly they are generally not my thing. But it was fun being reminded of the food fashions of 20 years ago (fresh pasta everywhere, stacks of vegetables, the rise of mesclun, Nutella still hard to get), when I was working at Whole Foods.

[Robin Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was entertaining and never boring. Although light it explored complex relationships with a sophisticated eye. The author is clearly intelligent and talented. She knows her way around food and wine. It was never annoying and cloying and it never caused me to suspend my disbelief.

[Lynne Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful murder mystery wrapped up in the world of cooking, this book was both a great read and an interesting look into the mind of a real life restaurant critic.

If you like a good mystery that keeps you guessing at every turn (and I sure was!) then this book is meant for you.

[Bobbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay fluff with a few culinary tips

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for a lit class

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written at a 6th grade level - like most newspapers. Characters annoying. "Investigation" developments totally unrealistic. Waste of time.

[Stephanie]

I enjoyed this--read it because Phyllis Richman came to my class to talk about restaurant reviewing.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. Love food and familiar with dc. But the book felt it was cooked with no fat no sugar and no spices.

[Chris Leuchtenburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A harmless entertaining mystery filled with chefs and fine food. More romantic yearning than clever sleuthing, but not bad.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, light, not so depressing as my other latest reads.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and enjoyable plus I live in the Washington area where it's set and I've read Ms. Richman's restaurant reviews in the Washington Post for years. One warning - you will get hungry reading this.