The Dining Car

By: Eric Peterson

Narrated by: Graham Hamilton

Winner, 2017 Benjamin Franklin Gold Award for Popular Fiction - Independent Book Publishers Association, April 7, 2017

In his second novel, author Eric Peterson dishes up a riotous spectacle of self-absorbed chefs, backstabbing politicians, and devious publishing magnates, set against a backdrop of haute cuisine, presidential politics, and an endless supply of top-shelf liquor and wine.

Fresh from a public humiliation and in search of his true calling, former college football star Jack Marshall enlists as bartender and steward aboard Horace Button's vintage private railroad car, the "Pioneer Mother", which is transporting the legendary food writer and social critic across the country in opulent style.

Decked out in a white jacket, mixing perfect cocktails, Jack is immersed in a style of living - and dining - he'd assumed was extinct. While striving to appease the eccentric, finicky Horace and Wanda, the Pioneer Mother's enigmatic chef, Jack falls under the spell of Giselle Lebeau, a gorgeous celebrity chef whose designs on him test his self-control and his loyalty.

But when tragedy rocks Horace's insulated white-linen world, Jack must take charge of a simmering stew of quirky yet powerful personalities - all while staying in Wanda's good graces and keeping an eye on their newest passenger.

A story of service, serendipity, and second chances, The Dining Car is more than delectable - it's a marvelous, exuberant work of fiction.

©2016 Eric Peterson (P)2018 Huckleberry House, LLC

Fun

Is there really a fancy rail car and dining car? I’d like to see it.

A very fun read!

As a big fan of anything fine and luxurious, I loved stepping into the characters shoes to experience his adventures aboard this unique railcar!

The descriptive nods of appreciation to all things decadent were very enjoyable.
A great salute to unique luxury experiences rarely still celebrated these days.

Who doesn’t love train cars

While I enjoyed the descriptions of the train car the political references were unnecessary and a total turnoff. A paragraph or two about Democrats scouring the graveyards for dead voters? You lost me.

Robust characters

Started out a bit slow, but the characters were all greatly detailed and the narrator seemed to depict them all so fabulously!

A pleasant surprise

After a somewhat disjointed start, this story evolved into quite a delightful story. Wonderful descriptions of food and drink, and a very unique setting - a restored, antique railroad car. ( if you are enchanted by all things railroad related, this book is for you ). Two drawbacks that detracted from the story: the characters had zero emotional depth, and one of them, Horace Button, is a high end alcoholic….if conspicuous alcohol consumption is a trigger, then avoid this book !
The narrator was just fabulous; he made the story rise above its deficiencies.