The Gourmet Detective

Gourmet Detective Mysteries Series, Book 1

By: Peter King

Narrated by: David Barker

From sourcing rare ingredients to solving crimes, "this appealing detective serves up nuggets of culinary trivia and wry food humor" (People).

They call him the gourmet detective; the only thing sharper than his mind is his palate. When chefs need a rare ingredient, an ancient wine, or simply a new idea to gain that extra Michelin-star boost, they come to the detective's cozy London office and plead for his help. For top-notch cooking, he is always happy to lend his taste buds to the cause.

Now Raymond Lefebvre, executive chef at one of London's finest French restaurants, has asked for the detective's help with a bit of kitchen espionage. Lefebvre's crosstown rival is winning international accolades cooking a dish called Oiseau Royal, and Lefebvre wants the recipe. Getting it takes the detective deep into the Circle of Careme, where the most elite chefs in Britain gather to swap recipes, techniques, and gossip. But when the chefs of Careme start to die, the detective starts to salivate. There is no finer appetizer than murder.

©1994 Peter King (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Writers knowledge of food and wine.

Wow! Great listen! Trader has such a rich and melodic voice-a true pleasure to listen to. Can’t wait for the next book!

Delicious and mysterious

I absolutely enjoyed this high quality cozy mystery, loaded with delicious food and surprisingly witty intelligence. I'll definitely read more books in the series if I get a chance!

ellery queen

The author is quite well read in American detective novels, Perhaps he hopes no one remembers or has read Ellery Queen. I did enjoy the culinary pearls and will reread chapter 16 as it had some interesting recipes. Also unique was the mention of Rossini's recipe for tournados with foie gras and truffle sauce. Cannot wait to try it!

Good story, terrible narrator.

The narrator ruins it. His American accent is totally out of place for a story set in the UK, and his awful mispronunciations of several London place names is awful & very jarring.