 Best Sellers | | Home Dine and Die on the Danube Express: A Gourmet Detective Mystery | |
|  | |  | | | Dine and Die on the Danube Express: A Gourmet Detective Mystery | | | | | SKU:
ACOMMP2_book_usedverygood_0312283660 | | In Stock | | Availability:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days | | Only 1 left in stock, order soon! | | | | | | 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 passion: 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.
| | | |
List Price:
| $23.95 | |
Our Price:
| $19.91 | |
You Save:
| $4.04 (17%)
|
| | |
|
| | Product Details | | Author: | Peter King | | Hardcover: | 240 pages | | Publisher: | Minotaur Books | | Publication Date: | June 10, 2003 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 0312283660 | | Package Length: | 8.48 inches | | Package Width: | 5.86 inches | | Package Height: | 0.94 inches | | Package Weight: | 0.94 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 5 reviews |
| |
| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 5 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 Encapsulated luxury Mar 08, 2005
By Verna Suit
The allure of this book is the allure of train travel in a bygone era: clickety-clacking through the world in encapsulated luxury. I enjoyed vicariously watching the sights and cities of Europe pass by my window while being wined and dined and not gaining an ounce. A few things, however, I found hard to swallow: the kitchen's ability and willingness to offer passengers a wide choice of dishes for each meal, for one; and the train's alleged high-tech features that did away with any track noise or sense of movement whatsoever. Also the size and appointments of the cabins. These details were tip-offs that the Danube Express was purely a fictional train. I also wasn't convinced by the narrator being asked to participate in the investigation on the basis of having once "worked with Scotland Yard."
But Peter King gets points for making what appear to be red herrings actually keys to the mystery's solution. And he has a real cliffhanger of a climax. Still, the rewards of this book are like the rewards of luxury train travel itself: It's the trip, not the destination.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
dining with Gourmet Detective Jun 16, 2003
By Harriet Klausner
The Gourmet Detective expects a luxurious trip including a gourmet meal as he rides the Danube Express on its twentieth fifth anniversary tour of Eastern Europe. He just sits down at the table ready to feast on the seven-course first evening dinner when security supervisor Karl Kramer asks for his help.The Budapest Times reports that renowned passenger Hungarian stage star Magda Malescu is dead in her compartment. There is no body yet Magda is missing and the compartment smells of bitter almonds. The Gourmet Detective wonders how the reporter learned about the alleged death almost in a quantum physics way before the event occurred. Not even fully certain that the victim is dead The Gourmet Detective soon uncovers a wealth of suspects until the corpse reappears breathing quite nicely. However, murder occurs as someone kills Magda's understudy and a journalist. Karl and the Gourmet Detective wonder if the vanishing act and homicides are a diversion from an attempt to steal a valuable Mozart manuscript or improved grapevines found in baggage. This novel needs to carry a warning label for anyone who is on the slightest health regimen as this tale abounds with good food and drink to the delight of the gourmand reader. Though fun, the mystery seems like eating rabbit diet food compared with the menu of dining palette that obviously clogs the blood system of the Gourmet Detective and the reader. Harriet Klausner
Decent Read May 16, 2012
By Barb Jernigan
"Barb of All Trades"
High art, it's not. Was lacking the travel guide department as well (I purchased it to get in the mood for a Danube cruise). Though some of the food detail was drool worthy. Anyway, I was entertained enough to keep the pages turning, and I don't regret my few hours of pastime. But this is not a book for the 'keeper' shelves. Your Mileage May Differ.
 Love the atmostphere May 05, 2005
By Jessie loves to read
"Jessie"
I love these books, and wonder where this author has gone. No new one coming out?
This mystery takes place on a train and describes food a bit less than Mr King's previous books. I prefer the more descriptive books, but this was good as well. A quick, easy read that brings you into and absorbs you in the locale. And makes you mouth water to boot.
I hope Mr. King writes another soon.
I liked it, but.... Jul 10, 2003
By Ruth Kolman Brophy
Every Peter King book is a delight. However since I'm somewhat familiar with the geography of Austria, Germany and Hungary, I resented the liberties the author has taken in describing the route of the 'Danube Express'. (Time and time again, locales were transposed and places attributed to the wrong countries)
The description of the meals is, as always in a Peter King book, superb and the plot and atmosphere are interesting.
| |
| |
| |  | |  |
|
Recently Viewed | You may also like ... |
