Chas Wheatley, a food writer with a taste for sleuthing, once again takes on the scandalous world of Washington tongue-waggers and the deep-throated secrets of the restaurant business.
Researching her new column, Chas discovers something is rotten with Washington's most popular new restaurant. The head chef has gone missing, and no one is willing to give her a straight answer as to his whereabouts. Bodies begin to surface around the nation's capital, confounding the police. But Chas' clever eye for detail, her love of good gossip, and her connections in the newspaper and culinary worlds lead her into the underbelly of the business--and onto a twisted trail of deceit, blackmail, and murder.
About the Author :
Phyllis Richman was the Washington Post food critic for more than twenty-three years. She is the author of the Agatha-nominated, bestselling Chas Wheatly books as well as The Washington Post Dining Guide. She's been an award-winning syndicated columnist and food editor and serves on the executive committees of the James Beard Awards and the Julia Child Cookbook Awards. She lives in Washington, DC.
Susan O'Malley (a.k.a. Bernadette Dunne) is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Review :
"Blending mouth-watering descriptions of foods galore, subtle clues and a serious look at the responsibilities of restaurants, Richman whips up a frothy confection...should satiate most connoisseurs of food-oriented crime."
-- "Publishers Weekly"
"Brought vigorously to life by narrator [Susan O'Malley] in a voice rich and piquant as bouillabaisse...This recording is a delightful audio repast to be lingered over and savored."
-- "Today's Librarian"
"O'Malley's reading of Murder on the Gravy Train offers a humorous change of pace, and her voice easily captures a wide range of characters, both sophisticated and lowlife, in this mystery series that combines the pleasures of food with unexpected details about the 'hard life' of a restaurant reviewer who delves into a murder investigation."
-- "Booklist (starred audio review)"
"Susan O'Malley is an enthusiastic narrator who finds a tone that reflects the blend of naïveté and sophistication of her main character. She brings just as much interest and enthusiasm to the descriptions of food as she brings to the intrigue that runs through the story. Her characterizations of the supporting characters also add interest and dimension to the reading."
-- "AudioFile"
"What sets this story apart are the wonderful atmosphere and background descriptions of the mechanics of being a big-time critic and the professional jealousy rampant in any newsroom, as well as the underside of the restaurant biz. Susan O'Malley's smooth, involving narration is a big plus...Enthusiastically recommended."
-- "Library Journal"
