The Chef's Secret

March 25, 2019
This sumptuous story by King (Feast of Sorrow), set in Renaissance Italy, features Giovanni Brioschi, a 30-year-old chef and apprentice to his uncle and master chef, Bartolomeo Scappi. After Bartolomeo dies, Giovanni continues in his uncle’s role as private chef to the pope. In addition to leaving Giovanni his fortune, home, and name, Bartolomeo also leaves Giovanni a trove of coded journals. Parts of the narrative follow Bartolomeo’s life as Giovanni discovers it in the journals, where he reads about Stella, his uncle’s great and secret love, and learns that Bartolomeo and Stella are, in fact, his parents. In Giovanni’s present of 1577, he falls in love with Isabetta Palone while facing the rivalry of Domenico Romoli, another former student of Bartolomeo. Luckily, Giovanni has the backing of his good friend, Valentino Pio da Carpi, scion of a wealthy family. King supplies all of the elements historical fiction fans expect in a juicy Renaissance tale, including luscious meals, erotic interludes, and deaths by poison and blade. This rich tale should satisfy the appetites of fans of historicals.

January 1, 2019
Giovanni's sadness over the death of his uncle and mentor Bartolomeo is surpassed by the mystery surrounding his inheritance. Groundbreaking cookbook-author Bartolomeo left him two boxes with specific instructions to burn the contents. Unable to resist the lure of the mystery and despite a warning that the contents of the boxes could put him in danger, Giovanni is determined to discover the truth about his uncle's life. The arduous task of decoding Bartolomeo's journals is further complicated by the presence of Bartolomeo's former prot�g�e and Giovanni's brother, who are working together to get their hands on the famous chef's recipes. King (Feast of Sorrow, 2017) once again atmospherically captures the spirit of Italy and its legendary cuisine. With adventure, engaging characters, and an absorbing mystery, King expertly blends fact with fiction, intrigue, and a powerful love story. Well written and perfectly paced, The Chef's Secret is a fascinating immersion into sixteenth-century Italian life, an introduction to the world's first celebrity chef, and a reminder of the power of food to influence a civilization.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)