THE BUTTER DID IT: A Gastronomic Tale of Love and Murder

Phyllis Richman, renowned restaurant critic for the Washington Post, has concocted a delectable tale of manslaughter, edibles and romance. When Laurence Levain, preeminent Washington chef, is found dead in his apartment, everyone except his friend and former lover, restaurant critic Chas Wheatly, believes his demise is due to his gastronomic excesses. Wheatly's detective pursuits transport the reader to the privileged universe of exclusive chefs and restaurants. Susan O'Mally's wry narration adds the appropriate amount of seasoning to this tale. Her vocal transitions are as facile as the course changes of an attentive waiter. This is a yarn worth savoring. B.J.L. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 99]