IN THE KITCHEN

Gabe Lightfoot, an executive chef who oversees an eclectic kitchen in London's Imperial Hotel, copes with the restaurant's diverse staff, a challenging girlfriend, and a family with a host of problems. And, oh yes, a dead body in the basement. As the chefs "perform the modern dance of cuisine," Lightfoot juggles what he calls "part prison, part lunatic asylum, and part community hall." As he responds with resigned cynicism and frank bafflement to the entanglements he finds himself in, the novel also depicts exquisite flavors and inspired culinary preparations. Jill Tanner gets inside Lightfoot's mind and taps into other characters' unique speech patterns. Especially melodious are the expressive tones of sous chef Una, whose lyrical Jamaican accent sparkles. The novel's scintillating humor is brightened by Tanner's inspired pacing. A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2010]