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When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate—properties, money, and his position—to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. He also gives Giovanni the keys to two strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi's dire warning that the information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni's life and others at risk, Giovanni is compelled to learn his uncle's secrets. He undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi's journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder—all to protect an illicit love affair.
As Giovanni pieces together the details of Scappi's past, he must contend with two rivals who have joined forces—his brother Cesare and Scappi's former protégé, Domenico Romoli, who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef's recipes.
With luscious prose that captures the full scale of the sumptuous feasts for which Scappi was known, The Chef's Secret serves up power, intrigue, and passion, bringing Renaissance Italy to life in a delectable fashion.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 12, 2019 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781501196447
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781501196447
- File size: 4876 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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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.)
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