Peter King Books In Order

Publication Order of Gourmet Detective Books

Publication Order of Jack London Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Anthologies

Peter King is an English writer of nonfiction, mystery and thriller novels best known for his series The Gourmet Detective. King is also a professional chef. He has worked in a tungsten mine and managed the development and creation of South America’s first ever steel processing plant and also explored for minerals around the world. His career work had seen him travel from continent to another before he finally chose to settle in Florida where he worked as a team leader for the design group for the rocket’s engines that took the Apollo spacemen to the moon.

During his free time, Peter King would be writing short mystery stories and one-act plays. Upon his retirement in 1991, King wrote his first book, The Gourmet Detective which marked the start of a long-running series Gourmet Detective Mystery series. In 2001, Peter published a book titled The Jewel of the North the first book in Jack London series. He has also published a standalone novel Hangman’s Corner (2008). Peter King is a resident of Sarasota, Florida.

The Gourmet Detective

The unnamed gourmet detective is a retired chef, a hopeful hero, a whodunit buff and the narrator of the brilliantly written Gourmet Detective series. He earns his daily bread by consulting on impossible to create menus and impossible to trace ingredients until he is drawn to a more practical operation in London by a restaurant owner who feels that his operation is being sabotaged.

When a loathed investigative journalist is killed at the luxurious Circle of CEreme dinner- the unnamed gourmet detective is fired by his client, but he is then tapped for assistance by Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard Food Squad. The investigation follows in a frenzied but somehow a flavorless round of cocktail back street spying and brain picking under disguises.

The first book in Gourmet Detective book series is a brilliant read. Peter King uses his skillful writing mastery to introduce us to a Gourmet Detective- a chef turned investigator famous known for hunting down hard to find ingredients for most excellent restaurants and answering the most puzzling food questions. Need to know the ideal wine to serve an outdoor barbecue wedding? Want to locate a very rare spice for your delicacies? Looking someone to illustrate the pros and cons of cobalt and aluminum in food? Then the Gourmet Detective is the man fit for this job.

Unfortunately, the Gourmet man gets more than he had bargained for when is invited to do his sleuthing at Circle of Careme. One of the guests drops dead turning what was supposed to be just a pure mysterious competition into a murder mystery. Drawing upon his voluptuary and investigative skills he tracks down the killer among the vats of Madeira sauce and omelets Bourguignonne.

Repeatedly, the Gourmet Detective clearly reveals to the readers that he isn’t a real detective. He is instead inspired by the private investigators of fiction stories such as Marla Maple, Sherlock Holmes and other more. He considers himself a foodie detective, but when he is called in to help by the Scotland Yard police, he discovers that it’s even more difficult to solve a murder mystery than finding a rare ingredient.

Reading The Gourmet Detective is like watching the 1985 American mystery comedy movie, Clue though with a culinary twist. The gourmet detective (his name is never mentioned) comes across as a fussy, snobbish who is more of a narrator than a true sleuth, though he plays a vital role in the story.

Spiced to Death

In the second book in Gourmet Detective series by Peter King, we meet the Gourmet Detective traveling from London to New York city to authenticate Ko-Feng, a highly priced spice, lost for hundreds of years and praised for its tasted and claimed qualities as a philter.

But when the aphrodisiac spice vanishes into thin air under the detective’s nose and a culinary partner winds up dead, the Gourmet detective becomes the main suspect in a murder case that is more slippery than Oysters Rockefeller. As he plots a scheme to find the murderer, the Gourmet detective begins a mouthwatering rollick through the ethnic restaurants of New York tasting his way to the last resort.

Dying on the Vine

Reawakened by a passion for justice, wine, and food, the Gourmet Detective embarks on a trip to Provence to probe a gloomy business undertaking between two vineyards. Even before the Gourmet detective can even sample the charm of Pate de Grives, he comes across a dead body leaning against a cart in the vineyard.

Was the man really killed by Salinger, wild boars rumored to in a cave surrounding the village? And why would a very tiny vineyard want to buyouts it gigantic neighbor and competitor at any price? Has one of the vineyards developed wine so good to die for? Trusting no one, the Gourmet Detective follows his appetite through a variety of Provencal sanguinary and delicacies while a cunning killer with an intense taste prepares to serve him with his final meal.

The third book in Gourmet Detective series is a brilliant read. It is a story that gives the reader a great insight into the ways of French delicacies while at the same time delving into a complex mystery. There are tons of twists and turns to keep you guessing with every single turn of a page.

Death al Dente
While in Bologna, our mysterious gourmet man learns that passion and food are two Italian delicacies to die for. Send by a London prominent restaurant owner to find a famous Italian Chef; the Gourmet man embarks on his journey to the heart of Italy. Partnered by an alluring beauty, he sets out to taste the Italian delicacies and discover the secrets of top contestants.

But while sampling the Italian delicacies, the detective discovers that his cover is blown. Who could have revealed his identity? Are the contestants ready to kill just for the job? When an agricultural mogul is found floating in a swimming pool, and a killer monk tries to end his life, the Gourmet man is ready to hunt down the killer and bring him to justice.

2 Responses to “Peter King”

1. juanita schlette: 1 year ago

   Not only do I enjoy THE GOURMET DETECTIVE series, but so do the others I have introduced to Mr. King. Loan my books and my friends ask for more.

   It is now Dec. 2022. Will there be any more books in THIS series?
   I hope so and also hope his health is good.

   Happy New Year.
   juanita

   Reply
2. Amy: 2 years ago

   Write more!

   Reply