A Meal to Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime

New York: Forge Books. Near Fine in Fine dust jacket. 2006. First Edition. Hardcover. Full number line. Inscribed and SIGNED by the AUTHOR . 272 pages. A Culinary Novel of Crime, No. 1. Signed by Author. Benny Lacoco is a "food fence". A load of frozen shrimp falls off of a truck, or perhaps a few cases of olive oil or some nice expensive wine with an unpronounceable name comes into your possession, Benny is the guy who can move it for you. No questions asked. He's well connected and a man of respect. But there is another side to Benny. He's a gourmet cook who once aspired to be a renowned restaurateur…but business (and other matters equally unsavory) got in the way. Now Benny has been summoned to cook a special meal for some of his associates on the occasion of the big man being sent up the river. This gives Benny the chance to prepare the meal of his life, A Meal to Die For, because word has it that someone in their midst is a rat, and some things just can't be forgiven. From the abundant antipasto of chicken liver mousse, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, grilled sardines, and other delicacies to the creamy delight of crayfish bisque, three types of pasta, and main entrees of roasted lamb, baked snapper, and chicken with artichokes and sausage, we are treated to flashbacks of Benny’s life in a novel that blends the best of <I>Big Night</I> with <I>Goodfellas</I>. .