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Rating: 
Summary: A decent read, but enough already with the hormones!
Review: I enjoyed Peter King's first installment of this series, The Gourmet Detective, and thought little of our hero's seemingly misplaced flirtations during the course of that mystery, but in Spiced to Death it appears that the Gourmet Detective's libido is in overdrive. In the midst of an interesting case, our detective seems to be unable to resist coming on to every female that crosses his path - and he seems terribly confident that each one will be pleased with his overtures and respond in kind. Maybe I'm annoyed that we still don't have a name for this detective, a writing device that's more bothersome than compelling. Truthfully, I enjoy reading culinary mysteries a great deal, and I'm very impressed with King's series so far as it give a lot of detail and he is able to create an atmosphere in each scene. I'm just not as sympathetic to our hero as I feel I should be. Overall, Spiced to Death is a fairly good book. I love the food references and descriptions; I'm amazed, too, that the characters can function after so much wine and liquor with each meal. It's not a page turner, though. And, if you don't like self-involved people, you may have little tolerance for the Gourmet Detective (hey, Peter King! Give this guy a name!).
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Slow Read
Review: I had read the first book in this series and found it likeable. This one however, was very slow to read. I got tired of the unnamed detective coming on to every women he met. Some of the food descriptions were quite interesting. The visit to Dr. Li seemed almost paranormal. By the time I got to the end of this book I couldn't remember reading about the murderer until near the end of the book. I decided to go back & read the book again to see if this was the case. However, it was so slow to read, I decided it wasn't worth it. I just didn't care. I wouldn't read another book in this series.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Slow Read
Review: I had read the first book in this series and found it likeable. This one however, was very slow to read. I got tired of the unnamed detective coming on to every women he met. Some of the food descriptions were quite interesting. The visit to Dr. Li seemed almost paranormal. By the time I got to the end of this book I couldn't remember reading about the murderer until near the end of the book. I decided to go back & read the book again to see if this was the case. However, it was so slow to read, I decided it wasn't worth it. I just didn't care. I wouldn't read another book in this series.
Rating: 
Summary: More racist than lustful
Review: I very much enjoyed this (2nd in the series) for the whirlwind tour of cuisines, the information about the historical and current value of spices, and the "you-are-there" description of the locale. However, the lead character views every woman he meets in terms of her figure. His constant lustfulness brings the story down, which is why it only rates 3 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Spiced to death will kill you indeed
Review: Lack of originality keeps popping up on this second adventure of the Gourmet Detective. This story is too long and too similar to the previous one which, although not in my list of favourites, was definitely better than this one. In a mystery story the presence of red herrings is a must, however, Mr. King scatters them all around without much purpose, and also in excess. For instance, what was the point of the food fair so extensively described, (even if this is a culinary mystery? And the woman from the "Phoenicia Restaurant"? I thought this would have been a much more insterested relationship to develop than the one between our protagonist and the female Sergeant assigned to protect his back. This last instance is also the same one of the first novel when the Gourmet Detective developed quite a chauvinistic appreciation to Sergeant Winnie. Mr. King seems to have run out of ideas when writing his second novel of what appears to be quite a boring series. As for the food comments, again, they are excellent as suggestions and will make anyone's mouth water. Which reminds me to keep suggesting to Peter King that he really should try the non-fiction genre and start that cookbook right away!
Rating:
Summary: Spicy Intrigue at its best
Review: Loved this book. Felt as if I were in Casablanca looking for the letters of transit, while in the book we're running around New York looking for an extinct spice supposedly recently found, but also recently stolen. Loved all the characters and the food descriptions are wonderful. This book is really enjoyable for everyone who likes to eat. As a tee-totaling vegetarian, I would never eat or drink muchh of anything described, but it all sounds so fascinating. I plan to read this book and the Gourmet Detective a 2nd time, just for the ambience. Normally I don't care for British detectives (except for Morse and Dagliegh< sorry about the spelling) but this book takes place in America and even if it didn't (as the Gourmet Detective) it is wonderful. The only unbelievable part of the book is the authentication of the extinct spice. How could it possibly be certified as Ko Feng which no one has seen in 500 years? It seems to me that all the experts could say is that this spice is something completely new or unknown and may be Ko Feng. Anyway, this is an excellent book and makes for great reading.
Rating:
Summary: Factual errors spoil clever mystery
Review: This book is aimed at "foodies", those of us who love good food, good wine, and good dining. Unfortunately for Mr. King, foodies also love authenticity. He calls Hunan Province an island, thinks hot rice cake soup is uncommon and new, (we've eaten in for years in St. Louis as Sizzling Rice soup), and thinks that an American serving a prison sentence could run for President of the U.S. Mr. King's writing is pleasant, but he needs an editor!!
Rating:
Summary: Factual errors spoil clever mystery
Review: This book is aimed at "foodies", those of us who love good food, good wine, and good dining. Unfortunately for Mr. King, foodies also love authenticity. He calls Hunan Province an island, thinks hot rice cake soup is uncommon and new, (we've eaten in for years in St. Louis as Sizzling Rice soup), and thinks that an American serving a prison sentence could run for President of the U.S. Mr. King's writing is pleasant, but he needs an editor!!
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