Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin (2025) 313 pages
Paul is a chef who has been contacted by an old friend, Christian, a well known TV chef who is also known for restaurants he has operated. Christian is also involved in a cooking school that brings in small groups of people to learn to cook various types of foods. However, Christian has a problem: he has injured his arms and cannot teach the class, and he asks Paul to fill in for him.
Paul's not that keen on the idea, but decides to go ahead, with the proviso that Christian will be there to help manage the class. The class has 8 participants who are to live in the mansion that houses the school for the intense week of classes. When Christian doesn't show up for the first class, Paul is steamed but handles it the best he can.
A day later when someone is found dead, with his head almost chopped off with a cleaver that Paul used the day before, things look bad for Paul. Paul decides to learn all he can about Christian—whose life has some details Paul has never known—as well as the students, in order to save his own hide.
Paul is a relatable character in many respects. As a benefit, he gives the students—as well as the reader—cookery tips. The book is written by a British chef with a writing style I found unique and enjoyable. (A second book featuring Paul is set to be released this year.)
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