Books*Reviews*Etc: FRIEND OF THE DEVIL by Mark Spivak

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FRIEND OF THE DEVIL

A Culinary Thriller

Mark Spivak

Inside the Book

(from PUYB)

Title: Friend of the Devil
Author: Mark Spivak
Publisher: Black Opal Books
Pages: 325
Genre: Culinary Thriller

In 1990 some critics believe that America’s most celebrated chef, Joseph Soderini di Avenzano, sold his soul to the Devil to achieve culinary greatness. Whether he is actually Bocuse or Beelzebub, Avenzano is approaching the 25^th anniversary of his glittering Palm Beach restaurant, Chateau de la Mer, patterned after the Michelin-starred palaces of Europe.
Journalist David Fox arrives in Palm Beach to interview the chef for a story on the restaurant’s silver jubilee. He quickly becomes involved with Chateau de la Mer’s hostess, unwittingly transforming himself into a romantic rival of Avenzano. The chef invites Fox to winter in Florida and write his authorized biography. David gradually becomes sucked into the restaurant’s vortex: shipments of cocaine coming up from the Caribbean; the Mafia connections and unexplained murder of the chef’s original partner; the chef’s ravenous ex-wives, swirling in the background like a hidden coven. As his lover plots the demise of the chef, Fox tries to sort out hallucination and reality while Avenzano treats him like a feline’s catnip-stuffed toy.

For More Information

Friend of the Devil is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Meet the Author

Mark Spivak is an award-winning author, specializing in wine, spirits, food, restaurants, and culinary travel. He was the wine writer for the Palm Beach Post from 1994-1999, and was honored by the Academy of Wine Communications for excellence in wine coverage “in a graceful and approachable style.” Since 2001 he has been the Wine and Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group, as well as the Food Editor for Palm Beach Illustrated; his running commentary on the world of food, wine and spirits is available at the Global Gourmet blog on www.palmbeachillustrated.com. His work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, Men’s Journal, Art & Antiques, the Continental and Ritz-Carlton magazines, Arizona Highways and Newsmax. From 1999-2011 Spivak hosted Uncorked! Radio, a highly successful wine talk show on the Palm Beach affiliate of National Public Radio.
Spivak is the author of two non-fiction books: Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History (Lyons Press, 2012) and Moonshine Nation: The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle (Lyons Press, 2014). Friend of the Devil is his first novel. He is currently working on a political thriller set during the invasion of Iraq.
For More Information

Visit Mark Spivak’s website.
Connect with Mark on Facebook.

MY THOUGHTS

Would you enter into a contract with the DEVIL? in order to get ahead in life? Some people seem to have it so easy, no struggles, no hardships, not having to work hard to get ahead. What about you? Is life an easy street? Is there some goal you want and can't ever seem to achieve it? What about the DEVIL? Could he help you achieve those goals with out struggling? What would the costs be to have a contract with the DEVIL? Just let go and for the time you're reading this book, believe it is possible. A culinary thriller written by a food expert.

The setting for the story is 1947, Mississippi country land. Wanting to not be poor anymore, Joseph, just a boy sets in motion a contract for gaining wealth. Just a man, or was it the DEVIL?

Then years later a well know and successful chef, Joseph lives in Palm Beach and is going to be in an article by journalist, David Fox. Joseph is so different than he was as a child. He seems to have powers. Could this be part of the DEVIL's contract?

The author adds some facts into the read and you may want to do some searches on them to see if they are actual or not? Interesting, thrilling and fun to read. A different take on a thriller than most. You get some menus and food ideas. It may make your mouth water. So much is into this thriller besides chefs, restaurants, thrills. There are sex, drugs and (you thought I was going to say rock and roll) but no, I was going to add murder.

Good and evil are what they are. They balance each other out. The author gives you a taste of everything, murder, sex, drugs, good, evil, suspense, food and more.

Would you be willing to be the

FRIEND OF THE DEVIL?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, Mark Spivak and PUYB in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

I would give this book 5 STARS.

PUYB

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