She Treads Softly: The Devil's Kitchen

Friday, March 14, 2025

The Devil's Kitchen

The Devil's Kitchen by Mark Thielman
4/1/25; 310 pages
Severn River
Johnson and Nance #1

The Devil's Kitchen by Mark Thielman is a recommended novel with a dual timeline which alternates between events from the French revolution and a current murder mystery in Yellowstone.

In Paris, France, 1794 during the French Revolution art student Aristede is protecting the Scepter of Dogobert, a relic of the French royalty. The goal is to smuggle it out of the country for safe keeping. In the present, a history professor is found dead at the base of Yellowstone Canyon. Seasonal park ranger and former homicide detective Clarence Johnson assists Special Agent Alison Nance with the investigation once it is determined they are dealing with a murderer.

Johnson and Nance worked well together and following the clues in the murder investigation is a compelling part of the narrative. There are keen insights into what may be the motive behind the murder as well as some humor along the way. Also included is a good dose of art history which neatly ties into the plot. I enjoyed this storyline. It would be entertaining to follow them, along with Johnson's dog, Tripod, in another investigation.

Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction but I have been known to appreciate it at times. In this case, the chapters set in the 1790's were less appealing than those set in the present. I just never cared that much, although I knew it would eventually tie into the present day investigation, so these chapters felt like they dragged on too long.

The Devil's Kitchen will appeal to readers who enjoy the French Revolution, art history, a treasure hunt, murder mysteries and police procedurals. Thanks to Severn River for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.