Following Les Petits meurtres à l'étouffée, Delcourt published in May 2018 a second gourmet crime: Un cadavre en toque, adapted from the novel by Noël Balen and Vanessa Barrot by Raven, drawn by Chetville and colorized by Quaresma.
A secondary police investigation
The famous chef Julien Villedieu was assassinated. Journalist Laure Grenadier leads the investigation throughout the comic strip in order to unmask the murderer. The investigations are limited to brief interrogations of important personalities in the world of Parisian gastronomy. A corpse in a hat is in any case not intended for a public keen on investigating crimes. The very discovery of the culprit leaves the reader relatively indifferent. The search for the truth about the chef's death is really only a pretext to allow the heroine to show readers the important places in the world of French cuisine.
French gastronomy in the spotlight
As much as lovers of police investigations may be disappointed, fans of gastronomy will be delighted when reading A Corpse in Toque. The sequel to Petits meurtres à l'étouffée plunges the reader into the broth of Parisian cuisine. Chefs, renowned dishes and wines parade along the boards to the delight of enthusiasts. The uninitiated reader will be able to follow the tribulations of the editor-in-chief Laure Grenadier without too much difficulty and discover the Plaisirs de table. As the title suggests, however, the book is more interested in chefs than in the kitchen itself.
Parisian chefs
After the escapade in Lyon in Petits meurtres à l'étouffée, Les Crimes gourmands is set for this second volume in the great and prestigious city of Paris. The majestic and imposing buildings are highlighted by Chetville's realistic and careful drawings. Following Laure Grenadier, the reader visits throughout the pages different districts of the capital, easily recognizable for those who have already walked them. Places and decors are particularly important , whether buildings, restaurants or kitchens.
More than an investigation into Parisian kitchens, the comic strip Un cadavre en toque is more of a beautiful visit to the capital and a sweet spot for lovers of French gastronomy.
