Monsieur Pamplemousse and the Secret Mission

Rating:
Summary: A French Culinary Romp
Review: There's something highly unusual about the food at Hotel du Paradis. Not that it's particularly delicious -- it isn't. But when people eat there they suddenly become...well, aggressively passionate. The food is...there is no other word for it...aphrodisiacal.

Monsieur Pamplemousse is taster and columnist for "Le Guide," the prestigious culinary French magazine. His boss, Le Director, whose aunt runs the infamous hotel, sends Pamplemousse and his little dog, Pommes Frites, to investigate.

Pauvre Pommes Frites. He discovers the culinary culprit but is unable to communicate his discovery to Pamplemousse. Besides, he is too busy. So Pamplemousse blunders along, surviving a series of hilarious misadventures until...voila!

Michael Bond wrote the delightful Paddington Bear series of children's books. PAMPLEMOUSSE isn't children's fare by a long shot, except for the child in each of us that's never managed to grow up. This is bawdy, silly, escapist fare. It's a quick and easy read and lots of fun.