LEAVING PATRICK

Leith—one of Britain's most renowned chefs—has written a charming first novel about a wife's holiday from a marriage gone stale. Patrick Chambers, an amiable oenophile and restaurateur, manages Jane's, a successful, two-star restaurant named for his wife. Jane is an ambitious maritime lawyer whose career consumes her; when she and Patrick drift apart, they decide to separate. Embarking on a group rail trip through India with a host of obnoxious fellow tourists, Jane finds herself attracted to Rajiv, the group's handsome and enigmatic guide. When Rajiv leaves their tour for his next assignment, Jane, too, decides to abandon the group. Hoping to find the "real," nontourist India, she hunts down Rajiv, hires him to be her personal guide and succumbs to their strong mutual attraction. Eventually, Rajiv decides to return with her to London. In Jane's absence, Patrick meets Stella, a young, influential and very attractive food critic, and they quickly become lovers. Stella persuades Patrick to sell Jane's and open a new restaurant, which she will help launch. As soon as he agrees, Stella spends money aggressively, creating such a large debt that even with the restaurant's near-instant popularity, it barely turns a profit. Jane and Rajiv's transplanted romance begins to fail, and Stella's questionable behavior and series of misfortunes lead Patrick to the edge of bankruptcy. As Patrick and Jane each see their marriage in a new light, they hope it is not too late to save it. Although readers will be able to predict the ending, Leith maintains a credible tension until the final page. Her colorful Indian travelogue and insider's view of the food service business breathe new life into a fairly standard plot. This lighthearted romantic confection is sure to win a new legion of readers here. Agent, Pat Kavanaugh at Peters, Fraser and Dunlop. (Nov.)