Fresh off his success in solving the Marco Polo murders, Neil heads to Mexico City to take part in the Azteca Cocina—a two-week battle of the chefs. With a huge prize for the winner, and the final cook-off held in the Azteca Stadium, Neil will finally be able to prove that he’s more than an oddity; he’s the best chef in the world!

But things start to go wrong at the very first battle. Neil’s box of secret ingredients contains more than he bargained for. There’s a note inside, telling him that Isabella has been kidnapped. He must lose in the final, or else she’ll be killed.

But Neil can’t afford to lose. He’s already taken out a huge loan to pay for renovations to Chez Flambé, and he’s Neil, after all. The word “lose” isn’t in his vocabulary! As he faces a formidable slew of rivals—including Pablo Pimento—he desperately searches for Isabella.

The kidnappers are obviously having fun. With every ransom note they send, they include a lock of Isabella’s hair, not realizing how clever their captive really is. Knowing that Neil and his super-nose will be looking for her, Isabella does what she can to help, and rubs her hair in the smelliest thing she can find at each location. Neil can smell garbage, flowers, animals, but this only helps him find out where Isabella has already been—not where’s she heading next,

In order to solve this mystery, Neil will need Larry’s knowledge of Mexican history and Spanish, Sean Nakamura’s portable forensic lab, and Angel Jicama’s mentorship. He’ll have to delve into Aztec history, symbolism, and even into the real ruins that are buried under the modern city. But will he figure it all out in time?

Neil Flambé and the Aztec Abduction is a mouth-watering mystery filled with chills, thrills and adventure!