I loved this book. Crystal King's novels are meticulously researched and so well-written. It's like falling in the past. Can't wait for her next one!

The Chef's Secret by Crystal King is a historical fiction novel unlike any I have read before. I loved the travel back in time to Renaissance Italy, and King's writing really brings it to life in the way you want. I was fully immersed in the time period and loved this look at chefs, popes, and secret tunnels - and don't forget MURDER, in the 1500s. There are two different viewpoints, one being Bartolomeo Scappi while he was alive through the journals he leaves behind, and the other is his nephew Giovanni who takes over his position as a chef for the current pope. He is supposed to burn the journals but of course, he doesn't, and what follows is a lot of mystery, intrigue, and the uncovering of long-buried secrets. I really enjoyed both viewpoints and I can't say I loved one more than the other. There was a lot of drama and action in both of them, and even though there isn't NONSTOP action, it is very well-paced and kept me really engaged the entire time. I had never heard of Scappi before, and I really enjoyed where King took his story.

If you're looking for a great audiobook, you are also going to find that here. The audio of The Chef's Secret is narrated by Jacques Roy and I quite loved his narration for it. His voice was perfect for the story, and I found myself wishing it would never be over because I didn't want to stop listening to him speak. I would have loved a little more about the actual food in the book since it's about a chef and his apprentice, but I got a pretty good visual of most of it and there were times it definitely made me a bit hungry. The mystery was a really surprising one, and I didn't have any idea of where this would end up going. I was thoroughly surprised by quite a few things that happen, and I had a moment where I actually gasped out loud. There is some romance in The Chef's Secret as well as a couple of heavier themes, and I thought it was all executed really well. If you love historical fiction and are in the mood to be transported back to Italy in the 1500s then this book is for you!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a wonderful historical fiction by Crystal King.

Bartolomeo Scappi, a celebrated chef to a number of Popes, dies in the late 1500’s and leaves his nephew, Giovanni, (also his apprentice) his encoded journals with direction to destroy them. We wouldn’t have a mystery if Giovanni followed those instructions! Giovanni begins to decode the journals and discovers who his uncle really is.

I don’t typically read books that take place in this time period, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. It had a little bit of everything - history, romance, secrets and murder. Plus the descriptions of all the food! Be careful not to read when you are hungry!!

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy,

This was a DNF for me. I struggled to connect with the historical fiction aspect and the writing style.

The Chef's Secret is a yummy (pun intended) mystery filled with food, forbidden love and murder that revolves around a set of journals and secret letters. How appetizing does that sound?

Bartolomeo Scappi is a chef right out of the history books. He lived from 1500-1577 and served many Popes and was even the author of a best selling cookbook, which he dedicated to his nephew Giovanni. The author used that as the base for this book and I loved the direction it went.

Giovanni plays center stage as he tries to discover a past that he wasn’t meant to see. There are many layers here that kept the suspenseful pace going. I learned a lot about the times and it was refreshing to read in Rome without being overpowered by the Borgias or Medici families.

I love reading about lesser known characters in history and this fit the bill very nicely. Rome is one of my favorite places to visit and it was brought to life not just the edible part but visually as well as getting a feel for the lifestyle amongst the different social classes.

This is my first time reading Crystal King, her knowledge and passion of the era are evident. Definitely will be reading more of her books.

My thanks to Amy at Historical Fiction Blog Tour for the invite to be part of this tour and a complimentary ebook (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Even if Crystal King’s author bio didn’t state that she’s a culinary enthusiast it would have been easy to guess that she loved food by reading her writing. The Chef’s Secret isn’t only a great historical fiction based upon the celebrated, but mysterious, chef Bartolomeo Scappi, but it is a feast for the senses and a must-read for all food fiction fans.

As someone who LOVES reading about food history, this book completely captured my imagination. Set in 16th century Renaissance Italy, the author’s descriptions of the cities, the characters’ lives and, of course, the food, are all lush and incredibly beautiful.

It is a story of romance, murder, intrigue and well-kept secrets. Along with the gorgeous descriptions of incredible feasts and mouth-watering dishes, I found myself reading late into the night – I couldn’t put this book down! I enjoyed the depth of the characters and the well-researched historical touches. I felt completely transported into the story and was swept along for the opulent ride.

The real-life historical figure of Bartolomeo Scappi is one that I’ve known about for a long time. As a food blogger and cookbook enthusiast (I have over 200 cookbooks!) Scappi is well known to me as one of the first “celebrity chefs” and the author of the famous Opera dell’arte del cucinare, in which he describes nearly 1000 recipes of Renaissance cuisine. As famous as he was, there isn’t that much known about his life, so I was excited to read King’s fictional account of his life and wasn’t disappointed.

The Chef’s Secret is definitely one of my favourite culinary fiction books and now I’m on the search for more culinary historical fiction to devour!

*** Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I absolutely adored this book! I loved traveling back to Renaissance Italy and getting lost in this fictional account of the life of Bartolomeo Scappi. I felt like this book is somewhat personal to me. My entire family is Italian-American and to this day, I can still remember all the wonderful food that my grandmothers, great-grandmothers and great-aunts used to cook. I can still smell fresh basil and sauce made with tomatoes from their gardens. I watched my grandmother mix eggs and flour and make homemade pasta and ravioli. I loved reading about this time period and about Italy and I found myself longing to go back to visit Rome and Venice again.

Wonderfully written and researched, this is a great book for anyone, especially if you love food, Italy, and historical fiction. Scappi was considered the first "celebrity chef" and he wrote one of the bestselling cookbooks ever. He was the chef to popes and cardinals, but his own life was a bit of a mystery. This book is filled with history, intrigue, mystery, and romance.

I am so grateful I got an opportunity to read this book!

Bartolomeo Scappi, the cuoco secreto to the pope died suddenly in 1577. In his will Barto leaves his estate and name to his nephew and apprentice, Giovanni. When Giovanni is readying himself to take over his uncle's role, another kitchen apprentice tells him that upon his deathbed Barto gave him keys to several lock boxes and made him promise to burn the journal s inside. Giovanni can not resist the pull of his uncle's secrets and dives into Barto's life. After deciphering the code that many entries were in, Gio begins to discover that his uncle was much more than an amazing cook and mentor. Barto harbored many secrets as well as a love that could change everything. As Giovanni and his friends dive deeper into Barto's affairs they uncover the danger in what Barto was hiding as well as a connection that will change their lives forever.

With perfectly portioned parts, The Chef's Secret is a delectable mix of historical fiction, romance and mystery in Renaissance Italy. With an intimate look into the kitchens of the Renaissance, the food comes alive off the page. I could imagine the intricate sugar sculptures and smell the hearty broths and I was amazed at the level of food production for the clergy. The format of the book goes back and forth between Giovanni and Bartolomeo's points of view as Giovanni reads through Barto's journals. Through the changing points of view, the characters show their care for one another. Giovanni respected and looked up to Bartolomeo and Barto did everything he could to provide for Gio. While deciphering the journals, Gio also leans heavily on his friends that help him navigate the dangers that appear after Barto's death. I did figure out one of the larger mysteries early on, however the adventure and excitement of Barto's life as well as the suspense of Gio figuring out how Barto's past affects his present. The ending quickly ramped up in suspense, but ended on a beautiful note. I was very pleased to learn about the real Bartolomeo and Giovanni. While they may not have had such amazing adventures, their lives were still important to culinary history. Overall, a thrilling read that will delight your senses through Renaissance Italy.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Warning: Don't read this book on an empty stomach!

Scrumptious food, mystery, and forbidden romance merge in a masterful way in this un-put-down-able historical from Crystal King!

When Bartolomeo Scappi, a famous Italian chef who works for the Pope, dies he gives his estate to his beloved nephew and protege Gionvanni, along with a box of letters and journals that Bartolomeo expressly asked for him to burn. Unable to do so before finding out what is in them, Giovanni's curiousty gets the better of him and what he reads sets off a series of secret-revealing and adventure! Add in secret passageways (heck yes!) and secretly coded letters and you've got one exciting read! I was flippin' those pages like you wouldn't believe! I think I devoured (pun intended) this book in hours.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit Rome and Florence in my senior year of high school and this book brought me back to that amazing place! I can't wait to go back and look at it through the eyes of a historical fiction reader and adult. Maybe Crystal will need an assistant on her next research trip :) heehee!

You seriously should pick up The Chef's Secret! It was exquisitely written and researched, and Crystal really knows how to being Italy and it's amazing culinary talents to life! Loved, loved, loved! I cannot wait to go back and read her first book, The Feast of Sorrow, and will be anxiously awaiting her next one!

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I really enjoyed this book - a tense, skillful buildup to a page-turning end, all surrounded by incredible food, details of life in this ancient city, and interesting characters. Part mystery, part family saga - overall a wonderful book. Highly recommended for those who like their historical fiction with tons of drama - and murder!

Part mystery, part love story, all deliciously wonderful. Loved diving in and learning so much about sixteenth century Italy. Crystal King's writing and research are incredible. I felt, smelled, tasted, saw, and heard it all!

I absolutely loved Crystal King's The Chefs Secret. The detail to the era and the deep character development will have historical fiction fans mesmerized from the first page. One never knows what our relatives are hiding or how their spare of the moment decisions will impact our lives long after their gone. This novel is not just about food and a nephew looking for the truth its about discovering who you are and being proud of if no matter what you thought was the truth. The even better part is all the recipes it will have you wanting to try when your done.Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC to review.

I was given a ARC of this book by netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This is the kind of book that you only come across once in a while. Enjoy it tenderly and make it last as long as you can

This a book about a nephew trying to find out about his uncle, a famous chef at the Vatican. It is a the story of a murder, a mystery, and family secrets. I couldn't put this book down.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

When I first saw this title, it made me hungry.

The cover art did nothing to help that situation either. The trey of wine and fruit looks so appealing and I couldn’t help but think that I needed to crack open a bottle of wine to commemorate the beginning of this book!

Now if truth be told—I am neither a foodie or a wine drinker, but for this book I felt like I totally could be! I thought it sounded like a fun and interesting story told in a unique setting–so I said yes to reading it.

My sister got me a book on famous recipes from different Pope’s for Christmas and I thought this book would pair nicely with the book she got me!

Summary

A captivating novel of Renaissance Italy detailing the mysterious life of Bartolomeo Scappi, the legendary chef to several popes and author of one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time, and the nephew who sets out to discover his late uncle’s secrets—including the identity of the noblewoman Bartolomeo loved until he died.

When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate—properties, money, and his position—to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. He also gives Giovanni the keys to two strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi’s dire warning that the information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni’s life and others at risk, Giovanni is compelled to learn his uncle’s secrets. He undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi’s journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder—all to protect an illicit love affair.

As Giovanni pieces together the details of Scappi’s past, he must contend with two rivals who have joined forces—his brother Cesare and Scappi’s former protégé, Domenico Romoli, who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef’s recipes.

With luscious prose that captures the full scale of the sumptuous feasts for which Scappi was known, The Chef’s Secret serves up power, intrigue, and passion, bringing Renaissance Italy to life in a delectable fashion (summary from Goodreads).

Review

So to be fair, when I was pitched this book, it was months ago and I had a lot of openings on my review schedule in the late winter to fill, so this sounded like a good idea at the time and then I kind of forgot about it.

Then I started seeing all these posts on my social media about this book and I was like oh ya, I have that one coming up! So I had renewed interest in it. I was even inspired to try a new recipe from my Pope cookbook in honor of this book!

So as I suspected with this novel, I was hungry throughout most of it. King writes with such deliciousness that I was longing for food all hours of the day and night while reading this one!

I was very surprised by how much I liked this book. On the surface I thought it was going to be basically a foodie book with some mystery, but it was so much more than that. It was part love story, part mystery/intrigue, with a healthy dosing of history and food! I loved it!

One of the things that I loved most about this book was the multiple layers of mystery. It wasn’t just about a murder, there is a ton of intrigue surrounding the murder and a ton of secrets to be ferreted out. I loved reading such a richly written novel lithesome enticing historical elements thrown in. As a Catholic myself, I am obviously going to be drawn to something set within the Vatican and this book was no different.

This book came in like a dark horse for me. I wasn’t ready to love it as much as I did, and it was one I was thinking about throughout the day, eager to return to and find out what was happening next!

An excellent read paired with wonderful food references!

Book Info and Rating

Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Published February 12th 2019 by Touchstone
ASIN B07GNVBYPR
Free review copy provided by publisher, Atria Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: historical fiction, mystery

The book alternates between Bartolomeo in the past and Giovanni trying to discover his uncle’s past in the present day. There was a mystery, romance, and murder. The book wasn’t what I was expecting but I did enjoy it. It doesn’t concentrate on the food as much as I expected it to but for me, it was not a bad thing.
Giovanni is a likable character and I liked to learn him discovering family secrets.

This was my first book by the author and I’m looking forward to reading more.

In the 1500s in Italy, there lived a man, Bartolomeo Scappi, who is known to this day as one of Europe’s most creative and talented chefs. Scappi, who died in 1577, rose from being a humble cook to a master who devised elaborate dishes and meals for kings and popes, leaving behind a famous, multi-volume cookbook as an eternal legacy to his art, although little is known of his personal life. The first volume of his book was lovingly dedicated to his nephew Giovanni, and according to author Crystal King, the way he wrote it sounded more like a father writing for his son, than an uncle for his nephew. This must have triggered King’s using this backdrop for this new biographical, historical, fiction novel, which is filled with so many intrigues and deceptions, I’m surprised that King didn’t use a double plural for the title!

Another thing that King included in the backdrop of this novel was the famous comet of 1577-8, which was so intensely visible, that records of its approximate 74 days in the skies stretched from Ireland to Turkey! It is this point upon which I base my main niggle with this book. See, Scappi died not long after Easter of 1577, which of course landed in the spring of that year – April to be precise. However, the comet wasn’t visible before October of that same year. When I asked King why she would change history in this manner, her reasoning was solid. She couldn’t change the date of Scappi’s death, so she lengthened and moved forward the comet so she could use it as a type of metaphor in the narrative. Although that is understandable – literary license and all that – I have to admit that every time I read a reference to the comet, I still got a touch annoyed. However, I’m not sure how King could have fixed this. The only thing I can think of would have been that King shift the majority of the action by six months, but that wouldn’t make much sense, either. Furthermore, since the observations of the comet added something special to the narrative, this was a dilemma I couldn’t reconcile myself with fully. Hence my inability to give this book a full five stars.

Before I go further, I should say that the above was probably partially my own fault. I mean, if I hadn’t googled that damned comet, I would never have known about this problem with the book. But my curiosity got the better of me, and well… there you go! I should also mention that there’s one other reason why I’m not giving this book a full five stars. That is that I found myself rushing through this book. Now that should be a good thing, because it should have meant I really wanted to know how the problems resolved themselves. However, while that was partially true, I must admit that there were times I rushed through because I felt that King was getting just a bit too bogged down in the details, and I didn’t want to feel the pace slowing during those passages. These mostly had to do with historical facts and some of the background information about certain figures.

The food parts, on the other hand… well, those passages made this into such a luscious book to read, that I also found myself going back over some of them. Seriously, some of these banquets that King described and some of the dishes that Scappi prepared were literally (and yes, I do mean that) mouthwateringly amazing. Add to this how King worked all of this into building very well-rounded characters, and gaining our sympathy for them, despite how disgustingly cruel and ruthless some of them could be, was nothing short of mindboggling. With this, King mixes in is an almost staggering amount of conspiracies and duplicities, blended with heavy handfuls of romantic passion (including a few fairly steamy sex scenes that fall well short of pornography, thankfully), all while building up to the boil of the conclusion, which will also (at least partially) surprise you. I also have to give King credit for writing the parts narrated by Giovanni in first person. This jarred me a touch at first, but I was quickly relieved of any problem with a woman writing in a man’s voice, since King never made me feel that Giovanni was anything but masculine (mind you, he was well in touch with his feminine side, but one would never expect any less from an artist).

To tell the truth, I was expecting nothing less than this from King, after enjoying her first novel, “Feast of Sorrow” so much. I just wish that thing with the comet didn’t bother me so much, because I’m sure I would have upped my rating a bit if it wasn’t for that. Despite this, I’m certain that this novel is going to be a huge hit with historical fiction lovers, especially those who like culinary and biographical fiction thrown into the mix. That’s why I’m going to warmly recommend this novel with a strong four stars out of five.

When I learned Crystal King was writing another book set in Renaissance Italy I knew I wanted to get copy. Her first book, Feast of Sorrow, made me a lifelong fan. That was a great foodie book filled with intrigue and politics and plotting. Well, this new book, The Chef’s Secret, won’t disappoint in any of those areas.

The story is told by Giovanni, Bartolomeo Scappi’s nephew and protégé. Bartolommeo was a chef for several Popes and when he died, his estate went to his nephew. It was instructed that Giovanni burn Scappi’s journals without reading them but honestly, would you? There are recipes, secrets and the hint of a long lost love. You have to try and decipher that!

As in the author’s previous book, Feast of Sorrow, we are treated to menus and delicious descriptions of meals. If you like historical fiction, foodie books, the Renaissance period and political intrigue – you’ll want this book.

Unfortunately I was stricken by influenza and while slowly recovering from that mess, I am unable to conjure up a suitable culinary pairing for this book. There is much inspiration here.

The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King came out February 12, 2019. Much thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

Linking up with Girlxoxo's Monthly Motif challenge for the theme Cover Love.

How cool is a dual time line novel set in 16th century Italy based on the life of what is arguably the first celebrity chef? Very cool. This highly readable and entertaining novel is about Giovanni's effort to piece together the life of his uncle Bartolomeo, who left him his estate, his knife, and most of all, his journals. Told in Giovanni's voice, it traces Bartolomeo's rise. It's got all the intrigue you can imagine- there are Popes, there are plots, there are unscrupulous relatives and others, and there's a love story. AND, best of all, there are gorgeous descriptions of food. There are a lot of characters, some of who you will find yourself googling to see if they are real (many are). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Those interested in this time period will relish this novel, which was an immersive and fascinating read.

The Chef’s Secret is filled with details of Renaissance Italy in Rome. The Vatican, a hotbed of intrigue and political turmoil, is also the home of chefs Bartolomeo Scappi and his nephew Giovanni. When Bartolomeo dies, he leaves his coded journals to his apprentice, Giovanni, who begins to decode the secrets of his uncle’s life.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.