Cover Image: One Last Bite

One Last Bite

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Member Reviews

I would recommend this book if you love fast paced with split timeline mysteries. Most of the story's point of view is from Sadie, the chef-Wanna-Be who is trying to hide her past and move on with her life.it overall made for a quick and fairly enjoyable read.

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I don't think I've ever read a 'culinary thriller' before so I was excited to get into this one. It was an interesting read, with enough suspense and twists to keep me engaged. I enjoyed it on the whole, it's a fast paced read that holds its own.

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Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an engaging and well-written read. The book was well paced and Cupps used the dual narrative well. While the revelations and end was perhaps too rushed, the plot was excellent and the final twist very unexpected.

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One Last bite is a fast-paced thriller set in the culinary industry; I particularly enjoyed how the author kept up the pace of the plot, whilst having detailed flavourful descriptions of culinary delights. I imagined from the book cover that the thriller aspect was going to involve poisoning or something food related, but it was far from that, and I was pleasently surprised. Teaches me to pre-judge based on a cover!
Instead the thriller aspect comes from the character relationships, and the culinary setting is secondary (although important in directing the character's motivations and actions).

Our main character Sadie is a flawed individual with an interesting backstory - this is a key aspect to my enjoyment of psychological thrillers; I find it really hard to get engaged in a good plot, if the characters do not have good development, and Leah Cupps definately delivered on this front!

The book was fast paced, and full of multiple twists. It was a delicious read, making me yearn for one last bite once I'd finished.

Thank you netgalley and Leah for allowing me to read a copy and share my view.

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It was an easy read and got my attention right off the bat.
I didn't really connect with any of the characters, they were a smidge flat.
The way information is revealed is kind of silly. It's usually just by being in the right place at the right time and overhearing/seeing things that were meant to be private. Though "private" usually means loudly in the restaurant while it's full of customers and employees, or directly in front of windows.

The twist was pretty good, I definitely didn't expect it.

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This was a 3.5 star read for me. The premise and the first half of the story is lifted straight from The Housemaid. Of course the setting is different but you'll find the characters in a similar situation.

The first twist was interesting and somewhat unbelievable. I mean unless you're identical twins, it's simply not possible in my opinion. I do understand and appreciate that they hired a whole new set of people at the new restaurant which helps me get past this piece.

I think the shift in Sadie also happens really abruptly. And Devon's behaviour flips really quickly too. It would have been nicer if that was a bit more nuanced. Also this grand plan that Sadie and Naomi come up with was quite underwhelming. I found myself disappointed- like that's it?

The final mild twist at the end was a nice way to wrap things

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How far are you willing to go for your dreams? Follow Sadie as she navigates through this question in an absolutely unputdownable thriller. This was a very engaging and somewhat cozy thriller with some unexpected twists.

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One Last Bite follows the Sadie, an ex con with a dream of running her own restaurant, and how she becomes involved in one of the trendiest, Michelin star restaurants.

As the book progresses, we find out about Sadie’s past and her dreams for the future and how far she is willing to go to get these, we learn about the restaurants owners and staff, and the secrets they hold, and uncover a number of lies which have had severe consequences. Partway through we switch narrator and hear the story from another perspective, and personally this made me change my opinion on some of the characters. I didn’t find Sadie a particularly sympathetic main character though, she comes across as quite entitled and arrogant, so I wasn’t rooting for her to succeed in the story but this didn’t change my enjoyment of the book.

Overall I good suspense story, well written and a good read.

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this book not only made me hungry but i devoured the story. Such a great thriller. and that last twist was amazing. definite reommend

thanks netgalley and publisher. all thoughts and opinions are my own

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What an engaging thriller. It felt really cozy, if that makes sense. The author created a sense of cozyness that enveloped me. The restaurant on a farm with cabins had a rustic charm that added to the sense of cozyness. An inviting atmosphere. Making it the perfect setting for a thrilling tale.I loved Sadie's character at first and Despite my diminishing opinion of Sadie due to her choices, I couldn't help but still root for her. Her flawed decisions added a layer of complexity to the story's development, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I eagerly awaited the consequences of her actions.The big twist happened in the middle of the book which was disappointing because I was looking forward to more shocking twists of the story. This is a quick and entertaing story story I'll always remember.

Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator for a ARC copy of this book. This was a honest review.

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Thank you, NetGalley and incubator Books for this ARC. This story was such an enjoyable thriller with an unexpected ending. I was very delighted to hear all about the delicious food mentioned within this book! This story is basically about a chef called Sadie who goes to work in an upscale restaurant called Thistle.. Sadie slowly uncovers some dark secrets about the owners of this establishment. She also finds a strange cabin in the back as well. I loved all the mystery suspense and unexplained happenings in the story. I will definitely read more from this author and I would highly recommend this book. I couldn’t put it down and it held my interest from beginning to end. Definitely five stars .

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I found One Last Bite to be an intriguing and delicious thriller that I had a hard time putting down! Not only did it have a generous helping of suspense, Leah Cupp's novel immerses the reader in a delectable culinary world. I was enthralled by the vivid description of a restaurant's kitchen and atmosphere, and I could almost smell and taste the food being cooked up. This novel is perfect for those looking for an enjoyable read with a plot full tension and anticipation in a setting that is as alluring as it is foreboding.

The story follows Sadie Jackson as she lands a job at the culinary world's latest "it" restaurant, Thistle, working for her idols, the legendary chefs Norah and Devon Winthrop. Even though she starts as only a dishwasher, she can't get over being in the kitchen of one of the country's most famous restaurants. However, Sadie soon finds out that not everything is as perfect as it seems for the Winthrops at Thistle, as behind the kitchen doors she begins to uncover a dark world of secrets and ostensibly illegal activities. She's also determined to find out what's going on at that mysterious cabin on the other side of the lake. As Sadie explores deeper, she finds herself on a knife's edge as hidden truths reveal a reality that is sinister and life-threatening.

While not quite deserving of a Michelin Star, the book is a solid and enjoyable read. Cupps plates the story with all the expected elements of a well-crafted thriller. The pacing begins at a slow simmer as Cupps flavors the story with meticulous detail, each element building upon the last, gradually raising the level of suspense. Readers who expect a fast-paced thriller from the start will find it worth the patience, however. After the stage is set the story takes really takes off, reaching a rapid boil in the second half of the book. Our protagonist is a compelling character who is also flawed with morals she is willing to compromise. This adds an element of uncertainty as we never know how the character is going to react to the other dark characters or to her ominous environment.

Overall, One Last Bite is a thrilling journey into a world where the scent of ambition mingles with the tang of danger. Cupps weaves a narrative that's rich with flavor and atmosphere, painting a culinary landscape that's as intoxicating as it is treacherous. With every twist, readers are pulled deeper into Sadie Jackson's world of high-stakes gastronomy and shadowy secrets. Though not without its imperfections, the book delivers a gripping story that combines suspense with the irresistible lure of mystery. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who wants to escape to a fascinating culinary world full of dark secrets, and who seeks a thriller that sizzles long after the final page is turned!

I received this ARC from NetGalley. I thank Leah Cupps and Inkubator Books for this copy. All opinions are my own.

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Let me start by how I actually had a good time with this book. The first chunk reads like a very cozy thriller and I was having a blast with it. I liked our main character, Sadie, and the culinary world we were inserted into as well. However, as you may be guessing by my rating, it also had its issues.

Sadie is a passionate and ambitious character, traits that made her very likeable in the beginning, unfortunately ended up betraying her and the rest of the book at the end. She is easily enamored and blinded by a character's charisma even after getting pretty incriminatory clues on how something wrong is going on with them. In one chapter she seems to want to know what's happening, but then when she has the clues in her hands, she doesn't suspect or tries to think them through. This got hastly annoying.

Besides the many times her lust/desire clouded her judgement, it was also frustrating how she says one thing and does the other. She knows that mixing business with pleasure doesn't work, like it also happened to her in the past, but she gets easily swayed and past a few chapters she is all in. And with someone who is highly suspicious of what is going on too? Like, c'mon now...

Sadie also made a stupid and straight up wrong assumption about telling something to a character with fear of them don't believing her, although this person was the one, the first and only, to warn her about those certain people???

The characters felt superficial which made the book extremely shallow and, inevitably, forgettable. The pace was great, I read it very fast, but nothing was ever explored deeply. It's those type of thrillers to read and never think about again. The biggest twist happened in the middle of the book which was kinda disappointing because I was looking forward for more shocking twists that never came. By a certain mark, it seemed like I already knew what was going to happen.

Lastly, one thing that got really annoying really quick was the use of interrogation sentences like:
"But now?"; "What I don't say?"; "But for me?"; "And the worst part?", etc...
There was SO MUCH of this, it took me out of the story. Just narrate normally for a bit, please!!! The writing was fluid and easy to flow with, but so repetitive!

Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read to devour in one or two days. Recommend it for people who are looking for a fast-paced, non-intense thriller.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc in the exchange of an honest review.

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✨Spoiler Free Review✨

Title-One Last Bite
Rating-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an amazing popcorn thriller! The captivating storyline and unexpected plot twist made it impossible to put down, I read it in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of it.

Chef Sadie Jackson is ready to escape a troubled past, so she’s overjoyed when she’s offered the chance to work at Thistle, a new restaurant owned by her culinary heroes the legendary Devon and Norah Winthrop.
Even though she’s starting out as a dishwasher, Sadie’s willing to do whatever it takes to impress the golden couple.
But she soon discovers that something is off in the Winthrops’ seemingly perfect world. Sadie hears whispers of money troubles. Illegal activities. She sees the strange bruises on Norah’s arms.
And then there’s the mysterious cabin at the back of the property. Why is there always a light on at night? Who is staying there?
Sadie begins to understand that the Winthrops have a very dark secret. A secret which, if it’s ever revealed, will destroy their perfect lives. And that makes her wonder just how far they’ll go to protect their glowing reputation.
She’s about to find out….


Thank you @netgalley Inkubator books, and Leah cups for this advanced copy.

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Thank you for the ARC! I really enjoyed this book and the story line, however there were some plot-holes where facts were incorrect or it just skipped to different scenes. I look forward to reading other books by this author!

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Whilst I did enjoy the multiple POV’s and the way Sadie’s anxieties were portrayed I did find this story a little slow, it did pick up around 60% but by then I had lost interest. I found the plot to be predictable but I can see some people really enjoying this, unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.
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Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to review this book.

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The beginning was way too slow for my liking and the pacing doesn't really pick up until about halfway through the book. Some readers may appreciate that, and I do as well, but not for the thriller genre.

The character growth was steady but I just couldn't connect. Despite that, Sadie's character was thoroughly written and while I couldn't relate to her, I felt like I had a good idea of who she was, and it helped a lot with getting myself excited to push through one more chapter.

I wouldn't mind reading this again once it's gone through a proper editor. There were some inconsistencies that took me out of my immersion, but not so prevalent that I would be frustrated.

Thank you for the arc of this book!

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I did enjoy this but kinda felt like I was also losing my mind since there's a few continuity errors and plot holes so I had to keep doubling back to check I hadn't just made up bits.... I hadn't! That said, it was still a decent enough story. Definitely more of a slow burn but I did like the premise and the twists. Could just have done with a bit more editing possibly

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While I found myself anticipating some twists, the journey to the revelation was thoroughly enjoyable. The detailed scenes vividly brought the story to life, and I appreciated the shift in points of view. However, I wished for more depth in Norah's character development.

Despite some unanswered questions about certain character arcs, the satisfying ending left me wanting more. I couldn't help but wonder if there might be a sequel to tie up loose ends.

Overall, I rate "One Last Bite" 4 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this captivating read.

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This started out so good. Lots of suspense and tension with a fast pace. But there needs to be some fact checking done because the storyline has quite a few plot holes that yanked me right out of the story until finally I just didn't care what happened anymore.

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