Once known only as the quiet wife of culinary icon Damien Capello, Maria stepped into stardom after Damien’s unexplained disappearance twenty years ago. Since then, she has become a beloved figure with bestselling cookbooks, a popular TV show, and a signature line of sauces. But she has never spoken about the events that launched her into fame, until now. When Maria announces she is finally writing her memoirs, the publishing world takes notice. But instead of accepting a lucrative deal from a major house, she chooses an obscure small press—under one condition: the book must be edited by Thea Woods. For Thea, a disillusioned editor and lifelong fan, it’s an unexpected invitation she can’t refuse, even if it means abandoning her resignation plans. As Thea travels to Maria’s secluded countryside estate, what begins as a dream project slowly unravels into a tense and frightening mystery.

This was a great mystery/thriller. It had wild twists and kept you on your toes the entire time. It was creepy in the best way. I really enjoyed this book.

A lot of people have a secret ingredient they add their recipes. Sometimes its so simple that even those with the most prestige tastebuds won't be able to figure it out. Today, Maria Capello is a chef and icon who has a dark past. 20 years after a tragic incident that involved the disappearce of her then famous chef husband Damien, Maria has finally decided to tell her story to the world. What the secret ingredient is to her most famous recipes along with that happened to her husband Damien all those years ago.

She enlists the help of Thea Woods to tell her story but Thea quickly discovers that not everything is what it seems. While anxious to get back to her husband and daughter, Thea is thrust to a secluded home with no internet and feels as if she is constantly being watched. Why is Maria going to such great lengths to seclude Thea and will she be honest about what happened that fateful night 20 years ago?

This was, dare I say, a delicious thriller. Before you give me the side eye, there are actual recipes in the book which was a welcome surprise. While I enjoyed the story, I have to say there wasn't much of a shock to the reveals. It's a pretty standard thriller in terms of plot but I loved the setup and the creativity Danielle added to this genre. I think if you are new to thrillers or even thinking of dipping your toes into a read thats light on the cannibalism, this would be a great book to start with. 3.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

3.5* It took me a little while to get into this one, and I wasn’t fully hooked until we started getting Maria’s chapters of her book. After that I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to figure out what was going on. The overall concept itself wasn’t anything that I’m not familiar with - a celebrity wants to write a tell-all memoir and chooses and very particular person to work on it for some mysterious reason. I did enjoy the recipes that broke up the sections because I always love when food and mysteries come together. However, one of the biggest twists was pretty underwhelming to me because I guessed it super early on. Some of the other twists were also kind of lackluster - I didn’t get that shock factor that I usually enjoy. The untrustworthy characters, speculations of cannibalism, and the recipes made it a fun book, but the mystery aspect wasn’t anything crazy for me.

Not quite as in your face horrific as Delicate Condition, but just as easy to devour. I apologize in advance for any and all food puns within this review. This was almost…diet cannibalistic horror mixed with a family saga of sorts mixed with a whodunnit…oh and there are receipes dabbled in there. I absolutely loved it and ate it up. One of the bigger twists was on my radar early on, but the journey there was incredibly entertaining. I love how we slowly got reveals from the memoir as well as in real time. The last 20 or so pages had me absolutely gobsmacked and I loved it. The pacing was a little wonky for me at times but overall it was overshadowed by how much fun I was having reading this story.

After reading Danielle Valentine's last novel, I was so eager to get my greedy little claws into this book- and I wasn't disappointed. Who doesn't appreciate an atmospheric book about a mysterious (famous) woman and her equally mysterious family and history?
So many questions with this one- why was Thea chosen-without even actually applying- to be the ghostwriter of Maria's book? Why the extreme secrecy surrounding the book, which Thea is given a chapter of at a time? Why was Damien's body never found? Was he still alive many years ago? And what about NOW? Interspersed with delicious-sounding recipes, this book was able to answer all my questions by the end, thankfully. I didn't see the reason behind Thea being chosen coming, at all, thankfully. That was a nice surprise.... so was the "secret ingredient". In the end, this book is really about how far one will go for family. . . . Because in the end, family is all that really matters, and should be protected at all costs. Right? Definitely going on my must-recommend list, and Valentine will remain on my must-read list, as well.

This thriller has all the recipes for success!

The Dead Husband Cookbook is the psychological thriller of 2025! This book follows Thea, a struggling editor, who lands the opportunity of a lifetime. Working on the memoir for America's home cooking sweetheart, Maria Capello. While working on this memoir, she discovers hidden family secrets while sequestered at the Capello family home. There are so many twists within this story, readers should be prepared to get whiplash. There are so many hidden motives and character developments that readers have a lot to look forward to. Each character adds another element to the overarching mystery - what happened to Damien Capello?

With mentioning characters, I have to mention how talented Danielle Valentine is at making me hate certain characters. After reading Delicate Condition as well, I had a sneaking suspicion this was going to be the case. When Valentine wants you to hate a character, you will hate them. This shows such a talent for the emotional impact of her writing style. I got so invested that I could not put this down. Between the story and the characters, it just built such a spectacular world. And because this all takes place at the Capello farm, the environment was contained enough that I visualized everything explicitly, adding another layer to the story. It was so realistic that the story just came to life in front of my eyes.

Not only is this book full of intrigue, mystery, and suspense, but the recipes within these pages are delightful, and I am excited to test them out. This was such a fun extra within this story. It gives an added flavor (pun intended) that I know readers are going to enjoy. Run, don't walk to get your copy of this book, it is sure to be the thriller of the year!

Perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden, Tarryn Fisher, and John Marrs.

After a major scandal, Thea is down on her luck in her editing career. She’s given the opportunity of a lifetime to change the trajectory of her career and work with the infamous Maria Capello on her memoir. Maria is famous for her cooking, recipes, and the suspicious death of her husband, Damien. There are lots of rumors about Maria’s involvement in the death including some whispers of cannibalism! 😬 If Thea can get the real scoop on Damien’s death and maybe even Maria’s secret ingredient she uses with every recipe her life will be forever changed. But Maria has some weird requests and demands and Thea begins to wonder if all the rumors surrounding Maria could be true.

This book was more than I could have hoped for! It had me guessing and guessing until the very end. There are 2 POVs and also excerpts from Maria’s memoir — which was unique. I really enjoyed reading this one and I look forward to checking out more by Danielle Valentine!

This ARC was provided by SOURCEBOOKS Landmark via NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!!

I was honestly so impressed with this book. The addition of the recipes…so unique! This was a page turner for sure. I think the ending was slightly rushed, but overall, I found my jaw dropping and even parts towards the end where I felt a little spooked. Will for sure be recommending this to others!

4.5 stars. A book about cooking, writing a book and maybe-murder? Nicole Booknip! I had so much fun with this book.

Our main character is a book editor assigned to edit a memoir of a famous chef whose famous chef husband disappeared years ago. Did he die by suicide? Leave her for another woman? Or did the wife murder him (...and include him as a secret ingredient in some of her recipes??)

The book editor is forced to live at the estate with the chef during the editing process. Things are a little mysterious.... There were aspects of this book I did predict, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. Ate this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publishes August 5, 2025.

Book took a while for me to read, but the characters were very interesting and complex. The plot was twisty. I feel like it was interesting. I feel like the book could been a bit longer.

I loved this book. I meal prep for people professionally so to see a book with a chef and then also her crazy tendencies was amazing. I love how theres a lot of books out here lately that include writing memoirs and this was no different.

Wow! I was immediately drawn into this story. I read it over two days and it kept my attention the entire time - I didn’t want to put this one down, I was so engaged. Deliciously unsettling, *The Dead Husband Cookbook* kept me guessing til the end and didn’t disappoint.

This was my second time reading Ms Valentine’s work, and both have been excellent - I can’t wait to read more.

A definite recommendation!



Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the DRC

3.5 stars rounded down. This is a fun premise and I jumped right in. Around the 30-40% mark, the pacing took a turn, though. I found myself less invested in the story as Thea stayed at the house and I feel that she didn’t have enough interactions with Maria to really build that relationship. It’s hinging on that end twist, but I think teasing it a bit at least wouldn’t have taken away. There were some good surprises in here and I’d be interested to see more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever heard the saying, "Never meet your heroes"?

Well, The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine takes that idea and flips it into a tense, eerie, page-turning ride. Thea Woods has the life-changing opportunity of meeting hers, celebrity chef Maria Capello. On the verge of losing her job, she receives an offer she cannot refuse. Not quite literally, but taking the offer would mean saving her career, restoring her reputation, and possibly saving the publishing house she works for. It’s odd that Maria Capello would want Thea Woods specifically to edit her tell-all memoir, given her recent scandal with another author—but she won’t let anyone else touch the manuscript. As long as Thea agrees to sign an NDA and adheres to some very rigid stipulations, she gets the book.

Now, I don’t personally know what goes into editing and working on a manuscript, but it seems a little unconventional that Thea must go to Maria’s farmhouse and work on the memoir there. One. Chapter. At. A. Time.

I was personally hooked by the first page. Valentine has a real talent for setting a mood—you can feel the tension simmering under every interaction. There’s a strong undercurrent of dread mixed with dark curiosity that makes it impossible to put down. The isolated farmhouse, the cryptic rules, the sense that something is just off—it gave me that creeping "what's really going on here?" feeling that I love in thrillers.

And let’s talk about Maria Capello for a second. She is fascinating. The kind of character that’s magnetic and terrifying all at once. Every chapter makes you wonder whether she’s a genius, a monster, or both. Thea, too, is a great protagonist—smart, a little desperate, but grounded enough that you can see yourself making the same decisions she does (even if you’re yelling at her a bit in your head).

There are a few wild twists that I did not see coming, and I loved that the book played with my expectations. The story leans into gothic horror vibes without going full supernatural, and there’s a deliciously macabre thread that runs through it (yes, pun intended). The title makes more sense the deeper you get—and when it clicks, it clicks hard.

If you're into slow-burn suspense with rich atmosphere, morally gray characters, and a side of culinary creepiness, this one’s for you. I tore through it in a couple of days and was thinking about it long after I finished the last page.

Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark, NetGalley and Danielle Valentine for the opportunity to read the digital ARC in advance in exchange for an honest review.

The title alone made me want to read this book!! It was a fun ride. I love the Food Network and watching cooking shows so a FMC as a celebrity chef was chef's kiss for me. The story centers around what REALLY happened to her husband 30 years ago? I would consider this a fun mystery and not so much of a thriller, but I still really enjoyed it. This was my first by this author and I highly recommend!

thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I was drawn to this book by its cover and title…I was not disappointed!! Very cringy and bone chilling, no pun intended. The build up and suspense of this book was well done. I would say this is a slow burn thriller however, that didn’t stop me from being at the edge of my seat constantly reading. The twists and plot I never expected and I promise you that you won’t either. I liked the idea of including actual recipes in the story. When I get my physical copy I will have to try a few recipes just for the fun on it…with or without the special ingredient 👀

Cringy, witty, entertaining and worth a read.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS LANDMARK via NetGalley for providing me this ARC to indulge in!

“After dinner, Maria served us all thimble-sized servings of an Italian digestif that I didn’t catch the name of, something so bitter it burned going down my throat. But even after the drink, I could still taste that meal. Salt and acid. The tiniest hint of sweetness from the tomato sauce. And something else, some indescribable, incredible taste that I couldn’t quite pinpoint. Her secret ingredient, maybe. Whatever it was.”

We follow Thea who is tasked with editing the infamous Maria Capella’s memoir. To Thea, she is not just a celebrity chef, but also the woman she has looked up to for a good chunk of her life. To many others, she is the wife of the famous chef, Damien Capella, who went missing under mysterious circumstances many years ago. The rumors are that Maria might have killed him. And what’s her secret ingredient? Is it her husband?

The story unfolds in Thea’s POV but we also get Maria’s memoir one chapter at a time which really ratchets up the suspense as the truth slowly unfolds.
This book at times was so eerie, had me sweating, and was overall a dang good time. An absolute wild ride. Unputdownable.
It’s full of twists and constantly had me questioning what I thought I knew. Please do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for my eARC!

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Maria Capello is a renowned celebrity chef, known for her cookbooks, TV show, and bestselling sauces. Once a quiet wife to famous chef Damien Capello, she became a household name after his mysterious disappearance twenty years ago. Now, she's ready to share her story through a memoir, despite rejecting lucrative offers from major publishers in favor of a small press. Her condition? The book must be edited by Thea Woods, a lifelong fan who’s never met Maria.
When Thea is invited to Maria’s remote farm to work on the manuscript, she can’t resist. She may finally uncover the truth behind the rumors that Maria killed Damien to steal his recipes and secret ingredient.

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The Dead Husband Cookbook is a mystery thriller that’s eerie, clever, and thoroughly entertaining. The story pulled me in right away with its mix of suspense, dark humor, and just the right amount of weird. And the addition of recipes? Totally unexpected and such a fun bonus—it added a quirky, personal touch that worked surprisingly well.
One of the book’s strongest elements is its atmosphere. I could feel Thea’s growing unease the tension was so well written, it practically seeped off the page. The twists throughout the story kept things exciting and unpredictable, making it hard to put down.
It’s definitely a strange read but in a good way. The story unfolds in such an unusual, layered way that you can't help but stay curious about where it's headed next. If you enjoy mysteries with a psychological edge and a dash of the unexpected, this one’s worth picking up.

Thank You @Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to review this ARC.

I loved this book. The characters felt authentic, the suspense got pretty tense, and food and recipes made everything sound delicious. Well, almost everything! Such a fun, twisty, dark read!

This was a very fun concept that I wish had a little bit more oomph to it.

I thought the sassy little recipes and recipe stories were a really nice touch, that kind of thing is always so fun in a book (at least to me).

Tangent time: there was this one recipe where schmaltz is mentioned and the author says that schmaltz should be utilized more in American recipes, and as a Jewish person, NOOOOO. Do not include schmaltz! Americans are gassy enough as it is. As a Jewish person with a Jewish grandmother that puts schmaltz in everything, it makes you so bloated and so gassy. So don't do that. Butter works just fine. Moving on...

This follows a celebrity chef that feels like a cross between Martha Stewart and Hannibal Lector. And she happens to have a husband that's been missing for quite some time now!

I found this to be a bit on the flatter, more predictable side for a mystery/thriller/whatever you wanna call it. I wanted a bit more of a twist at the end, I wanted to feel more excitement and shock at the reveal. But this was fun!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.