This was definitely a thrill, Maria capello famous Chef hires thea to edit her memoir to clear up the rumors that Maria killed her husband Damian 20 years ago. The only catch is Thea has to stay at the farm house, no phone, no internet and no talking about the book to the outside world. Thea eventually feels something is not right but what? The dead husbands cookbook was a suspenseful thrill, I loved reading Marie’s manuscript, but you only get to read them on Maria’s pace very little chapters at a time which just adds to the suspense and the twists. And with how unreliable Maria is free me in more, is Thea being delusional or is there something wrong with this well known chef? Drawing closer to the end we finally get to Maria’s POV where everything comes to light. Overall the dead husbands cookbook was a twisty suspense with a compelling plot and I highly recommend

This was unexpectedly amazing. I picked it up because of the cover, but couldn’t put it down once I started it. Can this please be adapted for tv??

This book was a slow burn. It took me quite awhile to finally get into the story, but it did pick up. For years people have been accusing celebrity chef Maria, of murdering her husband. She finally decides she wants to publish her memoir and wants Thea to be the one to do that. Thea eagerly accepts and stays with Maria at her home. The story is told from both women's POVs, includes chapters from Maria's book and also has recipes (which I didn't like). Overall, I'd consider it a thriller with some dark humor, just not a book I was overly impressed with.

This was fun and twisted and something I felt like I hadn’t read before. I kept flipping pages because I was so wrapped up in this book. 10/10 recommend and would be a fun book club book with maybe a little cookbook club twist? Either way, very fun and easy read.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

I loved Maria’s complicated character traits and Thea’s past.
The two POV’s were a great touch. As well as the recipes intertwined.
This was very uniquely written. It kept me interested, wanting to know what the secret ingredient is, did Maria kill Damien, how do these two people’s lives connect. Why is the little girl, Ava, so creepy?
All questions get answered! Very satisfying ending. I will be recommending this book to friends!

Mystery and cooking all wrapped up in one twisty book! The second half picked up steam and got those pages turning faster!!

Book/Story: ⭐️⭐⭐⭐
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐⭐.5

Trigger Warning(s):
Murder
Animal Death/Slaughtering
Gore
Cannibalism
POV: Dual, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Thriller
Burn: 🔥🔥.5
Safe or Dark: Safe ️️️
Release Date: August 5, 2025

Quick Take Review 💥:

If you enjoy unreliable narrators, this one is for you. A thrilling read from start to finish. This story is packed with suspense that is sure to keep you on your toes.

Fun and engaging characters that feel realistic and believable.

Sure to keep you guessing and on your toes.

Great for those who are looking for a fast-paced, albeit slow-burn, witty read.

Plot 📖:

Chef, restaurateur, and television personality Maria Capello’s husband, Damien, has died. After his death, the media was unrelenting and quick to cast the blame on his widow. Rumors about Maria murdering her husband to build her culinary empire begin to swirl. People even think up the grisliest reason as to why his body was never recovered. After decades of keeping their silence around Damien’s death, the Capello family has finally decided to talk. Will the world finally learn the truth about Maria’s innocence? Will the chatter surrounding the death prove to be true, or is it simply gossip?

Thea Woods can’t fathom why Maria has chosen her to help write what was no doubt going to be a best-selling memoir, but she’s not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. As she settles into her (what is supposed to be) temporary life on the Capello’s rustic upstate farm, she finds herself cut off from the rest of the world and tossed smack dab in the middle of the murder mystery. Thea soon realizes that something isn’t sitting right with what should be the job of a lifetime or the family involved with it, because Damien isn’t the only person who has mysteriously vanished over the years. As the truth begins to unfold, Thea finds herself desperately afraid. What’s really hiding in Maria’s past? What is secretly under the Capello matriarch’s shiny veneer?

There are reasons why Damien’s body has never been found and why, in over three decades, Maria’s never given away the secret ingredient in what has become her most famous recipe.

Writing 📝:

Danielle Valentine’s writing is engaging, witty, and fun. It has an easy flow to it that was fast-paced but never felt rushed, and it isn’t difficult to follow in the least. Valentine gets her points across without making the writing dense, clunky, and overly flowery. She manages to keep things tense but also lighthearted at the same time. I was never bored or hit a lull with this plot. I wouldn’t say this writing/book was groundbreaking and doing things that’ve never been done before, but there was hardly a thriller cliché in sight. I enjoyed the creativity offered in this read.

All of the Valentine’s characters were well fleshed out. None of them felt two-dimensional or flat (even the side characters). Well done, well done indeed.

The author does a wonderful job of building tension and suspense before everything culminates and comes to a head.

Main Character(s) 👫:

Maria Capello - Maria’s character was interesting. Something was off about her. I just couldn’t figure out what it was. While motherly, she also had a darker side bubbling just below the surface. Maria was career-oriented, driven, and definitely hiding something. Despite supposedly being the villain, she was likable and at times endearing.

Thea Woods - I liked that Thea was a normal, everyday woman, overwhelmed with motherhood, work, and having a husband who doesn’t do much to help out around the house. All of this, plus the fact that she was trying to rebound after making a horrific mistake at the publishing company she works for, makes her very relatable. Although she herself was unreliable and sketchy at times.

Side Character(s) 👫:

Jacob Woods - A husband who works hard, contributes the bare minimum to helping out around the house, but ultimately means well. This guy would fall apart without having his wife around. As a matter of fact, he did. However, I suppose I don’t feel as though I got to know Jacob well enough to form a fair opinion of his character.

Damien Capello - We only really learn about Damien through the flashbacks in Maria’s memoirs. I have to be honest, though. Based on what Maria told us about Damien, he sounded like a total babe. A babe but an asshole. Damien did whatever he wanted when he wanted, according to his wife.

Isabella Capello - The eldest Capello sibling. Isabella was a weirdo. There really isn’t any nicer way to put it. She was odd throughout the entirety of the book, but this hardly made her an unenjoyable character.

Enzo Capello – The Capello’s second child and the spitting image of his late father. I like Enzo. He was laid-back and easygoing. He seemed kind and happy-go-lucky. He brought a nice vibe to the book, even though he wasn’t in it very much.

Amy Ryan – Enzo Capello’s girlfriend was a bland character to me. She didn’t sway me one way or the other in the emotions department. Amy was definitely the sneaky type you want to watch your back around. Again, though, I suppose I don’t feel as though I got to know her well enough to form a fair opinion of her character.

Thoughts 💭:


“I’ve always said recipes are like family. Even the best ones are hiding something.”


Honestly, after reading this book, I don’t think my husband appreciates the fact that he’s the cook in our house enough. I mean, things could be worse for him. I’m just kidding. I love my husband...to pieces.

I’ve had this author’s other book, Delicate Condition, sitting in my TBR pile for quite some time now, and let me tell you, after reading this book, I’m kicking myself for never picking that one up!

“The moment I saw you, I knew you were going to be last woman I would ever be with. I wasn’t ready for that yet.”


This story was such a wild ride!

Although a somewhat typical thriller, this book stood out to me; while the same as others in this genre, it was also different. This story hooked me right from the first page. It was fun from start to finish. I just didn’t want to put this down. However, don’t be fooled; despite this being fast-paced, it was a slow-burn type of story. It takes a little bit to get to the meat of the plot, no pun intended. Things really start to kick off when we get to the point where the story starts alternating between Thea and Maria’s points of view. Thea being cut off from the outside world added a very unsettling aspect to things, because let me tell you, my anxiety could NEVER!

“You keep my secrets and I’ll keep yours.”

Okay, scratch that part about NEVER knowing what was going on, since I did figure out one of the twists. In all fairness, though, I didn’t figure it out until we got very close to that particular big reveal. So, it still doesn’t count as a letdown for me. It was also slipped very nicely into the grand scheme of the plot. Well done, Ms. Valentine, well done indeed.

I loved getting a chance to look inside both Maria and Thea’s minds. I think it really added something a little extra to the story. It sucked me in even more, getting to see both sides of what was unfolding in front of us.


I would rather have Gordon Ramsay call me an “idiot sandwich” repeatedly before being stuck at the Capello’s farm without being able to reach any outside parties.

Every time I thought I had things all figured out, a new twist was thrown my way and threw me off kilter. This book kept me guessing the entire time I was reading. Did Maria kill her husband? Did he commit suicide? Did she eat him? Did someone else kill him? Did he disappear of his own accord? What is Maria’s secret ingredient? Why, after decades of silence, is she willing to talk now? I never knew the answers, and I LOVED it! All of the twists thrown at us were very nicely done, and none were too over the top or unbelievable.

“But love could make fools of us all.”


Each chapter tells you whose point of view you’re reading from, but even without that label I would have known whose head I was in. Both characters have a distinct voice and feel like two very different people. Valentine did very well with each of the main female characters. She really made them their own person, and sometimes that can be hard for authors to do. So, bravo, Danielle Valentine!

We also get a lot more from the side characters in the book. They had more input than we tend to get from non-main characters in most other reads. I appreciated that. It really upped the tension and fun of the plot.

“That kind of anger didn’t fade nearly as fast as the love did.”


Most of the chapters tended to be close to twenty pages. So, if you like to get a lot read in one sitting, just know that might not be the case with this book. I found myself getting through a chapter to a chapter and a half at a time. However, they have a few stopping points if you don’t want to finish it in its entirety in one reading session.

I loved how each chapter ended with a portion of Maria’s memoir. They always flowed in nicely and never felt like they messed up the movement of the story or the plot. It was refreshing to learn about what had happened in a character's past that way instead of with an alternating timeline.


Most of the chapters tended to be close to twenty pages. So, if you like to get a lot read in one sitting, just know that might not be the case with this book. I found myself getting through a chapter to a chapter and a half at a time. However, they have a few stopping points if you don’t want to finish it in its entirety in one reading session.

I loved how each chapter ended with a portion of Maria’s memoir. They always flowed in nicely and never felt like they messed up the movement of the story or the plot. It was refreshing to learn about what had happened in a character's past that way instead of with an alternating timeline.

Maria’s recipes being sprinkled throughout the book was a cute touch. I enjoyed reading them and wondering if it’s something I would like to cook, AKA ask my husband to cook. I mean, let’s face it, the only thing I know about braciole I learned from that one episode of Everybody Loves Raymond where Marie taught Deborah how to make it.

I should probably let him know that I have some new things for him to try out in the kitchen.

“If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”


The ending of the book was somewhat predictable in a weird sort of way but still highly enjoyable. I felt that it was the right ending for the story and left me feeling satisfied. I didn’t have unanswered questions after wrapping this one up. Everything came together nicely.

One thing is for certain. After reading this book, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to enjoy eating meatballs again. Which is a shame because my husband makes some amazing ones. Oh, dear, should I start questioning the ingredients he uses?

“Murder, cannibalism, meatballs made of people.”


As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great. 😊

I would like to thank SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

This is my voluntary, unbiased, and honest review.

This book was such a fun one. Filled with humor and recipes in the chapters to show what is coming.

Maria is a celebrity chef, author, and has a TV show along with other endeavors. She is also the wife of chef Damien who disappeared twenty years before. She definitely is an interesting character.

Now she is wanting to share more about her life and looking to publish her story. She is very specific on what she wants and who she wants involved.

Get ready for a delicious and unique story. Witty, entertaining, and one to watch out for.

I give this book 3.5 stars. It started out a little slow, but got more interesting as it went on. Loved the dark themes and all the twists, but the ending was a little messy. Overall it was good.

3.5 stars for Dead Husband Cookbook, rounded up! It took me a little bit to get into it, but once Thea realizes she’s trapped at Maria’s house and we start getting the chapters I was hooked and could not get enough of this story.

The whole book I was thinking did she actually kill her husband? Did she really eat him? I didn’t know who or what to believe! I feel like the way it was put together where you read Maria’s POV, get a little more from side characters, and then hear the truth from Maria was really clever. I docked 1.5 stars because while I really did like this book, I won’t be telling anyone to rush out and buy it.

Story was engaging enough, but it all wrapped up too quickly in the end and I felt like I was missing something. The dialogue between Thea and Maria was great, but in the end it wrapped up too quickly and we missed out on so much story and reaction from everyone finding out the truth and coming to terms with how they will live with that truth.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

I unfortunately did end up DNFing this one around 12% in due to the writing style not connecting with me. I would rather DNF and pick it up at a a later time.

I liked the cover and the recipes. There was some humor mixed in that I appreciated as well. I just didn’t find myself wanting to pick this one back up at the moment. I do recommend this one though, as it’s got the fun premise, the humor, the cool cover, and you’re gonna want it on your shelf. I want it on mine.

Thank you for the eARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

As a Food Network addict, I loved this.

It was a perfect mix of suspense, mystery and cooking. I loved the dual timeline and I’m a sucker for mixed media being incorporated. The twists were well-written, to the point where every couple of pages everything I thought I knew was wrong. The characters were well-developed and I felt like Maria was a real person. Overall, “The Dead Husband Cookbook” was fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for access to the e-ARC!

Listen, if there's cannibalism, I'm there. This was a fun ride with a bit of a mystery to it and I was sold when I saw this at C2E2 during Sourcebooks' panel on their upcoming titles! Love the recipes!

DV is a sort of refuge from book slumps and mediocre readings for me, especially if I want something to keep me hooked till the last page.
Because — and if you’ve already read anything by her you know it — something big is gonna happen at the end, some sort of plot twist that will make the journey even more terrific.

That said, this book has lots of other great qualities, especially the food aspects.
I've always considered myself someone who doesn't particularly like recipes and cooking in books because I don't have that great of imagination, and most of than not people put Italian names to dishes Italians wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. But not here, not under the supervision of DV.
The Italian spelling is perfect, the Italian recipes are perfect, and the cooking jokes are miserably hilarious.

I haven't got all that was promised, so I'm a little sad I didn't witness the gruesome glorification of cannibalism that I thought I’d have found, but I'm also not disappointed in the meaning of this at all — girl power, am I right?! 😏

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Oh this was GOOD! The twists were twisting and I found myself nearly getting whiplash as the story proceeded on. As a mystery/thriller lover, this definitely itched a scratch I didn’t know I had!

An entertaining novel that really gets cooking (pun intended) in the second half. Clever premise and a real page turner after the set up. Enjoyed.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for this ARC!

This book was such a fun read, however predictable the end twist was. I’m always a sucker for a “down-on-their-luck journalist or editor getting a chance with a celebrity” story, but add in a murder mystery and I’m sat.

It took a while to get into it, with a lot of backstories to set up, but really picked up half way through! Once it got going, it was an absolute page-turner, so I wish it had a bit of a stronger start to really hook me in.

I loved the addition of the recipes and how they connected to the plot - will definitely have to try a few!

3.5/5 stars rounded down.

the book is charming and cheerfully fun throughout despite it being a fairly traditional thriller about what really happened. the recipes really break up the flow and allow a lot more breathing room than in other thrillers of this type, and i find it works well. the ending is kinda predictable, but eh. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC of this book!

The Dead Husband Cookbook is about Maria Capello and the mystery surrounding her husband's disappearance. This book kept me guessing up until the very end! The plot twists kept coming and I found myself trying to squeeze in just a few extra minutes of reading because I was hooked on this. Great read.

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.