THIS BOOK….. where do i start. it was so good, i was hooked from the very beginning, and the plot twist on my god. this was so fun, easy to read, and I absolutely could not put it down. 5/5

“One husband, well done.” First line in the description and I was instantly hooked.

Came for the cover, stayed for the story. The story immediately caught my attention. Maria is a famous chef who’s done it all - written cookbooks, had her own cooking show, but all anyone can talk about or what happened to her husband.

I loved how we were learning the story of Maria through Thea’s POV and small breadcrumbs at a time. The recipes between all the chapters were a fun addition as well. I especially loved the change in POV when we got to read from Maria’s perspective.

Some of the twists were a little predictable but some were done just right. I highly enjoyed every chapter of this book and didn’t want to put it down.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

First, a moment of appreciation for the cover and title of this book. *chef's kiss*

It feels like every book I've read this year has been about cooking or writing, or some combination thereof. Aftertaste, Food Person, The Ghostwriter, and now this one (okay, so not *every book*).
The Dead Husband Cookbook does a good job setting itself apart. It's a quick read, and while it definitely feels familiar-- a down-and-out writer on a mysterious assignment; being isolated in a creepy, old house with a possibly-deranged murderer-- Valentine gives us some major twists at the end. While I'm not sure the biggest twist was particularly motivated, and I definitely questioned its believability, I really liked that it wasn't forecast early on. It's rare that I'm genuinely surprised by a twist, and this one got me. I also really liked that the end is unlike most other books, which wrap things up in a pretty, little bow. (view spoiler)

Oh, and I really liked that Valentine found a realistic solution to the problem of 'we can't have the character read the entire book in one sitting'... It always drives me nuts in books when the MC is given a book to read, or tapes or videos or a diary, and they string it out over the course of several days or weeks (looking at you, Verity). That is *SO* unbelievable. Who wouldn't plow through it in a single sitting? Or maybe a few days. It's completely unreasonable for the author to drag it out for the purpose of the plot. But here, it's Maria who is handing over materials a chapter at a time. Phew.

If you like twists and deranged women-- and, let's be honest, who doesn't?-- add this to your TBR.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Thea is a recently disgraced editor for an indie publishing company, who is called on to edit the memoir of Maria Capello. Maria, famous for her family style Italian cooking show, various cookbooks, and widespread fame is actually best know for her husband, Damien. In 1996, Damien mysteriously disappeared from a party the couple were throwing and the only things of his discovered were all his clothes and a suicide note. The internet has always had theories, but no one truly knew until now. Maria is centering her memoir on her and Damiens relationship. Thea's boss has given her the ultimatum: find out what happened or you're fired. Desperate, Thea complies with all of Marias conditions including, staying at her mansion in the woods, surrendering her phone, the internet being turned off, only getting a chapter at a time, and the utter refusal to change any of the above. On top of all this, an NDA prevents Thea from telling her husband anything. As things begin to get strange around the house, Thea begins to question why Maria chose her, why she brought her here, and why it seems like everyone is lying. This is a really creepy and well written book! I definitely would say it's predictable but its creepy, engaging, and a totally fun read for those who like a little murder with their cookbooks.

4.5 Stars

Thea Woods knows she's on the brink of being fired from her job as an editor, following a disastrous fall-out from the unprofessional way she handled a previous client's book deal. So when the opportunity to edit the memoir of her cooking idol, Maria Capello, falls into her lap she can't resist the offer, even though it comes with some peculiar stipulations. Maria is a household name, and a celebrity icon from her Italian cooking show and multiple cookbooks. But Maria's rise to fame has always been followed by speculation and rumors following the death of her husband Damien Capello, twenty years ago. Now, Thea has the chance to work with Maria and tell the story of what happened the night Damien died, but Thea soon finds there are more secrets in the Capello family, than just the secret ingredient Maria uses in her recipes.

The Dead Husband Cookbook is a creepy, suspenseful thriller, that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire story!! Valentine tells the story through Thea and Maria's POVs, as well as chapters from Maria's book manuscript. The book also includes recipes from Maria, which I didn't necessarily need to make the story interesting, but I did love the creative titles for each one of them.

The book definitely lands as a thriller with dark humor. Maria seems to be the ideal celebrity chef with a picture perfect life, but Valentine does a fantastic job of creating suspense and a creepy atmosphere once Thea arrives to stay in Maria's home. As the story unfolds the reader gets a picture of a more unhinged Maria, than what the public sees.

I would recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading the book. It does include gore, animal death, and references to cannibalism. It also covers heavy subject matter including cheating and spouse/parental abandonment. Valentine does a great job showing dysfunctional family relationships, and I enjoyed the way she brought Thea and Maria's family backgrounds together.

If you love books with suspicious circumstances, unexpected twists, suspense, questionable characters, and the food and publishing world, then I would highly recommend The Dead Husband Cookbook.

"I'll let you know if it's a thriller or horror," I told my book club.

It's definitely a thriller, but oh my gosh, if you're vegetarian, it's a horror.

Thea is an editor whose career has taken a bad turn. Maria is an infamous TV chef whose husband disappeared years before. Maria says Thea is the only editor who can work on her memoir. Thea has no idea why.

Maria is known to be exacting, but Thea never expected her demands, or to see a very familiar face at the dinner table...

This book has a lot of twists and turns. Its one flaw is that it leans a little heavily on an extra creep factor in the writing that it frankly doesn't need. The story is scary enough!

**4.5 stars rounded to 5**

I ate this book up!!!! The writing grabbed my attention from the very beginning and the pacing was perfect. I loved that the author included the chapters from Maria’s memoir and I really loved all the recipes…I wonder if they’re real??? Someone will have to test it and let me know 😂

I knocked half a star off because i’m picky and I like to be surprised. I guessed the “secret ingredient” way before it was revealed, and a lot of my theories were correct. This book definitely took some twists & turns but it was predictable for me.

I really enjoyed this book—it pulled me in right away and kept me hooked. The writing style was easy to connect with, making it a smooth and engaging read. While some moments felt a bit on the nose and I had a sense of where things were heading, that didn’t take away from the experience. It was still a thoroughly enjoyable ride, delivering exactly what I was looking for in a thriller. Strange in all the right ways—unique, memorable, and a lot of fun

This is such an attention grabbing book!
Danielle Valentine wrote a compelling and intricate story that I could vividly see while reading in my head.

The plot had me hooked and I never knew what to expect. The addition of Maria's recipes throughout the book, was a wonderful touch.

YES YES YES!!!
I loved The Dead Husband Cookbook so much. Right from the very beginning, I was absolutely hooked. While it definitely did not feel like a thriller novel for the greater part of the book, I still loved every single aspect of it. I really felt like I was in Thea's shoes, slowly realizing the odd behaviors of the Capello household.

The recipes and excerpts of Maria's memoir between the chapters were so fun. I cannot wait to see someone trying out the recipes or even trying some of them out myself. Even in moments where I believed I had all the answers and figured everything out, some new twist would be revealed and throw my theories out the window.

I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this book. The concept of this one is so unique and I truly believe that so many people will love it as much as I did.

4.5/5 stars!

This book is packed with suspense and surprising twists, but I couldn't help but feel like it's treading familiar ground. Maria’s character is an intriguing mix of Miranda Priestly and Giada De Laurentiis, exuding an unsettling charm that casts a dark shadow over the story. The alternating chapters between her memoir and Thea’s perspective add an interesting structure, though Thea’s constant dwelling on her personal issues can get a bit tiresome after a while.

The author’s use of vivid, sometimes grotesque imagery, like screaming pigs and skull soup, gives the novel a popcorn thriller vibe, but it also feels like it’s leaning a little too heavily on a style that’s been done before—Nightbitch, A Certain Hunger, The Vegetarian—where body horror and dark humor take center stage. Still, there’s a layer of family drama and deception that keeps the plot grounded amidst the shocks and grotesque imagery. Overall, it’s a fast-moving, creative story, but with a sense that we've seen this kind of dark, surreal exploration of character before. 3 stars for an entertaining, though somewhat familiar, ride.

Loved this thriller. Couldn't put it down! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Great cover. Great story with multiple juicy surprises.

"One husband, well done."

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 4.5/5
"The Dead Husband Cookbook" is a darkly witty thriller and a delicious treat with a side of scandal! It hits shelves in August!

Maria Capello, the famous chef with a side of mystique, is finally ready to spill the beans about her late husband, Damien. Was it really suicide? Why was his body never recovered? Some suspect she murdered him to inherit his empire. There are even whispers of a mob connection. Her fans and enemies want to hear all the juicy details they have only gossiped about through the years. And everyone is dying to find out what her secret ingredient is! Will she finally reveal it?

The story zips between past and present, with a fun mix of Maria’s memoir chapters offering irresistible snippets into her life, complemented by news clips that offer background on the scandalous rumors. And brace yourself for some seriously mouth-watering recipes to make your taste buds dance.

Thank you to the author and Sourcebooks for this eARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5 stars

I absolutely loved this thriller! It’s a true page turner that plays with classic thriller tropes that have their own twists to ultimately create a really unique story. It’s twisty and perfect for thriller and horror fans.

Darkly delicious and wickedly suspenseful, this twisted culinary thriller serves up secrets with a side of dread. As Thea peels back the layers of Maria Capello’s glamorous façade, she discovers a recipe steeped in mystery, family loyalty—and something far more sinister. It’s The Bear meets Yellowjackets with a dash of Get Out—and it’ll leave you hungry for answers.

The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine
I want to extend my gratitude to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an ARC of The Dead Husband Cookbook, set to release on August 5, 2025.
From the very first page, this novel hooked me with its intriguing premise and captivating writing. The plot takes a gripping turn in the second half, making it impossible to put down as I became increasingly invested in uncovering the secret ingredient. The multiple POVs enriched the storytelling, offering nuanced perspectives that deepened my understanding of the characters and their motivations.
Valentine skillfully weaves a dark and twisty narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Each character adds layers to the story, and the suspense builds beautifully throughout. Overall, The Dead Husband Cookbook is a well-written, compelling read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for their next literary thrill.

Dinner is ready on August 5th, 2025.

Thea is an editor who is trying to redeem her career after some information was leaked about one of her authors. Just when she is about to get handed a pink slip, a miracle happens. Mysteriously, she got the chance of a lifetime to edit Maria Capello’s “tell all” memoir. Maria Capello is a famous chef with a controversial past. There is much speculation to what the secret ingredient to her meatballs might be. She invites Thea to stay with her, signing an NDA & disconnecting her from her cell phones and the outside world. Maria breadcrumbs chapters to Thea, trying to keep her close. Unexpected and unsettling connections keep popping up. Why did Maria want to work with her while her career was spiraling? Why do people keep disappearing? What is Maria’s motive? Will Thea ever see her family again?

The Dead Husband Cookbook has twists & turns, tying things together in the end in ways I would never expect.

Just when you think it’s predictable, the author tricks you & you’re second guessing your thoughts… maybe you’re right in the end, maybe not.

The book is brilliant on its own, but it also has recipes! Are they any good? No idea, I hate cooking.

I really enjoyed this book! The perfect mix of twisty and dark, it surprised me in places and left me wanting more in others. It was obvious that Maria was the mother of Thea’s husband, but I didn’t quite comprehend how crazy Maria was until the very end! I would definitely recommend this.

I love a dark and twisty book! Danielle Valentine has written such a compelling story that I could vividly see playing out like a movie in my head. The plot had me gripped and I never knew what to expect. I physically could not put this book down, I needed to know how it ended. I also loved the addition of Maria's recipes throughout the book, I think it was such a great touch.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC!