A 3.5 star Recipe for Intrigue with a Pinch of Overcooked Drama

Let me start with a confession: I picked up The Dead Husband Cookbook expecting a quirky blend of culinary chaos and dark humor... something akin to a Sweeney Todd pie with a side of sass. What I got instead was a simmering pot of mystery, seasoned with a celebrity chef’s flair and a dash of “did she or didn’t she?” intrigue. Danielle Valentine’s latest dish, set to hit shelves soon (I snagged an early copy through netgalley—thanks!), is a curious concoction that left me both satisfied and slightly peckish for something more.

The book centers on Maria Capello, a celebrity chef who’s less Gordon Ramsay or Martha Stewart and more Hannibal Lector and Shauna Shipman. She’s built an empire of cookbooks, TV shows, and supermarket sauces, all while keeping mum about the mysterious disappearance of her famous chef husband, Damien, thirty years ago. Now, Maria’s ready to spill the beans—or so she claims—by penning her memoirs. But here’s the twist: she snubs the big publishers and their seven-figure offers, opting instead for a small press with a disgraced editor on the verve of being fired. Why? That’s the question that hooked me, like the smell of garlic sizzling in a pan.

The narrative unfolds like a well-plated dish: visually appealing, with layers of flavor that reveal themselves bite by bite. We get scenes of Maria in her Italian-style kitchen, whipping up recipes that sound delectable and made me hungry at nine in the morning for creamy risottos and herb-crusted lamb—while flashbacks hint at darker times with Damien.

So why only 3.5 stars? Well, the mystery, while tasty, sometimes feels overcooked. And the big reveal—without spoiling it—left me thinking, “Huh, I saw that coming from the appetizer course.” It’s not a dealbreaker, but I wanted a twist that’d make me drop my fork, not just nod politely.

Still, there’s charm here. I could picture Maria in my kitchen, rolling her eyes at my sad knife skills while regaling me with tales of Damien’s ego. It’s a book for those who love a good whodunit with a side of cannibalism.

Would I recommend it? Sure, especially if you’re the type who’d binge Hannibal and think his dishes look tasty. The Dead Husband Cookbook isn’t a five-star feast, but it’s a solid 3.5... tasty, entertaining, and worth a nibble. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a tart to bake.