US author Danielle Valentine is something of a big name in YA horror circles (writing under the name Danielle Vaga), penning – among other hits – The ‘Merciless’ series. She published her well-received first adult novel in 2023, ‘Delicate Condition’, and has followed it with this very moreish thriller. It concerns Maria Capello, a celebrity chef famed for her TV cookery programmes, recipe books and range of foodstuffs. But Maria has something of a backstory. In the early 1990s she was married to famous chef, Damien Capello. Damien ran a successful restaurant in Woodstock, which was frequented by Hollywood stars and other celebs. But one night, Damien’s clothes are found near a creek. There’s also a suicide note. His body is never found and, despite having an alibi, rumours swirl around Maria – did she actually bump him off? Maria has never addressed these rumours (despite the fact that children dress up as her at Halloween), until now. Enter Thea Woods – an under fire editor at a publishing house who is in desperate need of a hit book. Maria has especially chosen Thea to work with and invites her up to her sprawling house in the middle of nowhere. Maria is finally ready to tell her story and begins to drip-feed Thea chapters from a mooted biography. All the while, Thea begins to feel that things aren’t quite running smoothly, and, indeed, begins to fear that some of the more shocking rumours surrounding Maria might just be true. ‘The Dead Husband Cookbook’ is full of daft contrivances, but these are easily overlooked as the plot switchbacks its way to a lip-smacking conclusion. RM

Published by Viper