The Dead Husband Cookbook follows Thea Woods, an editor at Hanes House, as she navigates complex family relationships and significant career challenges. When she is selected to be the editor for her favourite childhood idol, Maria Capello, and her highly anticipated memoir detailing the mysterious disappearance of Maria's husband and her subsequent rise to fame, things take a strange turn, to say the least.

A delicious twist on cannibalism and how this was kept you wanting more information about what happened on that famous night. I thoroughly enjoyed the included recipes, and the narration was perfect for the story. It truly brought the story to life and made it much more enjoyable to listen to.

The reason this book didn't reach the four-star range for me is that many of the reveals were presented through exposition, which is a common technique in mystery and thriller genres. While this approach didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book, It wasn't my favourite.

Thank you to Netgalley for my audiobook ARC.

This is a great rollercoaster read!
It’s a mixture of ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ and Lessons in Chemistry!

I really enjoyed it from the very first page. The main character is very likeable and instantly I wanted to learn more.
The author did a great job of offering up the premise of the story initially only to drip feed the deeper more mysterious truth as the plot develops.

There are many great twists and lots to keep you enthralled till the end.

I was fortunate to receive the audiobook from NetGalley and found the narration was spot on, a great strong voice adapting where needed.

I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by this author!

Definitely a strong 4⭐️

The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine
Narrated by Lauryn Allman
Publication Date 7th August 2025

Thank you to @netgalley and @audioinprofile for this advanced listening copy.

I’ll admit I was a bit underwhelmed with this book, don’t get me wrong, it absolutely was not a bad story by any means, it just didn’t get me excited even at all the twists… it was a very slow burn, maybe that’s why. The concept of the story is great, Celebrity cook writing a memoir, Cannibalism, uncovered truths and lies… I just felt it needed a little oomph! I’ll still rate it 4 stars though ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely loved this book- there’s something about it that drew me in from the very first page, and it did not disappoint. I thought I had the plot figured out early on, but I was completely mistaken. Danielle Valentine masterfully leads the reader in one direction, only to twist the narrative in such an unexpected and satisfying way near the end.

Everything about The Dead Husband Cookbook worked for me- the intriguing title, the unique storyline, and especially the way the recipes are tied into Maria’s life. Each one added depth and texture to the plot, blending domestic detail with an undercurrent of darkness.

I listened to the audiobook version, and it truly elevated the experience. Maria’s voice was so comforting and compelling- it pulled me in even more deeply and made the story feel even more immersive.

It’s a cleverly written, dark, twisty story with a haunting charm that lingers.

A fabulous listen that often feels like a heart-warming memoir until it surprises you with the darker twists surrounding the mystery at its core. I loved the narration, style and humour, and found it thoroughly entertaining.

I was hoping for a bit more from this book. The narrator was good but the pacing was a bit slow.

The twists weren’t that shocking and there was a bit that just seemed a little far fetched with how everything played out.

It was interesting enough to finish, but it didn’t necessarily make much of an impression.

I was expecting a juicy thriller full of dark humour but unfortunately I found it a little underwhelming. It's more a mystery than anything.

Although there are lots of twists as the secrets came out, I wasn't overly taken aback by them. The slow pacing at times had me wanting them to just get on with it and tell us rather than feeling gripped by it. I didn't feel much connection to the characters, at least, not enough to care much about the outcome.

With the addition of Maria's book chapters, it was like a book within a book and I thought the multiple recipes weaved in throughout the book was a nice touch. I don't think I'll be looking at meatballs the same ever again though.

I loved the premise, I was just hoping for a bit more fire in the execution.

I listened to the audiobook of this and enjoyed the narrator but I didn't feel the gripping, high tension I was hoping to feel.

Thank you to Profile Books Audio, Viper books for the advanced audio copy.

The Dead Husband Cookbook follows Thea Woods who is picked by celebrity chef, Maria Capello to edit her book. Maria is a household name known for her cookbooks and television show but also her history with her husband, Damien Capello. Damien disappeared twenty years ago and the rumours say Maria killed him. Thea is a huge fan of Maria but has a bad reputation so jumps at the chance to work on the manuscript. Maria is finally speaking out about her life with Damien but Thea wonders why she has been chosen and if Maria will reveal what really happened to Damien.

I listened to the audiobook for this and it was performed well. This was an enjoyable read and it had a really big twist which I really enjoyed. The story was intriguing and just generally a good read. This also had recipes in and switched POV from Thea to Maria. That said, a lot of this book was quite typical and this does feel slightly derivative of books I’ve read before. For that reason I’m giving this 3.5 stars but I would recommend it.

Editor Thea Woods is invited by celebrity chef Maria Capello to work on her memoir (at her remote farmhouse with no internet access, of course). Maria’s husband disappeared decades ago. Will Thea be able to get to the truth of what happened, and is there more to Maria than the public speculation and rumours?

This was my first time reading/listening to a Danielle Valentine book, and I will definitely be reading more of her work now. The story was compelling, kept me engaged, and had me second-guessing my theories to the very end. The reveals and twists occurred throughout, so it felt fast-paced. The recipes were such a fun addition and really paid off in the end!

The production and flow of the narration were great, and the narrator, Lauryn Allman, who I was familiar with due to her narration of Freida McFadden's Housemaid series, was perfect for this story. She created a clear, but not overdone, distinction between the two characters, Thea and Maria. Her characterisation of Maria always kept me guessing about whether she had a cold-hearted confidence due to her experiences or had a hidden sinister side.

This was such a fun, and twisted audiobook, I'd certainly never read anything like it before!

4.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Profile Books Audio, Viper for the ALC! 😁

Many thanks to NetGalley, Profile Books Audio | Viper, and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Us and Pigs" by Sofia Isella has been playing in my head ever since I finished this book! Like, you cannot tell me after reading this you don't get that!

The success of this book is that it keeps you guessing on your toes—the atmosphere is immaculate to the point that once you reach a certain point in the story, you do not want to put it down. Quiet literally your brain will be hooked. This is because you will keep guessing; at some points you will be right, yet you will be wrong.

The reader is somehow meant to have all the answers, yet not, like not in the way you think you do. I loved how every single guess I made was right, yet I felt like I did not figure this out at all. So when I say I stand with women's rights and women's wrongs, this is what I mean. In my opinion, with everything that's going on around us in this world with women, you cannot read this book and not empathise with the characters.

There is a bit of gore. Not as much as I expected; there is blood, so trigger warning. But let me tell you this: the meatballs were the real deal. I loved how there were like actual recipes at the end of every chapter. This was a book within a book, a plot with a plot, a mystery within a mystery, and yet also a cookbook. Very cool! Truly enjoyed this! I will recommend this book for anybody who enjoys a main dish topped with some mild horror and a side of family melodrama and emotions. The dessert truly is the character arcs that you get to witness.

Also, not to mention, it shows you a side of publishing that people might not be aware of and a narrative on social media and its impacts. The narrator did an absolutely brilliant job in keeping the pace and atmosphere and getting all the characters just right.

Who doesn’t love a book within a book!

The Dead Husband Cookbook was so fun to listen to, the amazing narrator Lauryn Allman did an amazing job with all the different characters, giving them their own voices. I couldn’t stop listening to, I was hooked and needed to know what was going to happen next, much like Thea getting drip fed the chapters.

This book also made me so hungry!! The recipes, the food, I was craving pasta and all the food.

What’s not to love about a celebrity chef whose life has been surrounded by gossip and rumours ever since her husband went missing decades ago. Now she is writing a tell all memoir and will only tell it to editor Thea Woods, who herself is not without drama.

Addictive, wild and crazy. A must read.

Thanks so much to Profile Books Audio, Viper for my advanced listening copy. Out on August 7th.

Thanks to Viper, Danielle Valentine, Profile Books Audio & NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC before its release on 7th August 2025! The Dead Husband Cookbook is the second book I've read by Danielle Valentine, and not a day goes by that I don't think about Delicate Condition, and I know I'll now be adding TDHC to that list!

Fans of Freida McFadden won't be a stranger to Lauryn Allman's voice, so listening to her for over 13 hours was not a chore at all! She has a captivating voice, and I was hooked the entire time (almost listening in one sitting). Much like in Delicate Condition, there are twists and turns in TDHC that you see coming and others that hit you right in the face as they are revealed. This is the best kind of thriller, and I'm so glad I was able to keep listening as it unfolded in my very ears! It's the kind of story that you get sucked into and find it hard to peel yourself away from until it's over. A brilliant listen from start to finish, you won't be disappointed!