Book Review: The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (August 5, 2025)

Length: 352 pages

I’ve read several novels by this author under her various names (Danielle Valentine is also Danielle Vega), and as a self-described author of books for “tweens, teens, and adults,” she’s definitely covered a lot of ground. However, over time I’ve realized that while her YA horror is fun, it’s her adult novels that really grab me. With The Dead Husband Cookbook, she’s once again proven that point, delivering the same kind of thoroughly absorbing and addictive suspense that made Delicate Condition such a standout for me.

The story follows Thea Woods, an editor whose career is hanging on by a thread after costing her publisher a lot of money in the wake of a very public scandal. In fact, her boss has all but admitted to planning to fire her, except out of nowhere comes a second chance. Maria Capello, a celebrity chef whose own life has been marked by plenty of sordid rumors and scandal, has apparently decided to write a tell-all memoir, and for some reason, she has handpicked Thea to edit her book. Because this would be the opportunity of a lifetime for their small publisher, Thea is allowed to keep her job—for now. However, she can’t afford to make any mistakes. One wrong move, and it could ruin her completely.

Otherwise, Thea is actually quite thrilled to be working with Maria. She has no idea why she was chosen—they’ve never even met—but Thea has admired Maria since childhood, faithfully following her cooking shows and recipe books, which idealized the picture-perfect home life. Still, Maria comes with some difficult conditions. First, Thea must travel to the Capello’s remote upstate farmhouse to do the work. Second, she will surrender her phone and live with no reliable internet connection while she’s there. And third, she will only have access to the manuscript one chapter at a time, handed over at a pace set by Maria.

Despite all this, Thea tells herself it will all be worth it. After all, the memoir is all but guaranteed to be a sensation, not just because Maria is a household name, but because everyone is still obsessed with the decades-old mystery of her missing husband, Damien. Officially, Damien Capello’s death was ruled a suicide, backed by a note and Maria’s alibi the night of his disappearance, but that hasn’t stopped people from talking. Did Damien really kill himself, or was it something darker? Thea knows Maria’s memoir might finally reveal the truth, but how much does she really want to know about her idol? Is she truly ready to learn Maria’s secrets? And what will it cost her if she does?

From the description of the novel to its unnervingly vivid cover, I just couldn’t let this one pass me by! What really worked for me was the way the story uses its structure to build interest and tension. The bulk of the narrative follows Thea in the present day as she navigates life’s challenges—a demanding toddler, an oblivious husband, a financially strapped mother, and now a tanking career. But once Thea arrives at Maria’s farmhouse, the tone shifts, tightening into the claustrophobic, controlled atmosphere the older woman has created.

It’s here we begin to see excerpts from the memoir itself, and I thought these sections were brilliantly done. Packed with juicy behind-the-scenes details, each chapter also included delicious sounding recipes with clever titles that directly relate to Maria’s stories. I loved how these parts gave us Maria’s perspective, not to mention making my mouth water! At the same time, they raised more questions than answers. What exactly are Maria’s motives for writing the book, and why now after so many years of remaining guarded about her past? Is she being as candid as she claims, wanting to set the record straight? Or is she in fact choosing her words carefully, trying to reframe how the public sees her?

Another highlight for me was how nearly every element clicked right into place. Especially the food angle! Each recipe and culinary detail felt authentic and thoughtfully integrated, and not just a gimmick. Cooking tied directly into Maria’s storytelling and character, deepening the themes of memory, family, secrets, and even control. I couldn’t help but wonder if Danielle Valentine is a connoisseur herself, because it’s that, or she poured hundreds of hours of research into the culinary world. Either way, it paid off beautifully, contributing to just how well the entire novel was planned and put together, even when the plot ran full speed into realm of outrageousness. And yet, it worked because a good foundation had been laid, and of course it was also fun as hell.

Overall, The Dead Husband Cookbook is exactly the kind of addictive and slightly unhinged thriller that’s easy to devour in just a few sittings. Danielle Valentine has once again delivered a novel that feels both meticulously plotted and wildly entertaining. If you loved Delicate Condition or are simply in the mood for a dark and twisty page-turner, this is the perfect place to dig in.