I want to give this 4 stars, but I just feel like there are some issues that felt big.

The section about haunted hotels was pretty bland. All of the information about the haunting is really scarce and takes more time focusing on the celebrities that visited and who owned them. I don't care about that info and I doubt anyone picking up this book for spooky vibes does. I wish there was more info on the hauntings and less a out everything else. It feels like some picks were made just to fill a quota and there's not a lot of confirmed history for those places. Those in particular feel like the dedicated pages have heavily speculated claims with no evidence. There is a bibliography in the back for those interested in verifying them, but even if true they're presented as history that is unconfirmed.

The recipes are okay. They're very creatively tied into the book and there is a well curated tasting menu at the end. Ultimately, I feel that most of the recipes are not super appealing to the average cook.

The photography and aesthetic of this book are really nice though! This would make a great coffee table read for anyone who enjoys this or a fun pick to flip through for Halloween to use to throw a dinner party.

This Cookbook is perfect for lovers of haunted places and ghost legends. There are a variety of different recipes: from drinks to desserts. Every haunted place is linked to a recipe.
The author always dedicates a few pages to the backstory of every recipe and location.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Celebrate and Ami Bruni for this DRC of Food to Die For. All opinions are my own. Ami Bruni is a paranormal investigator and gives her background, the types of paranormal activity and the equipment used to capture evidence. The pictures are beautiful and she tells interesting stories and the history of haunted places. There are several chapters including Eerie Hotels, Horrifying Homes and Hellish Institutions with a recipe for each entry. I loved reading the recipes but for some reason the recipe for Lizzie Borden’s Meatloaf gave me chills.

I've been a fan of Ghost Hunters for years now. It was one of my first introductions into the paranormal world. When I saw this cookbook I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I knew the author. It was a blast from the past, if you will. I enjoyed the little blurbs about the various places mentioned through out and I liked the lessons in ghost hunting tools. Unfortunately those aren't what the focus of this book is though. The recipes themselves were disappointing. There were way too many fish related recipes and the recipes didn't flow together at all. It felt thrown together randomly. Instead of dinner, drinks or appetizers being clustered together they were focused on the genre of building staying together. They could have done themes and set out an entire meal plan but they didn't do that either. Overall I can't say I'd recommend this book for the actual recipes. The pictures and vibes were great though. This would be better as a coffee table book instead.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Haunted history and yummy food? Sign me up! I'm a huge fan of Amy Bruni and this didn't disappoint. If spooky season is your jam, definitely give this a read!

I love recipes from favorite restaurants, and it’s fun to make them at home. I have never thought, however, to make recipes from “haunted” restaurants and hotels. If you want to pick up a unique cookbook with recipes straight from haunted places, you’ll want to pick up Food to Die For: Recipes and Stories from America's Most Legendary Haunted Places , by Amy Bruni. This cookbook is really fun, and includes stories and facts about haunted places across the country and dishes served at those places.

The book is divided into sections such as Eerie Hotels, Horrifying Homes, Otherworldly Watering Holes, Hair-raising Historic Landmarks, Hellish Institutions, and Ghoulish Ghost Towns. There are beautiful, professional photograph of both the haunted places, and the dishes. It makes for a fascinating read as well as ideas for great, delicious dishes to serve to guests and family.

All told, this is one to curl up in a corner to read cover to cover, then choose some of the mouthwatering dishes to serve to guests at a scary celebration. Although the places the recipes come from are haunted, the dishes themselves aren’t scary; they are just yummy. This excellent cookbook would make a fun gift for friends and those who are fascinated by haunted places.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

As a practicing witch and avid ghost hunter fan, Food to Die For by Amy Bruni is an absolute treat. Bruni masterfully weaves together recipes with eerie stories, capturing the spirit of both the paranormal and the culinary arts. The unique blend of ghostly tales and mouth-watering dishes makes it the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a touch of the supernatural in their kitchen. It’s an engaging and spooky exploration that truly resonates with those of us who appreciate both witchcraft and the world of the paranormal.

**I received and advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Bruni writes a unique combination of hauntings and complementary recipes in this nonfiction travelogue/cookbook. Each recipes ties into a brief history and haunting account of a location in the United States. Along the way, Bruni also shares personal stories of her ghost hunting career.

Bruni's helpfully breaks her book into sections based on the type of building or location for the ghost stories. A few locations also tie into her time on Ghost Hunters and Kindred Spirits. As for the recipes, research was masterfully done to incorporate a recipe either directly tied to the specific location or to the town or the time period. Recipes are also helpfully adapted to contemporary kitchens.

The only drawback from this collection is the lack of locations in the Midwest--most locations appear either on the East or West Coast. However, there are plenty of areas to explore based on the one to one-and-a-half page descriptions of each location provided by Bruni.

This is a good collection of stories and recipes that would be of interest to ghost enthusiasts, those who enjoy niche cookbooks, and those just looking for a unique read.

This is such a fun cookbook! The pages are beautiful, so aesthetically pleasing. I got approved for the digital arc but think I’m going to have to buy the physical book to do it justice. So many good recipes and interesting spooky facts!!

As someone who loves everything creepy and spooky - this cookbook/food journey was to die for! I loved all the information about each haunted location and I super loved that the recipes included tied directly back to each location. I highly recommend this one for any spooky foodie out there!

The idea of Food to Die for is a fun one. Bruni shares experiences and personal anecdotes about her paranormal career before ushering in succinct rundowns of renowned haunted places. Corresponding with these places are recipes that are tied to or inspired by these places. The photography is dark and moody with rustic cutlery, tasteful taxidermy, and aesthetic cookware. If the reader is new or budding into the paranormal/haunted/spooky world, this is a great text to gift. Each location is a single page of information and each recipe is a single page of instructions and ingredients. The formatting is simple and to the point. However, those who are more involved or informed may find this to be too surface level. At the very least, it's a wonderful reference point to add to your library. Those who are more interested in the cooking aspect may be disappointed with the seemingly lack of attention given to it. The author even adds that readers should feel free to dress the recipes up or adapt them at will. Rather than providing well-thought out recipes with detailed instructions, readers get blueprints. Cooks who rely on visual aids should note that not every recipe has a photograph of the end product; some merely have the ingredients arranged in a tasteful fashion. Those excited by the notion of historical recipes should also be told that the majority of these recipes are loosely connected to their locations, or are merely inspired by them. There are also a handful of cocktails to shake things up. Overall, Food to Die for isn't a cookbook, but a haunted location guide with some recipes added in for a bit of levity. The end of the text includes a suggested serving menu with different themes (Civil War Era, Golden Age, etc.) which was a thoughtful touch. This is best suited for paranormal enthusiasts, and not the aspiring or professional chef in your life.

What a concept for a cookbook. This is full of great ghost stories based upon locations. This is not broken out like your usual cookbook by courses, This is broken out by haunted locations. The author is knowledgeable about the places and people. The Potato Dijon soup was really good, the dijon was a wonderful and new to me addition.

Thank you to Harper Celebrate Books for the e-ARC of Food to Die For!

I LOVE cooking - it’s one of my absolute favorite things to do outside of reading & making art! And I adore cookbooks with fun themes — like Food to Die For which focuses on haunted places. This cookbook was put together by Amy Bruni, paranormal investigator from Kindred Spirits.

This cookbook was SO good, because not only does it give you tasty recipes from various haunted locations, but it also gives you a bit of background on each of those places, — making it a cookbook you want to read from beginning to end.

I tried two of the recipes — a corn chowder that was served aboard the USS The Sullivans during WWII & cinnamon sugar cookies that were originally from the Alcatraz Women’s Club Cook Book. Both were a solid 10/10 & things I will definitely cook again!

🕸️This is an incredibly smooth and engaging read that I particularly loved, being a big fan of the paranormal and related investigations. An exhaustive collection of places the author has explored throughout her life, linked to an unusual element, food. Like Proust's madeleine, historical and unexpectedly delicious recipes are proposed for each case featured. The schematic division of the book helps the reader immediately identify the different locations (hotels, houses, inns, ships, asylums). Among my favourites are literary references, such as Hemingway's house and Mark Twain's, which have unusual legends.
The perfect mix of mystery, geography and cuisine, with a unique dedication: to Lizzie Borden.

🖤 A must-read for all lovers of the genre, and not.
🍁My next spooky recipe is already in the oven!

Loved this whole cookbook!
Of course I knew I would, Ami Bruni! of course this will be unique, interesting and a wonderfully told haunting history.

The cookbook shared a journey through some of America’s most haunted places and the recipes that tie into the story makes this cookbook a darkly inclined cooks dream addition!

The Photography is visually stunning, mixed with well told haunting stories and of course the recipes, make this such a wonderful addition to any spooky kitchen!

Definitely a must have for the collection! I can’t wait to try out some recipes!

Thankyou NetGalley, Harper Celebrate and Ami Bruni for the Arc.

Thank you Harper Celebrate, Netgalley and Amy Bruni for the eArc of Food to Die for.


Oh this recipe book really is to Die For! Being a fan of food and anything paranormal, this book is so well put together, I loved how the book was set out, with details of places of so called paranormal. Some history to the places, whether that would have been recent or back in time, complete with a recipe to try. Whether you are into cooking or not, the recipes were easy to follow ( I did a few of the soup options ) and has little anecdotes. The photography side of the book was very well done. Often having a photo of the place, whether it be a castle, hotel, pubs ( waterholes ) as well as a photo of the finished food product. The little details and props that were used were well done and added to to overall aesthetic to the book itself.
Would make a great fun gift around Halloween for foodies and paranormal lovers no matter the age!

5 stars for Goodreads, Amazon and Waterstones

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amy Bruni for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Food to Die For coming out July 30, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was really excited to receive this book. I love cookbooks and the subject matter is really fun! I love exploring haunted houses and places in America! I loved that two of the places on the list were in my home State. I thought the format of the book was really organized. I loved the 1-2 pages about the backstory of the place and then the recipe. There was a lot of great information and I definitely learned some things. I loved all of the themes of ghost towns and eerie locations. I thought the recipes sounded really delicious and the pictures were great. I loved all of it!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys haunted places and food!

I loved this! Not only the fun haunted locations and Amy's experiences with them, but a nice variety of both simple and complicated recipes. Some of these are familiar places that I've either been to or watched episodes about, as well as a few new haunts. It felt like a fun ride around America via hauntings and food.

I'll be trying three recipes in a few days and will report back!

Update: I made three recipes - a porridge called Lumpy D**ks (delicious, A+), muffins (excellent), and cinnamon sugar cookies (super good, will be making again.)

Book Review: Food to Die For: Recipes and Stories from America's Most Legendary Haunted Places

Rating: 5 Stars

If you’re like me and have a penchant for the eerie, the delicious, and the historically rich, then Food to Die For by Amy Bruni and Julie Tremaine is an absolute must-read! This delightful cookbook offers not just tantalizing recipes but an intriguing journey through some of America’s most haunted places.

From the very first glance, I was struck by the cover of this book. It perfectly sets the tone for what lies within—spooky yet inviting. The blend of culinary creativity with ghostly tales is a match made in heaven for anyone who enjoys themed cookbooks. And as a huge fan of Amy Bruni from Kindred Spirits, this book was like a dream come true for me.

The concept is simple yet brilliant: each chapter takes you to a notoriously haunted location, complete with spine-tingling stories and a recipe that ties back to that place. I mean, who wouldn't want to whip up Lizzie Borden's meatloaf while learning about her infamous history? Or bake sugar cookies from Alcatraz while getting goosebumps from ghostly prison stories? It’s a culinary adventure that feeds both your stomach and your curiosity.

One of my favorite aspects of this book has to be the stunning photography. The images are not only gorgeous but hauntingly styled, making them ideal for both inspiring your kitchen endeavors and serving as captivating conversation starters. The book feels like part historical, part ghost stories, and part cookbook! Each recipe is an invitation to experience the history and hauntings that accompany it.

In summary, Food to Die For is perfect for anyone who loves a spooky thrill alongside their culinary adventures. With nearly 60 unique locations, fascinating stories rooted in history, and mouthwatering recipes that are beautifully illustrated, this cookbook is a delightful haunt. Whether you’re a history buff, a thrill-seeker, or just someone who enjoys good food with an eerie twist, this book is sure to bewitch you!

So grab your apron and prepare for an enchanting culinary experience that just might give you shivers! I wholeheartedly give Food to Die For a five-star rating—it's a killer addition to any kitchen!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This is a really fun book. Ghost stories with historic recipes is a great idea, even If some of the recipes are the true frights, (nutraloaf, hard tack).
I am a fan of anything paranormal and Amy Bruni herself, so I expected to enjoy this book. I was not disappointed. Bruni makes the history interesting, highlighting a bunch of historical, haunted locales. Highly recommend to anyone who likes ghost stories and is adventurous in the kitchen.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.