This was a fast paced, fun but gory read. Perfect for horror fans who also enjoy culinary television. Not for the faint of heart.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Tasting Menu by Stuart MacBride
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 127 / Genre: Horror
Audiobook Narrator: David Rintoul
Duration: 2 hours 54 minutes

This #AmazonOriginalStory is listed under Thriller & Suspense, but I would firmly put it under Horror. This fast-paced short story starts out innocently enough with three old friends going away on an extravagant foodie retreat in the Scottish Highlands. They go quite in depth describing and listing out all the delicious items being served up in each course. Tempers flare among the threesome as old grudges are brought up. And then WHAM! The horror show starts. Whoop! This was a wild ride. I highly recommend adding this little gem to your spooky reads this October.

This is available now on #KindleUnlimited with narration. I listened to the audiobook of this and David Rintoul did a lovely job narrating.

Thank you, @NetGalley, @BrilliancePublishing, and @AmazonPublishing for my gifted copy.

This is a fabulously. pitch dark humorous short story from the Scottish Logan McRae series by Stuart MacBride, no stranger to the macabre and the gory, a talent presented in vivid technicolor glory here. I listened to this on audio, approximately 3 hours long, marvellously narrated by David Rintoul, who had me fully engaged from start to finish with the OTT blood soaked drama of it all. 3 friends go on the exclusive foodie trip of a lifetime, an opportunity to reminisce, over a gourmet menu to savour, culinary delights you and I are unlikely to ever taste or, be grateful, encounter! They get far more than they bargain for on the island, there is betrayal, a battle to survive, with a rising pile of bodies. Just when you might think it is all over, MacBride comes back with a final twist that will have you wondering if you really can trust what is in your sausages!

Some readers might find this short story too much, but if you are familiar with the author, then chances are you will enjoy his satirising of the over priced, ridiculous recipes and menus from such restaurants that fleece their deluded customers in our society, other readers are likely to like this too. I can certainly recommend the great audio. Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing for an ALC.

Three unlikely friends are on a trip to the Scottish Highlands for a foodie experience. When they unexpectedly score the opportunity to eat at an exclusive restaurant in Loch Broom, they are delighted at the prospect.But things don't turn out quite as planned, and things veer perilously close to horror story territory..

This atmospheric short story has some gruesome elements, but the reader with a strong stomach is consistently entertained by the trio - comprising of a writer, a retired policeman and an ex-convict - who all have secrets that could put any one of them in danger...

The Tasting Menu by Stuart MacBride

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis…
Three friends: Michael, a crime author; Alex, a retired cop and Victor, an ex-con secure a reservation at an extremely exclusive restaurant set on a private, remote Island in the Scottish Highlands. They know they’re in for a once in-a-lifetime dining experience. The question is: what is on the menu? Because all is not as it seems. One of the three friends is a killer, one is a liar, and one will do whatever it takes to survive…

A deliciously dark short story with atmospheric writing and dark humour that had me questioning my morals 😅

My first Stuart MacBride book did not disappoint! I loved the atmospheric setting of the Scottish Highlands & Islands and the dark humour made the gory bits feel more palatable.

The characters were an interesting bunch and although I didn’t find them overly likeable, I was still on the edge of my seat willing them to survive this wild story.

I could not put this book down so it was great to be able to flip to the audio whenever I needed to so that I could continue the story. The narration was brilliant!

Thank you @tandemcollectiveuk, @amazonpublishing and Netgalley for my copies of this book.

3.75-4⭐️

Gore score 4

A short Scottish story. I had the audiobook read by David Rintoul who is very good.

Three friends one a retired policeman, a failing author and a criminal go on a foodie road trip they manage to get a reservation in a very exclusive restaurant on a private island. Things don’t go to plan and soon get dark,gory and twisty.

The descriptions of the fine dining were lost on me, but you get the gist that’s its experimental cutting edge cuisine that’s aimed for society’s elite. The premise is different and entertaining, you’ve got to go with the flow. I listened to this after over indulging with a big meal which wasn’t the best idea.

I’m not a really a short story fan, I was curious, it feels like it crosses over into horror. Be warned this is not for everyone. For those who might have issues it contains strong language as well as content.

Deliciously gruesome.
It's a short tale, but it gives us a fully developed ambianc, great twists and turn and a lot of dark humour.
I loved both the writing and the narrator, and would highly recommend it.

Three friends, a foodie trip to the Scottish Highlands, a private island......

Getting away with friends to a remote and beautiful setting to indulge in delicious food sounds like bliss, doesn't it? Alex, Victor, and Michael went to celebrate, to relax, to indulge, and to drink fine wine in this dark tale full of twists, dark humor, and interesting menus!


This is a short clever story that brims with dark humor, twists, and OTT moments. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. I was all over the place with how I felt about this short tale, I liked it, I was put off by it, I liked it again.

Fans of MacBride's writing may enjoy this one more than I did. I put this in my liked but didn't love category.

The Tasting Menu is a short story of approximately three hours on audiobook and narrated beautifully by David Rintoul. If you have a dark, creepy sense of humor like me, you will enjoy this “scrumptious” tale. With all of the food talk I was getting hungry, but then I kept listening…

The Tasting Menu by Stuart MacBride is a short yet gripping novella that blends a culinary adventure with a dark and suspenseful twist. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, the story follows three friends on a road trip to celebrate their retirement. What starts as an exciting gourmet experience at an exclusive restaurant on a secluded island soon takes a sinister turn. MacBride masterfully builds suspense as the friends’ relationships unravel, and the lines between trust and betrayal blur, making you question what is really on the menu. The blend of breathtaking scenery with the dark undertones of the plot adds a unique tension that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

At just over 100 pages, this novella packs quite the punch. As someone who doesn't typically gravitate towards horror or gore, I found this story more focused on the gruesome rather than the supernatural, which was quite riveting. MacBride’s vivid descriptions of food start off indulgent and inviting, but soon leave a lingering unease as the narrative darkens. It’s a sharp, unsettling contrast that heightens the tension as the story progresses.
I thoroughly enjoyed this short, intense read set in one of my favourite places in the UK.

Loved the narration. The narrator was amazing with adding Scottish accent during the narration which enhanced the overall experience.

I’m always impressed when a short story can make me care about its characters, make me gasp with plot twists, or set an immersive scene, somehow The Tasting Menu managed to do all three!
Michael, Alex, and Victor are all full characters who don’t feel lacking at all. I was especially impressed with how Stuart MacBride crafted a believable friendship dynamic which made me feel like I had been aware of their friendship for multiple books.
The story was fast paced and gripping, I wanted to keep reading as it was such a fun ride. I wish the story had leaned more horror, as the atmosphere would have worked fantastically in a horror story.

I strongly recommend the audiobook, the narrator is absolutely fantastic

I absolutely loved this! Being Scottish I found this hilarious with the Scottish sayings and slang terms. Brutal and twisty, I really hope we have a follow up.

A deliciously macabre short story written by Stuart Macbride depicting an exclusive dining experience one an isolated Scottish Island for the elite. It promises to be an immersive and unforgettable experience. The audiobook is just under three hours of dark humorous entertaining and spine tingling horror. David Rintoul succinctly narrates the audiobook capturing the growing tension and dread. The three central protagonists: struggling author, ex-con and ex-police officer have gained a coveted stay. The selection of dishes, wines and drinks are teased mouth watering before our senses, but quickly curdle in our stomachs as the story progresses. The Tasting Menu audiobook is a fine dining feast for your ears. #thetastingmenu #thetastingmenuaudiobool #stuartmacbride #listenalong #davidrintoul #TandemCollectiveUk #tandemlisten #tandemreadalong #thetastingmenureadalong #amazonoublishing #netgalley