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.

As part of the @tandemcollectiveuk readalong I had access to the ebook and audiobook. 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 and my place on the readalong.

*AD-PR Product*

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.

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.

Ii adored this book! Like I do all of Stuart’s works,

The characters were well written and although similar to Stuart’s usual choice of characters the still were able to remain interesting and individual each with their own fascinating back story!

I love the setting it gave that creepy oh hell they are well and truly (bleeped) to the story something it needed to give you those goosebumps

Stuart’s writing remains wonderfully atmospheric ensuring your constantly unsure how things will proceed, for a short story this book remains better than some novels I’ve tried to read this year and I really hope for a follow up

This was my first read from Stuart MacBride and it won't be the last! Really great, fast paced, exciting read with twists and turns to make you squirm!

A deliciously macabre short story set in an exclusive hotel on one of Scotlands remote islands. Cut off from the outside world, it boasts a totally immersive fine dining experience for the elite. A struggling author, an ex convict and an ex police officer form an unlikely trio of friends who have secured places at the table. With tantalising descriptions of food and drink, the story quickly makes you ravenous. Then there is a disappearance and things take a sinister turn. The atmosphere becomes darker, and the characters questionable and food less appetising. A nail-biting story streaked with dark humour and dappled with horror. Perfect for fans of Neflix' The Menu. The modernist tweet of using the protagonist author as the Penman of the story is fabulous with a wonderful hint of more stories to follow. Exquisite. #thetastingmenu #stuartmacbride #tandemreadalong #thetastingmenureadalong #amazonpublishing #TandemCollectiveUk

I was very intrigued by this short story. I loved the mysteriousness of the characters and the way the whole story played out. The hotel staff were certainly "off" and I got a feeling everything wasn't as it seemed. It played out nicely and I did overall enjoy this book. Its certain to say I wont look at high end restaurants the same!