This was a fantastic thriller. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I loved the two point of views; they helped ramp up the tension and suspense. Right away, I was hooked with how odd this situation was, and things only increased, which had me on the edge of my seat.

Storm publishing is really sending me some great books. W O W...ok This was a GREAT thriller. Well developed characters the author easily uses as manipulative pawns in this twisty, insane thriller. It was hard to put this one down because i really wanted to know where Samantha was going with every turn of the page. Great job...look forward to more by this author.

I definitely found this book to be one of those Lifetime movie-esque thrillers. It was entertaining and absurd with characters were semi-likable at times. The plot was twisty and moved quickly, so it was a pretty fun read. I feel like it could've used a bit of trimming though. It's the kind of story that works best when you don't think about it too much.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

This was an unknown author to me, but one I will definitely looking out for in the future!

If you are after a thriller that is full of suspense, twists, turns, and a lot of tension, look no further.

This book seriously had me hooked, yes, it's a bit (a lot) far fetched in places and not at all relatable (if only), I could not put it down and read it in one sitting. It was the definition of captivating.

Told from dual POVs, Julia Fouquet lands her dream job as the private in house chef of the well known Drake family. Whilst the job may be her dream, dealing with the erratic, unstable family isn't what she signed up for.

As Julia starts to settle in to her new role, she realises that there is something slowly simmering away within the family, everyone seems to be hiding something, lies are constantly told and things begin to turn dark.

Erica becomes more and more unpredictable, whilst her husband David, when he is at home, tries to turn on the flirtatious charm with Julia, making her increasingly uncomfortable.

When things take a turn and Julia is asked to be part of a hidden agenda, she needs to make a decision and fast before everything she has planned unravels *no spoilers*.

Whilst the characters may not be relatable, they are extremely well executed and thoroughly enjoyable to read. You never know who to believe or trust, which makes you constantly change who you are rooting for, bringing the characters to life even more so.

A tale of revenge, intrigue and full on deception, get yourself comfy, shut out the world, and enjoy the ride.

4.5 rounded to 5,
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

This book scared me to death. The subplot, the mystery, the....you'll know when you read it, no spoilers. HIGHLY recommend for thriller/suspense fans. Will be purchasing for libraries.

This was a good popcorn read! It reminded me so much of The Chateau. If you’re into forgettable/kindle unlimited thrillers then this one is for you.

started off slow for me and I was not sure where it was headed, but I am very glad I stuck with it! I highly recommend you do! This is a story of revenge, deception and trying to right the wrongs of the past. It is very twisty, and I enjoyed this solid 4 star read!
Plan on looking up other books by this author as well.

Nice quick read full of surprises

Samantha Verant delivers a dark fast paced mystery set in Malibu, California. Flying all the way from Paris, Julia starts a new chapter of her career as the Drake family's personal chef. She quickly gets off on the wrong foot with Erica Drake, the glamorous actress. Julia must navigate the complicated family dynamics of the Drake family to survive as their chef.

We are reading from two perspectives of Julia and Erica which adds color and context to the story. I really enjoyed the immersive setting as the Drake family mansion is on the California coast. The incorporate of the acting and film industry into the storyline was also interesting to read about. This is a great read for those who enjoy The Housemaid.

Some of the plot twists were predictable, but overall it was great mystery.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Private Chef is a gripping and twist-filled thriller that delivers intrigue, deception, and revenge in spades. Set against the glamorous yet unsettling backdrop of Malibu, the novel follows Julia Fouquet, a private chef whose dream job quickly turns into a nightmare. Hired by the wealthy Drake family, Julia is thrust into a world where secrets simmer and tensions boil over.

Erica Drake, Julia’s mercurial employer, is a fascinating character, veering between charm and chaos with a glass of rosé never far from hand. As Julia navigates the Drakes’ sprawling beachside home, she uncovers a web of hidden truths that could threaten not just her job, but the carefully constructed life she’s worked so hard to maintain. Julia’s secret adds a layer of tension, making her position all the more precarious.

Told through dual perspectives, the narrative masterfully keeps readers on edge, building suspense as each revelation unfurls. The characters are richly developed, with their flaws and vulnerabilities making them feel all too real. The plot twists are expertly timed, ensuring a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat reading experience.

While I managed to anticipate a few of the reveals, the story never lost its hold on me. The final chapters delivered a satisfying and unexpected conclusion, tying up the loose ends in a way that felt both clever and earned.

For fans of twisty domestic thrillers, The Private Chef is an absolute must-read. It’s a deliciously tense tale that will keep you guessing until the final page. Highly recommended for anyone who loves thrillers served with a side of glamour and a generous helping of suspense.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

They say, ‘there are two sides to every pancake’ and Samantha Verant makes a whole batch of them in THE PRIVATE CHEF. I just kept thinking I’d read one more chapter but had to keep going to wait for the flip.

When Julia Fouquet arrives in Malibu to work at Hummingbird House for the Drake family, she can’t believe how lucky she is. But when she meets Erica, the lady of the house, her feelings of luck begin to change to feelings of dread. Erica, a.k.a. Lushica, begins each day with a glass of wine or two and is currently up for an Academy award for best actress in a film directed by her husband, David. But Julia has reasons for being there and Erica has her own agenda as to why she even hired Julia. Throw in Erica‘s son Tyler and David’s daughter Madison and the sprawling house is bursting at the seams.

What is Erica trying to do as she seems to push David on Julia? Shouldn’t Julia be angry at David for cashing in on her parents’ deaths with the movie Swerved? Is she here for revenge? As Erica prepares for her big night, Julia stays behind the scenes as much as possible but begins to work with Madison and Tyler to find out what is really going on in the home. And the consequences could be deadly to any of them. Throw in a surfer dude with an axe to grind and you have the makings of a spicey dish.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was clear and concise which led to a very enjoyable read. I believe that I have enjoyed a Samantha Verant novel previously so this was not a big surprise. She will be a name I keep at the top of my author list going forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

When Julia lands the perfect job in Malibu she thinks all her dreams has come true but she is working with the family from hell. A brilliant past paced thrilling read

Loved this amazing book! Thrilling and absolutely addictive, a brilliantly written book that I could not put down. I raced through the pages while also not wanting it to end as I was enjoying it so much. Loved this one!

I’m really disappointed by this book and I wasn’t able to finish it, it just sounded too far fetched for me and it was a very slow burn.

Description sounded good but the book didnt live up to my expectations. An OK read but not what I was expecting.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It has quite an interesting plot full of twists and turns, but I found this book a little slow and far-fetched. Sorry, not for me.

I read this in a few hours because I could not put it down! What a wild ride. There were so many unpredictable twists. This author hasn’t disappointed me yet and she’s definitely added to my auto read list after this one!

While not one of my favorites, it was still a decent read. I found that some of the twists were predictable but others took me by surprise. This is definitely a book you can read in one day for sure

This was a fascinating story. Very devious and compelling. Some well described characters and a great conclusion.

When Julia Fouquet gets a job as a private chef for charismatic Erica Drake and her family, it feels like Christmas has come. But all is not as it seems.

Wealthy as Erica is, she is erratic and too often unpleasant, in between moments of fawning graciousness. It is all very confusing, and Julia is unsure as to what it means.

What she is fairly certain of though, is that it will not throw her off her original objectives in taking the job - tips are something that neither Erica nor her family have any idea about...

An entertaining psychological thriller, this book will keep readers attention occupied throughout. It gets 3. 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book but I felt like it read like a YA book, as the characters and a lot of the events were just over the top. The story centers on Julia, who moves from France to Malibu, CA to be a private chef for a Hollywood power couple. Once she arrives, things immediately aren't as she expected and she gets pulled deeply into family dynamics. The chapters alternate from Julia's POV as well as that of Erica. Julia's employer.

The pacing of the book was really quick, with lots of twists (some predictable and some not). I felt like the characters changed their opinions frequently and both over- and under-reacted to various triggers, hence my "over the top" comment above. The characters weren't super believable and I had to suspend my disbelief at some of the things that occurred, but I did greatly enjoy the pacing of the book and the fact that it was fraught with tension throughout. I liked the ending, though there were a couple conclusions that I came to where I wasn't sure if the characters had gotten there or not. I did like all the recipes and references to delicious food!

Overall, interesting read but not a super realistic one. This would be a fantastic beach read. I give it 3.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.