There was a lot in this book! Lots of drama, twists, I particularly enjoyed the chef elements of this story. Lots of connections that were alluded to but never fully explained, this confused me and therefore I gave it 4 stars.

Julia lands a 3 figure job as a private chef for a Hollywood couple, but all isn't as it seems when her employer Erica Drake exhibits erratic behaviour, swinging from kind to anger and argumentative. Everyone seems to hiding secrets including Julia.
The story drew me straight in and kept me engaged. As with The Lucky Widow I did guess the twist but in no way did this detract from the enjoyment but meant it wasn't quite a 5 star for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Samantha Verant and Storm Publishing for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

This was a very good read! I enjoyed reading about the characters and the plot was very interesting. I loved the story and would definitely recommend to a friend!

A great, gripping thriller! If you love a fast paced read with plenty of twists and turns, this is for you.

I highly recommend to fans of Freida McFadden.

Lots of plot twisty bits- kept me awake staying up to finish it. Is she/he a goody or a baddy? Which is which? Revenge, deceit, abusive behaviour - but by whom? I received this as an advance copy from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have never read anything like this one before but when I was gifted this book I couldn't say no. This book was amazing it had everything that I love in a story and I found it very hard to put it down. This is a duel perspective book based on our two main characters Julia, a private chef who has been hired to work as a private chef at a mansion in Malibu, and then Erica the ex actress and owner of the house. It becomes clear early on that something isn't quite right with Erica and the way everyone ignores it makes for an eerie premise. However what is really going on with Erica will really change everything the reader thinks. This book was the kind that was made for a movie. The suspense that was felt from the very beginning of the story was quite intense and I loved I would just got more so as the book progressed. With so many red herrings this book will really keep you on you toes. I love trying to figure out who was telling the truth and who was lying as well as trying to get to the bottom of everything. Once this book was opened I found it impossible to put down as the character growth but mostly the plot really dug its grip into me and I couldn't let go. This was unlike anything I've ever read before and anything I ever will read. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read this early. With thrillers and mysteries all combined into one book along with characters that you will love it's hard to see how anyone will dislike this book. This book has everything secrets, manipulation and turmoil all hidden behind locked doors. My favorite character really had to be Erica I really felt for her as a reader and I was desperate to see what she was hiding. I kept changing my mind on if she was good or bad however either way I loved how she was written. This is the kind of story where even if if the characters are bad you still like them because of how they are portrayed by the author. The ending had me floored and I loved every minute of it. I can't wait to see this book hit shelves and I'm so excited to say that I read it first.

Private Chef is so much more than just a private cook. Let's introduce the character's : Julia Fouquet is the Le Cordon Bleu trained Chef.
Then we have the actress that hired her Erica Drake and her husband David Drake who is the writer and film maker as well as the director. Last but not least you will meet Madison and Tyler, they are the two children of David Drake.

Julia has been hired from Paris to come to California to be the private chef for Erica Drake and David when he is in town, along with the children. Julia will have her own quarters to live in, she will have weekends off, she will have a clothing allowance, and she will be making $170,000.00 a year and she will have access to a car. Not only will she have all of this ,but she has an ocean view and access to surf boards and a private beach.

When Julia gets there she is welcomed by Erica and she thought for sure she was drunk off her ass. She had a glass of wine in one hand and she was very disheveled. She was still in her pajamas and her hair was a mess and she was slurring her words. Once she was brought into the huge home Erica showed her around. She told her that she had access to everything downstairs, but everything upstairs was off limits to her. She showed her to the kitchen and then to the petty cash safe. She also showed her to the guest house which is where she would be living.

Erica, it would seem ran hot and cold to Julia. Erica, insisted, one evening, that they watch the movie Swerve of which she was being nominated for an Oscar. When they went to the screening room Julia couldn't believe how big it was. She turned around and it actually looked like an actual movie theater. The sound system was amazing and so was the screen.

After the movie was over Erica asked Julia what she thought of it and Julia kept her feelings together and told her it was a really good movie.
When Julia got back to her room she let it out, she couldn't believe that they had made a movie about her parents and the way they had lived and then died. How could Erica let her sit through that movie. No, it's true she has no idea who she really is, or does she? Was that movie really about her parents and if so what did that sick bastard do to her parents? Julia knew that's what David did he would make things happen just so he could make a movie based on truth!

This book is fabulous!!! I loved it and it was nothing that I thought it was going to be, it was such a fun read! Thank you for the twisted ride Samantha Verant!
Happy Readiing!!

Welcome to the dark side where things (and people) are never as bubbly and happy as they appear. Julia Fouquet is a chef who has just been hired by a wealthy Malibu family. The matron of the house is a glamorous star. Let's just say her public persona and her private one do not match.

This book is full of characters that you will despise. Secrets and lies abound with twists that you will not see coming. It is a game of chess. Now it is just a question of who will win the game? This thrilling domestic drama is a fine psychological thriller that will engulf you into the story to the point that you will not want to put it down until you read the shocking conclusion.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Private Chef by Samantha Verant is a captivating and compelling story told from the perspectives of the two main characters: Julia Fouquet and Erica Drake. Julia is thrilled when she is hired to be the personal chef to Erica and David Drake. Erica is an Oscar nominated actress, know for her volatility and penchant for wine; David is the owner of Drake Entertainment, writing and producing award-winning films.
They are thought to be one of Hollywood's Golden Couples. Julia soon finds life at the Drake's to be tumultuous, dealing with Erica's moods and David's advances. Both Julia and Erica have secrets; those secrets drive the storyline which I found to be fast-paced, intriguing and suspenseful. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Trip; my review reflects my honest opinion. 4 stars.

Giving this one four stars for clever plotting and the surprises that kept on coming. Julia's little cat Beurreboule (Butterball) was a delightful contrast to all the drama in the main house. I guess if you agree to cook for an academy award nominated actress, you can expect a boatload of drama. The fact that Julia was a Paris-trained chef also made for lots of delicious food in the equation. Croissants, anyone? Yes, please.

What did not work for me as well was the writing. There was a bit too much "stomping" and "screaming" throughout. And Beurreboule was forever "snaking" around the legs of the characters. Some verbs were a bit overused. The author has another book out called The Lucky Widow that I may decide to read.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Happy Publication Week!

The Private Chef
by Samantha Vérant
Pub Date: Oct 17 2024

The Private Chef is told in a dual perspective with well developed characters, many plot twists and the storyline kept me completely engaged from the first page until the last. A great twisty thriller which I highly recommend!

Synopsis: When Julia Fouquet lands a job as a private cook for a wealthy family in Malibu, she thinks she’s living the dream. The job of her dreams… the family of her nightmares. But her new employer, Erica Drake, is far from the glamorous star Julia expected. Her moods range from fawning to furious in an instant and most mornings start with a glass or two of rosé. Her erratic behaviour soon makes Julia wish she’d never set foot in their expansive, beach-side home.

Many thanks to #ThePrivateChef #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this twisty thriller!

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of The Private Chef.

Julia takes a private chef job for Hollywood actress Erica and her husband David. Leaving Paris for California Julia has the desire to open her own restaurant and that is why she takes the well paying job. Once she meets Erica she wants to back out because Erica’s mood swings are terrifying but she has to follow through with her plan. But she starts to learn Erica and David may have a plan of their own for her.

This book was good and it kept me engaged. Some things were kind of predictable but other things shocked me. Overall a very good read.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

I'm being generous. This was OK; not really a thriller, not a mystery, no real adventure, but with enough to the story to keep my interest. Was the story a bit on the unbelievable side? Yes. I didn't have a character to identify with, which makes it hard for me to invest in the tale. The wrap-up seemed a little long, but, overall, that's a minor point.

Would I read more from the author? Good question. Probably.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Julia. a private chef, has moved from Paris to LA and is hired A-lister Erica. What seems like a dream job with a great salary, is quickly Julia’s nightmare due to her demanding and cold boss.

I found the first few chapters engaging, but quickly I ran out of steam with the story. The concept is interesting, but I found the execution slow and the plot felt far fetched towards the end.

Whilst I didn’t get on with the writing style, I can actually see this being adapted to a successful mini-series and I’m be interested in seeing what other ideas the authors has.

Julia Fouquet lands her dream job as a private chef for a wealthy family. Soon she realises this wasn’t as perfect as she first thought when her erratic employer, Erica Drake, flies into rages. Will she manage to keep a cool head and will secrets be discovered a long the way?

I was initially drawn to the storyline and cover for this one, having not read anything by this author before. I have mixed feelings after finishing. The story drew me in straight away and I was intrigued to see how it would go, however it took a long time to get there and felt a bit choppy in places. I feel that I didn’t really connect to any of the characters so didn’t really care what would happen to them. I think the main issue was that it felt quite silly at times so I found it difficult to take it seriously, saying that though, it was definitely a twisty read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

"The Private Chef" is very much a book by Samantha Vérant. If you read "Lucky Widow," you will recognize the style at the beginning of the book. It has some drafts of recipes that may make you drool imagining the food. The book is full of twists, family drama and lies. It is an unstopped book; once you start reading, you cannot stop. It is fun reading throughout. I recommend "The Private Chef."

The second book I have read this year by Samantha Verant and another brilliant book with some excellent twists and turns and deception. A difficult to put down book that keeps you gripped to the last page. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Julia is a chef with a dream to open her own restaurant. She takes a job working for famous actress Erica and her director husband. The salary is insane, and Julia must be crazy to take it, because things are weird at their mansion. Erica has an agenda, her husband Derek has his creepy eyes all over the new chef, and every bone in Julia’s body is telling her to get out. But Julia has an agenda of her own…

This was an interesting story that keeps you wondering who will find out what when. It was a quick read, but not necessarily a novel story line. It reminded me a lot of another arc I read last month. But it was still entertaining and kept me intrigued.

The Private Chef
Combine the job of her dreams with the family of her nightmares and you get this captivating, fast-paced thriller full of secrets and many twists and turns! An exciting ending for this must-read! 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.

Samantha Vérant has cooked up a tantalizing thriller with The Private Chef, blending deception, intrigue, and revenge into a dish that’s impossible to resist!

The story follows Julia Fouquet, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef from France, who takes on the role of private chef for Hollywood power couple Erica and David Drake. What seems like a dream job quickly spirals into something far more sinister. Erica is demanding and controlling, while David’s flirtatious behavior creates an uncomfortable dynamic. As Julia tries to maintain her professionalism, she soon discovers that beneath the glamorous surface lies a web of secrets, lies, and power struggles.

The slow burn of this domestic thriller turns up the heat with every chapter, building tension until it boils over. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, another twist throws you off balance, keeping you guessing until the very last page. The character development is fantastic—Julia’s journey from hopeful chef to someone navigating a world of lies and manipulation had me rooting for her from start to finish. Erica, with her entitlement, and David, with his unsettling charm, are the perfect antagonists in this high-stakes game.

Vérant masterfully balances the intrigue with the personal, giving us a heroine we want to see succeed against all odds. The pacing is sharp, and once the story hits its stride, it’s impossible to put down. By the time the final twist is revealed, you’re left both shocked and satisfied.

The Private Chef is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a gripping domestic thriller filled with wealthy, misbehaving characters and a plot that keeps you on your toes. I devoured this one and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a juicy, twisty read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. A solid four stars!

Publishes on October 17th
Posted review on Goodreads on October 13th
Expected to post review on Amazon on October 17th