The Chef's Secret by Crystal King
Publication Date: February 12, 2019
Atria Books
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Genre: Historical Fiction
A captivating novel of Renaissance Italy detailing the mysterious life of Bartolomeo Scappi, the legendary chef to several popes and author of one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time, and the nephew who sets out to discover his late uncle’s secrets—including the identity of the noblewoman Bartolomeo loved until he died.
When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate—properties, money, and his position—to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. He also gives Giovanni the keys to two strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi’s dire warning that the information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni’s life and others at risk, Giovanni is compelled to learn his uncle’s secrets. He undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi’s journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder—all to protect an illicit love affair.
As Giovanni pieces together the details of Scappi’s past, he must contend with two rivals who have joined forces—his brother Cesare and Scappi’s former protégé, Domenico Romoli, who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef’s recipes.
With luscious prose that captures the full scale of the sumptuous feasts for which Scappi was known, The Chef’s Secret serves up power, intrigue, and passion, bringing Renaissance Italy to life in a delectable fashion.
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Praise for The Chef's Secret
"King’s characters are drawn as lovingly, as sensually as the food and the Vatican world she describes, and the plot itself — part secret-code mystery, part love story — moves like a well-paced meal." (Boston Globe)“King supplies all of the elements historical fiction fans expect in a juicy Renaissance tale, including luscious meals, erotic interludes, and deaths by poison and blade. This rich tale should satisfy the appetites of fans of historicals.” (Publishers Weekly)
"In The Chef’s Secret, Crystal King serves up a delectable read stuffed with passion, danger, and a plot worthy of Dan Brown. This fast-paced, engrossing novel brings Renaissance Rome and the Vatican to life through the eyes of a famous papal chef. You won’t be able to put it down." (Stephanie Storey, author of Oil and Marble)
"A veritable feast for the senses, The Chef's Secret is part mystery, part love story, and all sumptuous sixteenth-century Italy. This tale of one of the world's first celebrity chefs—Bartolomeo Scappi, a DaVinci of Renaissance cuisine—sent me on a quest to know more, and to my kitchen to experiment—a sign of a great historical novel. Readers will delight in a plot as juicy as Scappi's braised beef!" (Heather Webb, international bestselling author of Last Christmas in Paris)
“The Chef’s Secret is a sumptuous buffet, serving up a love story (two of them!); mystery and suspense so thick you could cut it with, well, a chef’s knife; and such a vibrant panorama of Ancient Rome you’ll feel you’ve walked its streets and inhabited its kitchens. Anyone who loves history, food, a great story—read this novel! Warning: it will make you hungry.” (Jenna Blum, New York Times and international bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Lost Family)
"Crystal King’s The Chef’s Secret is a fabulous immersion in the world of Renaissance Italy, full of passion, intrigue, secrets, danger, and of course food. Come hungry!" (Melodie Winawer, author of The Scribe of Siena)
“With adventure, engaging characters, and an absorbing mystery, King expertly blends fact with fiction, intrigue, and a powerful love story. Well written and perfectly paced, The Chef's Secret is a fascinating immersion into sixteenth-century Italian life, an introduction to the world's first celebrity chef, and a reminder of the power of food to influence a civilization.” (Booklist)
“King twists in romance, mystery, cultural richness, and some zesty research. Scappi’s secrets are unveiled at a pace that simmers with intrigue…Mixed together with decadent banquets and sweeping historical detail, King has a recipe that entices the senses… vibrant in both visual and flavorful detail.” (Historical Novel Review)
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Warning: Don't read this book on an empty stomach!
Scrumptious food, mystery, and forbidden romance merge in a masterful way in this un-put-down-able historical from Crystal King!
When Bartolomeo Scappi, a famous Italian chef who works for the Pope, dies he gives his estate to his beloved nephew and protege Giovanni, along with a box of letters and journals that Bartolomeo expressly asked for him to burn. Unable to do so before finding out what is in them, Giovanni's curiosity gets the better of him and what he reads sets off a series of secret-revealing and adventure! Add in secret passageways (heck yes!) and secretly coded letters and you've got one exciting read! I was flippin' those pages like you wouldn't believe! I think I devoured (pun intended) this book in hours.
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit Rome and Florence in my senior year of high school and this book brought me back to that amazing place! I can't wait to go back and look at it through the eyes of a historical fiction reader and adult. Maybe Crystal will need an assistant on her next research trip :) heehee!
You seriously should pick up The Chef's Secret! It was exquisitely written and researched, and Crystal really knows how to bring Italy and it's amazing culinary talents to life! Loved, loved, loved! I cannot wait to go back and read her first book, The Feast of Sorrow, and will be anxiously awaiting her next one!
About the Author
Crystal King is the author of THE CHEF'S SECRET and FEAST OF SORROW. A culinary enthusiast and social media professional, her writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language and culture of Italy. She has taught classes in writing, creativity and social media at Harvard Extension School, Boston University, Mass College of Art, UMass Boston and GrubStreet, one of the leading creative writing centers in the US. A Pushcart-nominated poet and former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review, Crystal received her M.A. in Critical and Creative Thinking from UMass Boston, where she developed a series of exercises and writing prompts to help fiction writers in medias res. She resides in Boston.Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Blog Tour Schedule
Tuesday, June 18Review at Tar Heel Reader
Review & Interview at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, June 19
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Thursday, June 20
Review at My Reading Chronicles
Interview at Jathan & Heather
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Review at Amy's Booket List
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books
Monday, June 24
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit
Tuesday, June 25
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots
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Excerpt at The Lit Bitch
Review at Orange County Readers
Thursday, June 27
Review at Book Frolic
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Review at Stephanie's Novel Fiction
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Review at Clarissa Reads it All
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Review at Henry and Benny's Book Nook
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Thursday, July 4
Review at Just One More Chapter
Friday, July 5
Review at Coffee and Ink
Review at Girls Just Reading
Review at Book Reviews from Canada
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, one winner will receive a set of Feast of Sorrow and The Chef's Secret! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on July 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
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– Only one entry per household.
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The Chef's Secret
I think you liked this a tiny bit more than I did, but I still enjoyed it. Plus, her covers are BEAUTIFUL!
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