Chef

by Tony Jaeger

For years, Chef has protected his family by brutally murdering every dangerous criminal that emerges in his city.

But when Ethan Hatcher, a serial murderer comes to town and begins wreaking havoc, Chef is faced with a keep his family from crumbling around him, or seek revenge.

Genres: Horror

106 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2013

About the author

I have always wanted to write stories. In the second grade, I was the kid sitting in the back and scribbling in a notebook during story time. My teacher at the time, Nell Vesey, was immensely supportive of that tendency.

Throughout high school and college I worked on several different projects, once failing an entire semester of classes because I was pulling all-night writing sessions. It was bad. And expensive.

Chef is my first published work, and the first thing I've written with as deep an emotional impact, and as clear and compelling storytelling. In short, the first long form story that, on review, I thought was worthy to be read.

I really enjoy fantasy books, but in spite of my love for them, most of my ideas fall in other genres, which is both kind of liberating and somewhat frustrating, because I want to be able to contribute to the genre that I grew up on. Oh well. Until then I'll write what ideas inspire me to action.

I hope you enjoy them. :)

Reviews

[Jeff Suwak · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some things that didn't quite work for me with this book, but the things that DID work outweighed them so strongly that I still definitely enjoyed it.

Where Chef most excels is in characterization and dialogue. There's not a throwaway character in this book. Every one of them has a distinct persona and is interesting in his or her own right.

The interactions between Chef and his family, both the one at home and the one at the restaurant, are usually funny and often touching.

Most of all, I really liked Chef. He was beautifully drawn as a full, three dimensional character, and I liked him instantly. He felt and still feels like a real person to me. That kind of characterization is a bit rare these days, and I admire Jaeger's talents.

I actually wished that the more overtly action-driven elements of the story were toned down so I could just become involved in Chef's family life. To me, that's actually where the most satisfying drama was, and I cared much less about the murders.

Some of my challenges with the book probably stem from the fact that I was never quite sure what the tone of the book was. At times it read like straight humor, at others like black comedy...but sometimes like literary drama. Occasionally those tones contradicted and left me a bit confused.

I have a tendency to think a lot and deeply about what I read, and I had some issues with accuracy of certain psychological disorders and the serial killer mindset.

Jaeger has real talent at painting scenes and bringing people to life, and because of that, Chef is an enjoyable read.

[Tony Jaeger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to preface this with "Don't trust my opinion. I am tremendously biased, and in no way am I qualified to write a review of this triumph of literature. If I were to say that this book will make you laugh aloud, and it will bring tears to your eyes (and I do say such things of it, sometimes (mostly when I've been drinking)), I cannot be trusted (but it's true, nonetheless)." So now, I will dispense with my comments:

I liked it. I will probably read other books by this same author.

[LeElla Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. A good read.

[Andrew Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chef is a great story. A little twisted but good. When a Chef wants to keep his family safe what will he risk to keep it that way. In this book we find exactly what he will lose. This start up writer has an intreguing future ahead of him on his writing career.