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Greedy
What would you do for a seat at the table? In this deliciously dark thriller set in remote Japan, a desperate gambling addict masquerades as the private chef to a reclusive billionaire with deadly taste—from the twisted mind behind Claire, Darling.
They will kill me soon, Edward Cook thinks. When the Yakuza are unable to collect what he owes, Ed realizes that they'll go after his wife and child next. Broke, desperate, and unemployed, he stumbles upon an unusual Chef wanted! Private chef needed for a high-profile businesswoman. One million yen per day.
Ed accepts the job. He hasn't earned any Michelin stars, but he knows his way around a kitchen. Leaving his life in Tokyo behind, he departs for an opulent estate in the mountains owned by Hazeline Yamamoto, his enigmatic and reclusive benefactor, a disgraced socialite with a predator's smile and exacting palette. Hazeline's world is one of taste, connoisseurship, and experimentation—she is a certified gourmand. But when you can afford filet mignon for every meal, you begin to seek out the strange and forbidden.
The closer Ed gets to Hazeline and a brighter future that she promises—if only he remains loyal—the closer he is to realizing the chilling truth about her altruism. In this shadow world of unimaginable wealth, there are worse monsters than two-bit gangsters. The wind blowing through Hazeline’s home carries the sound of screaming, and Ed finds himself feeding all kinds of beasts.
Perfect for fans of Parasite and The Menu—enticing as a starter, meaty as a main dish, and full of satisfying just-desserts—Greedy is a suspenseful poison-pen note to classism and an ode to Japanese cuisine, a horror-tinged thriller unsuitable for vegetarians but full of shocking delights for every reader.
They will kill me soon, Edward Cook thinks. When the Yakuza are unable to collect what he owes, Ed realizes that they'll go after his wife and child next. Broke, desperate, and unemployed, he stumbles upon an unusual Chef wanted! Private chef needed for a high-profile businesswoman. One million yen per day.
Ed accepts the job. He hasn't earned any Michelin stars, but he knows his way around a kitchen. Leaving his life in Tokyo behind, he departs for an opulent estate in the mountains owned by Hazeline Yamamoto, his enigmatic and reclusive benefactor, a disgraced socialite with a predator's smile and exacting palette. Hazeline's world is one of taste, connoisseurship, and experimentation—she is a certified gourmand. But when you can afford filet mignon for every meal, you begin to seek out the strange and forbidden.
The closer Ed gets to Hazeline and a brighter future that she promises—if only he remains loyal—the closer he is to realizing the chilling truth about her altruism. In this shadow world of unimaginable wealth, there are worse monsters than two-bit gangsters. The wind blowing through Hazeline’s home carries the sound of screaming, and Ed finds himself feeding all kinds of beasts.
Perfect for fans of Parasite and The Menu—enticing as a starter, meaty as a main dish, and full of satisfying just-desserts—Greedy is a suspenseful poison-pen note to classism and an ode to Japanese cuisine, a horror-tinged thriller unsuitable for vegetarians but full of shocking delights for every reader.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
March 27, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ — not quite a four-star read for me, but I’m rounding up for now. As always, with no half-star option, this rating might change the more I think about it.
Edward Cook is a British ex-pat living in Japan with his wife and young daughter. After losing his job, Ed develops a gambling problem, ultimately wagering away his daughter’s college fund and falling into debt with the Yakuza. Desperate and afraid of what might happen to his family if he can’t repay them, he accepts a job as a private chef for a high-profile businesswoman who values her privacy. It’s a risky move, especially since, while Ed can cook, he has no experience in fine dining.
I really loved the premise of this one. Greedy by Callie Kazumi is mix of psychological suspense/thriller and light horror. For me, the suspense was lacking because it felt fairly obvious early on where the story was headed. I still found myself invested and wanting to see how it all played out, but the tension never fully landed since Ed seemed to be the only one in the dark about what was really going on.
One of my biggest issues was the author’s broad generalizations about Americans, which didn’t sit right with me. I tend to feel this way whenever any group is broadly characterized based on nationality or race, but it felt especially off here given that the story also addresses racism toward mixed-race individuals.
That said, I loved the vivid descriptions of Japanese food, which had me constantly hungry, and the characterization of Hazeline, who was equal parts creepy and fascinating. My favorite part? Definitely the twist at the end. I didn’t see it coming at all, and it was such a strong finish that it bumped my rating up by half a star.
Now available! My thanks to Ballantine | Bantam via Netgalley for my digital ARC.
Edward Cook is a British ex-pat living in Japan with his wife and young daughter. After losing his job, Ed develops a gambling problem, ultimately wagering away his daughter’s college fund and falling into debt with the Yakuza. Desperate and afraid of what might happen to his family if he can’t repay them, he accepts a job as a private chef for a high-profile businesswoman who values her privacy. It’s a risky move, especially since, while Ed can cook, he has no experience in fine dining.
I really loved the premise of this one. Greedy by Callie Kazumi is mix of psychological suspense/thriller and light horror. For me, the suspense was lacking because it felt fairly obvious early on where the story was headed. I still found myself invested and wanting to see how it all played out, but the tension never fully landed since Ed seemed to be the only one in the dark about what was really going on.
One of my biggest issues was the author’s broad generalizations about Americans, which didn’t sit right with me. I tend to feel this way whenever any group is broadly characterized based on nationality or race, but it felt especially off here given that the story also addresses racism toward mixed-race individuals.
That said, I loved the vivid descriptions of Japanese food, which had me constantly hungry, and the characterization of Hazeline, who was equal parts creepy and fascinating. My favorite part? Definitely the twist at the end. I didn’t see it coming at all, and it was such a strong finish that it bumped my rating up by half a star.
Now available! My thanks to Ballantine | Bantam via Netgalley for my digital ARC.
March 10, 2026
Devoured this 😜
I love books with food themes. And while it’s clear where things are headed pretty early on, I still found myself feeling so uneasy and downright disturbed for our main character as time went on and tension built. And with that nice juicy twist at the very end?? Diabolical.
I love books with food themes. And while it’s clear where things are headed pretty early on, I still found myself feeling so uneasy and downright disturbed for our main character as time went on and tension built. And with that nice juicy twist at the very end?? Diabolical.
November 1, 2025
Ah yes, food-centered horror-thrillers. Gotta be one of my favorite genres. It's also basically everything you need to know before picking up this book, because I think it's best to experience the story without much prior knowledge of the actual plot. Just know that the story is about Ed Cook, a Brit living in Japan with his family. He's currently unemployed and in life-threatening debt to the Yakuza and so he jumps at the opportunity to become a private chef for an influential businesswoman. Culinary training isn't really required for the high-paid position and it's more important that Ed is open-minded and discreet. His new employer just loves eating and has some eccentric views on food, and there surely is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
The food theme was fantastic and I liked how it mixed fine cuisine with Ed's amateurish way of cooking. He's lacking the skills, but he really needs the money and he's determined to weasel his way in. In the end the book is still full of mouthwatering food description even if the cooking process was messier than I'm used to from other food-centered stories. It made the book feel unique, same with the setting. The story is set in Japan but told from the POV of a foreigner who came to live there. I really appreciate all the cultural aspects woven into the story, from Japanese cuisine over growing up mixed-race to societal standards and prejudices. The arc didn't have an author's note or anything, but I'm sure that Callie Kazumi worked her own experiences into the story, making parts of it feel very personal. Other parts are hopefully not as personal. I was wondering for quite some time where the story would be going and I was reading with great interest. The situation does become clearer to the reader long before it does to Ed and he was honestly kind of oblivious to some shady stuff. It made the book a bit predictable, but there still were some unexpected moments and I overall had a great time reading. It was a bit too straight-forward to be an absolute favorite of mine, but it's an easy recommendation nonetheless.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Century for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
The food theme was fantastic and I liked how it mixed fine cuisine with Ed's amateurish way of cooking. He's lacking the skills, but he really needs the money and he's determined to weasel his way in. In the end the book is still full of mouthwatering food description even if the cooking process was messier than I'm used to from other food-centered stories. It made the book feel unique, same with the setting. The story is set in Japan but told from the POV of a foreigner who came to live there. I really appreciate all the cultural aspects woven into the story, from Japanese cuisine over growing up mixed-race to societal standards and prejudices. The arc didn't have an author's note or anything, but I'm sure that Callie Kazumi worked her own experiences into the story, making parts of it feel very personal. Other parts are hopefully not as personal. I was wondering for quite some time where the story would be going and I was reading with great interest. The situation does become clearer to the reader long before it does to Ed and he was honestly kind of oblivious to some shady stuff. It made the book a bit predictable, but there still were some unexpected moments and I overall had a great time reading. It was a bit too straight-forward to be an absolute favorite of mine, but it's an easy recommendation nonetheless.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Century for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2025
This book is chefs kiss perfection! 👌
Ed is an ex-pat living in Tokyo with his Japanese wife and toddler daughter. After losing his job and unable to secure a new one he eventually develops a gambling habit. Initially it was just to score some quick cash but the high he got from betting became too hard to resist resulting in him losing everything and also putting him in debt with the Japanese mob. All of this remains a secret from his wife who believes he's out job hunting everyday.
Then he spots a job ad in the paper:
Chef wanted! Private chef needed for a high-profile businesswoman. One million yen per day.
It seems like the answer to his prayers. While he isn't a chef of any kind he does know his way around the kitchen. Maybe he'll be able to impress her enough to land the job.
And just like that he is working in a massive mansion, with one of the finest chef's kitchens imaginable, and an endless supply of anything a chef could ever want for.
As is often in life though, all good things come with a catch, and Ed finds himself on the hook of a woman with a voracious appetite for only the finest, most exquisite cuisine.
Has Ed bitten off more than he can chew? You'll have to read this to find out.
Absolutely delicious! Kazumi has yet again delighted me after reading and loving her debut Claire, Darling. Honestly I enjoyed this one even more. Ed, the lovable loser, was surprisingly easy to root for. Sure, he made mistakes, but his intentions were never malicious. He wasn't a mean man, he was a stupid man. He loves his wife and daughter more than anything but not being able to provide for them has really hit his ego. He feels like an absolute failure. So it wasn't hard to imagine how easily he'd become the prey in the web of his new employer. Hazeline, his quirky and possibly psychotic new employer, was equally as riveting as Ed. They kept me greedily flipping the pages.
The ending? Ha! I see what you did there, Kazumi! 🤯
This one will go down as a favorite for me this year but I warn: Vegans and vegetarians need not apply. 5 stars!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for my complimentary copy.
Ed is an ex-pat living in Tokyo with his Japanese wife and toddler daughter. After losing his job and unable to secure a new one he eventually develops a gambling habit. Initially it was just to score some quick cash but the high he got from betting became too hard to resist resulting in him losing everything and also putting him in debt with the Japanese mob. All of this remains a secret from his wife who believes he's out job hunting everyday.
Then he spots a job ad in the paper:
Chef wanted! Private chef needed for a high-profile businesswoman. One million yen per day.
It seems like the answer to his prayers. While he isn't a chef of any kind he does know his way around the kitchen. Maybe he'll be able to impress her enough to land the job.
And just like that he is working in a massive mansion, with one of the finest chef's kitchens imaginable, and an endless supply of anything a chef could ever want for.
As is often in life though, all good things come with a catch, and Ed finds himself on the hook of a woman with a voracious appetite for only the finest, most exquisite cuisine.
Has Ed bitten off more than he can chew? You'll have to read this to find out.
Absolutely delicious! Kazumi has yet again delighted me after reading and loving her debut Claire, Darling. Honestly I enjoyed this one even more. Ed, the lovable loser, was surprisingly easy to root for. Sure, he made mistakes, but his intentions were never malicious. He wasn't a mean man, he was a stupid man. He loves his wife and daughter more than anything but not being able to provide for them has really hit his ego. He feels like an absolute failure. So it wasn't hard to imagine how easily he'd become the prey in the web of his new employer. Hazeline, his quirky and possibly psychotic new employer, was equally as riveting as Ed. They kept me greedily flipping the pages.
The ending? Ha! I see what you did there, Kazumi! 🤯
This one will go down as a favorite for me this year but I warn: Vegans and vegetarians need not apply. 5 stars!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for my complimentary copy.
February 26, 2026
Deliciously dark and tantalisingly moorish, Callie Kazumi has served up an absolute sumptuous treat in the form of ‘Greedy’! The modern, fresh and well paced storytelling, combined with a hapless central character you cant help but root for, makes this a dark and addictive read! It has the themes of power, control, wealth and morality running throughout, although never does this book feel like it’s on a moral crusade - quite the opposite! The twist at the end is Michelin star! The subject matter may leave some people with indigestion, but I’m hoping for a second helping - next course please!
January 12, 2026
Greedy is a book that really captured my attention at the very beginning! It is a suspenseful thriller and horror book that definitely stands out as a one of a kind! It is about a man named Ed that lives in Japan, who ends up getting a job as a private chef for a billionaire. As things aren’t always as they seem, he begins to learn this billionaire’s taste could be lethal. Ed comes face to face (as many people do) to keep a job that really should not be kept or leave it and go back to being broke. This book definitely explores themes of security, the forbidden, greed and appetite, and identity. This novel made me feel tense, emotional and shocked.
Overall, this book came with an original and compelling story. I did see the twists coming in the book. However, I still really enjoyed reading it! This book is dark, adventurous, and full of mystery! I was fully engaged until the very end, while reading this. It had clever plotting, strong character development and a diverse cast of characters. The strengths in this book was the delicious atmosphere, the menu, the characters and the writing!
I think if you like books that are about food, along with forbidden meals and a unique experience, you would really enjoy reading this book! It gave me the book “Girl Dinner” by Olivie Blake vibes! I give this book a high 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Callie Kazumi and Ballantine | Bantam for this great eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be released on February 3, 2026!
Overall, this book came with an original and compelling story. I did see the twists coming in the book. However, I still really enjoyed reading it! This book is dark, adventurous, and full of mystery! I was fully engaged until the very end, while reading this. It had clever plotting, strong character development and a diverse cast of characters. The strengths in this book was the delicious atmosphere, the menu, the characters and the writing!
I think if you like books that are about food, along with forbidden meals and a unique experience, you would really enjoy reading this book! It gave me the book “Girl Dinner” by Olivie Blake vibes! I give this book a high 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Callie Kazumi and Ballantine | Bantam for this great eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be released on February 3, 2026!
March 20, 2026
Greedy follows Edward Cook, a British-expat, living in Japan with his wife and young daughter. Ed is in serious debt due to his secret gambling addiction and finds himself without a job, leaving him with no way to pay back the dangerous individuals he owes.
It doesn't take long for desperation to set in. Ed needs to make a move to increase his cash flow, and quickly. His life, and the lives of his family, depend on it.
It's when he is at rock bottom that he stumbles upon an unusual help wanted ad: Chef wanted! Private chef needed for a high-profile businesswoman. One million yen per day.
What desperate man wouldn't apply for this job? Sure, Ed's no Michelin star chef, but he did spend time as a line cook once. That's pretty much the same thing, right?
To his surprise and delight, after his interview, Ed is offered the job, which he of course accepts. Leaving his wife and daughter behind in Tokyo, he travels to the mountains to the lavish estate of his new employer, Hazeline Yamamoto, an eccentric and reclusive ex-socialite, where he will be staying during his work weeks.
Ed finds himself thrust into Hazeline's mysterious world; secretive, extravagant and lush. As chef, Ed has a lot of interactions with Hazeline's other household staff, and learns a lot of what is expected of him in his new role through them.
As I know you're all guessing, something isn't quite right at Hazeline's estate. Ed hears strange noises and is plagued by unsettling dreams. He also sees Hazeline and others behaving oddly, as well as her frequent guests, whose behavior leaves a lot to be desired.
We follow along with Ed as he tries to navigate this new world. He just wants to pay off his debt. He just wants to do right by his wife and daughter, but will he succeed, or has he gotten in over his head?
Heck yeah, this was good. Intriguing and slightly-gruesome, I was pulled into the story very quickly. I think Kazumi did a great job of setting it up. It doesn't take too long to get to the heart of the story, but she provided enough groundwork to make you feel settled and invested.
Ed's story was captivating, the secrets he had been keeping from his family that propelled him into this ominous new career path, it was so well-imagined.
I also loved the way the tension increased as the story progressed, as more and more is revealed to Ed; his revelations were my revelations. I truly felt like I was on this journey with him. The atmosphere as well, I could feel it, it got under my skin. The mysterious benefactor, her odd and exuberant guests, it kept me intrigued throughout.
I do think some aspects were predictable, but just because they were to me, doesn't mean they were to Ed. To watch Ed as reality slowly dawned on him, the horror and revulsion he felt, it was compelling.
And the ending, ohhhh my. I won't forget this one.
Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this to Horror Readers, or fans of Dark Fiction in general. I can't wait for more from this author!!
It doesn't take long for desperation to set in. Ed needs to make a move to increase his cash flow, and quickly. His life, and the lives of his family, depend on it.
It's when he is at rock bottom that he stumbles upon an unusual help wanted ad: Chef wanted! Private chef needed for a high-profile businesswoman. One million yen per day.
What desperate man wouldn't apply for this job? Sure, Ed's no Michelin star chef, but he did spend time as a line cook once. That's pretty much the same thing, right?
To his surprise and delight, after his interview, Ed is offered the job, which he of course accepts. Leaving his wife and daughter behind in Tokyo, he travels to the mountains to the lavish estate of his new employer, Hazeline Yamamoto, an eccentric and reclusive ex-socialite, where he will be staying during his work weeks.
Ed finds himself thrust into Hazeline's mysterious world; secretive, extravagant and lush. As chef, Ed has a lot of interactions with Hazeline's other household staff, and learns a lot of what is expected of him in his new role through them.
As I know you're all guessing, something isn't quite right at Hazeline's estate. Ed hears strange noises and is plagued by unsettling dreams. He also sees Hazeline and others behaving oddly, as well as her frequent guests, whose behavior leaves a lot to be desired.
We follow along with Ed as he tries to navigate this new world. He just wants to pay off his debt. He just wants to do right by his wife and daughter, but will he succeed, or has he gotten in over his head?
Heck yeah, this was good. Intriguing and slightly-gruesome, I was pulled into the story very quickly. I think Kazumi did a great job of setting it up. It doesn't take too long to get to the heart of the story, but she provided enough groundwork to make you feel settled and invested.
Ed's story was captivating, the secrets he had been keeping from his family that propelled him into this ominous new career path, it was so well-imagined.
I also loved the way the tension increased as the story progressed, as more and more is revealed to Ed; his revelations were my revelations. I truly felt like I was on this journey with him. The atmosphere as well, I could feel it, it got under my skin. The mysterious benefactor, her odd and exuberant guests, it kept me intrigued throughout.
I do think some aspects were predictable, but just because they were to me, doesn't mean they were to Ed. To watch Ed as reality slowly dawned on him, the horror and revulsion he felt, it was compelling.
And the ending, ohhhh my. I won't forget this one.
Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this to Horror Readers, or fans of Dark Fiction in general. I can't wait for more from this author!!
April 10, 2026
Horror. Set in Japan. Centred around cooking. Shut up and take my money 💵
I adored this. Not bad for a book I picked up purely because I liked its cover. I knew basically nothing going in, the thought process was simply, “oh sushi with a little goldfish, that’s cute… oh and it’s horror? I hope there are goldfish.” It’s always a gamble going in that blind, but in this case it paid off.
I started it before bed, read for half an hour, then went to sleep. And then I dreamt about it. That almost never happens. It got under my skin in such a specific way that I couldn’t switch off. So an hour and a half later I woke up, grabbed my Kindle, and carried on through the night, stumbling into work the next morning glad that my meetings were cancelled. That kind of pull is rare.
The food writing is incredible. I was so hungry, constantly. The writing around food's lush and sensory and pulls you in immediately. You can feel the textures, smell the richness, taste the seasoning, see the precision in every plated dish. There's a genuine love for food running through it, but at the same time, there's a strange way the book dances between a love for food and a disgust for it. It never lets you settle comfortably into either. Just as you start to appreciate the beauty of what’s being prepared, it reminds you what that beauty's built from.
We start with: “He gazes down at the packages of flesh; suffocating in their bloodied juices and cellophane wraps.” It’s atmospheric, but also claustrophobic and clinical. Then on the next page: “The duck breast sits on a plate, a reflective sheen glistening on its plump, burgundy underbelly. The white fat sits tightly against it, a textured, honeycomb pattern contrasting the sleek meat.” And suddenly it’s elegant and controlled, almost reverent. That contrast is where the horror really lives.
The feeling of unease seeps into everything, even the prose. There are odd wording choices you don’t necessarily clock straight away, but they linger. Lines like “The roof is a classic Japanese style and extends out past the exterior walls, probably to avoid the building becoming a human oven...” feel just slightly off. Not wrong on first glance, but just curious enough to make you pause.
The tension never really lets up. Even the most mundane moments have this undercurrent that something’s wrong. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but everything feels slightly uncanny. This isn’t horror in the traditional sense. There are no jump scares or gratuitous gore. It’s quieter than that with a slow, creeping dread built through atmosphere and implication. There are no monsters here, only people.
And the horror isn’t hidden either. The book drops plenty of clues. Ed overhears things, even going out of his way to eavesdrop on conversations he really shouldn’t be privy to. If he wasn’t so caught up in himself, he’d have pieced it together on page 8 and got the hell out of there. Instead, he just keeps going in an endless cycle of stupidity. He’s the dumbest character I’ve ever encountered.
He’s unbearable at times. He loses his job and instead of doing anything remotely responsible or sensible, decides to gamble away his family's savings. He doesn't stop when he loses his daughter's college tuition or the family car or is threatened and beaten by the Yakuza. It’s exhausting to watch and I hated him from the start.
But it fits with the core theme. Ed isn't just someone who makes bad choices, Ed is someone who consumes everything around him: money, trust, opportunity, time. He convinces himself that the next decision will be the one that turns everything around, even as each step makes things worse. There's something very deliberate in how frustrating he is. You're not meant to admire him, you're meant to recognise the pattern.
I did warm to him slightly as the story went on. Not enough to forgive him, but enough to almost understand him. His imposter syndrome in the kitchen feels very real and we've all been there in some capacity. I understood that constant fear of being exposed as a fraud. And once he commits to something, he really commits. Once he's in a situation, he doesn't back out. That stubbornness, which is so destructive earlier on, starts to read differently in this new context.
I just wish the gambling had stayed more central. It fades a bit too quickly. It stops feeling like an addiction and starts feeling like something he’s simply moved past with ease. I wanted more struggle there, more temptation.
There’s a line that stuck with me: “He is not a monster. He is a man of addiction, and his addiction has cost him.” I get what it’s doing, and it’s not wrong, but it feels incomplete. He didn’t just hurt himself. He stole from his 2 year old daughter, lied to his wife, put his family in danger. There’s a lot of focus on his suffering and not enough on the damage around him. Addiction doesn’t just cost the person at the centre of it.
None of the characters are particularly pleasant. But that doesn’t mean they’re not compelling. I liked his wife, Sayuri. She’s smart and cold, she sees through Ed in a way no one else does, and she deserves so much better. So she takes matters into her own hands. There’s something so satisfying about that, especially given how long she’s had to put up with her stupid piece of shit husband and his equally stupid antics.
And then there’s Hazeline, who more than makes up for the lack of likeability elsewhere. She's a delight. I loved her. Would let her eat me. Would love every second of it. She’s eccentric, opinionated, incredibly wealthy, and completely unapologetic about how she lives. She builds her world around food and moves through it with this quiet authority. She’s strange in such a charming way, and every scene with her has an edge to it.
There’s also a strong thread of snobbery running through the book. Hazeline looks down on Ed, and Ed in turn looks down on anyone he considers poor or gauche. It mirrors real life in a way that feels deliberate, the way people are nudged into looking down rather than up, always searching for someone 'less than' to blame or dismiss.
It explores a lot without losing momentum. Class, wealth, desperation, consumption... it all feeds directly into some of its most chilling ideas. Wealth shapes everything here. And at its darkest, the book distils that imbalance into something brutally simple: “It is cheaper to eat the poor than to feed them.” It’s such a stark, ugly line, and it lands because it doesn’t feel entirely metaphorical.
Even though I loved every second of it, it's not perfect. Almost perfect, but not quite.
Occasionally, the criticism of factory farming and fast food is a bit heavy handed.
One thing that doesn't get explained enough is Ed's skill in the kitchen. We're told that 20 years ago he worked in a fast food joint, grilling burgers to chuck out a drive thru window. He hated it and left that world behind, and since then he's barely even made so much as a grilled cheese. Then suddenly, when he's placed back into a kitchen, everything comes rushing back. “…almost from muscle memory. It’s as though he’s jumped back in time and is twenty-three again, running a dodgy knife down a cheap, sharpening tool while the head chef bellows ‘Another burger, hold the pickle!’”
It's a vivid image, and there's something eerie about the idea of that buried instinct resurfacing, but the jump in ability feels a bit too convenient. Moving from fast food experience decades ago to producing these intricate, artistic dishes is a stretch that the book doesn't quite justify. It adds a slightly uncanny quality to his competence, which might work thematically, but it can also pull you out of the moment if you think about it too long.
There are also some inconsistencies with the actual cooking that stand out more than they normally would, precisely because the book is so focused on food. In his first proper meal, Ed prepares a pan roasted duck breast with an ume reduction, roast potatoes and asparagus. Sounds delightful! The duck's already sizzling away by the time he starts peeling the potatoes. But that timing doesn't make sense. Duck breast takes around 20 minutes to cook, give or take, while roast potatoes need at least 40 minutes in the oven, and that's not even including the parboiling time you'd need to get them fluffy inside and crisp outside. Even with good timing and a long duck resting period, those elements wouldn't line up the way the scene suggests. It's a small thing, but in a book where cooking's treated with such intensity and care, those details start to matter more. They break the illusion for a moment and you go from being immersed in the sensory richness of the scene to thinking about practicalities, and that shift can be a little jarring. But I think that's a me problem.
But aside from a minor cooking faux pas, the atmosphere never really lets up. Once Ed settles into his new life, everything feels pristine and controlled, it's almost dreamlike, but it never feels safe. The generosity feels conditional and the hospitality feels like it comes with a hefty price tag.
Even though I knew where it was going, it still surprised me. It kept me on my toes and I loved seeing how it all unfolded. The tension builds through small decisions and repeated patterns, and that sense of inevitability only makes it more compelling.
This is my favourite book of the year so far, and I’m very curious what’s going to top it.
I'm also very hungry.
I adored this. Not bad for a book I picked up purely because I liked its cover. I knew basically nothing going in, the thought process was simply, “oh sushi with a little goldfish, that’s cute… oh and it’s horror? I hope there are goldfish.” It’s always a gamble going in that blind, but in this case it paid off.
I started it before bed, read for half an hour, then went to sleep. And then I dreamt about it. That almost never happens. It got under my skin in such a specific way that I couldn’t switch off. So an hour and a half later I woke up, grabbed my Kindle, and carried on through the night, stumbling into work the next morning glad that my meetings were cancelled. That kind of pull is rare.
The food writing is incredible. I was so hungry, constantly. The writing around food's lush and sensory and pulls you in immediately. You can feel the textures, smell the richness, taste the seasoning, see the precision in every plated dish. There's a genuine love for food running through it, but at the same time, there's a strange way the book dances between a love for food and a disgust for it. It never lets you settle comfortably into either. Just as you start to appreciate the beauty of what’s being prepared, it reminds you what that beauty's built from.
We start with: “He gazes down at the packages of flesh; suffocating in their bloodied juices and cellophane wraps.” It’s atmospheric, but also claustrophobic and clinical. Then on the next page: “The duck breast sits on a plate, a reflective sheen glistening on its plump, burgundy underbelly. The white fat sits tightly against it, a textured, honeycomb pattern contrasting the sleek meat.” And suddenly it’s elegant and controlled, almost reverent. That contrast is where the horror really lives.
The feeling of unease seeps into everything, even the prose. There are odd wording choices you don’t necessarily clock straight away, but they linger. Lines like “The roof is a classic Japanese style and extends out past the exterior walls, probably to avoid the building becoming a human oven...” feel just slightly off. Not wrong on first glance, but just curious enough to make you pause.
The tension never really lets up. Even the most mundane moments have this undercurrent that something’s wrong. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but everything feels slightly uncanny. This isn’t horror in the traditional sense. There are no jump scares or gratuitous gore. It’s quieter than that with a slow, creeping dread built through atmosphere and implication. There are no monsters here, only people.
And the horror isn’t hidden either. The book drops plenty of clues. Ed overhears things, even going out of his way to eavesdrop on conversations he really shouldn’t be privy to. If he wasn’t so caught up in himself, he’d have pieced it together on page 8 and got the hell out of there. Instead, he just keeps going in an endless cycle of stupidity. He’s the dumbest character I’ve ever encountered.
“You’re kind, Ed. You’re loving, and caring, and funny. But you’re not intelligent, you don’t notice things happening right in your face, and you’re selfish.”Actual footage of Ed:
He’s unbearable at times. He loses his job and instead of doing anything remotely responsible or sensible, decides to gamble away his family's savings. He doesn't stop when he loses his daughter's college tuition or the family car or is threatened and beaten by the Yakuza. It’s exhausting to watch and I hated him from the start.
But it fits with the core theme. Ed isn't just someone who makes bad choices, Ed is someone who consumes everything around him: money, trust, opportunity, time. He convinces himself that the next decision will be the one that turns everything around, even as each step makes things worse. There's something very deliberate in how frustrating he is. You're not meant to admire him, you're meant to recognise the pattern.
I did warm to him slightly as the story went on. Not enough to forgive him, but enough to almost understand him. His imposter syndrome in the kitchen feels very real and we've all been there in some capacity. I understood that constant fear of being exposed as a fraud. And once he commits to something, he really commits. Once he's in a situation, he doesn't back out. That stubbornness, which is so destructive earlier on, starts to read differently in this new context.
I just wish the gambling had stayed more central. It fades a bit too quickly. It stops feeling like an addiction and starts feeling like something he’s simply moved past with ease. I wanted more struggle there, more temptation.
There’s a line that stuck with me: “He is not a monster. He is a man of addiction, and his addiction has cost him.” I get what it’s doing, and it’s not wrong, but it feels incomplete. He didn’t just hurt himself. He stole from his 2 year old daughter, lied to his wife, put his family in danger. There’s a lot of focus on his suffering and not enough on the damage around him. Addiction doesn’t just cost the person at the centre of it.
None of the characters are particularly pleasant. But that doesn’t mean they’re not compelling. I liked his wife, Sayuri. She’s smart and cold, she sees through Ed in a way no one else does, and she deserves so much better. So she takes matters into her own hands. There’s something so satisfying about that, especially given how long she’s had to put up with her stupid piece of shit husband and his equally stupid antics.
And then there’s Hazeline, who more than makes up for the lack of likeability elsewhere. She's a delight. I loved her. Would let her eat me. Would love every second of it. She’s eccentric, opinionated, incredibly wealthy, and completely unapologetic about how she lives. She builds her world around food and moves through it with this quiet authority. She’s strange in such a charming way, and every scene with her has an edge to it.
There’s also a strong thread of snobbery running through the book. Hazeline looks down on Ed, and Ed in turn looks down on anyone he considers poor or gauche. It mirrors real life in a way that feels deliberate, the way people are nudged into looking down rather than up, always searching for someone 'less than' to blame or dismiss.
It explores a lot without losing momentum. Class, wealth, desperation, consumption... it all feeds directly into some of its most chilling ideas. Wealth shapes everything here. And at its darkest, the book distils that imbalance into something brutally simple: “It is cheaper to eat the poor than to feed them.” It’s such a stark, ugly line, and it lands because it doesn’t feel entirely metaphorical.
Even though I loved every second of it, it's not perfect. Almost perfect, but not quite.
Occasionally, the criticism of factory farming and fast food is a bit heavy handed.
“Is she aware that the fast-food burgers she probably tosses down her gullet come from cows, complete with full faces? That when they pulverise it into patties it’s with their organs and eyes? Or all pink slime? That because she doesn’t have to look at its face while she devours it, that it’s suddenly okay?”Okay, it gets the author's point across, but it loses a bit of subtlety in the process.
One thing that doesn't get explained enough is Ed's skill in the kitchen. We're told that 20 years ago he worked in a fast food joint, grilling burgers to chuck out a drive thru window. He hated it and left that world behind, and since then he's barely even made so much as a grilled cheese. Then suddenly, when he's placed back into a kitchen, everything comes rushing back. “…almost from muscle memory. It’s as though he’s jumped back in time and is twenty-three again, running a dodgy knife down a cheap, sharpening tool while the head chef bellows ‘Another burger, hold the pickle!’”
It's a vivid image, and there's something eerie about the idea of that buried instinct resurfacing, but the jump in ability feels a bit too convenient. Moving from fast food experience decades ago to producing these intricate, artistic dishes is a stretch that the book doesn't quite justify. It adds a slightly uncanny quality to his competence, which might work thematically, but it can also pull you out of the moment if you think about it too long.
There are also some inconsistencies with the actual cooking that stand out more than they normally would, precisely because the book is so focused on food. In his first proper meal, Ed prepares a pan roasted duck breast with an ume reduction, roast potatoes and asparagus. Sounds delightful! The duck's already sizzling away by the time he starts peeling the potatoes. But that timing doesn't make sense. Duck breast takes around 20 minutes to cook, give or take, while roast potatoes need at least 40 minutes in the oven, and that's not even including the parboiling time you'd need to get them fluffy inside and crisp outside. Even with good timing and a long duck resting period, those elements wouldn't line up the way the scene suggests. It's a small thing, but in a book where cooking's treated with such intensity and care, those details start to matter more. They break the illusion for a moment and you go from being immersed in the sensory richness of the scene to thinking about practicalities, and that shift can be a little jarring. But I think that's a me problem.
But aside from a minor cooking faux pas, the atmosphere never really lets up. Once Ed settles into his new life, everything feels pristine and controlled, it's almost dreamlike, but it never feels safe. The generosity feels conditional and the hospitality feels like it comes with a hefty price tag.
Even though I knew where it was going, it still surprised me. It kept me on my toes and I loved seeing how it all unfolded. The tension builds through small decisions and repeated patterns, and that sense of inevitability only makes it more compelling.
This is my favourite book of the year so far, and I’m very curious what’s going to top it.
I'm also very hungry.
Did Not Finish
March 21, 2026*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
DNF at 48%, Chapter 20, page 125 out of 257
Although I don't want to drop any ARC I receive I decided after careful consideration that I have to do it to prevent falling into a reading slump.
Out of fairness I won't rate this book 'cause I haven't read it fully and have no right to rate it as if I did.
Introduction
I never warmed up to the story. Felt indifferent even when the plot progressed. Feeling indifferent than bored is much worse. Indifference for me means that I couldn't get invested into the story. I didn't want to know what drives the characters or how the plot would progress.
Predictable & dragging plot
What made it so unbearable to continue was how terribly predictable the story was. The reader knows what's going to happen from the start and yet the story goes on and on until Edward finally realises it too. For a short book this dragged a lot.
I don't know what I expected when I read the premise but I thought it wouldn't reveal everything this book is about. I read some other reviews which mentioned that the end reveal is a twist they didn't see coming but I read this often for thriller books and got disappointed, so I'm almost sure that I would have been disappointed by the ending of Greedy too. There was no surprise or shock in the first 48% (which is half of the book's conent 'cause it also includes the glossary, acknowledgements and about the author sections). So, I gave up with the idea that there's anything surprising yet to come. At least for me, a thriller needs to have twists scattered around the book and not just one at the ending.
(There was also no tension or urgency, making this read feel moderately safe).
Story elements vs characters
It read more like thriller than horror. At least the first half of the book didn't offer anything that could give the reader goosebumps. While I appreciate that the book created room for the reader to get familiar with the characters and to get to know them on a deeper level (only applicable to Hazeline Yamamoto and perhaps Edward Cook), it left no room for horror elements to shine. The only moment I genuinely felt slightly investigated in the story was when the book brought up themes such as societal prejudice, expectations and standards. All centering around one character which made it feel deeply personal. Beauty standards can be cruel and I like stories that explore the darker sides of beauty standards—what one has to sacrifice for it.
Writing style
I liked how the reader got insights about Japanese culture and customs and preparing the food was tasteful to read about. The food was used as a commentary for the greedy (but also those who don't cherish their meals and try to starve to fit in).
Downside was that nothing was subtle and everything no matter how small was explained or described in great detail.
The conversations centering around the food and cultures felt unnatural and awkward.
Outroduction
Ultimately, I'm a horror enthusiast that consumed lots of horror stories and the way the story progressed until I dropped this book felt familiar; something I have seen somewhere else before. It offered nothing new to me and made it uninteresting and hard to get investigated. Food horror is per se not a bad story idea, but I personally hoped for something more disgusting.
Others might enjoy it if they're looking for a food horror with thriller elements and wish for a big end reveal.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced reader copy of Greedy by Callie Kazumi.
Started the book: 21. March 2026
Wrote the review: 21. March 2026
DNF at 48%, Chapter 20, page 125 out of 257
Although I don't want to drop any ARC I receive I decided after careful consideration that I have to do it to prevent falling into a reading slump.
Out of fairness I won't rate this book 'cause I haven't read it fully and have no right to rate it as if I did.
Introduction
I never warmed up to the story. Felt indifferent even when the plot progressed. Feeling indifferent than bored is much worse. Indifference for me means that I couldn't get invested into the story. I didn't want to know what drives the characters or how the plot would progress.
Predictable & dragging plot
What made it so unbearable to continue was how terribly predictable the story was. The reader knows what's going to happen from the start and yet the story goes on and on until Edward finally realises it too. For a short book this dragged a lot.
I don't know what I expected when I read the premise but I thought it wouldn't reveal everything this book is about. I read some other reviews which mentioned that the end reveal is a twist they didn't see coming but I read this often for thriller books and got disappointed, so I'm almost sure that I would have been disappointed by the ending of Greedy too. There was no surprise or shock in the first 48% (which is half of the book's conent 'cause it also includes the glossary, acknowledgements and about the author sections). So, I gave up with the idea that there's anything surprising yet to come. At least for me, a thriller needs to have twists scattered around the book and not just one at the ending.
(There was also no tension or urgency, making this read feel moderately safe).
Story elements vs characters
It read more like thriller than horror. At least the first half of the book didn't offer anything that could give the reader goosebumps. While I appreciate that the book created room for the reader to get familiar with the characters and to get to know them on a deeper level (only applicable to Hazeline Yamamoto and perhaps Edward Cook), it left no room for horror elements to shine. The only moment I genuinely felt slightly investigated in the story was when the book brought up themes such as societal prejudice, expectations and standards. All centering around one character which made it feel deeply personal. Beauty standards can be cruel and I like stories that explore the darker sides of beauty standards—what one has to sacrifice for it.
Writing style
I liked how the reader got insights about Japanese culture and customs and preparing the food was tasteful to read about. The food was used as a commentary for the greedy (but also those who don't cherish their meals and try to starve to fit in).
Downside was that nothing was subtle and everything no matter how small was explained or described in great detail.
The conversations centering around the food and cultures felt unnatural and awkward.
Outroduction
Ultimately, I'm a horror enthusiast that consumed lots of horror stories and the way the story progressed until I dropped this book felt familiar; something I have seen somewhere else before. It offered nothing new to me and made it uninteresting and hard to get investigated. Food horror is per se not a bad story idea, but I personally hoped for something more disgusting.
Others might enjoy it if they're looking for a food horror with thriller elements and wish for a big end reveal.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced reader copy of Greedy by Callie Kazumi.
Started the book: 21. March 2026
Wrote the review: 21. March 2026
February 15, 2026
➡️ Was I too needy for "Greedy"????
(I think so!)
TWs: This book is not for vegans!
The book's premise was compelling:
A desperate, indebted gambler lands a too-good-to-be-true private chef job with a reclusive "bat shXt crazy" businesswoman who boasts a fastidious and socially unacceptable palate.
In the book's early chapters, I especially enjoyed the male protagonist's "fake it until you make it" attitude.
➡️ WHY THIS BOOK DID NOT WORK FOR ME:
One of the book's twists was repulsive and crossed the line.
Was the author trying to shock readers? If so, she succeeded in shocking/horrifying this passionate vegan.
➡️ MY NEEDS?
I dislike twists that exist just to be gross or shocking, especially when they don’t grow logically out of the characters or story.
Instead of deepening the themes of greed, power, and exploitation, that objectionable "shock" twist negatively impacted the book's messaging.
The book's final, final twist was clever (and unpredictable!) and elevated my star rating.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Ami Okumura Jones.
February 3, 2026
3.5 Stars
Ed is unemployed and feeling extremely sorry for himself. Having minimal luck finding a new job to help support his wife and young daughter he decides to try his luck at the gambling parlors. Ed is a very unlucky man who finds himself now owing the wrong people a ton of money. Lucky for him he notices a help wanted ad for a personal chef. He has very minimal cooking skills, but figures he can wing it. He gets the job and things seem to be going well early on. However, the more he cooks for his employer, he begins to see she may have a more eclectic taste than he is able to provide.
The characters themselves are all quite unlikable. Ed has absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The interactions between him and his wife kinda just made me cringe. I was surprised these two were ever married in the first place.
I had a suspicion early on where the book was heading so I found it a bit anti-climatic once we got to the ending. However, I did like the last two chapters. I think what missed the mark a little bit for me was it wasn’t as “dark” as I think it could’ve been. I did like the Japanese setting as well as the glossary at the end that explains some of the Japanese terms. It’s always fun to learn about new cultures and countries.
What I discovered about this author through reading both of her novels is they are certainly easy to read and have quite unique plots. So far, I have not been disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Ed is unemployed and feeling extremely sorry for himself. Having minimal luck finding a new job to help support his wife and young daughter he decides to try his luck at the gambling parlors. Ed is a very unlucky man who finds himself now owing the wrong people a ton of money. Lucky for him he notices a help wanted ad for a personal chef. He has very minimal cooking skills, but figures he can wing it. He gets the job and things seem to be going well early on. However, the more he cooks for his employer, he begins to see she may have a more eclectic taste than he is able to provide.
The characters themselves are all quite unlikable. Ed has absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The interactions between him and his wife kinda just made me cringe. I was surprised these two were ever married in the first place.
I had a suspicion early on where the book was heading so I found it a bit anti-climatic once we got to the ending. However, I did like the last two chapters. I think what missed the mark a little bit for me was it wasn’t as “dark” as I think it could’ve been. I did like the Japanese setting as well as the glossary at the end that explains some of the Japanese terms. It’s always fun to learn about new cultures and countries.
What I discovered about this author through reading both of her novels is they are certainly easy to read and have quite unique plots. So far, I have not been disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
October 31, 2025
How do you review a book when upon finishing said book, your immediate thoughts are "no notes"?
I'm really struggling to leave a review without any spoilers so all I'll say is this....this gave a whole new meaning to the phrase "bon appetit" & I am so here for it!
Callie Kazumi does a great job of creating this ominous vibe throughout the whole story. You can just tell as soon as Ed arrives at Hazelines house that things are not what they seem & you're just left waiting for the shenanigans to happen. I get that Ed is supposed to be the mc but the standout character for me is Hazeline. She's weird, she's quirky, she gave the vibe that she was a cute 5'0 little ol lady but she's also....a little crazy & I loved her.
This was so fun! The twist at the very end had me shook, I really did not see it coming at all. Anyways, I already have this on a wishlist for when it officially drops & I will definitely be getting a physical copy!
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
I'm really struggling to leave a review without any spoilers so all I'll say is this....this gave a whole new meaning to the phrase "bon appetit" & I am so here for it!
Callie Kazumi does a great job of creating this ominous vibe throughout the whole story. You can just tell as soon as Ed arrives at Hazelines house that things are not what they seem & you're just left waiting for the shenanigans to happen. I get that Ed is supposed to be the mc but the standout character for me is Hazeline. She's weird, she's quirky, she gave the vibe that she was a cute 5'0 little ol lady but she's also....a little crazy & I loved her.
This was so fun! The twist at the very end had me shook, I really did not see it coming at all. Anyways, I already have this on a wishlist for when it officially drops & I will definitely be getting a physical copy!
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
April 4, 2026
What would you do for a seat at the table?
Edward Cook is broke, in debt to the Japanese mafia, the yakuza, and running out of time. So when he stumbles across a job offering an absurd salary to work as a private chef for a reclusive socialite, it feels like salvation. What he finds instead, at Hazeline Yamamoto's remote and opulent estate, is something far more sinister. Hazeline is wealthy, exacting, and deeply interested in culinary experiences that push well beyond conventional limits - and the longer Ed stays, the harder it becomes to ignore what's really being asked of him.
Let's just say: the cover warning that this is "not suitable for vegetarians" is not a joke.
Greedy is one of those books that is equal parts compelling and repulsive - in the way that the best blends of psychological thriller and light horror often are. There's a creeping sense of dread from the very beginning, and while the general direction of the story is fairly obvious early on, that doesn't diminish the reading experience - if anything, it adds to it. Watching Ed slowly catch up to the reality of his situation - the truth the reader suspects long before he does - is where the book really shines.
That said, in terms of suspense, this isn't a twist-driven, edge-of-your-seat thriller for most of its runtime, but more of a slow, inevitable descent. That said, there is an amazing twist at the end that lands well and elevates the overall story, giving it a final aftertaste that ensures you won't forget this book anytime soon.
One of Greedy's strengths is its setting. Callie Kazumi leans heavily into the details of Japanese cuisine and culture, creating a world that feels immersive and, at times, almost intoxicating. The food descriptions are genuinely mouth-watering, which only makes the more disturbing elements hit that much harder.
Greedy is a dark, unsettling story about ambition, desperation, and what people are willing to stomach for a seat at the table. Like Callie Kazumi's debut Claire Darling (which I adored!), it's a bold, original concept, and while it may not be for everyone - particularly those with a weaker stomach - there's no denying that it's memorable. I'll absolutely be picking up whatever Callie Kazumi serves next.
Many thanks to Ballantine | Bantam for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Greedy" was published on February 3, 2026, and is available now.
Edward Cook is broke, in debt to the Japanese mafia, the yakuza, and running out of time. So when he stumbles across a job offering an absurd salary to work as a private chef for a reclusive socialite, it feels like salvation. What he finds instead, at Hazeline Yamamoto's remote and opulent estate, is something far more sinister. Hazeline is wealthy, exacting, and deeply interested in culinary experiences that push well beyond conventional limits - and the longer Ed stays, the harder it becomes to ignore what's really being asked of him.
Let's just say: the cover warning that this is "not suitable for vegetarians" is not a joke.
Greedy is one of those books that is equal parts compelling and repulsive - in the way that the best blends of psychological thriller and light horror often are. There's a creeping sense of dread from the very beginning, and while the general direction of the story is fairly obvious early on, that doesn't diminish the reading experience - if anything, it adds to it. Watching Ed slowly catch up to the reality of his situation - the truth the reader suspects long before he does - is where the book really shines.
That said, in terms of suspense, this isn't a twist-driven, edge-of-your-seat thriller for most of its runtime, but more of a slow, inevitable descent. That said, there is an amazing twist at the end that lands well and elevates the overall story, giving it a final aftertaste that ensures you won't forget this book anytime soon.
One of Greedy's strengths is its setting. Callie Kazumi leans heavily into the details of Japanese cuisine and culture, creating a world that feels immersive and, at times, almost intoxicating. The food descriptions are genuinely mouth-watering, which only makes the more disturbing elements hit that much harder.
Greedy is a dark, unsettling story about ambition, desperation, and what people are willing to stomach for a seat at the table. Like Callie Kazumi's debut Claire Darling (which I adored!), it's a bold, original concept, and while it may not be for everyone - particularly those with a weaker stomach - there's no denying that it's memorable. I'll absolutely be picking up whatever Callie Kazumi serves next.
Many thanks to Ballantine | Bantam for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Greedy" was published on February 3, 2026, and is available now.
April 19, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine/ Bantam for an ARC of Greedy by Callie Kazumi
Chuck Palahniuk vibes without the feeling that you've left your map at home. In Greedy we are quickly reminded gluttony doesn't favor a particular class. It's a parasite that is after us all at the end of the day and this was an intense, fun, and unique reminder of that. The author writes in a way where the experience almost feels 3D. The characters are complex and layered. Which as mentioned before I always appreciate a little more in horror reads. Because strong characters aren't always needed to make for a great scare. So it's nice seeing the author take that extra step. To me it just shows how much they actually love to write and that real love was written on these pages.
I would suggest checking your trigger warnings on this bad boy. Some might find it a bit "much" at times. I'm not going to put too much of an opinion on the intensity of it. I'm not the Lord of the Underworld for shitts and giggles, ok? I've seen some things over my career and probably have a higher tolerance than most. For me this was top tier entertainment! Definitely something I would recommend to my intellectual peers who enjoy a good thrill. This wasn't just your average horror read, it's extremely well rounded and the author definitely gets you thinking.
Until next time
Hades
🩵
Chuck Palahniuk vibes without the feeling that you've left your map at home. In Greedy we are quickly reminded gluttony doesn't favor a particular class. It's a parasite that is after us all at the end of the day and this was an intense, fun, and unique reminder of that. The author writes in a way where the experience almost feels 3D. The characters are complex and layered. Which as mentioned before I always appreciate a little more in horror reads. Because strong characters aren't always needed to make for a great scare. So it's nice seeing the author take that extra step. To me it just shows how much they actually love to write and that real love was written on these pages.
I would suggest checking your trigger warnings on this bad boy. Some might find it a bit "much" at times. I'm not going to put too much of an opinion on the intensity of it. I'm not the Lord of the Underworld for shitts and giggles, ok? I've seen some things over my career and probably have a higher tolerance than most. For me this was top tier entertainment! Definitely something I would recommend to my intellectual peers who enjoy a good thrill. This wasn't just your average horror read, it's extremely well rounded and the author definitely gets you thinking.
Until next time
Hades
🩵
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Greedy had a premise I was immediately drawn to. A desperate man taking a job as a personal chef for a wealthy, eccentric employer with dark and exotic tastes is very much my kind of vibe. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, especially the isolation, the excess, and the quiet sense of unease surrounding Hazeline and her estate.
The comparison to The Menu works well, except this time the chef is the one experiencing the horror instead of controlling it. I am not familiar with Parasite, but the class divide and power imbalance were well done. That said, I did feel like I knew where this story was heading pretty early on. Hazeline’s secrets weren’t especially subtle, which took away some of the tension and made the slow burn feel less effective than it could have been.
I also wish Ed’s gambling addiction had stayed more present throughout the story. It works as a strong catalyst for his desperation, but once he begins working for Hazeline, it mostly fades into the background until it becomes convenient for the plot. I would have loved to see it remain an ongoing struggle or temptation rather than something that disappears for long stretches.
One thing that didn’t quite work for me was the portrayal of Americans. Considering the nuance shown when discussing racism within Japanese culture, the stereotypical depiction of Americans as big, loud, and dumb felt a bit disappointing and uneven by comparison.
There is a small twist near the end that genuinely surprised me and helped leave me on a stronger note. Overall, while Greedy didn’t fully reach its potential for me, I still found it to be an enjoyable, unsettling read with a concept that kept me engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Greedy had a premise I was immediately drawn to. A desperate man taking a job as a personal chef for a wealthy, eccentric employer with dark and exotic tastes is very much my kind of vibe. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, especially the isolation, the excess, and the quiet sense of unease surrounding Hazeline and her estate.
The comparison to The Menu works well, except this time the chef is the one experiencing the horror instead of controlling it. I am not familiar with Parasite, but the class divide and power imbalance were well done. That said, I did feel like I knew where this story was heading pretty early on. Hazeline’s secrets weren’t especially subtle, which took away some of the tension and made the slow burn feel less effective than it could have been.
I also wish Ed’s gambling addiction had stayed more present throughout the story. It works as a strong catalyst for his desperation, but once he begins working for Hazeline, it mostly fades into the background until it becomes convenient for the plot. I would have loved to see it remain an ongoing struggle or temptation rather than something that disappears for long stretches.
One thing that didn’t quite work for me was the portrayal of Americans. Considering the nuance shown when discussing racism within Japanese culture, the stereotypical depiction of Americans as big, loud, and dumb felt a bit disappointing and uneven by comparison.
There is a small twist near the end that genuinely surprised me and helped leave me on a stronger note. Overall, while Greedy didn’t fully reach its potential for me, I still found it to be an enjoyable, unsettling read with a concept that kept me engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐⭐.5
Pre-Read Notes:
The cover art includes a banner that says, "Not Suitable for Vegetarians" and being a vegetarian who never listens, I decided this book was challenging me to a duel.
"He is not a monster. He is a man of addiction, and his addiction has cost him." p16
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) Honestly, the climax of this one is painfully predictable. So much so that I had rejected it as a red herring. I wanted something fresh and creative, but found just another in a pile of stories relying on the same trope (which I can't really identify without spoiling, sorry). But the denouement? Better. And up until the big reveal, I was hooked!
This kind of horror story is having its era, so I'm not that surprised that GREEDY felt a bit done-before. I really enjoyed the character arc for the mmc, including the revelations in the denouement. For me, that was where the book came together.
My 3 Favorite Things:
✔️ "He is not a monster. He is a man of addiction, and his addiction has cost him." p16 This is one brilliant way to call out stigma and I freaking love it.
✔️ "The roof is a classic Japanese style and extends out past the exterior walls, probably to avoid the building becoming a human oven, and to offer some shade and respite during the summer months." p26 Sometimes the phrasing is off, like "human oven"--not sure if it's the writing or the translation, but "human oven" is perplexing.
✔️ The story turn at the two thirds mark was not even on my radar!
✔️ Holy crap, I just love the weird random things I learn from reading fiction! "As it turned out, KFC had invested a huge amount of money into advertising in the seventies, positioning themselves as the must-have for a western-style Christmas dinner. The slogan was “Kentucky for Christmas!” The Japanese, not knowing any better, had fallen for it, and suddenly KFC was the trendiest thing to enjoy come December 25th." p214
Content Notes: meat, meat-eating, animal death, butchery, cruelty to animals, child trafficking, institutional misogyny and classism, "special meat" (what could that be?)
Thank you to Callie Kazumi, Bantam Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of GREEDY. All views are mine.
Pre-Read Notes:
The cover art includes a banner that says, "Not Suitable for Vegetarians" and being a vegetarian who never listens, I decided this book was challenging me to a duel.
"He is not a monster. He is a man of addiction, and his addiction has cost him." p16
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) Honestly, the climax of this one is painfully predictable. So much so that I had rejected it as a red herring. I wanted something fresh and creative, but found just another in a pile of stories relying on the same trope (which I can't really identify without spoiling, sorry). But the denouement? Better. And up until the big reveal, I was hooked!
This kind of horror story is having its era, so I'm not that surprised that GREEDY felt a bit done-before. I really enjoyed the character arc for the mmc, including the revelations in the denouement. For me, that was where the book came together.
My 3 Favorite Things:
✔️ "He is not a monster. He is a man of addiction, and his addiction has cost him." p16 This is one brilliant way to call out stigma and I freaking love it.
✔️ "The roof is a classic Japanese style and extends out past the exterior walls, probably to avoid the building becoming a human oven, and to offer some shade and respite during the summer months." p26 Sometimes the phrasing is off, like "human oven"--not sure if it's the writing or the translation, but "human oven" is perplexing.
✔️ The story turn at the two thirds mark was not even on my radar!
✔️ Holy crap, I just love the weird random things I learn from reading fiction! "As it turned out, KFC had invested a huge amount of money into advertising in the seventies, positioning themselves as the must-have for a western-style Christmas dinner. The slogan was “Kentucky for Christmas!” The Japanese, not knowing any better, had fallen for it, and suddenly KFC was the trendiest thing to enjoy come December 25th." p214
Content Notes: meat, meat-eating, animal death, butchery, cruelty to animals, child trafficking, institutional misogyny and classism, "special meat" (what could that be?)
Thank you to Callie Kazumi, Bantam Books, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of GREEDY. All views are mine.
February 18, 2026
Now I am a sucker for anything Japanese since my trip last year and upcoming trip in 2026, so this book was right up my alley. All the descriptions of the delicious Japanese foods and drinks made my mouth water. That was until I figured out what was happening….
Ed is a British man living in Tokyo with his Japanese wife and daughter. After losing his job, he has become addicted to gambling and is in a whole lot of debt and danger. He owes way too much to the Yakuza and they want paying back now. He applies for a high paying job as a private chef to a reclusive billionaire to try to get his debt under control and protect his family. His new boss is a bit out there and has a love of unusual foods, but he finds himself really happy again. That is is until he discovers what is really going on in this house
Now I figured out what was happening way before Ed did, but it didn’t ruin the story for me at all. In fact, it still gave me that sense of dread as he learnt more and more. This is a creepy story, with much emphasis on class, wealth, power and of course greed. I devoured it in an afternoon, just unable to stop reading, I was hooked.
Thank you Ballantine for my early copy of this book to read. Very entertaining and stomach churning at the same time. Published on February 3rd.
Ed is a British man living in Tokyo with his Japanese wife and daughter. After losing his job, he has become addicted to gambling and is in a whole lot of debt and danger. He owes way too much to the Yakuza and they want paying back now. He applies for a high paying job as a private chef to a reclusive billionaire to try to get his debt under control and protect his family. His new boss is a bit out there and has a love of unusual foods, but he finds himself really happy again. That is is until he discovers what is really going on in this house
Now I figured out what was happening way before Ed did, but it didn’t ruin the story for me at all. In fact, it still gave me that sense of dread as he learnt more and more. This is a creepy story, with much emphasis on class, wealth, power and of course greed. I devoured it in an afternoon, just unable to stop reading, I was hooked.
Thank you Ballantine for my early copy of this book to read. Very entertaining and stomach churning at the same time. Published on February 3rd.
February 17, 2026
3.75 rounded up
greedy was an interesting audiobook that I picked up on a whim. I already knew it has themes of cannibalism and was a interesting horror book. So I kind of knew what to expect going in and it did deliver for the most part.
This book had a sense of dread and mystery that slowly crept up on me as I was reading. I found myself becoming more disturbed with the situation and the people surrounding Ed as time went on. Ed did strike me as kind of whiny and was a little hard to root for sometimes because he just came across as so unbelievably selfish. Although (I won't be giving any spoilers here) at the end I did feel slightly sorry for him and if you read this, you'll realize why. I just couldn't get behind his reasoning for his gambling addiction and overall sense of failure. What parent doesn't feel that way? What person in a relationship doesn't have doubts at times? I felt like it was a very shallow reason to explain away his selfishness.
I was a little unsure of a female narrator to do the audiobook for a novel that has full male perspective. But honestly, the narration was done so unbelievably well that I didn't even notice that it was a female narrating a male perspective. I also felt like this narrow reader really gave a very sinister voice to Hazeldine. (I read this as an audiobook completely so I have no idea what I'm spelling that correctly) I honestly feel like Ed's mysterious and slightly sinister employer stole the entire show of the book.
Overall, this was an interesting read that I'm glad I picked up on a whim and I would be interested to read more by this offer in the future.
greedy was an interesting audiobook that I picked up on a whim. I already knew it has themes of cannibalism and was a interesting horror book. So I kind of knew what to expect going in and it did deliver for the most part.
This book had a sense of dread and mystery that slowly crept up on me as I was reading. I found myself becoming more disturbed with the situation and the people surrounding Ed as time went on. Ed did strike me as kind of whiny and was a little hard to root for sometimes because he just came across as so unbelievably selfish. Although (I won't be giving any spoilers here) at the end I did feel slightly sorry for him and if you read this, you'll realize why. I just couldn't get behind his reasoning for his gambling addiction and overall sense of failure. What parent doesn't feel that way? What person in a relationship doesn't have doubts at times? I felt like it was a very shallow reason to explain away his selfishness.
I was a little unsure of a female narrator to do the audiobook for a novel that has full male perspective. But honestly, the narration was done so unbelievably well that I didn't even notice that it was a female narrating a male perspective. I also felt like this narrow reader really gave a very sinister voice to Hazeldine. (I read this as an audiobook completely so I have no idea what I'm spelling that correctly) I honestly feel like Ed's mysterious and slightly sinister employer stole the entire show of the book.
Overall, this was an interesting read that I'm glad I picked up on a whim and I would be interested to read more by this offer in the future.
March 27, 2026
4.5★
”After all, don’t you have to have an excess of something before you can be greedy?”
Food related horror is so great.
Struggling financially and in debt to the Yakuza, Ed desperately takes a well-paying job to a wealthy socialite. He soon begins to realize.. some people can be quite greedy.
I really enjoyed this!! Consider it devoured 😆
”After all, don’t you have to have an excess of something before you can be greedy?”
Food related horror is so great.
Struggling financially and in debt to the Yakuza, Ed desperately takes a well-paying job to a wealthy socialite. He soon begins to realize.. some people can be quite greedy.
I really enjoyed this!! Consider it devoured 😆
January 30, 2026
4.25⭐️
First off let me say that to me I love a good structured book. "Greedy" is divided into courses rather than traditional sections aperitif, main course, and so on which immediately sets the tone and mirrors the story’s obsession with consumption, excess, and appetite in all its forms. YUMMY!
We follow Ed Cook (what a punny name), an expat living in Tokyo with his wife and young daughter. He’s unemployed, deep in gambling debt, and desperate enough to say yes to a suspiciously well paying job as a private chef. From there, things escalate in ways that are unsettling without tipping into try hard shock.
What really worked for me was the writing itself. The characters feel human and grounded, even when the situations turn gross or disturbing. Kazumi blends interior narration with sensory detail in a way that feels natural and unforced. Nothing is padded for effect and nothing is gratuitous just to be edgy, which I appreciated. The discomfort serves the story rather than competing with it.
I loved how there were a lot of supporting characters in this story too. They were close enough to our mains that they felt relevant and played a role in the story as a whole, but yet didn't take away from the main focus. I guess you could say these other characters almost had just as much meaning as our mains.
Loved this book, and would highly reccomend to others who love this genre. Can't wait to read more of Callie's works!
ARC disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Bantam for the advance copy. This review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.
First off let me say that to me I love a good structured book. "Greedy" is divided into courses rather than traditional sections aperitif, main course, and so on which immediately sets the tone and mirrors the story’s obsession with consumption, excess, and appetite in all its forms. YUMMY!
We follow Ed Cook (what a punny name), an expat living in Tokyo with his wife and young daughter. He’s unemployed, deep in gambling debt, and desperate enough to say yes to a suspiciously well paying job as a private chef. From there, things escalate in ways that are unsettling without tipping into try hard shock.
What really worked for me was the writing itself. The characters feel human and grounded, even when the situations turn gross or disturbing. Kazumi blends interior narration with sensory detail in a way that feels natural and unforced. Nothing is padded for effect and nothing is gratuitous just to be edgy, which I appreciated. The discomfort serves the story rather than competing with it.
I loved how there were a lot of supporting characters in this story too. They were close enough to our mains that they felt relevant and played a role in the story as a whole, but yet didn't take away from the main focus. I guess you could say these other characters almost had just as much meaning as our mains.
Loved this book, and would highly reccomend to others who love this genre. Can't wait to read more of Callie's works!
ARC disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Bantam for the advance copy. This review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.
April 8, 2026
3.25 stars
Compelling, but doesn’t fully scratch the itch, Greedy is a compulsively readable, light horror novel set against an alluring Japanese backdrop. For a story so rooted in cooking and cuisine, I appreciated its sensory writing, which genuinely made my mouth water (whether appropriate or not) during those food-centric moments.
While I enjoyed its overall story beats, Greedy is somewhat predictable, and feels relatively tame compared to other works that explore similar subject matter. The protagonist, unfortunately, falls under a personal pet peeve — depicted as a purposely unobservant character. Much of what’s happening is already clear to the reader, yet we’re left waiting for him to catch up. This persistent naivety drags down the pacing, and undercuts the impact of some of the narrative’s more grotesque moments. His casual indifference to scenes clearly meant to unsettle or disgust (the reader) creates a tonal disconnect, making it unclear what mood exactly is the novel aims to deliver.
The marketing positions Greedy as “perfect for fans of Parasite and The Menu,” and while I see the comparison, those references are far more hard-hitting, unafraid to display their violence, larger-than-life characters, and bleakness. By contrast, Greedy feels like a tame, Disney version while asking for a fair amount of suspension of disbelief. Still, its accessible prose and a few clever touches (the final chapter is a standout) means it remains an entertaining, if not substantial read overall.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
Compelling, but doesn’t fully scratch the itch, Greedy is a compulsively readable, light horror novel set against an alluring Japanese backdrop. For a story so rooted in cooking and cuisine, I appreciated its sensory writing, which genuinely made my mouth water (whether appropriate or not) during those food-centric moments.
While I enjoyed its overall story beats, Greedy is somewhat predictable, and feels relatively tame compared to other works that explore similar subject matter. The protagonist, unfortunately, falls under a personal pet peeve — depicted as a purposely unobservant character. Much of what’s happening is already clear to the reader, yet we’re left waiting for him to catch up. This persistent naivety drags down the pacing, and undercuts the impact of some of the narrative’s more grotesque moments. His casual indifference to scenes clearly meant to unsettle or disgust (the reader) creates a tonal disconnect, making it unclear what mood exactly is the novel aims to deliver.
The marketing positions Greedy as “perfect for fans of Parasite and The Menu,” and while I see the comparison, those references are far more hard-hitting, unafraid to display their violence, larger-than-life characters, and bleakness. By contrast, Greedy feels like a tame, Disney version while asking for a fair amount of suspension of disbelief. Still, its accessible prose and a few clever touches (the final chapter is a standout) means it remains an entertaining, if not substantial read overall.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
March 23, 2026
3.5 stars
February 15, 2026
“Cheers to our culinary sins.”
Did I devour this audiobook in less than 24hrs? Yes, yes I did.
Did I devour this audiobook in less than 24hrs? Yes, yes I did.
April 14, 2026
"It is human nature to desire food, to ask to be fed. That is why you're here, Ed. I want to be fed. I want to be satiated."
I ate this one up and left no crumbs! Ed is a degenerate gambler who lost his job and his daughter's tuition. A British expat living in Japan and a foodie fascinated with trying exotic cuisines—including python—he's no master chef but enjoys cooking. When Hazeline, a billionaire widow of mixed heritage, offers him a job as her personal chef, he sees a way out of debt. Despite a huge case of imposter syndrome, he accepts—never suspecting the awful truth of what he may have to cook.
As a major foodie myself, I enjoyed Ed's focus on unique meals, flavor combinations, and signature dishes. He's a dope, but a likeable guy and honestly—who can't relate to Hazeline wanting to eat her fill instead of starving herself? A note of caution for vegans and vegetarians: meat is a central aspect of the story with details and descriptions of the preparation process. 𝘼𝙢𝙞 𝙊𝙠𝙪𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙖 𝙅𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 narrates the audiobook, which I highly recommend. I was already fully immersed in the culture and atmosphere, but hearing her speak the Japanese words sank me further into Ed's world, along with her evocative performance.
While the abhorrent truth is thinly veiled for readers, it's Ed's unawareness that creates tension and suspense right up to the deranged finale. 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚 𝙆𝙖𝙯𝙪𝙢𝙞 shrewdly explores the nature of greed and addiction, not just for food and money, but for power and position—along with darker themes of entitlement, ethics, and morals. What lengths will the uber-wealthy go to in order to satisfy their disturbing desires, and what would someone do to join them at their table? Readers who don't mind a peek into twisted realities, and who enjoy social commentary along with exquisite delights for consumption, will be satisfied devouring 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘆!
____
Thank you @scaredstraightreads, Bantam Books and Penguin Random House Audio for my gifted copies. All opinions are mine and left voluntarily.
I ate this one up and left no crumbs! Ed is a degenerate gambler who lost his job and his daughter's tuition. A British expat living in Japan and a foodie fascinated with trying exotic cuisines—including python—he's no master chef but enjoys cooking. When Hazeline, a billionaire widow of mixed heritage, offers him a job as her personal chef, he sees a way out of debt. Despite a huge case of imposter syndrome, he accepts—never suspecting the awful truth of what he may have to cook.
As a major foodie myself, I enjoyed Ed's focus on unique meals, flavor combinations, and signature dishes. He's a dope, but a likeable guy and honestly—who can't relate to Hazeline wanting to eat her fill instead of starving herself? A note of caution for vegans and vegetarians: meat is a central aspect of the story with details and descriptions of the preparation process. 𝘼𝙢𝙞 𝙊𝙠𝙪𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙖 𝙅𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 narrates the audiobook, which I highly recommend. I was already fully immersed in the culture and atmosphere, but hearing her speak the Japanese words sank me further into Ed's world, along with her evocative performance.
While the abhorrent truth is thinly veiled for readers, it's Ed's unawareness that creates tension and suspense right up to the deranged finale. 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚 𝙆𝙖𝙯𝙪𝙢𝙞 shrewdly explores the nature of greed and addiction, not just for food and money, but for power and position—along with darker themes of entitlement, ethics, and morals. What lengths will the uber-wealthy go to in order to satisfy their disturbing desires, and what would someone do to join them at their table? Readers who don't mind a peek into twisted realities, and who enjoy social commentary along with exquisite delights for consumption, will be satisfied devouring 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘆!
____
Thank you @scaredstraightreads, Bantam Books and Penguin Random House Audio for my gifted copies. All opinions are mine and left voluntarily.
April 6, 2026
Ed’s little problem with the Pachinko parlors has left him in debt to the local gangsters and in dire need for a job to pay off said gambling problem. Enter eccentric billionaire Hazeline and an offer to be her personal chef and a storyline all leading up to her annual grand party.
Okay so between the title and the blurb, if you don’t know where this one is heading I say to you . . .
The good news is even though the . . . ahem, menu . . . is pretty easy to see, the getting there is still done quite well and I put in extra miles to finish this one up.
My only complaint is a minor one and that is I would have preferred a male reader since this was about Ed and not Edna.
3.5 Stars
Okay so between the title and the blurb, if you don’t know where this one is heading I say to you . . .
The good news is even though the . . . ahem, menu . . . is pretty easy to see, the getting there is still done quite well and I put in extra miles to finish this one up.
My only complaint is a minor one and that is I would have preferred a male reader since this was about Ed and not Edna.
3.5 Stars
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Absolutely devoured this one!!
Greedy is a dark literary thriller that explores hunger in all its forms (for food, money, power, and control), and I could genuinely not put the book down!
It left me feeling both satisfied and deeply unsettled, which honestly feels like exactly what the author intended.
The story follows Ed, a man spiralling under a massive gambling debt whose desperation is palpable from the first page. When he sees a job offer as a private chef for a billionaire with "unusual tastes" with a massive payout, he sees his only way out. The tension lies not within whether something is wrong but rather how long it takes Ed to fully grasp what he's agreed on and how far he's willing to go for his family.
obviously, food is central here, though not in a comforting way. The descriptions are rich (mouthwatering even), yet something always seems to be slightly off. Each dish feels deliberate, and with every chapter, the tension just keeps building, making it impossible to put the book down.
i also applaud how Greedy explored consumption, wealth, and class without ever losing momentum. It remains sharp, unsettling, and ridiculously easy to devour. The characters are messy and unlikable, but that only adds to it. It's not a story about good people making bad choices, after all.
This won't be for everyone, but if you enjoy dark, unsettling stories with food as the main theme, this is absolutely worth your time. Just make sure you're not a vegetarian...
Greedy is a dark literary thriller that explores hunger in all its forms (for food, money, power, and control), and I could genuinely not put the book down!
It left me feeling both satisfied and deeply unsettled, which honestly feels like exactly what the author intended.
The story follows Ed, a man spiralling under a massive gambling debt whose desperation is palpable from the first page. When he sees a job offer as a private chef for a billionaire with "unusual tastes" with a massive payout, he sees his only way out. The tension lies not within whether something is wrong but rather how long it takes Ed to fully grasp what he's agreed on and how far he's willing to go for his family.
obviously, food is central here, though not in a comforting way. The descriptions are rich (mouthwatering even), yet something always seems to be slightly off. Each dish feels deliberate, and with every chapter, the tension just keeps building, making it impossible to put the book down.
i also applaud how Greedy explored consumption, wealth, and class without ever losing momentum. It remains sharp, unsettling, and ridiculously easy to devour. The characters are messy and unlikable, but that only adds to it. It's not a story about good people making bad choices, after all.
This won't be for everyone, but if you enjoy dark, unsettling stories with food as the main theme, this is absolutely worth your time. Just make sure you're not a vegetarian...
February 22, 2026
ufff, možda 3/5??
ono što me je najviše nerviralo jeste što je Ed, glavni lik, mnogo glup, ali baš MNOGO. autorka je ubacila nekoliko prilično jasnih tragova (na koje sam ja zažmurila jer sam se nadala da radnja neće biti baš toliko očigledna...), ali ovaj lik ne da to ne vidi, negooooo...
shvatam da je autorka htela da se ovde sve vrti oko te večite poruke dobra i zla, šta je moralno a šta ne, šta bi bilo ko od nas uradio u takvoj situaciji. radnja je ovde samo poslužila kao pozadinska scena za sva ova njena pitanja, ali radnja je toliko mršava (pun not intended) da to boli. odmah u startu mnogo stvari nije namerno razjašnjeno, i to me je tako nerviralo. bukvalno se vidi u svakom poglavlju koja je bila ideja. vrlo je pitko napisano (mrzim taj izraz, ali to je što je), preleću se stranice i stvarno se lako čita, ali htela sam više a ne još jedan osrednji trilerčić sa hranom da mi premosti čitalačku blokadu. :(( namamili me kao miša u klopku sa jako lepom gaudom!!
kraj malkice izvlači stvar, ali i to je toliko bilo neinventivno... mislim stvarno, fejkovale celo izdanje novina?? 'ajte molim vas...
ono što me je najviše nerviralo jeste što je Ed, glavni lik, mnogo glup, ali baš MNOGO. autorka je ubacila nekoliko prilično jasnih tragova (na koje sam ja zažmurila jer sam se nadala da radnja neće biti baš toliko očigledna...), ali ovaj lik ne da to ne vidi, negooooo...
shvatam da je autorka htela da se ovde sve vrti oko te večite poruke dobra i zla, šta je moralno a šta ne, šta bi bilo ko od nas uradio u takvoj situaciji. radnja je ovde samo poslužila kao pozadinska scena za sva ova njena pitanja, ali radnja je toliko mršava (pun not intended) da to boli. odmah u startu mnogo stvari nije namerno razjašnjeno, i to me je tako nerviralo. bukvalno se vidi u svakom poglavlju koja je bila ideja. vrlo je pitko napisano (mrzim taj izraz, ali to je što je), preleću se stranice i stvarno se lako čita, ali htela sam više a ne još jedan osrednji trilerčić sa hranom da mi premosti čitalačku blokadu. :(( namamili me kao miša u klopku sa jako lepom gaudom!!
kraj malkice izvlači stvar, ali i to je toliko bilo neinventivno... mislim stvarno, fejkovale celo izdanje novina?? 'ajte molim vas...
February 3, 2026
I received an ARC from Bantam via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
~~~
I loved this one. The writing was addictive and the story was captivating. We follow Ed Cook, a British man living in Tokyo with his Japanese wife and daughter. He’s unemployed and seeking ways to pay off his debts, fueled by his gambling addiction. This part of the story gave me Season 1 Squid Games vibes. Anyways, one day he sees an ad in the newspaper for an almost too-good-to-be-true well paying job as a private chef for a mystery employer. Out of desperation he applies for the position and things get weird from there on (it’s best to go into the book blind, so leaving it at that).
The writing is very descriptive and engaging. There’s a good twist at the end that was executed well. The suspense had me turning pages all the way till the end. There’s also a lot of themes & social commentary on wealth, privilege, identity, and classism. I would read anything from this author after reading this one.
~~~
I loved this one. The writing was addictive and the story was captivating. We follow Ed Cook, a British man living in Tokyo with his Japanese wife and daughter. He’s unemployed and seeking ways to pay off his debts, fueled by his gambling addiction. This part of the story gave me Season 1 Squid Games vibes. Anyways, one day he sees an ad in the newspaper for an almost too-good-to-be-true well paying job as a private chef for a mystery employer. Out of desperation he applies for the position and things get weird from there on (it’s best to go into the book blind, so leaving it at that).
The writing is very descriptive and engaging. There’s a good twist at the end that was executed well. The suspense had me turning pages all the way till the end. There’s also a lot of themes & social commentary on wealth, privilege, identity, and classism. I would read anything from this author after reading this one.
March 1, 2026
4.5 stars - thank you to the publisher for a copy
Sooo satisfying and entertaining
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThngW2Ry/
Sooo satisfying and entertaining
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThngW2Ry/
January 17, 2026
What a fun read!!
I saw someone else post about how excited they were to read this and it immediately sold me. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but like I’ve said in previous reviews, it’s cannibalism season! There are a lot of cannibal books lately and they won’t be stopping anytime soon, but this was a really *fresh* take on the genre- pun intended.
A gambling addicted husband takes a job that seems too good to be true and it’s hinted throughout, when big shock, it is. I’m not sure how but Kazumi almost had me agreeing with the antagonists in this book. Not necessarily their logic but just the way everything was phrased, it felt like no big deal.
The ending was my absolute favourite. I was in complete shock and awe and was truly so unbelievably happy about it.
I saw someone else post about how excited they were to read this and it immediately sold me. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but like I’ve said in previous reviews, it’s cannibalism season! There are a lot of cannibal books lately and they won’t be stopping anytime soon, but this was a really *fresh* take on the genre- pun intended.
A gambling addicted husband takes a job that seems too good to be true and it’s hinted throughout, when big shock, it is. I’m not sure how but Kazumi almost had me agreeing with the antagonists in this book. Not necessarily their logic but just the way everything was phrased, it felt like no big deal.
The ending was my absolute favourite. I was in complete shock and awe and was truly so unbelievably happy about it.
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