Off the Menu: A Psychological Thriller Novella with a Delicious Twist

by Leah Cupps

Trust the chef...or don't.

Chef Margot Shaffer doesn't cry. Not over onions. Not over her failing marriage. And definitely not when her husband cancels their tenth anniversary dinner via text. So when an estranged friend calls desperate for help at the most exclusive restaurant in the city, Margot can't resist.

One shift. One night. What could go wrong?

Turns out, everything. By the next morning, a woman is found dead and Margot's chef's knife is at the scene of the crime. Someone is serving her up as the perfect suspect, and Margot must prove her innocence before it's too late.

A psychological thriller novella about secrets, betrayal, and the fine line between victim and villain, Off the Menu will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about guilt.

Genres: Thriller

152 pages, ebook

Published May 20, 2026

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5 stars.

Psychological thriller novella about a woman who will do anything to get what she wants.

Fast-paced, well-plotted with a number of unforeseen twists. As well as, well constructed characters, engaging writing style and a satisfying conclusion kept me glued to this book.

If you like your thrillers filled with secrets, lies, betrayal, manipulation & murder, then this is the novella for you!

Leah Cupps is a new author to me & I have added her backlist to my TBR. Also looking forward to what she brings us next.

Favorite Line: “Because the process of dying isn’t a light switch turning off, it’s the practice of letting go.”

Thank you to Leah Cupps for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Gemini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wait a Minute

This was an entertaining read. It seemed like the answers were all right there. At the same time, everything seemed too obvious to believe. The back and forth of whether to trust it or not made it fun. I couldn’t decide if I felt sorry for Margot. Something about her was hard to like. I definitely wanted her husband to suffer. He was awful. The other couple in the book felt like a wild card. I immediately distrusted them. A lot happened in this short story, but it kept me engaged.

[Mike Shockley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this page-turning novella from a new favorite author! A delicious twist on a who-dun-it with a classic awful husband and wife with a twisted back-story. Who can you trust? Old friends? Current frenemies? The twists keep the pages turning in this thriller! Leah Cupps has cooked up a tasty treat for us! Just order Off The Menu and dig in!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Off the Menu was terrific! Fast paced, great characters and lots of twists. Margot gets an opportunity after her husband cancels their tenth anniversary celebration via text and everything spirals from there. I enjoyed the two perspectives and the intertwined story lines. This was my first book by this author but won’t be my last!

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read! Great premise and memorable characters. The story had a lot of potential and mostly delivered, though I think it could have used a little tightening in places. Even so, it kept me engaged, and the ending still got me even though I had started to piece together the twist. Overall, an enjoyable read with a satisfying payoff.

[Aja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but I kept finding myself thinking about other things rather than paying attention to the book. I would say it was hard to pick it back up after I sat it down. The characters weren’t very likable honestly lol. George was soososos annoying! Such a typical man. I did start to put together the twist which isn’t the real issue here. I just think it was like meh 🤷🏾‍♀️

[Kathryn Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5.
What a wild ride! I wasn't sure what I was in for with this book, but this was a genuine pleasant surprise. If you're into twists, betrayal, saying "wtf" over and over, and creepy restaurant setting, this book is for you!

[Charisse Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you go off script, the best laid plans can backfire. Celeste definitely used leverage to pull the apron strings and get everything she ever wanted. This book was full of twists and turns.

[Erika Neece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one! It was short, fast-paced, and kept me hooked the whole way through. I had most of it figured out, but I still wasn’t expecting that ending. A fun, twisty read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great face-paced murder mystery. Unexpected twist led to an unexpected ending.