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Best Eaten Cold
Imagine that somebody wants to do you harm. Someone you once knew but have almost forgotten. Now imagine that they are clever, patient and will not stop. They are not interested in causing you physical pain – nothing so clumsy.
They will get inside your head, they will make you doubt yourself, they will make you question who you are, and they will ensure that everyone you care for starts to doubt you as well.
Each perfectly-orchestrated doubt will combine with its brothers and sisters – slowly, steadily building to a crescendo and destroying you from within.
Now imagine that this is real and it’s happening to you.
________________________________
Best Eaten Cold is not a story of global conspiracies or nuclear Armageddon. It isn’t a tale of massive fraud or national scandal.
It’s a reminder of the delicate balance of our ordinary, daily lives. A balance that can be catastrophically upset by a small number of seemingly trivial incidents.
Above all, it is a reminder of how quickly – and how blindly – we have learnt to trust in the online world, despite the somewhat ironic fact that none of us really understand it at all.
_________________________________
Fabiola has just given birth to a son, Sam. She lives an idyllic life in Oxford – beautiful house, adoring husband, happy healthy baby – the coming years will be filled with joy and laughter.
But she has a past. A past which she thought she’d left behind her. When tiny cracks start to appear in the perfect glass bubble of Fabiola’s life, that rosy future becomes blurred and uncertain. Is the past catching up with her, or was it always too good to be true?
Love, obsession, loss and revenge; Best Eaten Cold is both a compelling psychological thriller, and a cautionary tale for our times.
They will get inside your head, they will make you doubt yourself, they will make you question who you are, and they will ensure that everyone you care for starts to doubt you as well.
Each perfectly-orchestrated doubt will combine with its brothers and sisters – slowly, steadily building to a crescendo and destroying you from within.
Now imagine that this is real and it’s happening to you.
________________________________
Best Eaten Cold is not a story of global conspiracies or nuclear Armageddon. It isn’t a tale of massive fraud or national scandal.
It’s a reminder of the delicate balance of our ordinary, daily lives. A balance that can be catastrophically upset by a small number of seemingly trivial incidents.
Above all, it is a reminder of how quickly – and how blindly – we have learnt to trust in the online world, despite the somewhat ironic fact that none of us really understand it at all.
_________________________________
Fabiola has just given birth to a son, Sam. She lives an idyllic life in Oxford – beautiful house, adoring husband, happy healthy baby – the coming years will be filled with joy and laughter.
But she has a past. A past which she thought she’d left behind her. When tiny cracks start to appear in the perfect glass bubble of Fabiola’s life, that rosy future becomes blurred and uncertain. Is the past catching up with her, or was it always too good to be true?
Love, obsession, loss and revenge; Best Eaten Cold is both a compelling psychological thriller, and a cautionary tale for our times.
294 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2017
1179 people are currently reading
1116 people want to read
About the author
Tony Salter
6 books59 followersTony writes pacy contemporary thrillers. Exploring different themes, but all sharing Tony’s thought-provoking plots and richly-painted characters.
His second novel, The Old Orchard – a gripping family thriller – was published on the 7th of November 2017, while his bestselling debut novel, Best Eaten Cold – a dark, psychological thriller – continues to attract loyal readers and stunning reviews. The sequel to Best Eaten Cold – Cold Intent –was published in November 2018.
Tony's fourth novel, Sixty Minutes, will be published in 2019.
Highlights of his early career include (in no particular order) three years as an oilfield engineer in the Egyptian desert, twelve years managing record companies for EMI Music in Greece, India and across Eastern Europe, running a caravan site in the South of France and being chauffeur to the French Consul in Sydney.
Having survived the Dotcom boom, he went on to be a founder of the world’s largest website for expatriates, a major music publisher and a successful hotel technology business.
In amongst this, Tony found the time to backpack around the world twice (once in his twenties and once in his fifties), learn six languages (including Norwegian and Greek) and to find a beautiful Norwegian wife.
He now lives in Oxfordshire and writes full-time. He is fifty-nine and married with three children and five grandchildren.
You can find out more about Tony at www.tonysalter.com
His second novel, The Old Orchard – a gripping family thriller – was published on the 7th of November 2017, while his bestselling debut novel, Best Eaten Cold – a dark, psychological thriller – continues to attract loyal readers and stunning reviews. The sequel to Best Eaten Cold – Cold Intent –was published in November 2018.
Tony's fourth novel, Sixty Minutes, will be published in 2019.
Highlights of his early career include (in no particular order) three years as an oilfield engineer in the Egyptian desert, twelve years managing record companies for EMI Music in Greece, India and across Eastern Europe, running a caravan site in the South of France and being chauffeur to the French Consul in Sydney.
Having survived the Dotcom boom, he went on to be a founder of the world’s largest website for expatriates, a major music publisher and a successful hotel technology business.
In amongst this, Tony found the time to backpack around the world twice (once in his twenties and once in his fifties), learn six languages (including Norwegian and Greek) and to find a beautiful Norwegian wife.
He now lives in Oxfordshire and writes full-time. He is fifty-nine and married with three children and five grandchildren.
You can find out more about Tony at www.tonysalter.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
June 9, 2018
Fabiola has it all, a loving husband, a beautiful baby and a loving stable home. Life couldn't be much more perfect until things start to happen which have her doubting herself.
This is one of those stories where I didn't quite know what to believe. Was Fabiola losing her mind or is there someone playing with her. Don't worry things do become clear with some shocking consequences.
It's hard to say too much about the story itself as I fear it may give away parts for readers that haven't yet had the pleasure of reading it. It does take some unexpected turns as I wasn't prepared for the story to take the direction it went in. This is one you need to read for yourself to see what I mean. If anything it made it more exciting as I had no clue as to what the out come was going to be.
Best Eaten Cold is a dark and tense read that kept me turning those pages. It has lots of likeable characters and some definitely not so likeable and I enjoyed the journey the author took me on. First book I have read by this author and will certainly be checking his others out. Packed full of suspense and intrigue, this really is an ideal read for fans of psychological thrillers.
This is one of those stories where I didn't quite know what to believe. Was Fabiola losing her mind or is there someone playing with her. Don't worry things do become clear with some shocking consequences.
It's hard to say too much about the story itself as I fear it may give away parts for readers that haven't yet had the pleasure of reading it. It does take some unexpected turns as I wasn't prepared for the story to take the direction it went in. This is one you need to read for yourself to see what I mean. If anything it made it more exciting as I had no clue as to what the out come was going to be.
Best Eaten Cold is a dark and tense read that kept me turning those pages. It has lots of likeable characters and some definitely not so likeable and I enjoyed the journey the author took me on. First book I have read by this author and will certainly be checking his others out. Packed full of suspense and intrigue, this really is an ideal read for fans of psychological thrillers.
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July 20, 2017I would give it five stars. I wrote it:-)
I hope others enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I hope others enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
February 18, 2019
I didn't really consider this a thriller. The first half was long winded and I found it annoying and the second half was not believable.
January 21, 2020
Even though they may not always appreciate it, people know what good food tastes like. When they read author Tony Salter’s psychological thriller Best Eaten Cold, they will know what good writing looks like. Very good writing.
He tells with intelligence the tragic story of a young mother manipulated into madness by a malevolent former lover with heartbreaking consequences. Mr. Salter thoroughly understands his characters and the thoughts, feelings and events which motivate them. As a male writer, his skill is even more impressive because much of the story is told in the first-person by a woman.
Frankly, I don’t know whether a computer hacker could actually accomplish what was diabolically done here, but it’s a work of fiction and Mr. Salter has cleverly used it as a contemporary literary device to drive his story. Truthfully, after encountering so much trash by wannabe writers whose books litter the internet, it is both refreshing and reassuring to find a talent like Mr. Salter.
At one point, one of his characters says: “I wish I was a poet or writer, someone who could dip a hand into their mind, take out a handful of golden corn and, flicking their wrist like an old farmer, spread it evenly onto the page.” Tony Salter has done exactly that. Onto all 285 of them.
Best Eaten Cold is the best book I have read in a very long time.
He tells with intelligence the tragic story of a young mother manipulated into madness by a malevolent former lover with heartbreaking consequences. Mr. Salter thoroughly understands his characters and the thoughts, feelings and events which motivate them. As a male writer, his skill is even more impressive because much of the story is told in the first-person by a woman.
Frankly, I don’t know whether a computer hacker could actually accomplish what was diabolically done here, but it’s a work of fiction and Mr. Salter has cleverly used it as a contemporary literary device to drive his story. Truthfully, after encountering so much trash by wannabe writers whose books litter the internet, it is both refreshing and reassuring to find a talent like Mr. Salter.
At one point, one of his characters says: “I wish I was a poet or writer, someone who could dip a hand into their mind, take out a handful of golden corn and, flicking their wrist like an old farmer, spread it evenly onto the page.” Tony Salter has done exactly that. Onto all 285 of them.
Best Eaten Cold is the best book I have read in a very long time.
September 8, 2018
Great read..
Twist and Turns the whole way. Didn't want to put it down, waiting to see what happens next. Definitely will read more from Tony Salter.
Twist and Turns the whole way. Didn't want to put it down, waiting to see what happens next. Definitely will read more from Tony Salter.
January 10, 2019
3.5 stars
I expected more after reading all the rave reviews. The first half meandered rather slowly but kept my interest, laying the groundwork for the protagonist, Fabiola, to reflect back before she married her husband and had a child. She had been in a five year committed relationship with another woman. Her husband didn't know this either. She is happy now but keeps getting weird threatening emails and texts that disappear and can't be traced. It is driving her crazy because no one seems to believe her. She questioned her own sanity at times, as did her husband. I felt that she gave up too easily. It was very sad in parts, as the reader roots for Fab to fight back.
The second half where Fabiola's son is grown up was a futuristic look at technology, but not that mind-blowing. The first part of this section didn't keep me that interested in how the company and the woman he works for thrived in business. He is living with the woman who is his boss. It didn't take me very long to figure out who she was. It got more interesting when the boy-toy figured it out too.
The writing style is different and the concept original. The side characters are also relatable. All in all, not a bad read, but not really what I was expecting.
I expected more after reading all the rave reviews. The first half meandered rather slowly but kept my interest, laying the groundwork for the protagonist, Fabiola, to reflect back before she married her husband and had a child. She had been in a five year committed relationship with another woman. Her husband didn't know this either. She is happy now but keeps getting weird threatening emails and texts that disappear and can't be traced. It is driving her crazy because no one seems to believe her. She questioned her own sanity at times, as did her husband. I felt that she gave up too easily. It was very sad in parts, as the reader roots for Fab to fight back.
The second half where Fabiola's son is grown up was a futuristic look at technology, but not that mind-blowing. The first part of this section didn't keep me that interested in how the company and the woman he works for thrived in business. He is living with the woman who is his boss. It didn't take me very long to figure out who she was. It got more interesting when the boy-toy figured it out too.
The writing style is different and the concept original. The side characters are also relatable. All in all, not a bad read, but not really what I was expecting.
June 9, 2018
Roller Coaster Ride
I really wasn't sure what to expect in this book. It starts out a bit slow, with a fair amount of political\protestor stuff. Then you think you know how it will unfold, who is responsible and how it will play out. "Haven't I read this plot a thousand times?" You would be wrong. I am not one who is usually still guessing at the end of a book - I was with Best Eaten Cold.
I really wasn't sure what to expect in this book. It starts out a bit slow, with a fair amount of political\protestor stuff. Then you think you know how it will unfold, who is responsible and how it will play out. "Haven't I read this plot a thousand times?" You would be wrong. I am not one who is usually still guessing at the end of a book - I was with Best Eaten Cold.
July 9, 2018
Please read this book
I very much wanted to put this book down and stop reading it. That was impossible. The characters became friends and watching the torture of a young mother was difficult for me! The twists and turns were so exciting and unexpected.
I highly recommend this book! I would love to have read this as part of a book club to discuss it with someone. I was sorry it came to an end!!!
I very much wanted to put this book down and stop reading it. That was impossible. The characters became friends and watching the torture of a young mother was difficult for me! The twists and turns were so exciting and unexpected.
I highly recommend this book! I would love to have read this as part of a book club to discuss it with someone. I was sorry it came to an end!!!
September 11, 2018
Bear eaten cold
The book was ok, probably won’t read more from this author. I dislike profanity and without the profanity the outcome was the same. Not sure why someone with writing talent needs to use profanity when their words could and should elicit the same reaction if chosen right.
The book was ok, probably won’t read more from this author. I dislike profanity and without the profanity the outcome was the same. Not sure why someone with writing talent needs to use profanity when their words could and should elicit the same reaction if chosen right.
July 16, 2017
Solid 3.5 but not quite a 4.
I figured things out pretty early on.
One thing I will say is that my kids' generation does NOT worry about privacy and tracking and so forth like my generation and the ones previous. It completely freaks me out.
I figured things out pretty early on.
One thing I will say is that my kids' generation does NOT worry about privacy and tracking and so forth like my generation and the ones previous. It completely freaks me out.
November 9, 2017
You will not be able to put the book down.........
Really good book - thought it was going to be about computers but it was but the story line that ran alongside was very compelling
Really good book - thought it was going to be about computers but it was but the story line that ran alongside was very compelling
June 19, 2018
Just sat up all night reading this book. I was unable to put it down despite being very tired.
The narrative is tense, chillingly so, and the pace just enough to keep you on edge.
It was easy to empathise with Fabiola and her frustrations felt very real.
Overall a brilliant book.
The narrative is tense, chillingly so, and the pace just enough to keep you on edge.
It was easy to empathise with Fabiola and her frustrations felt very real.
Overall a brilliant book.
September 16, 2018
The title put me off
Downloaded this some time ago but put off reading it for the above reason.
The first part was gripping and realistic wih such a sad ending
I did not see the twist in the second part coming, although with hindsight I should have done so.
A really good read.
Downloaded this some time ago but put off reading it for the above reason.
The first part was gripping and realistic wih such a sad ending
I did not see the twist in the second part coming, although with hindsight I should have done so.
A really good read.
August 29, 2017
Okay
The book was a little slow for me and not terrifying. I thought the main character gave up too quickly.
The book was a little slow for me and not terrifying. I thought the main character gave up too quickly.
February 19, 2019
This was a terrific story, though he really needs to brush up on his punctuation, hence the 4 and not 5* review. It is packed full of surprises and really held my interest the whole way through. I thought I'd lost my breath at one critical moment !! I knew what I was expecting to read but it turned out to be anything but, which was tremendous. He created a really interesting tale for sure. I'm saying no more as I won't spoil it and thanks to reviewers before me as they didn't ruin my experience, either. The pieces of internet advice at the beginning of each chapter made for some intriguing reading as well.
I really liked the analogy of Sam's family tree he mentioned and the couple of times we read about Nonno had me in tears.
He spelt straight-laced like this when it should be strait-laced, he didn't use apostrophes where he was supposed to......minutes walk away/hours notice/Ladies-he missed off speechmarks THEN added them where nobody was talking, but MOST irritating was his aversion to using question marks !!
He capitalised Euros, Polo and Fluoxetine then didn't, wrote out and not our, this sentence meant nothing, "I'm doing do my best" and neither did this, "......but I wasn't slightly surprised her bat-ears had picked up on our conversation." If his proofreader does a better job next time out, I'm sure it will be a 5* read for the sequel, which I will be reading.
I really liked the analogy of Sam's family tree he mentioned and the couple of times we read about Nonno had me in tears.
He spelt straight-laced like this when it should be strait-laced, he didn't use apostrophes where he was supposed to......minutes walk away/hours notice/Ladies-he missed off speechmarks THEN added them where nobody was talking, but MOST irritating was his aversion to using question marks !!
He capitalised Euros, Polo and Fluoxetine then didn't, wrote out and not our, this sentence meant nothing, "I'm doing do my best" and neither did this, "......but I wasn't slightly surprised her bat-ears had picked up on our conversation." If his proofreader does a better job next time out, I'm sure it will be a 5* read for the sequel, which I will be reading.
May 7, 2020
3.5 stars.
Fabiola is happily married and has just had a baby. She is happy. But then she starts to forget things. And the book introduces lines from a book on phone hacking and what they can do to all your online information.
So as Fabiola is going about her day to day life, begins the scene someone is messing with her head and making her look like she has some serious mental health issues. Life goes from perfect to horrid in just a few years. But who’s behind it? The story is great. It make me super paranoid about how little I know about security on my devices though!
A great paced book, doesn’t get boring at any point and I really enjoyed it.
Fabiola is happily married and has just had a baby. She is happy. But then she starts to forget things. And the book introduces lines from a book on phone hacking and what they can do to all your online information.
So as Fabiola is going about her day to day life, begins the scene someone is messing with her head and making her look like she has some serious mental health issues. Life goes from perfect to horrid in just a few years. But who’s behind it? The story is great. It make me super paranoid about how little I know about security on my devices though!
A great paced book, doesn’t get boring at any point and I really enjoyed it.
October 7, 2018
Edge of seat psychological thriller
This book kept me awake. I had to finish it and finally did so at 4am! I felt for Fabiola and wanted to scream at Rupert to listen to his wife. This story spans two generations and came to a successful and believable ending. I enjoyed the intrigue. Well done for writing the stories of these believable, rich characters and for touching on the themes of class and the stigma that still exists around mental health. Very rivetting read.
This book kept me awake. I had to finish it and finally did so at 4am! I felt for Fabiola and wanted to scream at Rupert to listen to his wife. This story spans two generations and came to a successful and believable ending. I enjoyed the intrigue. Well done for writing the stories of these believable, rich characters and for touching on the themes of class and the stigma that still exists around mental health. Very rivetting read.
February 7, 2020
One really has to suspend disbelief, perhaps more than is humanly possible, to buy into any part of this book. The characters are one dimensional, the plot line is predictable (and fantastical) and the tone is overly melodramatic. There were one or 2 surprises though, but not because of any amount of deft writing but because I'd given up expecting anything from the author. I just wanted to get it over with.
June 8, 2018
This is what I call a psychological thriller ☺
This is Tony Salters debut novel.You would never think that!! It really is a fabulous book.The story is great but it's the way it's written that really impressed me.I cannot recommend this book highly enough Tony is now working on a sequel but until then he does have another novel available plus a couple of short stories which I can't wait to read
This is Tony Salters debut novel.You would never think that!! It really is a fabulous book.The story is great but it's the way it's written that really impressed me.I cannot recommend this book highly enough Tony is now working on a sequel but until then he does have another novel available plus a couple of short stories which I can't wait to read
April 3, 2018
i won a copy of this book in the good reads giveaway
i really enjoyed it, it is full of suspense, twist, turns, sadness and some joy,
its a story of how someone's obsessive love can literately ruin lives, and how frighting so called revenge can be become using modern day technology.
i really enjoyed it, it is full of suspense, twist, turns, sadness and some joy,
its a story of how someone's obsessive love can literately ruin lives, and how frighting so called revenge can be become using modern day technology.
Read
September 23, 2017Loved it. Never knew what was going to happen next.
September 29, 2017
A very unique read. It is a great psychological thriller that anyone could enjoy!
October 11, 2017
Really enjoyed this. It went in a direction I was not expecting.
June 6, 2018
Couldn’t put this book down,I enjoyed it immensely and heartily recommend it.
June 9, 2018
Thriller
This book kept me guessing. Scary to think what people can do with technology! Follow a young Mom when someone takes over her technology (phone, Facebook) and she begins to think she is going crazy. Can she take care of her infant son. Can she convince her husband that she isn't crazy. Will it all be too late for her?
This book kept me guessing. Scary to think what people can do with technology! Follow a young Mom when someone takes over her technology (phone, Facebook) and she begins to think she is going crazy. Can she take care of her infant son. Can she convince her husband that she isn't crazy. Will it all be too late for her?
June 25, 2018
Thrilling
This novel kept me on the edge of my seat! I loved the way everything was wrapped up in the end.
I'm looking forward to reading his other books!
This novel kept me on the edge of my seat! I loved the way everything was wrapped up in the end.
I'm looking forward to reading his other books!
July 22, 2018
What a ride!
This book will make you think twice every time you use your cell phone. I read this and couldn't put it down. It was a ride I did not expect.
This book will make you think twice every time you use your cell phone. I read this and couldn't put it down. It was a ride I did not expect.
October 19, 2018
Fantastic storyline
O really loved this book. It was cleverly written with some great twists and turns. Thanks for a great read.
O really loved this book. It was cleverly written with some great twists and turns. Thanks for a great read.
December 28, 2018
Best book I've read in a while. Kept me hooked all the way through. Need to get me more Salter books.
August 29, 2017
Excellent read.
Original, many twists, and very well-written, this book was a page turner. I enjoyed it very much, and definitely recommend it.
Original, many twists, and very well-written, this book was a page turner. I enjoyed it very much, and definitely recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews