The Chef (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | James Patterson, Max DiLallo |
| Products | Thriller novel |
The Chef is a standalone thriller authored by James Patterson in collaboration with Max DiLallo.
Plot
Caleb Rooney, a detective specializing in major crimes within the New Orleans Police Department, also co-manages a renowned food truck named Killer Chef alongside his former spouse. Following a fatal shooting involving a gang member, Rooney resigns from law enforcement to dedicate himself fully to the culinary venture. Despite his career change, he continues to be pursued by members of the gang. During Mardi Gras, Rooney uncovers a possible terrorist scheme while simultaneously dealing with rival local chefs and the FBI official investigating the same menace.
Multimedia supplementary material
This novel was enhanced with multimedia elements mainly distributed through the Facebook Messenger platform, a method literary analysts have labeled as "innovative."
Reviews
A review by Bloomberg News highlighted critiques from two culinary experts based in New Orleans, who found the novel's depiction of the city inaccurate and its portrayal of cooking overly simplistic. One specialist likened its stereotypes to those found in a "Saturday Night Live skit," recommending readers interpret it with that mindset. Conversely, book reporter delivered a favorable review, describing it as "an impressive tale" that functions independently while allowing for potential sequels centered on the Killer Chef character.
On March 10, 2019, the book reached number two on "The New York Times Best Sellers" list under the category "Combined Print & E-Book Fiction."