The job of her dreams… the family of her nightmares.

When Julia Fouquet lands a job as a private cook for a wealthy family in Malibu, she thinks she’s living the dream.

But her new employer, Erica Drake, is far from the glamorous star Julia expected. Her moods range from fawning to furious in an instant and most mornings start with a glass or two of rosé. Her erratic behaviour soon makes Julia wish she’d never set foot in their expansive, beach-side home.

As the family’s secrets bubble to the surface, Julia must keep a cool head. She’s a chef, after all. Pressure comes with the job. And she’s worked hard to get so close to the picture-perfect Drakes. If they figure out her secret now, her carefully laid plans will go up in flames…

A gripping and utterly compulsive read that will have you racing toward the last dramatic page. Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and anything by Lisa Jewell will be up all night reading The Private Chef.

Readers love books by Samantha Vérant:

‘Secrets behind closed and locked doors, deceit, manipulation, entitlement, money to burn and twists that keep you from putting this book down.’ Reader review, ?????

‘The story swept me off my feet and I raced along on this rapid river… the intrigues, the lies and the twists… I was shocked.’ Reader review, ?????

‘Readers will not put this book down until they know who wins… with twists at every turn, this gripping tale will take you on the ride of your life.’ Reader review, ?????

‘I’m at a loss for words other than what a story! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning. If you are into a plot-twisting story……..this book is waiting for you.’ Reader review, ?????

‘Oh, the tangled webs we weave… wow, The Lucky Widow is a very good book… a mind-blowing conclusion.’ Reader review, ?????

‘Tremendous… fast-paced, intriguing and wholly entertaining… characters that jump from the page and a narrative laced with caustic wit. A one-sit read for this reader who relished every single page.’ Reader review, ?????

‘A gripping thriller that will have you rapidly turning the pages until you reach the spectacular ending.’ Reader review, ?????

‘Wow! I was up through the wee smalls reading… Don't miss this gripping tale, sure to keep you up all night too. Brava.’ Reader review, ?????

‘This book gets so wild the more you read! I was totally hooked from page 1 and loved the different perspectives, how the characters evolved.’ Reader review, ?????

‘This book has A LOT of drama to unpack… I’ll be up way too late tonight, because I had to see how this one ended! The ending had twist after twist, and I didn’t see any of them coming.’ Reader review, ?????

‘A crazy wild ride from start to finish. Every page turn added to the drama and thrills.’ Reader review, ?????

‘Draws you in from the start… the manipulation, the speculation, the lies, and the deceit will have you turning the pages to find out the truth! A perfect book to take on vacation!’ Reader review, ?????

‘Had me hooked from start to finish… full of thrilling drama that I struggled to put down… I was on the edge of my seat throughout.’ Reader review, ?????