Care for some ... um ... seagull meat?
Thanks so much to Celadon for inviting me to a twisted evening to celebrate the English translation release of The Secret Dinner.
How far would YOU go for financial security?
Dante and his friends are excited to leave their rural town for the excitement of Copacabana, Rio. They’re struggling students who somehow manage to land a dream apartment in their budget, but years later, their financial situations haven’t improved a bit. And after one friend's foolish decision puts them in danger of eviction, they have to come up with a way to make a LOT of money VERY quickly.
Their "unique" dinner party idea starts as a ridiculous joke, but once they realize the financial opportunity they’ve got, there’s no going back. As they get deeper and deeper into the twisted underworld of Rio’s elite, their participation locks them into a bargain with lots of wealth, but deadly consequences. Their lives are at stake, but will they be able to stomach the ethics of this horrific new career path?
It's a nauseating spiral into the bored minds of those with too much power & wealth who always want to widen the gap, who always want to feel even more separated from the masses. In this story, the rich quite literally eat the poor.
We’re reading from the perspective of the students who sit somewhere in the middle of this classist hierarchy, so they’re driven by an interesting blend of ambition & fear. Yes, there’s lots of suspense around “will they get caught??”, but the more thrilling aspect to me was witnessing them make each (worse) decision & wondering just how far they were willing to go. What are the limits of your humanity? Is there an innate ability for monstrosity within all of us if you’re desperate enough?
Raphael Montes isn’t afraid to go ALL IN on this concept (just wait until you get to the chapter “Dante’s Inferno”), and his dark creativity and visceral imagery will stick with me. It was a ride, and if you’re hungry (haha) for a devourable (haha) thriller, you won’t be able to look away from this one.
* My full review is available on GR and SG! *
#thrillerbooks #horrorbooks #cannibalismbooks #booktok #nycinfluencer @Celadon Books
Reading The Secret Dinner truly made me reflect on how desperation can push people beyond their usual moral boundaries. The mix of suspense and dark creativity by Raphael Montes really immerses you in the unsettling world of Rio's elite, where the divide between classes is not just social but terrifyingly literal. As the students concoct their plan to avoid eviction, I found myself questioning how far I would go in their shoes. The theme of cannibalism in this story isn’t just about physical consumption—it’s a powerful metaphor for the exploitation by the wealthy and the cost paid by those struggling to survive. The way Montes blends horror and thriller elements reminded me of classic suspense films, with the added twisted humor that brings a unique tone to the narrative. The infamous chapter “Dante’s Inferno” is particularly haunting and stayed with me long after reading. It’s clear that this story isn’t just about shock value—it asks deeper questions about human nature and societal inequality. If you’re a fan of books that mix social commentary with chilling psychological tension, this novel will grip you from the first page. It’s fascinating to see how the students' initial joke turns into a life-altering, dangerous compulsion. Their internal conflict and gradual moral decay are compelling and tragic, making The Secret Dinner a book that’s hard to put down yet difficult to forget. For those interested in exploring darker narratives that challenge ethical limits and expose the stark realities of class division, this book is an excellent choice. The visceral imagery and the rich setting of Copacabana add layers of realism and dread that make the story all the more impactful.
