Out on 20 August 2026
Synopsis
'Dark, compelling, and wickedly smart ... deliciously twisted thriller' Lisa Jewell, author of None of This is True
'By turns gory, shocking, macabre and often very funny, you won't be able to put it down' Alex Michaelides, author of The Silent Patient
As Dante and his friends leave their small town for the rush of the big city, they can only think of the endless possibilities. But Rio de Janeiro is not the easiest place to live in and the rent is due every month.
As a kind gesture turns rotten, Dante and his crew have to figure out a way to make money, and to make it fast. They find their answer through a new website, offering authentic dinners to foreign travellers and Rio's elite. How hard can it be?
When a joke addition to the menu sees them make all the money they need in one night, Dante is faced with a question he never thought he would be: how much money is enough to stop cooking human flesh?
'Secret Dinner is delectable and diabolical, a zesty blend of Parasite, Sweeney Todd, and Fight Club.' A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window
'Fast-paced tale ... quickly morphs into something much more sinister.' The New York Times
'By turns gory, shocking, macabre and often very funny, you won't be able to put it down' Alex Michaelides, author of The Silent Patient
As Dante and his friends leave their small town for the rush of the big city, they can only think of the endless possibilities. But Rio de Janeiro is not the easiest place to live in and the rent is due every month.
As a kind gesture turns rotten, Dante and his crew have to figure out a way to make money, and to make it fast. They find their answer through a new website, offering authentic dinners to foreign travellers and Rio's elite. How hard can it be?
When a joke addition to the menu sees them make all the money they need in one night, Dante is faced with a question he never thought he would be: how much money is enough to stop cooking human flesh?
'Secret Dinner is delectable and diabolical, a zesty blend of Parasite, Sweeney Todd, and Fight Club.' A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window
'Fast-paced tale ... quickly morphs into something much more sinister.' The New York Times
Details
20 August 2026
352 pages
9781806172139
Imprint: Zaffre
Reviews
“The translator Zoë Alexandra Perry brings Brazil's top thriller writer to American readers with this fast-paced tale of four broke 20-somethings lured into the world of Rio's shady elite. What begins as a jokey get-rich-quick scheme - catering exclusive dinner parties - quickly morphs into something much more sinister.”Miguel Salazar and Laura Thompson, The New York Times
“Raphael is an author who masterfully controls tension (...). In his writing, it is possible to see the influence of suspense masters such as Patricia Highsmith, Agatha Christie and Jim Thompson. Even stronger are the cinematic influences: Raphael Montes is a mixture of Alfred Hitchcock's suspense with Quentin Tarantino's black comedy.”Pedro Martins, The Guardian
“Dark, compelling, and wickedly smart, Secret Dinner is a deliciously twisted thriller about friendship and ambition with a mind-blowing end. It seizes your breath from the first page and refuses to let go! Raphael Montes is a spectacular talent.”Lisa Jewell, Lisa Jewell
“This rollercoaster of a novel is highly imaginative and totally unique. I devoured it - no pun intended! - in one sitting. By turns gory, shocking, macabre and often very funny, you won't be able to put it down. Just be grateful you're not on the menu...”Alex Michaelides, Alex Michaelides
