What would you sacrifice for three Michelin stars?
Marcus Webb is on the verge of losing everything. His Cleveland restaurant, Essence, is failing. The critics are brutal. His investors are threatening to pull out. He's one bad review away from bankruptcy.
Then food critic Vanessa Hartwell walks in and destroys him with two stars out of five.
Marcus makes a choice that night-one that will transform him from struggling chef into culinary genius, from nobody into celebrity, from failure into the most successful restaurateur in America.
The secret to his success? A proprietary protein source that creates an addictive flavor profile unlike anything else in the world. Customers fly in from across the globe. Reservations are booked six months in advance. The food is transcendent. Unforgettable. Literally life-changing.
There's just one problem: Marcus's signature dishes are made from his victims.
CONSUMED is a darkly satirical thriller that skewers celebrity culture, late-stage capitalism, and the American obsession with food. As Marcus's empire expands from one restaurant to ten, from haute cuisine to wellness supplements, the body count rises-and so does his fame.
Detective Raymond Chen suspects the truth but can't prove it. Food influencer Michaela Rodriguez discovers the secret and gets destroyed for speaking out. And Marcus? He's trapped in a machine of his own making, where success demands an ever-increasing supply of murder.
Breaking Bad meets American Psycho in this visceral exploration of ambition, addiction, and the price of excellence. CONSUMED asks the uncomfortable question: What would you be willing to eat if it tasted good enough?
Perfect for fans of dark psychological thrillers, satirical horror, and stories that make you question everything.
With 17 chapters spanning four years, CONSUMED follows:
- Marcus Webb's transformation from chef to serial killer to CEO
- Detective Chen's investigation and the cost of pursuing impossible cases
- Michaela Rodriguez's journey from victim to accomplice to whistleblower
- The organization that turns murder into a multi-billion dollar industry
- The consequences when the truth finally comes out
This is a story about choices and their cascading consequences. About the banality of evil in modern America. About how normal people become capable of extraordinary crimes when the incentives align.
It will disturb you. It will make you think. And it might make you reconsider your next restaurant reservation.
Genre: Dark Thriller / Psychological Horror / Satirical Fiction / Crime Fiction
Themes: Ambition, addiction, capitalism, celebrity culture, moral corruption, consequences
Comp Titles:
- American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis (satirical horror, social commentary)
- The Raw Shark Texts meets culinary noir
- You by Caroline Kepnes (serial killer POV, dark humor)
- Viewers of The Menu, Breaking Bad, Succession will find familiar themes
Content Warning: This book contains graphic violence, cannibalism, and extremely dark humor. Intended for mature audiences only.
