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Monday, November 3, 2025

Greedy by Callie Kazumi

 Book review: Greedy by Callie Kazumi




Book links: Publisher websiteGoodreads


Publisher: Bantam (February 2026) Formats: Hardcover and kindle


Synopsis: Ed is in trouble with the yakuza. He's gambled away all his money and his family is at risk.

But just as he’s about to lose everything, he receives an offer he can’t refuse.


A reclusive billionaire is looking for a private chef. The only she has some. . . unusual tastes.

As he prepares delicious dishes – fresh crab salad with a panko crumb, lamb shank dripping in red wine juice, sweet, fluffy soufflĂ© pancakes – he realizes that each meal is a test, a challenge to satisfy an insatiable appetite.

Caught up in a world more sinister than he could ever have imagined, Ed finds himself entangled in another debt.

As the stakes grow, he must make a choice.
Will he stay hungry? Or will he be greedy?


Dinner is served.
Eat Up.

REVIEW

Greedy is a short fast and easy read. Let's get one thing out of the way - the marketing set the wrong expectation. We know exactly what queasy twist is showing up, the only question is how the story handles it and exactly what happens for things to get there. 

The build up to the moment is done well, and yes, this is not unsuitable for vegetarians alone, but also for anyone with a queasy stomach. I would classify this as horror, there's really no mystery/thriller element here. I first thought that the treatment of the main "spoiler" would have it read as such, but it has nothing to do with it.

I love how the real horror in the story is the protagonists desperation to do anything to put food on the table after he loses his job and gambles away all his money, down to his daughter's college fund, as well as his last-ditch attempt to keep his wife from finding out just how bad things are. That, coupled with the rising dread that accompanied his lack of options and the consequences  of owing shady people, it offers the kind of horror of a good kind - that which lurks around the corner waiting for you to make a big enough bad decision.

You don't have to, but pay attention and you just may see the actual twist at the end coming. That was a good turn, but could've been worked into the story better.

Good for one of those pacy reads with a story that does not demand focus, Greedy by Callie Kazumi might just win you over with it's easygoing approach to narration. If you're a bit picker about things like an infodumpy reveal, be wary.

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