Michael B. (Ichabod) reviewed on 7/5/2025 + 171 more book reviews

Konstantin Duhovny is being used as a conduit for the dead, tasting the flavors of their favorite meals. He discovers that by recreating these meals he can unite the spirits with a grieving loved one. For the duration of the meal, the ghost reappears, allowing the two to bury any lingering issues. Konstantin dedicates his life to this mission, driven by a personal quest for reconciliation.

When he was ten years old, Konstantin had a heated argument with his father. "Mama's right! We should have stayed in Kiev!... You'd cook! You'd own a restaurant instead of driving a stupid bus!... And I wouldn't be so ashamed!... Go to the Devil!" His father died that day and Konstantin remained burdened by guilt. His desire to conjure the dead is, in part, fueled by his desire to reconcile with his father.

Early on, after Konstaantin's first successful conjuring, his close friend, Frankie, persuaded him to get a tarot reading from the beautiful Madame Everleigh. When he confided in her and asked about his "gift," she warned him he was treading on dangerous ground. "You're dealing with hungry spirits and capital-D Death and the Hereafter. Let me be as idiot-proof as I possibly can here. Don't ever make that food again."

The book is heavily foodie-oriented, with deep dives into flavor profiles. In order to be able to successfully replicate the flavors he is tasting, Konstantin immerses himself in restaurant work. Here he will be able to hone his skills and have access to a vast array of ingredients. Eventually he opens his own humble establishment, part of what one spirit promotes as The Konstantin Duhovny Culinary Experience.

There is romance. Madame Everleigh, whose real name is Maura, tracks Konstantin down and changes her tune about helping him with his mission. She, also, is looking to find closure with someone she's lost. They inevitably fall in love. Maybe the line of the book follows their profession of love for one another, the profound: "I love you like salt." Foodies, IYKYK.

There are plenty of unforeseen twists and turns on the menu. In addition to creative and moving ghost encounters, there are gangsters, otherworldly food courts, and even a pure embodiment of evil-- a food critic. The narrative poses two compelling questions: Will Konstantin find resolution with his father, and will there be a price to be paid for disturbing the balance between the living and the dead?

Daria Lavelle has prepared a delicious and inventive serving in "Aftertaste."

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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