The Cook

A real surprise… It is not just the descriptions of food that leave you hungry for more – Mark Sanderson * The Times *
Thrilling… This is a terrific series, a vivid portrait of the East End where a thriving economy is overshadowed by the effects of inequality – Joan Smith * Sunday Times *
Chowdhury’s portrait of multicultural London is as effective as his portrayal of the mixed feelings of his characters, who may enjoy aspects of their lives but still long for the pleasures they have left behind – Natasha Cooper * Literary Review *
Kamil and Anjali are a terrific team. Chowdhury makes the murder mystery feel like a brand-new invention. His second thriller is chockfull of authentic flavours and tasty surprises that will leave readers wanting more. – Christopher Fowler, author of the Bryant and May Mysteries
Marvellous! A vivid romp through the Londoner’s London, seen through the sharp eyes of a recent arrival. The only thing that induced me to put it down was the fact that it made me so hungry… * Alex Marwood *
A real page-turner * Waitrose Weekend *
The Cook is an ideal summer read… [a] dazzlingly clever plot * Sunday Times, Summer Reads of 2023 *

Ajay Chowdhury is a tech entrepreneur and theatre director. He is the inaugural winner of the Harvill Secker-Bloody Scotland prize.

His children’s book, Ayesha and the Firefish, was published in 2016 and adapted into a musical which premiered in San Francisco.

Eden Falls, his first standalone thriller, was published in July 2026.

The Waiter (Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month), published in 2021, is the first in his critically-acclaimed crime series about Detective Kamil Rahman. Rahman is an ex-policeman from Kolkata who has moved to Brick Lane in London. The series is being adapted for television by Moonage Pictures. The Patriot is the latest book in the series.

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