Review: Greedy by Callie Kazumi

Rating: 7/10

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 catch: 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 soufflé 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?

As succulent as a pan-seared duck breast, as decadent as a buttery ribeye, as mysterious and mildly alarming as whatever they put into SPAM, Callie Kazumi’s “Greedy,” is addictive, fast-paced and practically sloughing off of the bone. A novel about regretful debts, sinister truths and profoundly questionable taste, this was my first from Kazumi, and I found it to be indulgent, compelling and completely devourable; it will leave you with grease on your fingers, salt on your lips, a full belly and a clean plate. With mouth-watering food, a distinct sense of wrongness, commentary upon what it means to be nourished, and a strong anti-capitalist metaphor at its delicious, fatty heart- “Greedy,” is out from Century February 5th in the UK and Bantam February 3rd in the US.

We follow Edward Cook- a former family man who, post-COVID has found himself unemployed, with a serious gambling addiction, and as a result, in debt to the Yakuza. Whoops. He is most certainly down on his luck and so ashamed of his inability to provide that he would take anything at this point. When he comes across an advert in the paper, seeking a private chef for a billionaire, and offering a paid trial shift- despite his lack of training, or confidence in his securing the role full time, he takes it, in hope that the trial shift money will buy him another month or so with the Japanese mafia. That is how he meets Hazeline Yamamoto, and how his life changes forever. 

The central twist of “Greedy,” is not one that will ambush readers, who would have to be almost as oblivious as Ed to miss what is suggested cheerfully by the novel’s cover and marketing. Frankly, this is not a book that explores uncharted territory- but it is fun, and it seems happy to be just that. “Greedy,” is a novel that is light on its feet and generous with its rewards- it’s fast-moving, a little playful, and it still finds room for a couple of twists and turns. With its execution sharp, the pacing tight, the atmosphere on point and the commentary absolutely stellar- despite knowing the bloody direction in which we were headed, I was more than happy to take in the views as Kazumi leads us there. I knew going in what I had ordered, and the dish I was served was hot, tasty, and I had to give my compliments to the chef. 

“Greedy,” is, as advertised and then some, largely about gluttony. Whilst in the novel this is showcased most clearly by the expensive cuts of meat, and exclusive restaurants, such indulgences are only one expression of something far bigger and more problematic. It doesn’t take a scholar to see what Kazumi might be suggesting about capitalism. It’s a rather interesting read in that my favourite passages of this novel were the descriptions of Hazeline’s excessive wealth. Her house, her parties, the food- all make for great reading. Maybe we ourselves, as readers may be guilty of confusing desire with need and excess with success. “Greedy,” understands luxury as both an aesthetic and critique, and Kazumi gives readers ample time to feel both reactions, that python carpaccio and buttery lobster ultimately leaving a bitter taste in our mouths.

A real page-turner, “Greedy,” is exactly what I thought it would be, and I found it ludicrously entertaining. You may try to pace yourself, savour it, but you will demolish it standing at the kitchen counter. I was genuinely rather startled when I checked Penguin’s website to find that this thing clocks in at 400 pages. It reads much leaner, moves much faster, goes down nice without chewing required. If you want something to inhale, devour, eat with your hands, after a bacon sarnie, “Greedy,” is the next best thing.