The Sick Teacher's Cook Book

by James Huck

A darkly satirical, psychological horror thriller that will keep you gripped until the last page.
The world is becoming a much darker place. Or so it seems to Aileen Byrne, a troubled Head Teacher, struggling with her mental health and losing her grip as her professional life is dissolving into chaos. Unable to sleep, she sits alone every night and reflects on years of stress, pressure and responsibility, and the toll they have taken on her life.An inexplicable act of domestic terrorism inspires her to right a perceived wrong violently. A sequence of events that she can't quite control and doesn't want to stop unfolds. Determined to confess, compelled to act, she leaves Lewis, an abused and neglected child at the school, at the mercy of the local Mob.

382 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2020

Reviews

[Sheena Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning book. Well established characters that grab you and a compelling storyline. This one's hard to pin down to a particular genre. Is definitely dark and psychological. Don't miss this one. Well worth a look

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and psychologically thrilling The Sick Teacher’s Cookbook will take you on a mind bending, thought provoking, and eye opening journey into the current condition of the world, and how easily the here and now could reach the tipping point of the book. Teachers are overworked and underpaid, but what happens when they realise the war they are fighting, their purpose for becoming a teacher in the first place, was nothing more than a delusion in a war being lost? Throughout the entire book, I had no idea what to expect, what the final pages would hold as plans, schemes, and drama continued to unfold. The characters were expertly penned, deep, believable, and flawed with no shying away from hot topics. This really is the kind of book that makes you think, thrusting into front row and centre things you may not have even considered. I really enjoyed the descriptive and flowing writing style which had me hooked form the beautifully scripted first page right to the end. It flowed perfectly, with each perspective adding more depth to an already full and twisted world where, as they do so often in reality the line blurs between who the villain really is. Amazing read, dark, twisted, and thought provoking, everything you need from a book.

[Luce Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sick Teacher's Cook Book caught me by surprise. I am not completely sure what I expected, but what I found was certainly unexpected. This book has everything one can want in a book. There is psychological aspects along with drama, thrills, and even a touch of humor. The twists start coming and they do not end until the final pages. This book is a great read hidden behind a deceiving title, yet the title makes much more sense once you have made your way through the pages. The authors did a great job of making the story move along with ease for the reader as well as doing a fenominal job of creating a unique story that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. James Huck must continue writing. I look forward to his astonishing creativity in future novels.

[Reekfeel Reekfeel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A GREAT INTRIGUING READ

What starts as another humdrum day at school, then at 14% in, Wow!, everything is turned on its head with a shocking whammy!! Heroes turn into villains, villains to heroes, and lots of unexpected things happen among the great off-kilter imaginings. With the hyperrealism of the minutiae of life mixed with desperate social outcrys, slowly the plot flares into its inevitable but still unexpected climax of lost hope. With marvellously flawed characters and colourful descriptions, it's a gripping read. 

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Huck draws us slowly into the heart of madness and vigilantism in The Sick Teacher’s Cook Book! Teacher Aileen has slowly been succumbing to years of stress. After an event of domestic terrorism, she decides she’s not going to take it anymore. Huck knows how to ratchet up the tension while also blending in some dark humor in a way that makes The Sick Teacher’s Cook Book gripping and a thrill to read! If you’re looking for a psychological thriller with perfect pacing, come get schooled by Aileen in this one!

[Aaron Lebold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is very well written and illustrates the strain of the monotony of everyday professional existence. The theme causes you to second guess the actions of people who have had enough of the system, and as the story unfolds it becomes increasingly difficult to identify who the "good guy"'s are. The theme of a small-time drug dealer and professional educators both doing what they feel is best for a neglected child may have you question what the "right thing" to do actually is.

[Tenkara Smart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a PAGE-TURNER and I was so surprised by the plot. The main characters, Aileen and Robert, work in education and over the years have grown disenchanted and discouraged with the overall system, and for Aileen in particular, the struggles and plights of children in today's society. It is this premise that drives Aileen to behave in a way that I never expected and one that I found intriguing and highly interesting. With both of these characters, especially Aileen, I ended up feeling empathy for her even though the way she handles herself is far from admirable.

The writing is outstanding and there are many themes running through this novel: Terrorism and the impact on school systems and society; mental health; drug addiction; justice; relationships, and violence, and it's all done in a way that didn't put me off or make me want to stop reading like I experience with other books in this genre. As 'dark' as one of the main themes was, I never felt like it was ‘too much’ or ‘too dark’ and I wanted to keep reading. And, as macabre as some of the characters were, they were humanized by the author and I (surprisingly) grew to care about each of them, regardless of their actions or occupation.

I am super glad I read this. I even talked about it with my husband (which means I liked it). It's a great book club read because it's entertaining and there's a lot to talk about and question, like: Were Aileen's actions warranted? Did Robert do the right thing? Are children in today’s society properly protected and cared for?

Overall 5/5 stars by me and I recommend.

[Hayleigh Sol · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Karma Reviewing Program, I found this gem. The Sick Teacher's Cook Book plunges the reader from the first chapter into the mind of Aileen Byrne while she writes her unusual cookbook confessional. On a seemingly ordinary school day, several coordinated terrorist attacks across London have the Head Teacher dealing with the aftermath by implementing and testing improved safety measures for her school. The teaching staff react to the news in different ways and we’re introduced to Robert Carpenter, another main character who is, at times, Aileen’s antagonist and others her confessor. Both initially got into teaching in hopes of making a real difference in children’s lives but the years of frustrations and mounting expectations from reviews on performance, to safeguarding children who are abused or neglected to now managing terrorist threats have left each of them disillusioned with the system and the world, in general. Aileen’s answer is unique and horrifying...until she begins confiding in and educating Robert, the only one who sees the darker secrets she hides beneath her mask of competent professionalism, and the reader begins to understand her choices.

Plot and character development, especially with Aileen and Robert, were excellent. Secondary character Lewis was also a pleasure to read and, as other reviewers have mentioned, scenes with him and his temporary caretakers provided much-needed mood-lightening throughout a dark and twisted tale. At times, especially with Aileen, the writing was overly loquacious or veered into tangents unnecessary to the story. This may have been intentional on the author’s part to show us her mental illness, but it made it difficult to fully immerse myself. The deliciously dark overtone of the book and the particularly poignant ending with Robert’s wife made for an overall wonderfully chilling story I recommend.

[Amy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtaking

Aileen Byrne is a principal at an elementary school. Yet, behind closed doors, the truth of what she is holds to be much darker. Emptiness has drove her to the brink of insanity. Her murder of negligent parent Maggie Tracey sets off a spiral that Aileen knows will end with only one thing: the end of it all.

I normally wait a few days after reading a book to review it. That helps the thoughts settle in my head. Most books leave me reeling. This one is no different, except I feel compelled to go ahead and rush out these whirlwind thoughts.

Huck has constructed what can only be described as a phenomenal and thought-provoking read. His narrative as he dives into what creates a villain and sympathies they are due struck me at the very core. He painted such a vivid picture of Aileen and the horrors she’s faced, creating a antagonist that I hesitate to even call that. As a teacher myself, I can understand what she pushed her to that edge, and I really hope I never reach that level of emptiness myself.

This one will stick with me for a very long time. Definitely recommend.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, if you think this is a recipe book then you are totally mistaken. The cover pic and the title are so deceiving that makes you think of the plot which is completely different from the actual plot. And what happened to be inside the book is delightful to read.

This is a story of a psychopath teacher who wants to take revenge on the system that she had had enough with. This book has everything that a reader wants in a story and has drama, thrill, mystery, humour. It's a psychological thriller filled with dark humour.

It's a definite page-turner and the twists throughout the story keep you guessing and hooked till the end. The author has very cleverly interwoven the characters and has beautifully narrated the story. The pace of the story is decent and it's very well written. And the story flows smoothly for the reader's benefit.

I liked the story and I highly recommend it to everyone.

[Darla Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This starts out as a slightly humorous novel set in a typical English town. As an edge of disturbance grows, events begin to take on dark undertones until you are quite literally lanced in the brain unexpectedly. Despite its dark and disturbing undertones, this is a well-written novel that grapples many of the moral issues of our society. Having been a teacher most of my working life, I can underscore the reality of many described situations contained in this novel. The story is fast-paced and addictive with twists and turns a many. A fantastic read for anyone who prefers a mix of macabre infused into their reading. Unexpected but brilliant ending. Must read.

[Kelly J Woodworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killed, Ate, Time to Investigate

A dark and twisted tale that is entertaining from beginning to end. This story contained many elements that keep you on the edge of your seat. My favorite character was Lewis because he was a principal source of a little humor in this morbid tale with the things he does despite his circumstances. The plot was well thought out; the style was smooth and carried me to the end, needing to know what would happen next. I enjoyed this book, highly recommend!

[Joshua Insole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a grin plastered onto my face throughout the entirety of this book (read into that regarding my psyche what you will!). It's beautifully dark and twisted, absolutely pitch black. It was right up my alley! The last sentence of the book (no spoilers) had me shouting "Oh damn!" into my apartment. Supremely well-written. I love the cast of characters, and honestly had no idea where it was going until the twists and turns hit me. Can thoroughly recommend! I look forward to seeing what James does in the future.

[Onia Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! I loved the characters - I fell in love with Lewis - and I loved the way the plot unfolded.
It was obvious things were heading downhill, but the exact turns the journey takes is far from predictable!
The quirky plot and dark humour is so believable at point of reading, that it is a strangely believable story - not least because of the gritty backdrop of state education.
The humour is on many levels and hits the spot on each of those levels! If you only read one indie off the wall book in 2021 - read The Sick Teachers Cook Book by James Huck.

[Samantha Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book from this author. The plot was indeed very interesting. The storyline was very interesting that kept me hooked until the very end. It was so dark, and not knowing what was going to happen next. Keeping me on the edge of my seat! Like no joke! Lewis was indeed an interesting character to the book for sure. Well formatted, and easy to read. I recommend this book to many people.

[Brigitte Morse-Starkenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dark and Macabre but Fantastic Read!
The world seems to have gone mad with random acts of horror happening all over the place and with this mayhem in the background the main characters slowly unravel into a state of hopelessness. This is a brilliantly dark story of a highly disturbed head mistress who has been plotting her revenge at the world for years. I loved the poor Mr Carpenter who slowly gets sucked into the madness, but may still save the day, or not! I don't want to give too much away! It's thought provoking and addresses some hard hitting social issues. Little warning; you may need a strong stomach for some of the scenes! Brilliantly written and highly recommended!

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not what you would expect... of course not a cookbook per say... But dark and chilling with a great story plot and characters. Hard to put down and harder to walk away from.

[D.M.Z. Liyanage · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Sick Teacher’s Cookbook’ was a great read! Wonderfully dark and humourous, I was gripped from the first page. Well and vividly written, with interesting characters and unexpected plot twists, this book keeps you guessing until the end. If you like slow-burn psychological thrillers, give this book a read – you will not be disappointed! This is no cook-book! Five out of five stars!

[Oliver Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read two of Stephen King's most compelling characters, Annie Wilkes and Dolores Claiborne, I thought this pair would be hard to equal, much less top. Enter James Huck's character. Man, this was everything I wanted in a psychological thriller book where I felt like I entered another dimension of frightening madness. This has been a dark, fun read!

[Greta Viola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected, amazing plot.

I did not know what to expect from the cover and the title, and this was really intriguing.
The plot is well developed, I loved the psychological aspects of it.

Another thing that I really appreciated is that I couldn't guess the end of the book, infact it is packed with unexpected twists, and this was what really engaged me till the end!

Well done!!

[Linda Hehir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recipe for disaster.

Bought this book on whim. So not what I was expecting. Turned out to be a psychological thriller story of two teachers whose lives become intertwined with disastrous effect and an unexpected ending Well written. Would recommend for those who enjoy something out of the ordinary.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and Thrilling.
A gripping and thrilling book to enjoy. You would never guess what would happen next. The plot is very enjoyable and easy flowing and so is the flow of conversation. Highly engaging and entertaining in a bizarre and unique way.

[Vicky Peplow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth a read!

This book was very unusual to read but highly entertaining never the less. The twists and turns within the book had me glued and didn't want it to end. The storyline was well thought out along with the characters. Great read.

[Michele Ceron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this book surprised me in that it had me guessing the whole time and didn't go where I thought it would! "When school teachers go rouge" is the theme of this book I would say. The first half of the book I thought that Aileen Byrne the head teacher at a school somewhere in England was a total psychopath. She reminded me so much at first of Joan Ferguson from the Australian tv show Wentworth or the original british version of it which is called Cell Block D or something like that. I totally imagined the actress who plays Joan on Wentworth as Aileen. But then this book surprised me from veering off from that Joan Ferguson profile and it was totally unexpected! I dont want to say too much because then i will give it away. Even though she is the main character, there are several other characters whose lives all get intertwined unwittingly with her. Everyday people who will also turn out to surprise you. This book is highly entertaining in both a mordid, ghastly but yet even slightly humorous way! It was difficult to put it down most of the time!

[Dakota Voss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Applause! Applause! Very well done, Sir. Compelling stories stick with you even after they are finished, and this is one of those. Thrilling and a psychological ride through the mind of a mentally ill teacher. My predictions of what I thought the plot was going to be was delightfully wrong! Way better than I expected. Once it took a hold of me I had to continue reading until the end. Dark and twisted, but very satisfying. Loved it! Like I said, very well done, Sir.

[Julia Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect before I started reading this book. It was an interesting read where the plot revolves around a head teacher who is, for want of a better word, unhinged. She takes revenge on the system she has had enough of.

The only criticism I have is that the language used in this book is somewhat over formal. It’s written in the third person and is very descriptive in some places.

However, it is a book with a clever plot with a sub plot running alongside it. I was rooting for Lewis throughout and was happy with the ending.

[Dan Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to be unable to put a book down, thrilled, put in suspense, invested in characters, routing for protagonists and this book failed on all counts. I want to be able to recommend every book I read and I'm the kind of person who always finishes a book on principle (or out of habit). So it's not lightly that I say it was hard to push on all the way through this one. As an author I want other authors to succeed but in my honest and most constructive opinion this one's got a way to go.

The (apparent) social dystopian theme almost takes over the plot. The book reads like an extended police surveillance report in one monotonous voice with hardly any attempt to give characters their own voices. I felt , bombarded by myriad irrelevant details and descriptive material which made sentences a handful and didn't really evoke the feelings or scenes being described. At one point it flat out explains terminology to me with no discernible attempt at staying in the given character's narrative.

I was hoping for some redeeming features like an unpredictable but cleverly and subtly signposted plot twist but in the end, the story remained predictable to the lugubriously written last.

Sorry I just can't recommend. Buy at own risk.

[H.G. Ahedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, mind bending and just fantastic!

A fascinating tale of two people drawn towards madness.

The premise of is perfect, the main characters fascinating, intriguing and will keep you at the edge of your seat.

The story revolves around Aileen and Robert, two people who are passionate about teaching and building a better world but are scared and frustrated with the system. The injustice. The pain. And most of because they feel all their efforts are going to waste.
I can related, as a academic I know how unjust the system can be

As one reads on, one discovers that Aileen has a very dark side, and that took me by surprise. At first she appears just to be a no nonsense boss, but as you read on you discover she is really 'something'. Then i thought Robert is the normal one, I was so wrong. I didn't know all along what these two would do, and that what makes this book a page turner!

This author is talented, and the way he unravelled his characters and the plot reminded me of the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I highly recommend it!

[Carrie Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very unique story, uniquely told. What I like most about it, is it’s uniqueness. Very original. It does start slowly, and the word usage somewhat reminds me of a modern Clark Ashton Smith, where the words do more than simply tell a story but convey a feeling and impart a mood and rhythm around you as you read. I’m not trying to overstate the comparison to CAS, but I would say if Weird Tales were in publication today, this story would fit right in. Some people might not be used to this type of writing where they are more used to the Hemingway style, of words are simply meant to tell the story as concisely as possible. So, if you get somewhat bogged down at first, keep reading and appreciate the different style. It’s dark, and there is fairly graphic depictions of violence. There is also cannibalism, but neither the violence or cannibalism are gratuitous, and it fits with the characters and story. I read this as part of a book club.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, twisted satire (KU)

The Sick Teacher's Cookbook is a thought-provoking story with multiple levels and complex characters, disturbing at times; I had to remind myself it was satire. I liked the different POVs as each chapter featured another character. I loved Lewis, who brought some light and humor to the overall dark, depressing world around him.
It hits social, political, and racial aspects with several controversial remarks.
Not for the faint of heart or squeamish.
I read this as part of a book club.