When Alice Hale leaves a career to become a writer and follows her husband to the New York suburbs, she is unaccustomed to filling her days alone in a big, empty house. But when she finds a vintage cookbook buried in the basement, she becomes captivated by its previous owner: 1950s housewife Nellie Murdoch.

As Alice cooks her way through the past, she realises that within the pages Nellie left clues about her life. Soon Alice learns that while a Baked Alaska may seem harmless, Nellie’s secrets may have been anything but. When Alice uncovers a more sinister, even dangerous, side to Nellie’s marriage, and has become increasingly dissatisfied with her own relationship, she begins to take control of her life and protect herself with a few secrets of her own.

‘A bold, intoxicating, page-turner’ - Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six

‘Brown skillfully alternates between Alice’s modern world and Nellie’s in the 1950s. With plentiful historical details (including recipes and depressingly hilarious marriage advice), the pages devoted to Nellie come to life…An engaging and suspenseful look at how the patriarchy shaped women’s lives in the 1950s and continues to do so today.’ - Kirkus Reviews

‘Recipe for a Perfect Wife masterfully bridges the lives of two women, living sixty years apart, who refuse to fall victim to the patriarchy. While Karma Brown’s signature style remains, it’s laced with something sinister and dark. A brilliant, brooding, timely novel, fraught with tension, that packs a punch. Brown knows how to keep readers riveted until the very last page.’ - Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl

‘A sly, smart look at two women across two different decades as they navigate marriage, secrets, and society’s expectations. Brown’s vivid storytelling deftly explores the joys and limitations of the role of wife - a wonderful read.’ - Fiona Davis, bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls