By 2012 the book had already sold a million copies in Europe.
Arifa Akbar (
The Independent) noted that the "sly" and "riveting" novel seems to head in one direction, then "is galloping down another, unexpected path" and finds that it "may thrill, chill or cheat", whereby its "spectacular style triumphs over substance".
Claire Messud noted a "bracing nastiness" in the book as more and more secrets are disclosed. She opines that
The Dinner is, to some extent, "attuned to a distinctly European society, one simultaneously more ostentatious in its apparent "civilization" and more ashamed of its underlying savagery". Lisa Zeidner (
The Washington Post) recognized
black humor in the novel as in the unlikely choice of a public restaurant for the delicate discussion. She opined that Koch illustrates the absurdities of our privileged daily lives and pokes fun at "Dutch mediocrity". == Film adaptations ==