? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-

Butter by Asako Yuzuki is the perfect read for a night-in that combines food and murder with a gastronomical serial killer. With 23 novels under her belt attesting it's no surprise that Yuzuki is already one of Japan’s celebrated literary figures. However, Butter marks her debut into the English-reading market and what better entry to make other than with a murderess accused of seducing her rich victims with food and swindling them out of their money.

The story is centered around Manako Kajii. She is a captivating 35-year-old connoisseur imprisoned for the deaths of three men she lured with her culinary skills.

From Kajii’s tantalizing recipes on her blog to high-end restaurants and humble ramen shops, butter takes center stage, evoking sensations of pleasure and decadence with every bite.

Despite Kajii’s reluctance to engage with the media, a tenacious journalist Rika Machida stops at nothing to uncover the truth behind the enigmatic chef’s story. As their professional relationship blurs into an unlikely friendship, Machida finds herself drawn into Kajii’s world, even acting as her culinary proxy behind bars.

It’s a melting pot of genres: Blending the food with insights into Japan’s media landscape and societal expectations of women. While crime aficionados may find it lacking in traditional noir thrills, it offers a thought-provoking exploration of female identity and autonomy in a patriarchal society.

It’s a feast for the senses, tantalizing readers with its sumptuous descriptions of food while serving up a nuanced commentary on gender norms and societal pressures in contemporary Japan.

You can get your copy of the book on Amazon.

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