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Butter
7.0
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The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent...
Women in translation Japan
Rika, a journalist, wants to interview female serial killer Manako Kajii, but Kajii doesn’t want to talk to anyone, least of all another woman. So Rita appeals to her love of cooking, and asks her for a recipe.
Initially I thought this would be a thriller, and whilst it has elements of that, its so much more. Butter looks at how women are regarded in society - how “thin is King (or Queen?)”, particularly in Japan. Kajii sets Rika tasks, one being to learn to cook and actually enjoy her food (that’s two tasks) - less of the “food is fuel” school of thought.
Rika learns that she’s lonely, her life is centred around her work. She wants independence, but she also wants connection. As Rita gains weight she feels happier in herself, but she’s judged by those around her of being slovenly. I mean, the work she puts in to learning to cook and actually cooking would say otherwise, but then that’s society for you.
I will say not to read this whilst you’re hungry. The descriptions of the food, it’s smell, texture, flavours - I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
I’m glad I read this. It was a really interesting insight into Japanese culture, more so than ‘just’ a thriller. There were more food descriptions than murders, that’s for certain!!
Initially I thought this would be a thriller, and whilst it has elements of that, its so much more. Butter looks at how women are regarded in society - how “thin is King (or Queen?)”, particularly in Japan. Kajii sets Rika tasks, one being to learn to cook and actually enjoy her food (that’s two tasks) - less of the “food is fuel” school of thought.
Rika learns that she’s lonely, her life is centred around her work. She wants independence, but she also wants connection. As Rita gains weight she feels happier in herself, but she’s judged by those around her of being slovenly. I mean, the work she puts in to learning to cook and actually cooking would say otherwise, but then that’s society for you.
I will say not to read this whilst you’re hungry. The descriptions of the food, it’s smell, texture, flavours - I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
I’m glad I read this. It was a really interesting insight into Japanese culture, more so than ‘just’ a thriller. There were more food descriptions than murders, that’s for certain!!
The Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo
8.0
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Sometimes you have to rock the boat to catch a killer! On the tropical island of Paraiso, Plum...
Now Comes the Dark (Basic Instincts #1)
8.0
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Roman Ballentyne is forced to make some changes. The city he loves is no longer safe. Tensions are...
Contemporary Dark MM Romance Thriller Mystery
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2627 KP) rated Whiskey Business in Books
Sep 4, 2025
Reece Finds Murder In His New Business
Reece Parker has opened Subplot, a literary themed cocktail lounge, in his hometown. He’s trying to build his clientele, so he’s thrilled when a whiskey club wants to use the space for their monthly meetings. But the first night goes wrong when one new member seems to want to go out of his way to irritate everyone. After the meeting, Reece finds that member dead in the alley behind his lounge. Fearing the hit this might do to his business, he starts investigating. Can he find the killer?
I met the author this spring, so I’ve been looking forward to this book since then. And I really enjoyed it. It captures the cozy vibes well with the setting and the characters. I’d be interested in visiting, between murders, of course. I could really feel the love the characters have for each other. The mystery starts well, and doesn’t waiver on the way to the logical climax. I might have a niggle or two with it, but I’m being nitpicky here. Reece has recently come out to himself, and I appreciated how that subplot was handled as well. If you are looking for a new cozy series, you won’t go wrong picking this one up. Me? I’m waiting for the sequel.
I met the author this spring, so I’ve been looking forward to this book since then. And I really enjoyed it. It captures the cozy vibes well with the setting and the characters. I’d be interested in visiting, between murders, of course. I could really feel the love the characters have for each other. The mystery starts well, and doesn’t waiver on the way to the logical climax. I might have a niggle or two with it, but I’m being nitpicky here. Reece has recently come out to himself, and I appreciated how that subplot was handled as well. If you are looking for a new cozy series, you won’t go wrong picking this one up. Me? I’m waiting for the sequel.
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Swipe Right for Murder in Books
Nov 6, 2021
who could believe you could find love and murder on one app!!
After Georgie feels like everybody else around her is growing up and settling down. She finally feels she is able to start dating herself after her last rough relationship so she downloads a couple of dating apps and gets a couple of matches. At the same time around her university campus there are murders happening and both of the men she has been matched and on dates with could possibly be the murderer!
Ash has a connection to every single one of the victims and Nate has an unhealthy obsession with the details of every attack going.
Well i did not expect that! I normally have a good radar on who the culprits are but this really blind sighted me! Excellent writing it really did have me gripped throughout just when you think you've got it all covered something comes out of nowhere and surprises you. It is a seriously thrilling book with twists and turns round every corner. When georgie goes away with ash i was almost screaming at her dont be so stupid a cabin in the middle of nowhere is deffinatly a recipie for desaster. i never expected the drama that followed though.
a well written novel with drama, love and murder what more could you ask for! 4/5
After Georgie feels like everybody else around her is growing up and settling down. She finally feels she is able to start dating herself after her last rough relationship so she downloads a couple of dating apps and gets a couple of matches. At the same time around her university campus there are murders happening and both of the men she has been matched and on dates with could possibly be the murderer!
Ash has a connection to every single one of the victims and Nate has an unhealthy obsession with the details of every attack going.
Well i did not expect that! I normally have a good radar on who the culprits are but this really blind sighted me! Excellent writing it really did have me gripped throughout just when you think you've got it all covered something comes out of nowhere and surprises you. It is a seriously thrilling book with twists and turns round every corner. When georgie goes away with ash i was almost screaming at her dont be so stupid a cabin in the middle of nowhere is deffinatly a recipie for desaster. i never expected the drama that followed though.
a well written novel with drama, love and murder what more could you ask for! 4/5
Murder During the LA Riots
When the LA riots happened back in 1992, Harry Bosch was a homicide detective who was called in to work crime scenes as quickly as possible since there were so many happening during that time. One of those was of a reporter from a paper in Europe. Nothing ever came of the case until twenty years later. Bosch is now working in the cold case squad, but a ballistics hit was just made that links the gun that killed the reporter to gang related murders that have happened in the years since. Can Bosch use this fresh new lead to finally solve the case?
Once again, part of the fun of the series is watching Bosch work his way to the conclusion. I never would have guessed it, but it makes perfect sense when we get there. Along the way, I enjoy spending time with Bosch and seeing how his life has evolved. I especially enjoyed watching his relationship with his daughter in this book. I did find the office politics Bosch faces border on clichéd, although I did see the higher ups point in one aspect here. I also found something that happened near the climax a little too convenient. But both of these are minor points in an otherwise strong book that will please series fans.
Once again, part of the fun of the series is watching Bosch work his way to the conclusion. I never would have guessed it, but it makes perfect sense when we get there. Along the way, I enjoy spending time with Bosch and seeing how his life has evolved. I especially enjoyed watching his relationship with his daughter in this book. I did find the office politics Bosch faces border on clichéd, although I did see the higher ups point in one aspect here. I also found something that happened near the climax a little too convenient. But both of these are minor points in an otherwise strong book that will please series fans.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2627 KP) rated Christmas Dessert Murder in Books
Dec 9, 2023
Two Christmas Murders in One Volume
This book has two Christmas Hannah Swensen stories for you.
In the first, Christmas Caramel Murder, Hannah gets involved when her business partner is accused of killing her husband’s new secretary, who just happened to be playing Mrs. Claus to Herb’s Santa in the community theater. This book borrows a bit from A Christmas Carol, and that makes it a little weird for fans of the series, but it is still enjoyable, with a good wrap up and cameos if not large parts for the regular characters.
The second story is Christmas Cake Murder, which flashes back to Hannah’s first Christmas after her father passed away. In an effort to get her mother out of her grief, Hannah agrees to help put on a Christmas ball filled with cakes. The mystery doesn’t really kick in until late in the story, although there are bread crumbs early on. What is most fun for fans of the series is watching Hannah build the life we are already familiar with.
Between the two stories, there are lots of recipes for you to try at Christmas.
Obviously, if you already have the two books, you’ll be fine skipping this collection. But if you’ve missed them, you might want to consider this way to get the stories.
In the first, Christmas Caramel Murder, Hannah gets involved when her business partner is accused of killing her husband’s new secretary, who just happened to be playing Mrs. Claus to Herb’s Santa in the community theater. This book borrows a bit from A Christmas Carol, and that makes it a little weird for fans of the series, but it is still enjoyable, with a good wrap up and cameos if not large parts for the regular characters.
The second story is Christmas Cake Murder, which flashes back to Hannah’s first Christmas after her father passed away. In an effort to get her mother out of her grief, Hannah agrees to help put on a Christmas ball filled with cakes. The mystery doesn’t really kick in until late in the story, although there are bread crumbs early on. What is most fun for fans of the series is watching Hannah build the life we are already familiar with.
Between the two stories, there are lots of recipes for you to try at Christmas.
Obviously, if you already have the two books, you’ll be fine skipping this collection. But if you’ve missed them, you might want to consider this way to get the stories.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Night Shift in Books
Sep 17, 2023
131 of 235
Kindle
The Night Shift
By Alex Finlay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in New Jersey, four teenagers working late at the store are attacked. Only one inexplicably survives. Police quickly identify a suspect, the boyfriend of one of the victims, who flees and is never seen again.
Fifteen years later, more teenage employees are attacked at an ice cream store in the same town, and again only one makes it out alive.
In the aftermath of the latest crime, three lives intersect: the lone survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive the horrors of her tragedy; the brother of the fugitive accused, who’s convinced the police have the wrong suspect; and FBI agent Sarah Keller who must delve into the secrets of both nights—stirring up memories of teen love and lies—to uncover the truth about murders on the night shift.
I read this in one sitting and thought it was just brilliant. It kept me totally engaged and constantly guessing. It had some pretty nasty characters too which always makes for good reading. Really enjoyed it.
Kindle
The Night Shift
By Alex Finlay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in New Jersey, four teenagers working late at the store are attacked. Only one inexplicably survives. Police quickly identify a suspect, the boyfriend of one of the victims, who flees and is never seen again.
Fifteen years later, more teenage employees are attacked at an ice cream store in the same town, and again only one makes it out alive.
In the aftermath of the latest crime, three lives intersect: the lone survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive the horrors of her tragedy; the brother of the fugitive accused, who’s convinced the police have the wrong suspect; and FBI agent Sarah Keller who must delve into the secrets of both nights—stirring up memories of teen love and lies—to uncover the truth about murders on the night shift.
I read this in one sitting and thought it was just brilliant. It kept me totally engaged and constantly guessing. It had some pretty nasty characters too which always makes for good reading. Really enjoyed it.
The Fragrance of Death
9.0
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Restaurateur Sally Solari has a nose for trouble, but when her sense of smell goes missing, it's not...