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LOST IN TRANSLATION?

Gourmet cook Manako Kajii is in a Tokyo detention centre, accused and convicted of murdering three lovers and extorting money from a succession of men, seducing them with her delicious cuisine. The case causes a sensation throughout Japan, with people riveted and passing many a judgement on Manako. She refuses visitors and definitely prison interviews until journalist Rika Machida of Shumei weekly writes and asks for a recipe for beef stew (beef bourguignon as it turns out) and a meeting and a gastronomic exchange of letters begins. Clever Rika, you might think for finding a way to connect using Manako’s love of food where others have failed. I’ll let you decide. Incidentally, there’s a shortage of butter and Manako is very keen on the glory of butter and she convinces Rika.

Well, this is definitely a game of two halves as I like to call it. I really like that it’s inspired by the true story of the Konkatsu killer (Kanae Kijima) and it is worth having a little read about that case as the narrative follows the true crime case. I really enjoy reading a novel based somewhere different from my usual settings and some cultural references are fascinating. There are good themes in the novel, especially that of female friendship, which the book is steeped in. You have the “relationship�� between Manako and Rika, who have very different views on women and also between Rika and her best friend Reiko who has a much more traditional view of women. There are multiple examples of misogyny which makes me wince and there are characters who develop different obsessions. One of the things that drives the interest in the case in Japan is female body image, Manako is not thin, she is described by many as fat which is viewed as not culturally acceptable. Is this true of Japan today?? She is not beautiful, so those following her case wonder how she attracts the men in the first place. Yes, that’s hard to take, but it’s part of the plot so I set personal thoughts aside!

The characters are not especially likeable especially Manako Kajii, but that will be no surprise, with some of the things that come out of her mouth being simply awful. The interactions between Manako and Rika or some of the best parts of the book as they are intriguing, if not riveting conversations with plenty of manipulation going on, but initially you’re not sure by whom. This takes the storytelling in unexpected directions as Rika tries to get to Manako Kajii’s truth, and there are twists and turns along that route.

This is described as a novel of food and murder. I’d say it’s a novel about food with murders chucked in. Now, I like food and some of it (no, much of it) is mouthwatering, but there’s way too much, even for my foodie taste. This becomes a negative but the biggest one is that, probably because of the food, the pace is leisurely, almost snail pace slow as it meanders from one meal to the next. It’s way, way too long and in places it’s hard to read as it goes off on tangents and becomes confusing. It needs stamina and snacks to keep going. I’d also say it’s not really a thriller either, although it has a psychological thriller element to it.

No, let’s deal with the butter. It goes on and on about butter. Yes, really. This part of the novel goes way over my head and whatever the significance of it is, it totally passes me by!

Overall, well, it’s different and I do like variety. Do I enjoy it? I can’t in all honesty, say I do as it’s just too much like hard work although I do find the murder case of Manako gripping. However, if you want to read something out of your comfort zone then this could be for you.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to 4th Estate for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.