Recipes for Love and Murder
Sally Andrew
(Umuzi)
I have to say I was sceptical when I heard the premise of this one, but once I got stuck into it, it was sheer joy.
Advertised as murder and intrigue in a small Karoo town marinated in secrets, that’s exactly what it is. Tannie Maria is a small-town sleuth whose real passion is her food and how she makes it.
When she’s in trouble, when she experiences joy, when she needs to trick someone or pacify them, when she wants to catch someone’s attention or do anything that has any emotion involved, she goes to her kitchen.
She works for the local newspaper, where she first supplied recipes but now writes an advice column – also introducing recipes to cure any ill or win any heart.
But there’s a real villain at play here – and many red herrings.
A woman who has been writing to her for advice about an abusive husband is killed.
It’s fast-moving, even in this sleepy small village with its potjiekos mix of South African characters.
What I really liked was the novelty of the storytelling and the sharpness of creating the character of Tannie Maria. It could all go over the top but there’s an authenticity that’s really appealing.
What could make it even better is tighter editing. Every once in a while, the “sweetness” of the idea just teeters on the edge and pushes this one squarely into a female rather than a thriller genre. Also, everything doesn’t have to be spelt out; the characters have been drawn with just too much detail, which leaves nothing to the imagination.
I still loved it because of the ingenuity, the generally good writing and the empathy and embracing nature of Tannie Maria. And in the end, you’re also given a few recipes she mentions throughout her travails. Because, believe me, in spite of yourself, you will be eating from start to finish, and it’s yummy!