Butter is a trippy foodie real-crime novel by Asako Yuzuki. Released 16th April 2024 by HarperCollins on their Ecco imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in Feb. 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a surprisingly philosophical book full of wry observations about life, gender roles, body image, and food (and murder). It's loosely based on the real life, arrest, and convictions of Kanae Kijima who serially seduced, defrauded, and subsequently murdered lonely businessmen over a period of several years in Japan.

Originally published in Japanese in 2017 it gained a cult following. The English language translation work by Polly Barton is seamless and unobtrusive and the prose flows very well.

Classy, cool, and well written, there's nothing frenetic or outré about the book, and it winds up being a lot more psychological and philosophical than murder-y, with deep ruminations on systemic misogyny, fat-shaming-culture, human nature, and society.

Four stars. Weird but very well written.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The cover of this book instantly caught my attention! Love it! I had read mixed reviews of this book but that didn't stop me for requesting it. I really loved this book. I think a lot of people think this will be a serial killer book that focuses on killing the victims. It doesn't. Its so much more than that. I loved the feminist themes and how all women deal with so much misogyny. I also loved the female friendship in this book. Overall a great book. I just wished it would of had shorter chapters. It took me a while to get through it.

I knew this would be a book for me once it was advertised to me as a Foodie's dream. They were right, this book contained two of my favourite things; food and crime.

I thought this was going to be about a serial killer and all the yummy food she cooks (I thought there might have even been a dollop of cannabalism in there too I cannot lie)., but Butter is so much more than that. The way the topics of societal standards and feminism were touched upon in this novel is truly what made it so captivating and enjoyable for me. Additionally. the themes of body positivity (while could be triggering for some) were really interesting to read about and were handled so well in my opinion.

I greatly enjoyed this novel and would absolutely love to pick up other works by this author.

I really enjoyed Butter. I appreciated that this novel dealt not only with the aspect of Kajii’s psychology and the “why” of the crimes that she committed but also that through Rika, it looks at real issues that many women face like misogyny and the expectations that are placed on women in so many areas: their weight, relationships, having to often make a choice between having kids and working long hours to excel in their career. There were so many good points made in the book. Although the more plot driven parts revolve around Kajii, what I liked most was following Rika and those around her who were just regular people dealing with their own problems. Even though this is a book that does involve real issues - I think because all the food descriptions and details of Rika’s daily life and the building of a family made of her friends - there was just something so cozy about it. I really looked forward to getting into bed every night and reading it.

My only quips were that at about 58% the novel takes a turn and I wasn’t sure was going to work for me and while I did think that storyline (with Reiko going to stay with Yokota) was really unbelievable and I felt it just fizzled out, it got back on track quickly and at 464 pages, at times it felt overly long but neither of those things really effected my enjoyment of the book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC. I plan on buying a finished copy for my Japanese literature collection.

I really wanted to love Butter by Asako Yuzuki (translated by Polly Barton) but it was a solid like for me. That may have some part to do with the fact that murder thrillers are not my typical cup of tea but I believe it is more to do with the length of the novel. While the descriptions of food were often delightful and seemingly delicious (and will surely be enjoyed by the biggest culinary connoisseur), much of felt like overkill (pun not intended). I wanted so often to get moving forward with the plot but we would be stuck on Rika's experiences with ramen and rice in butter instead. However, I will give points to the butter metaphor that is woven throughout very well. I will say aside from the pacing, this one was an enjoyable read, and I am intrigued to read more from Asako Yuzuki if her work is translated into English in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️

I found the premise of <b>Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder</b> by <b>Asako Yuzuki</b> (translated by <b>Polly Barton</b>) to be truly intriguing. The plot revolves around Rika Machida, a thirty-three-year-old journalist who pursues a story on the suspected serial killer, Manako Kajii who enticed men she met on dating sites with her lavish cooking and extracted huge sums of money from them. After three of her suitors were found dead under mysterious circumstances, the now thirty-five-year-old Kajii was found guilty and is currently awaiting her second trial after appeal while being held in a detention facility. Initially reluctant to talk to Rika, she agrees to meet her after Rika expresses her interest in Kajii’s cooking. Though Kajii refuses to talk about the case, she is more than eager to share her views on food (butter being an integral ingredient in her recipes) and as the narrative progresses, we follow how Rika’s approach to life, her worldview, and of course, her relationship with food changes and beliefs about body image change as she is drawn into Kajii’s world.

Inspired by true events (the 2012 case of the 'Konkatsu Killer' Kanae Kijima), this is a slow-moving lengthy character-driven novel that touches upon themes of friendship, food and culture, family, misogyny, societal expectations, feminism, body image and self-acceptance.
The story primarily revolves around how Rika’s life is impacted as a result of her association with Kajii and her obsession with Kajii as a person which often derails her from her investigative intentions before she begins to see Kajii for exactly who she is. Kajii is an interesting character- straightforward, unapologetic and shrewdly manipulative. All the characters are well thought out and the descriptions of the food and Kajii’s recipes make for interesting reading. I particularly enjoyed how the author incorporates folklore into the narrative and found how the parallels between the same and the events in the novel are drawn fascinating.

Please note that the “murder” element is not a central theme of this novel, which I did find a bit disappointing. Several sub-plots are woven into the story and I did feel that the narrative digressed often and lost momentum as it progressed. However, the story is engaging and kept me invested as details from both Rika’s and Kajii’s lives were revealed as the narrative progressed. The author has touched upon several relevant themes in this novel and the author is brutally honest in her depiction of the unpleasantness that women have to deal with in terms of body image and how the same affects one's sense of self-worth. Despite the slow pace, there are enough surprises along the way to keep you engaged and though I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I had hoped (which I believe was partly because I expected a bit more focus on the criminal aspect), I certainly found this novel to be an interesting read.

Many thanks to Ecco for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Butter is a clever look at women, food and relationships in modern Japan. The color of the cover as well as the shocking simplicity of the one-word title caught my eye, the concept kept my attention. The story follows a young female journalist in Tokyo who strikes up a fascination, even an 'interviewship' (as opposed to a friendship) with a food-obsessed female serial killer of men she has dated. The subject matter covers everything from Japanese culture, to women's personal AND professional roles, all with a foodie spin on things.

The book moves a little slowly for me, but uniqueness of the topic is worth the read.

Thank you for this ARC from ECCO, which I received for an honest review of the book.

I don't think I've ever known a book to leave me hungrier or more satiated?? WILD.

Butter was an absolute delight to read. I loved diving into the cultural commentary of feminism, diet and food culture, and sexism in corporate practices. Our protagonist, Rika, a magazine employee in her 30s, becomes enamored and perplexed by the case of Kajii, a woman accused of murdering three of her ex-lovers through feeding and influencing them with her delicious food. Kajii was an enigmating and perplexing object of Rika's fascination, and the reader has the perspective of peeking in on possibly another one of her potential victim's.

I loved the exploration Rika has because of her relationship with Kajii in nearly every aspect of her life: her self-image and vices, troublesome family dynamics with her late father, friendships, even romantic relationships and pleasure. The novel felt very wholistic in that way, though it did take a significant amount of page time to build such a complex narrative.

Lastly, the food descriptions left me craving all the rich, buttery flavors the book describes. Truly, a better book could not be written for any foodie, so if that's your thing, I can't imagine you not loving this.

I think this settles with me around a 4 star read. It wasn't particularly punching, but I do think it was a beautiful and interesting piece of writing to dive into.

This was such an interesting book! I love books about cooking and serials and this one has both! We follow two women, Manako Kajii, who is a chef and is currently in jail for killing a bunch of businessmen. She won't talk to anyone about these murders until a journalist, Rika Machida, writes her a letter asking her for a recipe. That is where we start off and the book just gets crazier from there. I really enjoyed the writing and I thought that the plot was well paced. Overall, if you like thrillers, mysteries, or true crime you should check this out!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ecco for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of "Butter" by Asako Yuzuki, translated from Japanese by Polly Barton. When I read the premise of this book, I was so excited to pick it up because it sounded wildly entertaining and interesting. Unhinged and complicated women in literary fiction are my favorite characters to read about. I couldn't believe that I could get a copy of this because it sounded like the book of the summer. However, when I read this book I realized that it was not what I imagined. I see that a lot of other people are mentioning the translation and I have to agree with them. Once I realized what type of book I'd get, I lowered my expectations and had a good time. It's a more intimate perspective of Japanese women navigating societal norms. It wasn't as unsettling as the blurb promised but I enjoyed the descriptions of food and the obsessive detail of preparation and plating. I don't recommend reading this when you're hungry.

The writing just wasn't for me so I had to dnf it.
I am sorry! But I appreciate the chance to read this.

I really liked the concept of Butter by Asako Yuzuki but I found it slow moving, which maybe had something to do with the translation. I enjoyed the use of food to allow the main character do discover more about herself, her family and a convicted killer. I thought that discussion as well as her exploration of food and ingredients were interesting but the plot moved slowly and without any advancements for such long periods of time that I found it hard to want to continue reading if I was interrupted at any point.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder” by Asako Yuzuki is a compelling narrative that delves into the depths of culinary passion intertwined with the darkness of crime. This novel, translated by Polly Barton, serves up a rich tapestry of flavors, both literal and metaphorical, as it explores the life of Manako Kajii, a gourmet cook with a sinister secret.

Set against the backdrop of Tokyo’s vibrant food scene, Kajii’s story unfolds through the eyes of Rika Machida, a journalist who seeks to unravel the mystery behind the convicted serial killer’s motives. The novel is not your typical crime thriller; it’s a slow-burning exploration of obsession, romance, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

Yuzuki’s prose is as indulgent as the dishes described within the pages. The narrative is a feast for the senses, with mouthwatering descriptions of Japanese cuisine that almost leap off the page. Yet, beneath the surface of these culinary delights lies a disturbing tale of misogyny and murder.

The character of Kajii is a fascinating study in contrast. She is a woman who wields her culinary skills as weapons, seducing lonely businessmen with her home-cooked meals before leading them to their demise. Her character challenges the reader’s perceptions of femininity and power, as she navigates a society that often marginalizes women.

Rika Machida’s journey is equally intriguing. As she delves deeper into Kajii’s world, she begins to question her own beliefs and desires. The dynamic between the two women is charged with tension and an undercurrent of dark humor, making their interactions some of the most captivating parts of the book.

Inspired by the real case of the “Konkatsu Killer,” “Butter” is a novel satiates the appetite for a good mystery while also offering food for thought on the complexities of human nature.

In conclusion, “Butter” is a novel that masterfully blends the savory with the sinister. Asako Yuzuki has crafted a story that is as complex and nuanced as the flavors she describes.

Butter is a book that will appeal to those with a taste for the unconventional and a curiosity about the darker side of desire.

Inspired by a true story, this novel focuses on a female serial killer and Japan and the journalist that convinces her to open up.

I liked the premise here, but I could not get into it at all. I think it could be that it does not translate as well as in the original language.

DNF at 17%

This was not what I expected, I was thinking it would be Hannibal and murder. But it turned out to be about so much more than that and I just don’t think it’s for me. I was expecting a murder mystery and I got the societal pressures that the Japanese face. While also tying in a lot of woman’s rights and questions as to the female role.

EARC provided by Ecco.

PSA: Do NOT read this on an empty stomach, or when you're even remotely hungry. Just don't do it. Otherwise you might end up eating everything in sight and then order some takeout on top of it.

More to the point though, this novel wasn't really what I expected based on its subtitle - "A Novel of Food and Murder". True, the story does revolve around a murderer, but what the author really wanted to explore are societal norms when it comes to women, beauty standards, expectations, and all of that is tied into cooking and food. For my taste (no pun intended) "Butter" is too long because, while the prose is expressive and effective, there were plenty of times where I wished the book would move along as the point the author was trying to make was clear. It's definitely a slow burn, and I suppose if you're really into elaborate food descriptions and reflecting on mundane things (nothing wrong with that) I can see how this book can be really enjoyable, but I was getting impatient. I also found some of the cooking and eating descriptions to be quite off-putting, but that's just a me thing - overly detailed descriptions of experiencing food make me uncomfortable.

All that being said though, I actually though the characters were interesting and in the end their personal journeys are what kept me going. "Butter" is a good book, and it was very different from what I normally read, but in the end I just didn't love it.

While I would try reading something from this author again, I felt this was way too long and I lost interest quickly. Great writing skills and story plot, but it was too slow-moving for my preferences.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

"Butter" by Asako Yuzuki is a gripping and unsettling novel that delves into the complex themes of misogyny, obsession, and the allure of food in Japan. Inspired by a true story, this book follows the intriguing relationship between gourmet cook and serial killer Manako Kajii and journalist Rika Machida.

From the moment I started reading, I was drawn into the captivating narrative that seamlessly weaves together elements of crime, mystery, and gastronomy. As Rika seeks to unravel the secrets behind Kajii's crimes, she finds herself entangled in a web of deception and desire. The dynamic between the two women is both fascinating and chilling, as they engage in a culinary exchange that blurs the lines between obsession and admiration.

What I particularly loved about "Butter" is its exploration of the darker aspects of Japanese society, including misogyny and the pressures faced by women. As the story unfolds, Yuzuki skillfully examines these themes with nuance and depth, offering readers a thought-provoking glimpse into the complexities of human nature.

The vivid descriptions of food and cooking throughout the book are a highlight, adding an extra layer of richness to the storytelling. Each meal becomes a metaphor for the characters' inner desires and struggles, making for a truly immersive reading experience.

Overall, "Butter" is a compelling and unforgettable novel that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Its thought-provoking themes, well-developed characters, and atmospheric setting make it a standout read. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping literary thriller with a unique twist.

This book follows Rika, a reporter in Japan, as she interviews an infamous black widow serial killer before her retrial. And with a subtitle like "A Novel of Food and Murder" I was expecting lots of sumptuous descriptions of meals to be matched by scandalous recountings of murders. Well. There was a lot of food. This book will definitely make you hungry. 

I find journalism, especially crime journalism, interesting, and am always excited by reading about toxic friendship dynamics, so there were parts of this that I really enjoyed. But I think titling and advertising the book this was put it at a disadvantage. It's really more of a slow literary fiction examination of womens' roles in society in Japan, through their relationships to each other, to men, and to their own bodies. It had some very interesting and poignant sections to this end, and great symbolism. But it was such a long and introspective work that going into it expecting some thriller-type elements set me up for disappointment. I do think someone who knew what type of story they were in for might really enjoy this more, as it was well-written and unique. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

First off, this is not a murder mystery. The description led me to believe that it was. Despite being different from my expectations, I absolutely loved this book … for about the first third of the novel. But it just stalled out in the middle for me. It picks back up in the final third, but the pace really hurts the clever writing.