Notorious suspected killer Manako Kajii has refused to speak about her alleged crimes. A tabloid darling she remains a mystery that one journalist is determined to interview. Rika has an almost empty refrigerator, a spartan apartment and a boyfriend who only stays over as an alternative to hotels. Rika subsists on tasteless, convenient nondescript food. Rika has tried for months to interview Kajii . It is only when Rika asks for a recipe of one of her famous dishes that the elusive Kajii grants an audience. It is here the intrigue and the fun begins. Kajii pulls and pushes Rika. She demands that Rika visits places and samples foods that she cannot. Rika discovers a palate that has laid sleeping all her life. In indulging these new senses and tastes she herself emerges out of the shadows.

I loveeeeedd the cover is this book very CREATIVE it will def stand out in a crowd of books lol ! after i read this: ajii refuses to cooperate with the press until Rika writes her a letter asking for her beef stew recipe, a correspondence and ongoing series of conversations between the two women that sees Rika transforming as she becomes closer to Kajii, taking on some of her confidence and strength but also some of her deadly intention. Game on. I INSTANTLY feel in love with the idea of the book! I think it was written beautifully and I became attached to the characters quickly

Translated from the Japanese by Polly Barton.

Rika Machida is a writer for a men’s magazine and she decides to do a big story on alleged killer Manako Kajii, who used a dating app to extort money from and possibly kill men. Kajii kept a blog of expensive food. She was sentenced to life but is now awaiting retrial based on her appeal. She hasn’t been willing to speak to anyone but decides to speak to Rika when she asks for her beef stew recipe. Kajii decides she will talk food with Rika; there is a butter shortage in the city.

Interesting tale of food and murder. So many lovely descriptions of food, even when I didn’t know precisely what was being discussed. I was craving rice, butter, and soy sauce. The book was a bit too long, though, and could have used a good editor.

A cult best seller in Japan.Combining food and a serial killer a page turner.I will be recommending to my bookclub.#netgalley #scribner

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Butter.

How could I not request Butter, inspired by a true case of a convicted con woman and serial killer—the “Konkatsu Killer?"

When reporter Rika meets Manako Kajii, a convicted serial killer, the two not so dissimilar women strike up a dangerous friendship that have dangerous yet empowering consequences.

I really wanted to like this more but I found the narrative 100 pages too long, filled with tedious filler, and repetitive discourse on the sexist expectations women confront in every aspect of their lives; home, work, and society.

As Rika spends more time with Kajii, despite the womens' differences, the latter inspires Rika to become more confident, grow in self esteem and take more control of her life.

There's a lot going on, not just the relationship between Rika and Kajii, but also between Rika and her BFF from school, Reiko, which muddies the story evolving between Rika and Kajii and I couldn't quite see where that came from. That may be a translation issue, though.

I enjoyed the food descriptions, but the narrative was duller than what I had imagined.

I didn't dislike Rika, but I found her less compelling than Kajii.

I did like how the author leaves the readers wondering if Kajji really did kill all those men since the evidence is circumstantial and her conviction seems related more to the fact she's an unattractive woman.

Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher for a review copy.

I'm torn on how to review this. I half liked it, half didn't. I love the idea of food, and murder. This I think did a good job at that. I do think it was a little too long. Some scenes dragged out for me, and I had to set it down. To me it wasn't as thrilling as I'd have hoped either, but that's my preference. I do like that it was inspired by a true crime though, and I do love true crime. I'll have to look into the actual case itself.

Sinister and satisfying in equal measure. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.