Butter

A disturbing Japanese story about misogyny, obsession and sinfully good food

Manako Kajii sits in a Tokyo detention centre, a woman accused of murdering several elderly, lonely, wealthy men whom she allegedly seduced with her delicious home-cooked meals. The case has captured the nation's attention, but the accused refuses to speak to the press and accepts no visitors. That is, until the journalist Rika Machida writes her a letter asking for her beef stew recipe.

Rika is the only woman in the newsroom, working late into the night every day and rarely cooking anything other than plain instant ramen. When Rika starts visiting Kajii in prison, their conversations feel more like culinary debates than journalistic work. Rika hopes that by talking about food, she can gain the woman's trust and gradually extract exclusive information about the case. However, it seems their conversations are ultimately having a greater effect on her. With each new dish, something new awakens in Rika's body. Could she have more in common with Kajii than she thought?

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A fascinating and unusual novel with a fresh perspective that defies categorisation—part psychological exploration of misogyny and fatphobia, part commentary on contemporary Japan and the expectations placed on its women.
— Library Journal Advance Reviews