Butter
Butter by Asako Yuzuki, published by HarperCollins Publishers Limited on February 8, 2025, is a compelling narrative that intertwines the worlds of culinary art and crime. This edition, comprising 464 pages in English, presents a gripping tale inspired by a true story. The novel follows gourmet cook Manako Kajii, who is imprisoned for the serial murders of lonely businessmen, and journalist Rika Machida, who seeks to uncover the truth behind Kajii’s culinary seductions.
As Rika engages in a series of visits with Kajii, their exchanges evolve into a complex exploration of food and identity. The narrative delves into themes of obsession and misogyny, as Rika finds herself transformed through the meals they share. This psychological thriller not only examines the darker aspects of human nature but also highlights the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in literary fiction and suspense.
Official synopsis Publisher
THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING SENSATION
WINNER OF WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2025
SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA CRIME FICTION IN TRANSLATION DAGGER AWARD 2025
A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK
‘A full-fat, Michelin-starred treat’ SUNDAY TIMES
‘A cult phenomenon’ iNEWS
‘Took the literary world by storm’ BBC
‘A killer Japanese novel’ THE TIMES
‘I have been glued to Butter’ NIGEL SLATER
The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story, and translated by Polly Barton.
There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.
Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back.
Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body. Might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?
Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, ‘The Konkatsu Killer’, Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, gripping exploration of misogyny, obsession and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.
‘It isn’t entirely clear whether to read the novel or devour it’ OBSERVER
‘Readers around the world are finding themselves utterly captivated’ DAILY MAIL
‘I really enjoyed it’ MEERA SYAL, on BBC Between the Covers
‘Compelling, delightfully weird’ PANDORA SYKES
‘Unputdownable, breathtakingly original’ ERIN KELLY
‘You’ll be craving rice, butter and soy sauce in no time’ STYLIST
‘Nothing short of ingenious’ iNEWS
‘Ambitious and unsettling’ GUARDIAN
‘Luscious … I devoured this’ IMOGEN CRIMP
‘A salty morsel with one hell of a bite’ ALICE SLATER
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