WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024
The gluttonous cook Manako Katsui is imprisoned in Tokyo, convicted for the murders of three solitary businessmen, whom she is rumored to have enchanted with her wonderful homemade food. The case ignites the imagination of Japanese society, while Katsui refuses any communication with the press. Until the moment journalist Rika Matsuda writes her a letter asking for the recipe for boiled beef – the last dinner of one of her victims – and Katsui replies.
Rika begins visiting Katsui hoping that over time she will break down her resistance and ultimately shed light on the dark points of the case. The increasingly frequent visits to the prison turn into real cooking masterclasses. Rika, who until recently cooked very simple meals, discovers the world of gastronomic delights.
The calorie-rich meals inevitably have an impact on her silhouette. She feels that this "transformation" affects the behavior of those around her and begins to wonder if she has more in common with Katsui than she initially thought...
Inspired by the real 2012 case of black widow Kanae Kijima, a serial killer sentenced to death, Butter is a thrilling exploration of the complex relationship between overeating and trauma, and the deeply rooted misogyny and sexism of present-day Japan.
"Lush, playful and enjoyable. Butter would deserve a Michelin star for the balance it achieves between the narrative starring an angry young woman and a gripping story from criminological chronicles." The Times
