The Japanese novel BUTTER by Asako Yuzuki is a phenomenal best-seller in Japan that is starting to gain traction here in the states as it should. Yuzuki's distinctively Japanese tale is a tangy mix of a sensational, female serial killer, Kajii, whose male victims fall prey to her cunning wiles and culinary skills. The salacious details of the relationship are tempered by the simmering reveal of details uncovered by a female journalist, Raki, whose tenacious investigation gets her embroiled in Kajii's menacing manipulation and enmeshed in Kajii's love of haute cuisine. Kajii's obsession with good food blends into Raki's obsession while trying to cull a murder confession. The novel is stuffed with salivating descriptions of delicious meals and their preparations. The sordid details of the deaths of three of Kajii's lovers are slowly revealed. As in many recipes, the key to success is not to hurry and allow things to simmer. The languid pacing allows each character to become rich and multilayered. Raki's nascent career as a journalist is elevated when she becomes the only one who managed to secure an interview with the notorious and obscure Kajii. Kajii is waiting a retrial after being convicted of three murders. There are multiple ingredients that go into this devilishly delicious investigative, psychological thriller. As Raki warms her way into Kajii's confidence, Kaji's influence over Raki proves perilous. The shifting power in relationships is a main trope along with double standards set for men and women regarding physical appearance. Rika's growing appreciation for fine dining led her to add gain extra kilos and an epiphany about societal views on women's physique and stature. Rika conceded "...even if she were to lose a few kilos, she still wouldn't pass. However beautiful she became, however well she did at work, even if she got married and had children, society didn't let women off that easily. The standards were getting high, and assessments harsher." Getting inside Raki's life as a single-working women in contemporary society was an insightful look into the typical grueling work demands, cramped living conditions and prevalent feelings of isolation was eye-opening and fascinating as getting inside the mind of Kajii, a master manipulator and likely sociopath. Rika came to the final realization that Kajii isn't alone in bending the truth to suit her needs. "What's the truth, though really? What is a lie? There's such a small discrepancy between the two. Given that, what's so wrong about choosing whichever path seems more appealing to you? What's so wrong about coating barren, flavorless reality in oodles of melted butter and seasoning it with condiments and spices? That's my way of getting by in life, which has come about quite naturally." Butter is a scrumptious, unforgettable novel from soup to nuts.
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