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Reviews
Recetas Para Amar Y Matar / Recipes for Love and Murder: A Tannie Maria Mystery by Sally Andrew
fronik's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.0
cher_n_books's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 stars - I didn't like it.
I can completely appreciate how this one will be loved by many fans of cozy mysteries, but it was not my cup of tea. Like most cozies, it was too cute, too sweet, too neat, and had a vexatious protagonist that thought she was a mastermind sleuth. Cozy novices are always so incredibly clever that they are able to magically run circles around the professionals to crack the case, yet they are so stupid as to not recognize the most obvious of dangers. I also felt the food inclusions were far too repetitive and forced feeling at times (and this is coming from a foodie). Around 85% into the novel I decided to just skim through to the end due to a persistent lack of engagement.
I will say the main character was more charming than that in most cozies and she did have a nice way with words when doling out advice. Fans of this type of book will surely love it. As for me, I will stick with the mysteries that spare you the violence and gore while retaining some grit, and also have a professional working the case. Recommendable series that fit this description that I have read thus far would be those by [a:Tana French|138825|Tana French|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1277505771p2/138825.jpg] and [a:Louise Penny|194243|Louise Penny|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1257567070p2/194243.jpg].
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Favorite Quote: Bruises and bones can heal. But the heart, the heart can be damaged for ever.
First Sentence: Isn’t life funny?
I can completely appreciate how this one will be loved by many fans of cozy mysteries, but it was not my cup of tea. Like most cozies, it was too cute, too sweet, too neat, and had a vexatious protagonist that thought she was a mastermind sleuth. Cozy novices are always so incredibly clever that they are able to magically run circles around the professionals to crack the case, yet they are so stupid as to not recognize the most obvious of dangers. I also felt the food inclusions were far too repetitive and forced feeling at times (and this is coming from a foodie). Around 85% into the novel I decided to just skim through to the end due to a persistent lack of engagement.
I will say the main character was more charming than that in most cozies and she did have a nice way with words when doling out advice. Fans of this type of book will surely love it. As for me, I will stick with the mysteries that spare you the violence and gore while retaining some grit, and also have a professional working the case. Recommendable series that fit this description that I have read thus far would be those by [a:Tana French|138825|Tana French|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1277505771p2/138825.jpg] and [a:Louise Penny|194243|Louise Penny|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1257567070p2/194243.jpg].
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Favorite Quote: Bruises and bones can heal. But the heart, the heart can be damaged for ever.
First Sentence: Isn’t life funny?
klio's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bessadams's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Grief
_shan_n_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
textpublishing's review against another edition
5.0
Sally Andrew's delicious new mystery set amidst the plains of South Africa
Is it a faux pas to skip straight to the end of a book? Perhaps.
If there's the promise of recipes and it's lunchtime? No problem at all.
We've done it, so it's alright.
A murder mystery, which is also a romance, which is also hilarious, which is also a cookbook—look this way if you're looking for that book to settle into for the summer break.
‘If you want a vivid, amusing and immensely enjoyable read about detection (and cooking) in an intriguing part of southern Africa, then this is the book for you. A triumph.’
Alexander McCall Smith
‘Recipes for Love and Murder is chock full of good food and interesting characters.’
Kerry Greenwood
‘A delightful debut, tender and funny. The mystery takes on the worldwide problem of abused women while revealing both the beauties and problems of South Africa. And the recipes will make you want to drop everything and start cooking.’
STARRED Review, Kirkus
‘This looks likes cosy crime – and it is both funny and sweet – but it has a hard edge and doesn’t skirt the difficult subjects of South Africa’s history and the region’s huge problem with domestic violence. It is a culinary and linguistic treat too, packed with recipes and smatterings of Afrikaans.’
Bookseller
‘This is a murder mystery with plenty of humour…readers will find themselves smiling, chuckling and laughing out loud…A stunning debut.’
BookMooch
‘A clever, funny and warm-hearted debut crime novel from South Africa, that will make you laugh and cry.’
Good Reading
‘Andrew offers up engaging characters and a storyline with enough surprises to keep it interesting…Recipes for Love and Murder is easily digestible murder-mystery fare, with a love story or two thrown in for extra seasoning.’
Otago Daily Times
‘The exotic locale, the lovely patois and the heroine’s unique sensibility make Ms. Andrew’s Recipes a blue-ribbon winner.’
Wall Street Journal, Best Books of 2015
‘Mouth-watering descriptions of food and landscapes delivered in an Afrikaans patois produce a distinctly new kind of tea cozy, one just right for curling up on a cold winter afternoon while daydreaming about the heat of the African sun.’
Oprah.com
‘Funny, serious and touching.’
New Zealand Listener
‘I love a cozy mystery, particularly when food is involved…The murder and characters are compelling and I’m really enjoying reading about a country that I know only a little about.’
Readings
Is it a faux pas to skip straight to the end of a book? Perhaps.
If there's the promise of recipes and it's lunchtime? No problem at all.
We've done it, so it's alright.
A murder mystery, which is also a romance, which is also hilarious, which is also a cookbook—look this way if you're looking for that book to settle into for the summer break.
‘If you want a vivid, amusing and immensely enjoyable read about detection (and cooking) in an intriguing part of southern Africa, then this is the book for you. A triumph.’
Alexander McCall Smith
‘Recipes for Love and Murder is chock full of good food and interesting characters.’
Kerry Greenwood
‘A delightful debut, tender and funny. The mystery takes on the worldwide problem of abused women while revealing both the beauties and problems of South Africa. And the recipes will make you want to drop everything and start cooking.’
STARRED Review, Kirkus
‘This looks likes cosy crime – and it is both funny and sweet – but it has a hard edge and doesn’t skirt the difficult subjects of South Africa’s history and the region’s huge problem with domestic violence. It is a culinary and linguistic treat too, packed with recipes and smatterings of Afrikaans.’
Bookseller
‘This is a murder mystery with plenty of humour…readers will find themselves smiling, chuckling and laughing out loud…A stunning debut.’
BookMooch
‘A clever, funny and warm-hearted debut crime novel from South Africa, that will make you laugh and cry.’
Good Reading
‘Andrew offers up engaging characters and a storyline with enough surprises to keep it interesting…Recipes for Love and Murder is easily digestible murder-mystery fare, with a love story or two thrown in for extra seasoning.’
Otago Daily Times
‘The exotic locale, the lovely patois and the heroine’s unique sensibility make Ms. Andrew’s Recipes a blue-ribbon winner.’
Wall Street Journal, Best Books of 2015
‘Mouth-watering descriptions of food and landscapes delivered in an Afrikaans patois produce a distinctly new kind of tea cozy, one just right for curling up on a cold winter afternoon while daydreaming about the heat of the African sun.’
Oprah.com
‘Funny, serious and touching.’
New Zealand Listener
‘I love a cozy mystery, particularly when food is involved…The murder and characters are compelling and I’m really enjoying reading about a country that I know only a little about.’
Readings
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
A staff favorite of 2015 recommended by Andrea. Read her review: https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2015/12/01/pick-of-the-week-recipes-for-love-and-murder-by-sally-andrew/
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Srecipes%20for%20love%20and%20murder%20andrew__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Srecipes%20for%20love%20and%20murder%20andrew__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold