Matt Baker takes readers to scenic Capri in his cozy culinary mystery, A Taste for Murder.
Still reeling from the unexpected loss of his wife, Sofia, Detective Chief Inspector Joe Mottrom takes his teenage daughter, Angelica, to Capri to spend the summer with Sofia’s parents. Maybe in Italy, the pair can begin healing and find a way to move forward in Sofia’s absence.
When a British tech founder is discovered dead under questionable circumstances, Joe is asked to help local police inspector Lara Sarrancino with her investigation. Joe doesn’t know how to best help his daughter and in-laws grieve Sofia, but he does know how to work an investigation. Joe and Lara get to work, chasing down leads to romantic partners, the local drug trade and even organized crime. When a second woman is killed, the detectives must race to uncover the culprits before they strike again.
A Taste for Murder features a strong mystery, lush setting and emotional stakes for its characters. Joe and Angelica’s struggle to come together after the loss of Sofia is well developed and authentic. So, too, is Joe’s reticence around his in-laws, Elena and Gennaro, whom he’s always suspected of resenting him for building a life with Sophia in England, not Italy. There’s a real depth to his evolving relationship with them, and the novel is better for it. Elena and Gennaro also give Baker a chance to display his knowledge and appreciation of Italian cooking. The couple own and operate a restaurant, and food is their love language. Dishes aren’t just mentioned; they’re lovingly brought together, providing characters with more than just calories.
Lara is a rewarding character in her own right. She’s intelligent, confident and self-aware. She knows when to defer to Joe’s experience and when to stand her ground. Their partnership, though rocky at times, works extremely well.
A Taste for Murder is a satisfying, smartly plotted mystery with emotional depth. Readers will be delighted to know that it’s already been adapted as a television series in the U.K., which is available for streaming on BritBox.