Book of the Week: A Taste for Murder

Happy Tuesday everyone. And before you ask, yes, for the second week in a row I’m cheating and writing about a book I finished after Sunday. But as previously discussed: Book Conference. Excitement. Short list last week. And this one has been on the long runners for a few weeks, so it’s not quite as cheaty as it could have been. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. And here’s hoping I’m not causing myself another problem for this time next week…

Recently widowed police detective Joe Mottram and his daughter Angelica are spending the summer in Capri. They’re returning to the childhood home of Joe’s late wife to spend the summer with Angelica’s grandparents as they struggle to recover from the loss of Sofia. Joe’s expecting to spend the summer as a spare wheel at his in-laws’ resturant, but soon after their arrival a British tourist is found dead at the foot of a local beauty spot and Joe is drawn into the investigation when local detective Lara turns up at the restaurant.

I thought this was a really well put together and readable mystery – there’s lots going on and plenty of plot strands to follow and a twisty mystery at the heart of it. Plus Capri makes for a great setting – I haven’t been there, but it was already on my list of places to go, but if it hadn’t been, it probably would be now, although here’s hoping that the unsavoury elements that are in the book are purely fiction. I would say the ending is ripe for a sequel, but I haven’t seen any sign of a second book yet.

This has already been adapted for TV – it’s on ITVX – and some of the locations they used to film are places that we’ve been to on holiday in Croatia which is fun. And in case you’re wondering, it’s not Blue Peter-Countryfile Matt Baker, it’s a different one!

This came out at the start of the year and I’ve seen it all over in the shops. My copy was a hardback, but the paperback is out now and it should be fairly easy to get hold of. And of course it’s in Kindle and Kobo too.

Happy Reading!