Recipes for Love and Murder, by Sally Andrew

Alexander McCall Smith is quoted endorsing this Tannie Maria mystery and you can see how it fits into his oeuvre, if somewhat self-consciously. Unusual African setting – check; quirky and homely amateur female detective – check; challenging and lovable circle of friends and colleagues – check; unlikely romance – check. Racism is apparently almost a thing of the past in this small country town in post-Mandela South Africa. Domestic violence is not, and former victim Tannie Maria earns her keep as an advice columnist and cookery writer at the local paper. When one of her advice seekers is murdered, Tannie Maria feels she let her down and is determined to help gain justice. Use of Afrikaans dialect and slang is excessive and annoying, particularly as the glossary is at the back – too late to be helpful. The history lessons are shoehorned in and don’t really add to the story. But Andrew evokes a strong sense of place with almost poetic descriptions of scenery and wildlife that do belong among the action. Delicious recipes are well woven into the plot and help to flesh out the appealing characters and their motivations.