‘Add Cyanide to Taste’ by Karmen Špiljak is a book of short stories and never mind having a new author to discover, I discovered a new genre I have never tried before..culinary noir. The stories are all based around food or any sort of eating.
These are a selection of dark tales that you can just pick up and read one at a time. They only take about fifteen minutes each, if that. Karmen Špiljak has managed to make every single story unique even though they are based on a common thread. There are stories that anyone who appreciates a good thriller will fully enjoy.
There are supernatural themes in some of them. I did appreciate how well Karmen Špiljak had managed to create her characters within such small stories. I came up against characters of which some, I disliked but they were realistic and well-drawn. She has even given some of these stories open endings so you can’t help but want more. I found Three Roses and The Collectors to be two of my favourites out of this clever and deliciously dark collection.
At the end of the book Karmen Špiljak has included some recipes from the stories just in case anyone wishes to try them. This in my opinion is a great idea and finishes the stories of fabulously! After reading the stories that do in some cases give you goose pimples on your arms, or a slight shiver and hook you in with all the different emotions, you are gifted with the recipes as well.
A truly unique book full of twisted, dark and entertaining tales that has shown me yet ANOTHER genre to add to all the rest I love.
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Karmen Špiljak for the copy of the book.
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