Sunday 3 October 2021

 




Add Cyanide to Taste by Karmen Špiljak- short stories -thriller/crime 

A book of short stories all based around food. As the author says food and

stories really aren’t that different- each one nurtures in a different way. I recently

heard Jay Rayner (the food critic) say that people talk best when eating so

perhaps story telling is an extension of this. Each one is about 10-15 minutes

other than the last one which is around 25 minutes so perfect over a coffee and

cake. Several have a murder theme others are from fantasy to ghosts to life and

even punctuation. I enjoyed these- they are a breath of fresh air, each one well

written and that little bit different. My favourite has to be Moments. I won’t

spoil anything, but wow- what a clever concept- one that made me smile and

grimace simultaneously! Library of emotions (the extra story at the back) is

a treasure- Oh how I wish… There are fifteen stories with the  additional

Library of emotions as above. There are also recipes - not including cyanide

(!!) and each with a little bit about how they and the story came to be and

one for hot chocolate- I love the soaking idea.

A well structured book to me written by someone with a passion for

both food and writing- this comes across clearly. The stories are well

balanced and the food isn't “just” put in- its there for a reason. From

the dark to the funny, there's something to cover most of the emotions

in here. A fun pick-up-and put-down (but harder to put down), thought

provoking and clever read. 


For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Add Cyanide to Taste A sinister cook, a cursed cake, and a casual dinner between neighbours that goes murderously wrong. This debut collection of dark tales and recipes by Karmen Špiljak ascends the jagged culinary heights you’ve hungered to explore but could never find on a map. As the characters swoon over every unforgettable mouthful, and sometimes bite off more than they can chew, you’ll find yourself asking: What would I be willing to pay for the meal of a lifetime? If feasting on culinary noir leaves you hungry, extend your pleasure by preparing the dishes featured in the stories. All recipes provided are cyanide-free. Karmen Špiljak writes across different genres. Her short fiction has been awarded and anthologised. More on www.karmenspiljak.com Purchase Links Amazon Apple Barnes & Noble Google Books Kobo General purchase link (all the other links are here): https://www.karmens.net/books 


Author Bio – Karmen Špiljak is a Slovenian-Belgian writer with a taste for dark and twisty tales. Her short fiction has been awarded and anthologised. Her as yet unpublished thriller was shortlisted and received an honourable mention on 'The Black Spring Crime Fiction Prize 2020'. She writes across different genres, from suspense to horror and science fiction. She currently lives in Brazil with her husband and two cats. Social Media Links – Twitter: https://twitter.com/karm3ns33ta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karmenseeta/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6862662.Karmen_piljak



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