Add Cyanide to Taste by Karmen Spiljak

The wonderful collection of suspenseful short stories Add Cyanide to Taste centres on food. Even though I’m not much of a cook myself, I’m a great admirer of culinary flicks, thus this book really appealed to me at first glance and didn’t let me down. It’s very well written and structured without being complicated or overanalysing the food in each story.

The recipes for the dishes discussed in the book are really saved for the final few pages. There are also cool illustrations that capture the essence of the various stories. These are engaging and simple to read on their own. Add Cyanide to Taste has a wide range of subjects, from traditional ghost stories to murder and some very original ideas, which is what I found to be the most enjoyable.

For instance, Dash Friend, which follows a woman who begins to notice all the exclamation points around her, was one of my favourite stories in the anthology. She then continues to have an obsession with the idea, which has annoying results. Be My Guest is another one of my favourites.

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The Secret Angels by Smita Bhattacharya

In this one, a group of neighbours have another one of their progressive dinners, with each member hosting one course, from the aperitif through the main to the brandy. However, as their personal lives become entangled, things drastically go wrong.

The book’s obvious excitement for combining food and related ideas with engaging storytelling is Add Cyanide to Taste’s most significant strength. This, in turn, doesn’t settle for amusement through popular subjects. Its juggling act includes stories with smart, modern, and even painful depths.

All in all, be prepared for an emotional voyage. This collection amuses, moves, thrills, and chills in equal measure. The food, without always being front and centre or even represented as literal dishes, makes the stimulating experience that much more enjoyable.

About The Book

This collection of culinary mysteries ascends the jagged culinary heights you’ve hungered to explore but could never find on a map: a family business that depends on a cursed recipe, a remote mountain village harbouring a suspicious cook, a deadly secret between old friends. 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?

Fourteen short stories and thirteen recipes will chill, thrill and entertain. The suspenseful stories range from thrillers and mysteries to ghost stories and are a great gift for crime fiction lovers. If feasting on culinary noir leaves you hungry, extend your pleasure by preparing the dishes featured in the stories. Most recipes are vegetarian. All recipes provided are cyanide-free.