This novel is everywhere, you’ve probably seen it on display without even realising. It’s a book which everyone is talking about and it’s one which is flying off the shelves.
The novel has been named as one of the best books to read this July by Good Housekeeping. This cult Japanese bestseller is about a female gourmet cook and serial killer. Inspired by true events, the novel follows the story of the journalist intent on cracking the case.
Butter by Asako Yuzuki is a thriller which has become increasingly popular in 2025 after its release in 2024.
Good Housekeeping says: “A Japanese thriller featuring a gourmet serial killer and a journalist intent on cracking her case might sound a bit niche, but this brilliant book has been one of the biggest word-of-mouth hits of the year so far – and with good reason. It’s gripping, original and delightfully quirky.”
One person who read the book wrote on Goodreads: “I absolutely loved this book. It’s deeply philosophical and introspective, taking its time to explore themes that resonate on a universal level.
“While it meanders at times, I think it does so beautifully, giving space for reflection. Even though the book doesn’t have a tightly woven plot, it explores how society and family shape (and fail) us really effectively, all through a unique cultural lens.”
The novel explores themes of more than just food and murder. It also explores feminism, misogyny, patriarchy, emotion and self-discovery.
On the novel, a review by The Times says: “Exuberant, indulgent romp of a novel … Butter is a full-fat, Michelin-starred treat that moves seamlessly between an Angry Young Woman narrative and an engrossing detective drama and back again.
“Yuzuki has crafted an almost Dickensian cast of fleshy characters, with just as many surprise connections … Let this book bring you under its spell.”
Asako Yuzuki is a Japanese writer who won the All Yomimono Prize for New Writers and the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize. She has been nominated multiple times for the Naoki Prize, and her novels have been adapted for television, radio, and film.