A Taste for Murder by Matt Baker

Detective Chief Inspector Joe Mottram is taking a “forced” mental health break. He’s spending his summer vacation in Capri with his teenage daughter, Angelica.

Tragically, Joe’s wife, Sophia, was killed by a hit-and-run driver, leaving him recently widowed and alone to raise Angelica. It’s even more tragic being a detective and realizing the hit-and-run driver who killed his wife may never be found.

The story opens with Angelica and Joe staying with Sophia’s in-laws – Elena and Gennaro. They miss their daughter, Sophia, too, and are delighted Angelica and Joe are staying with them for a while. They all need time to heal together. Elena and Gennaro are up in years, but still running an upscale beachside Italian restaurant.

Unfortunately, not long after Joe’s arrival, the body of a British businesswoman is found washed up at the foot of a notorious cliff. And even though he’s on a much needed break here in Italy, it doesn’t take long for their police to pull him into their case, asking for his input and his help!

And just like that, what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation to spend more time with his daughter and in-laws, becomes a full-fledged murder case. Did the victim’s fiance, with secrets of his own, have something to do with her death? Was there a random killer on the loose? Or was it tied to a huge business deal that was going south?

Joe is spending so much time on the case with local detective Lara Sarrancino, that he’s not able to reel in his rebellious teenage daughter. She’s running amok with a young man who has questionable intentions.

Then tension begins to show between Elena and Gennaro, their facade is beginning to crack. Now Joe finds himself with even more on his plate – he wants to help, but Gennaro is in deep trouble with some very scary people.

A Taste for Murder is a tight crime drama – one of the best books I’ve read this summer. The author, Matt Baker, gives us authenticity involving every character, making them feel very real and alive throughout the book. The stage for the murdered woman and suspects is pristinely set. A cagey killer and elusive motive stay in the shadows.

Readers will be able to instantly feel what it’s like to be a grieving widowed father, now raising a teenage girl all by himself. The heartbreak of losing his beloved wife and reconnecting with her parents in Italy feels real and genuine, hooking readers not only on the murder itself, but the interaction and outcome for the entire family.

A Taste for Murder by Matt Baker is superbly written and engaging, a perfect book to take on your summer vacation or enjoy on a lazy weekend.

A copy of this book and cover photo were provided by Crooked Lane Books.