Based on the book by Sally Andrew, Recipes for Love and Murder is a delicious combination of action, comedy, drama, romance, and thrills. There’s a little something for every kind of fan and below’s watch list – inspired by the show – is an indication of that. Sample some of the movies and shows mentioned here to give you a taste of what you can expect from M-Net’s new drama.
Cosy mystery
This subgenre of fiction is generally defined as a murder mystery featuring an amateur female sleuth who solves mysteries in a small or secluded setting, such as a village or little town. By this definition, Tannie Maria – the main character in Recipes for Love and Murder – fits firmly in this camp. She’s an amateur sleuth solving crimes in a small Karoo town. If this sounds like your kind of murder, you’ll find plenty of wholesome mystery on DStv with Aurora Teagarden, Picture Perfect Mysteries, Mystery 101, and Gourmet Detective Mysteries on DStv, the latter of which, like Recipes, also has a food theme.
Small town crime
However, Recipes is not quite as clean-cut and wholesome as most cosy mysteries. This drama has a little more grit and edge. And small towns sometimes hold big secrets…think Mare of Easttown or Fargo. Check them out on Showmax.
Food
What sets Recipes firmly back in the realm of cosiness, is Tannie Maria’s kitchen, filled with tantalising aromas and mouthwatering meals. If you’d like to whet your appetite for this foodie theme, check out Haute Cuisine, American Bistro, or The Hundred-Foot Journey. Their heartwarming tone will put you in the Tannie Maria mood while tickling your taste buds too.
Stellar directing
Christiaan Olwagen and Karen Jeynes are at the helm of Recipes for Love and Murder. Olwagen’s flair for the dramatic, his stunning use of colour, and his intense female characters are evident in Kanarie, Die Seemeeu, and Poppie Nongena. Along with the talented and passionate Jeynes – who also adapted the book for the screen – the series has all the necessary ingredients to deliver a concoction that’s simply irresistible.
Watch Recipes for Love and Murder from Sunday 20 March at 20:00 on M-Net channel 101.
Join the conversation on social media using #RecipesLoveMurder.