Book Review – Tannie Maria & The Satanic Mechanic

Get out of the way, Jessica Fletcher and make way for the Klein Karoo’s Tannie Maria.

This wonderfully-written South African read will have you laughing all the way to the kitchen to prepare of one of Tannie Maria’s Venus chocolate cakes. Her solution to all her agony aunt column questions in the local newspaper is one of her delicious recipes. The crime and investigation story line, although serious, is quickly lost in another delicious recipe.

As she sheds a few pounds, and enjoys an interesting love life, she uncovers a few of her own problems. She seeks help from the ‘satanic mechanic’ – straight out of the rocky horror picture show. During this journey, she finds herself tangled up in another murder that she and her detective boyfriend may, or may not, solve. The cultures and languages of South Africa are richly and beautifully expressed.