One of last year’s publishing highlights was Butter by Asako Yuzuki, inspired by a real-life case in Japan in which a woman lured men to her home, cooked them sumptuous meals and then murdered them. Following that success, Yuzuki’s earlier novel, Hooked, has just been published in English for the first time, exploring similar themes of Japanese attitudes towards women, as well as women’s complex relationships with food, desire and marriage.

Hooked centres on Shoko, a provocative lifestyle blogger who calls herself “the world’s worst wife.” Her posts, full of sharp wit and personal revelations, attract Eriko, a reader who becomes enthralled and almost addicted to Shoko’s world. Slowly, Eriko begins to contrive encounters with Shoko at the cafés, restaurants and other locations mentioned in the blog. The two women become friends, yet Eriko’s need for an all-consuming companionship begins to clash with Shoko’s desire for boundaries, creating a tension that is both unsettling and darkly humorous.

Blending elements of dark comedy, psychological thriller and philosophical reflection, Hooked examines the pressures and contradictions facing women in contemporary Japanese society. It asks uncomfortable questions about friendship, obsession, intimacy and the ways women negotiate independence and expectation in the 21st century. With its sharp prose, subtle social critique and moments of black humour, it is a compelling read for anyone intrigued by character-driven literary fiction with a thrilling edge.

Available at £14.99.

Written by The Old Hall Bookshop, Brackley