A Taste For Murder
Published on 15. January 2026
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-0-241-79526-2 (ISBN)
Description
NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES STREAMING ON ITV
WELCOME TO DA VINALE'S, THE BEACHSIDE RESTAURANT ON THE ISLAND OF CAPRI, WHERE MURDER IS ON THE MENU...
'A cracking crime procedural' The Courier
'Capri makes an irresistible setting for crime fiction' THE TIMES
'A brilliant read' FABULOUS
A summer on the Italian island of Capri. The perfect opportunity for recently widowed DCI Joe Mottram to reconnect with his teenage daughter. What better place to bond than in his late wife's childhood home where her parents still run renowned beachside restaurant, Da Vinale's.
And then the body turns up.
When a British tourist is found dead at the bottom of an iconic landmark, Joe's hopes of a restorative holiday are shattered. Then local detective Lara Sarrancino arrives at Da Vinale's asking questions, and Joe realises the family restaurant might be hiding secrets amidst its delicious dishes.
Joe will have to act fast - and find a way to work with stubborn Lara - in order to learn the truth.
Because the next murder might be even closer to home...
WELCOME TO DA VINALE'S, THE BEACHSIDE RESTAURANT ON THE ISLAND OF CAPRI, WHERE MURDER IS ON THE MENU...
'A cracking crime procedural' The Courier
'Capri makes an irresistible setting for crime fiction' THE TIMES
'A brilliant read' FABULOUS
A summer on the Italian island of Capri. The perfect opportunity for recently widowed DCI Joe Mottram to reconnect with his teenage daughter. What better place to bond than in his late wife's childhood home where her parents still run renowned beachside restaurant, Da Vinale's.
And then the body turns up.
When a British tourist is found dead at the bottom of an iconic landmark, Joe's hopes of a restorative holiday are shattered. Then local detective Lara Sarrancino arrives at Da Vinale's asking questions, and Joe realises the family restaurant might be hiding secrets amidst its delicious dishes.
Joe will have to act fast - and find a way to work with stubborn Lara - in order to learn the truth.
Because the next murder might be even closer to home...
Reviews / Votes
Baker vividly evokes the relationships...and their grief for Sophia, as well as describing delectable meals, provided for comfort, education, seduction and encouragement * Literary Review * As a high-end holiday destination with an underbelly of organised crime, Capri makes an irresistible setting for crime fiction...Baker moves deftly between the murder investigation and a look behind the scenes at the struggling restaurant owned by Mottram's Italian parents-in-law. * Joan Smith, The Times * We couldn't get enough of this cracking crime procedural with an Italian cuisine twist from the uber-talented creator of ITV's Hotel Portofino, Matt Baker... Deliciously dark! * The Courier *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 164 mm
Thickness: 36 mm
Weight
612 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-79526-2 (9780241795262)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2026
Penguin Books Ltd
€8.99
Available for download
Person
Matt is a television screenwriter best known for creating the ITV series Hotel Portofino. He co-wrote and adapted the series Professor T, Suspect, and Before We Die, and is the lead writer on Channel 4 series Patience, which aired in January 2025 and attracted 3 million viewers on its first episode.
Matt studied English Literature and Drama at Goldsmith's College, University of London, and went on to a career in journalism and corporate communications, specialising in media and entertainment. He devoted himself to writing full-time during the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn't looked back. A Taste For Murder is his first novel.
Matt studied English Literature and Drama at Goldsmith's College, University of London, and went on to a career in journalism and corporate communications, specialising in media and entertainment. He devoted himself to writing full-time during the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn't looked back. A Taste For Murder is his first novel.