‘Recipes for Love and Murder’ Recap: ‘Bereft Woman’ & ‘Sex Cake’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Recipes for Love and Murder’.
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Often times, murder mysteries and crime dramas that feature a nouveau detective, one that has never investigated a criminal case in their lives, follow a pretty specific structure. Wherein the new gumshoe, finds a genuine taste for solving crimes and learns this is a skill set they never knew they had. Which in turn plunges them into a dark and dreary world where they face humanity’s darkest acts in a bold and inspiring manner, and well… there’s nothing wrong with that particular formula. Because everyone loves a fish out of water story, and there is a sense of everyday relatability that accompanies such a plot. But while it is delightful to enjoy this kind of story through and through, it does leave one wondering.
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Specifically, what it would be like, if by chance one of these stories really let loose and truly put an everyday person without any hint of training or love for investigation into the fray of dealing with murders. And thankfully, that has finally come to fruition. For the new Acorn TV series, Recipes for Love and Murder, just so happens to offer that up. A feat that the two-part series premiere accomplishes by plunging us into the life and times of a woman named Maria Purvis. Who works at the local paper in her community as a recipe column writer, and of course… she delivers only the finest of foods for the community to experience in print and when we catch up with her, in ‘Bereft Woman’ and ‘Sex Cake’, her life is undergoing quite the important change.

In that, her column is being discontinued to make room for an advice column. Putting Maria at a crossroads. To either disappear from the writing life and just enjoy cooking on her own, or by chance… to take up a new mantle and see what the Tannie Maria column might offer her and as it turns out… the new column provides her with everything she needs as a writer and a person, and some serious surprises along the way. For while she is able to dole out wonderful advice to those in need, and pepper in some delicious and helpful recipes along the way… these letters also plunge her into the world of murder. For one of the women, she offers advice to, turns up dead and that… is what delivers a different kind of story.

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Because murder is simply not her forte. She just wants to make delicious food and make people smile. But the fact that believes in doing good and is clearly trying to heal from a checkered past of her own, compels her to forge ahead and do what she can to help with this case. And since she also works with a plucky and highly motivated writer named Jessie September, she gets her chance to do so and that leads… to a wildly refreshing murder mystery. One that is both grounded in very real and unsettling concepts that are ripped from everyday headlines, but also finds a way to be lighthearted enough to never be overwhelming.

Not to mention, this premiere also takes the time to move the case in some supremely unique directions. Since the clues are far and few between regarding who could have committed such an act, and there is so much passion and fury over the fallen, from the deceased's husband and best friend… that confusion reigns over this case. Making it clear that not only does this series want to present us with a different kind of investigator, the likes of which really isn’t seen in this genre… it also wants to keep us guessing and really think about the case and who might have committed such a horrible sin. Giving rise to a supremely engaging viewing experience, one that is wonderfully complimented by some delightful performances.

For Maria Doyle-Kennedy is simply electric as Maria Purvis, and she sells the nature of the character and her struggles to become an investigator in an honest manner that feels real and relatable. And she is wonderfully complimented by Kylie Fisher, who plays Jessie, and truly… all of these elements blend together to provide us with an incredibly original viewing experience. One that really is unlike any other murder mystery on the airwaves right now and its unique nature outright hooks you and will have you counting down the days until next week’s episodes. Since you are vested by the end of this one and beyond eager to learn the truth about every mystery presented here, and it will be fascinating to see what truths are revealed unto us as season one of this refreshing show continues along. Until next time.

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