Frida’s Cook by Florencia Etcheves is historical fiction based on the lives of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Set in Mexico City in the 1930’s and 40’s at La Casa Azul and present day Buenos Aires, a mystery unfolds around the fictional cook Nayeli Cruz and a lost Rivera artwork.

I was excited to read this book and based on the title was expecting to be immersed in the flavors and recipes of Oaxaca and Mexico City, but sadly there was very little of that actually in the book. There is intrigue and theft and murder in the story line that follows the Nayeli’s grandaughter, as well as a small, if fabricated, window into life at Casa Azul and Kahlo’s world, a world full of pain and love and art.

However, I found it all rather pointless and disappointing. Skip this book and read true stories about Frida and Diego, they are much more intriguing than this book.