Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

I picked up Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson at Sainsbury’s recently, after seeing a buzz about it on social media. (I am a sucker for a social media buzz about books. Most of the people I follow like similar books to me, so I can generally trust them!)

Black Cake is the story of three generations of a family, several continents, a lot of family secrets, the sea and black cake.

Benny hasn’t spoken to her brother, Byron, or her parents in eight years. Her father has already died and now her mother has passed away. Eleanor’s solicitor summons Benny and Byron to their childhood home to receive their inheritance – a traditional Caribbean black cake waiting for them in the freezer and the long story of their mother’s life.

Eleanor made a recording to share with her children, so that her stories wouldn’t die with her. She insisted that they listen together. The recording is many hours long and Benny in particular doesn’t want to listen. She feels that her parents and brother rejected her for not following the path they’d set out for her.

As they reluctantly listen to their mother’s voice, the story they hear shatters everything they thought they knew about their mother. There is a murder from many years ago and the sister they knew nothing about. Through hearing their mother’s story, they start to understand more about why they are the way they are – why their parents had such high expectations and why Benny felt the need to run away.

Will their mother’s secrets drive Benny and Byron further apart or will they help fulfil her final wish and bring them back together again?

Black Cake is a brilliant read, definitely one of my favourite books so far this year. Touching on secrets, family, love, friendship and racism, I would recommend it to anyone.