Blurb doesn't match the first impression

Based on the title of the book, I initially thought this was a collection of short stories, but then reading the blurb, it seemed like there was a promising story with developed characters who experience growth and change as they dig deeper into family secrets and history. I was also excited to read a book based in Zimbabwe as an opportunity to learn about a country that I don't know much about. However, the first impression was disappointing. It seemed to start as a legal drama or possibly a murder mystery, but quickly (almost immediately) devolved into a steamy romance. What just happened? The writing throughout the first impression felt forced and the characters were flat and one-dimensional. Hopefully the plot and character development improve in the next few chapters.