layawaydragon
Written on Nov 26, 2022
When her long-lost cousin comes back to town just in time for the holidays, Lila Macapagal knows that big trouble can’t be far behind in this new mystery by Mia P. Manansala, author of Arsenic and Adobo.
It’s Christmastime in Shady Palms, but things are far from jolly for Lila Macapagal. Sure, her new business, the Brew-ha Cafe, is looking to turn a profit in its first year. And yes, she’s taken the first step in a new romance with her good friend Jae Park. But her cousin Ronnie is back in town after ghosting the family fifteen years ago, claiming that his recent purchase of a local winery shows that he’s back on his feet and ready to contribute to the Shady Palms community. Tita Rosie is thrilled with the return of her prodigal son, but Lila knows that wherever Ronnie goes, trouble follows.
She’s soon proven right when Ronnie is suspected of murder, and secrets surrounding her shady cousin and those involved with the winery start piling up. Now Lila has to put away years of resentment and distrust to prove her cousin’s innocence. He may be a jerk, but he’s still family. And there’s no way her flesh and blood could actually be a murderer . . . right?
- ISBN10 059320171X
- ISBN13 9780593201718
- Publish Date 4 October 2022
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Berkley
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 288
- Language English
- URL https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780593201718
Reviews
Quirky Cat
Written on Oct 21, 2022
Ohhh! It's that time again! No, seriously, we may only be three books in, but the new release of Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery has quickly become something I look forward to. The latest installment is Blackmail and Bibingka, and it is pure perfection.
We're heading into the Christmas season at Shady Palms, which means there wille lots of food and festivals. And probably a murder or two, based on how things have been going here lately. Lila Macapagal will be at the center of all this chaos, naturally.
The odds of mischief and mysteries increase when Lila's cousin, Ronnie, comes back to town. The boy has always caused trouble, and his habits don't seem to have changed much as an adult. Though only time will tell.
“If you've turned up after all these years just to break Tita Rosie's heart again, I'll kill you. I'm serious. And Ate Bernie will help me hide the body."
Guys! Words cannot describe how excited I've been for the next novel in Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery. This has quickly become my favorite cozy mystery, and if you haven't given it a shot, please reconsider. It's amazing.
Blackmail and Bibingka bring us back to Shady Palms – an area full of local cuisine, colorful characters, and a couple of murder cases. Like many a cozy mystery, Lila Macapagal always finds herself in the middle of these investigations. Mostly because she can't leave well enough alone; it's an oddly endearing trait!
I love that this story takes place during Christmastime (though I almost wish I had been patient enough to line up the holidays). It added even more charm and whimsy to an already abundant setting.
Speaking of the setting, I think I enjoyed the setup more for this particular novel. More than the beauty contest, at any rate. This time, we're focused on establishing a new winery, which is fascinating on all fronts. It also fits in nicely with the food-oriented themes.
The mystery was enjoyable; the stakes were high (but not so high as to induce anxiety), and the characters were on point. Oh, and of course - Blackmail and Bibingka made me crave Filipino food like you wouldn't believe. So plan for that.
As always, I'm charmed by Mia P. Manansala's writing and cannot wait for the next addition to this series. Hopefully, we won't have to wait more than a year or two.
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