Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

Arsenic and Adobo (A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery, #1)

by Mia P. Manansala

A RUSA Award-winning novel!

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer....


When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She's tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she's the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila's left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

Reviewed by layawaydragon on

3 of 5 stars

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Made it 150 pages in and it was just barely getting started. Like just got to the "it's a murder" part. And it was so obvious who did it. Skipped to the end and I was right. Didn't feel like I missed much. Happy ending. I'll try the second one, which will hopefully have a proper mystery.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 21 September, 2022: Finished reading
  • 21 September, 2022: Reviewed