Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

Murder and Mamon (A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery, #4)

by Mia P. Manansala

When murder mars the grand opening for Lila Macapagal’s aunties’ new laundromat, she will have to air out all the dirty laundry in Shady Palms to catch a killer…

Lila Macapagal's godmothers April, Mae, and June—AKA the Calendar Crew—are celebrating the opening of their latest joint business venture, a new laundromat, to much fanfare (and controversy). However, what should’ve been a joyous occasion quickly turns into a tragedy when they discover the building has been vandalized—and the body of Ninang April’s niece, recently arrived from the Philippines, next to a chilling message painted on the floor. The question is, was the message aimed at the victim or Lila's gossipy godmothers, who have not-so-squeaky-clean reputations?

With Ninang April falling apart from grief and little progress from the Shady Palms Police Department in this slippery case, it’s up to Lila and her network to find justice for the young woman.

The Calendar Crew have stuck their noses into everybody’s business for years, but now the tables are turned as Lila must pry into the Calendar Crew’s lives to figure out who has a vendetta against the (extremely opinionated yet loving) aunties and stop them before they strike again.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

Lila Macapagal has started to gain a bit of a reputation. Like her godmothers, she can't seem to stay out of people's business. Unlike them, she only gets involved after somebody gets murdered. Somehow, Shady Palms is getting more lethal by the day.

The good news is that the cafe she runs with her best friends is doing well. Plus, her godmothers are starting up their own laundromat. Granted, that new location will drum up lots of drama in what should otherwise be a quiet town...

My Review:

Murder and Mamon is the fourth installment in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. It's still a cozy (yet deadly) delight. Likewise, this series has consistently made me hungry while reading. Why are there so many yummy treats/recipes! The temptation!

While I still love the cozy/foodie vibes, I must admit that the longer this series runs, the more it feels like Cabot Cove. I mean, it's supposed to be this sleepy and safe town, but we're now four murders in? More than that, these murders all seem to happen around the same part of town/family.

Admittedly, Murder and Mamon is not my favorite of the series. It isn't the strongest, but it is still fun! It was nice getting a chance to see more of the family. I also enjoyed the conversations surrounding the godmothers and their gossiping habits. I would love to see if that conversation continues in other novels. (I'm assuming the series is far from over?).

What I loved most about Murder and Mamon is how much it surprised me. After the murder, I was worried that things would go in a certain direction, but it didn't! I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the reveal and the overall direction it took. Well done.

Highlights:
Cozy Mystery
Amateur Sleuths
Heavy Food Elements
Family Drama

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 19 November, 2023: Finished reading
  • 19 November, 2023: Reviewed