Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I get a small commission so I can buy more books to review! Full disclosure here.

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery | Pages | Published:

Book Jacket Synopsis:

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…

Purchase Link: Amazon

Arielle’s Notes

Book Format & Source: Hardback purchased via Book of the Month.

Review & Thoughts:

Fun, quick cozy mystery read.
Didn’t see it coming on the whodunnit. It wrapped up a bit too cleanly but overall was enjoyable.
The food made my mouth water! Lucky for me, I read this with book club and the gal that hosted the discussion actually went and found a local place that made delicious Filipino food and adobo! And a really fun murder mystery party.
themes & notes: LGBTQ+ friendly, family owned business, classic cozy murder mystery
Favorite quote: Jae looked at Adeena in admiration. “You, my friend; have more layers than I gave you credit for” Adeena grinned. “I’m like an onion. Many layers’ lots of flavor, and I provide incredible depth. Lucky for you all, I’m not as pungent.”
Favorite quote: In typical Filipino fashion, my aunt expressed her love not through words of encouragement or affectionate embraces, but through food. Food was how she communicated. Food was how she found her place in the world. When someone rejected her food, they were really rejecting her heart.

Recommend for: fans of cozy mystery

My Review Rating: ♥♥♥♥.5

Romance Steam Factor: G – don’t read this if you only enjoy steamy!