Arsenic and Adobo by Mia Manansala (Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery #1)

Reviewed by Sam!

What I drank prior: it’s cinco de mayo! I’ve had many margs and shots and it was a fab night.

Goodreads Overview:

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…

Drunk Overview: This i thought was a rom com, but its actually a cozy murder mystery… Which i did not expect in any way shape or form. Lila is back home helping her Tita Rosa’s Filipino restaurant get back in to the black when the owner of the building comes in with his son. His son the food critic who destroyed their reputation few months prior. He is Lila’s ex so we already hated him before. But then, he’s at their restaurant, eating some cookies and then literally keels over and dies… like what?! So basically Lila goes on this hunt to find out the real killer while she’s under investigation for this bro-tastic asshole’s death.

Spoiler-free Thoughts: this was so damn cute. I shouldn’t be able to say that with a murder mystery, but I truly thought it was great.

• Ok so like, what i love most about this was that it was basically a found family story. Which is weird, I think.
• I think i need to get rid of the murder mystery box I’ve put this book in and think about it as just like… a contemporary tale of community bonding.
• The characters were fab, they all had back stories.. like I wrote down in my notes… “how in the hell do every single one of these characters have back stories and this book not be a thousand pages?” BUT THEY DO. And it’s incredible.
• I fell in love with Lila immediately. She’s driven but also cares a shit ton about her family and its amazing.
• I get so much about the obligation to family, no matter what they think, so this is a great fucking time. And it hurts but it’s good to be seen.
• The mystery is a legit mystery that i honestly couldn’t figure out the whodunnit and it was awesome.
• I also love the Filipino cultural and food references. They even list recipes at the end and I LOVED IT. This book made me hungry.
• I also also loved the way they set up the possibility and inevitability of the next book. I”M IN

What to pair it with: this is…. Hmmm… this is like a cold beer on a summer day. So refreshing and light and i loved it.

Rating: 4/5

Until next time, we remain forever drunkenly yours,
Sam