While it dragged on a little long, I really enjoyed this book. I love that the central characters are all people of color, and I really enjoyed Lila’s extended family. I can see this being a cute cozy mystery series, and as a foodie I loved all the Filipino recipes.

I enjoyed reading this! Been putting this on multiple customer orders for Tailored Book Recommendations - http://mytbr.co

So thanks for the review copy! My netgalley reviews are slowing due to ocular fatigue, so I'm mostly taking print review copies from now on.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It's been awhile since I read a mystery novel (if you don't count The Conductors), but I used to love them as a kid.

For me the highlight of this book was by far the food descriptions. I definitely found myself hungry for Filipino food throughout the novel and will likely be trying to source the ingredients for those Ube crinkle cookies (Mia Manansala really sold them well and I'm so glad she had a recipe to share!). Brew-ha sounds like the kind of café I'd die to have in my city and I'm looking forward to reading more descriptions of tea/desserts/and soaps.

That being said, I feel like I came in a book one too early to this series. I was frequently frustrated with Lila's incompetence like spilling everything to the police, interrogation tactics that we're unsubtle and likely shut, and a relatively low emotional intelligence when it comes to her relationships with other people. Arsenic and Adobo feels like Lila's grow book: she's learning to grow both as a detective and as a friend/family member and reorienting to her place in Shady Palms. I think as Lila likely grows smarter and sharper throughout the series, some of my frustrations will become moot.

While I also didn't love the reliance of police as one of the 'good guys,' I appreciated that Manansala made a content warning at the beginning of the book that touched on the violence of police in the Philippines. I personally believe that US police are also capable of extreme violence and I wish that had also been acknowledged in some form.

I'd still happily recommend this series, especially to folks who love a good cozy food-based mystery (with recipes!).

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… (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Lila is a strong woman who has been dealt a bad hand. When she finds out that her Tita Rosa’s restaurant is having financial difficulties, she has to go back home to try and fix things and make it right. But that gets complicated because a nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex) drops dead at the restaurant. Of course, she is a person of interest so she has to find the real culprit before she goes to jail for life. She will have help from her best friend, Adeena, and her trusty Dachshund, Longansia. And of course, her aunts and family. With all of them in her corner, what could possibly go wrong?

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story very quickly. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I will definitely give the next book in the series a try and see what happens to Lila next.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkeley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This was a fun book that also made me hungry throughout. I enjoyed the mystery of trying to find out who the murderer was because it clearly wasn't Lila! I appreciate that they included the recipes at the end!

Although Mia P. Manansala’s “Arsenic and Adobo,” out this month, begins with a nasty food critic dropping dead after a confrontation with protagonist Lila Macapagal, the cozy mystery is filled with plenty of heart and humor. Now the prime suspect in a murder, Lila must find the real killer while saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant in the process. From Lila’s matchmaking aunties who dole out love and judgement in equal measure to her chubby dachshund, Longganisa, and barista best friend, the fast-paced novel highlights themes of filial piety and friendship and features plenty of Filipino American dishes along the way — recipes included.

While not especially "challenging", Arsenic and Adobo is a fun mystery! It has food, fantastic diversity, & a really great cast of characters. This is a smart way to update the format of a cozy mystery and make it feel like it has a place in 2021. I can't wait for more of this fun series!

What a fun, and delicious, read! I really love the way that Manansala infused this book with so much delicious-sounding Filipino food. The story was very cute too. I really liked the main character, Lila, and enjoyed the family dynamics of her extended family and friends. You could tell they were all a community who cared about one another and supported each other and I felt like I learned a bit about the Filipino culture and familial expectations. The mystery aspect of this was fun, too! I wasn't able to guess the ending, Manansala did a good job of leading you down a few different pathways, and so it kept me guessing until the end.

I will say that I do find cozy mysteries fun, but sometimes I wish they had a bit more depth. This was how I felt here and there with this book as well. I really enjoyed the time I spent reading but I sometimes found my attention wandering during the more cozy, descriptive parts.

This is a great book if you like murder mysteries, it is a great book if you enjoy learning about other cultures (especially through food), it is a great book if you need a diversion. I am very glad there was a glossary and pronunciation guide and that it was in the front of the book. There were many words new to me, but if you are familiar with Filipino food and families, you will enjoy reading this book. If you are Filipino, you may enjoy reading about your own culture.

The families remind me of my own, families tend to span time and place. Lila was called home to help her aunts and grandma rejuvenate their restaurant. She tries to reject her background, to be a modern woman but she feels her responsibility deeply. The food sounded delicious, so I was especially happy to see the recipes at the end of the book. I may try a few of them.

As to the murder, it was hard to figure out who the criminal was, and it was very far into the book before I had an inkling about who it might have been. (I like that because it keeps me interested and guessing.) Lila was the number 1 suspect, but it was kind of easy to tell she did not have that ability in her.

This book is the first in a series, so I will be reading more of them. The shame is having to wait while Mia Manansala writes them!

I have been just AMAZED at the cozy mysteries these past six months, and 𝐀𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐁𝐎 by Mia P. Manansala did not disappoint! Can I just say it’s the best thing ever when you’re reading + loving a book and on Goodreads it says #1 of a series… basically telling me there is MORE coming?! Am I the only one?

Give me ALL the foodie cozies, it’s totally a thing this year for me, and I have NO regrets. Food, fun characters & a great story? Yes, please!

There’s something extra special when it also fits in with all my recent foodie titles (books + food LOVE HEARTS) and I always love a diverse group of characters! Manansala's writing will have you drooling over the food, which is perfect since it IS the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series - just wish the book came with recommendations where to order from, because I have NO chance of cooking the amazing dishes featured in the included recipes!

What I loved most about this title was how Manansala kept us entertained and guessing! With an introduction to an interesting cast of characters and the focus on Lila, I was immediately drawn into the story and trying to guess how each of them related to the murder and one another. I look forward to seeing what happens in the NEXT book, and which of our characters will return for that!

Constant twists and unexpected turns, I had so much fun reading the witty banter between the family members, and loved how it setup so many potential situations for future reads! Lila was a great MC, and while there were certain things left unresolved - her best friendship, past relationships, a love triangle - it just left me wanting MORE, and anxiously awaiting the next book!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing + Netgalley for the ARC and to Kaye Publicity for the gorgeous finished copy! I loved being able to be a part of this book tour!

Compulsively readable and incredibly fun. Great exploration of the pressures and expectations around being a filipino-american with good incidental queerness and terrific recipes.

This is such a fun and fresh cozy mystery that is one I will definitely be recommending both to those already fans of the genre and to those curious about starting it. Have snacks handy as you'll definitely be hungry while reading! I thought it covered a lot of ground in terms of establishing the characters, as well as Lila's relationship to her family and Filipino culture, exploring serious issues like the opioid epidemic in small towns, and telling a well-concluded mystery. Super solid, and I'm looking forward to the next one!

I absolutely DEVOURED this cozy mystery novel by author Mia P. Manansala! As a Filipino American myself, I really connected with Lila and her relationship with her Ninangs and Tita and Lola! I enjoyed following Lila's story and I felt her many frustrations about feeling trapped in a suburban small town and wanting to make it in the city yet feeling a sort of an obligation to her family back home. Filipinos are very family-focused and I definitely appreciate the author's inclusion of that value in Arsenic and Adobo. There are just too many elements in this book I found so charming as well - her dachshund named Longganisa (or Nisa for short), her nickname Lil Mac (clever!), how Lila's family showed love through food (whether it be through cooking, sharing, or eating), her genuine passion for all things Filipino and being creative about all the baked goods she's experimenting, etc. Thank you to the author for inspiring me! I think I'll try making an ube latte at home this weekend along with yet another batch of my Impossible lumpia.

I cannot wait for the second book in the series already! Can we please have more Filipino American representation in fiction?! I'm hugging books like this close to my heart.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkely, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Arsenic and Adobo is a cozy mystery that will keep you on your toes and make you really hungry
In Arsenic and Adobo, Lila Macapagal is at a rough point in her life. She just came back to the small town of Shady Palms, Illinois, where she grew up, after spending years in Chicago working toward her dream of owning her own cafe. She’s back to help her tita (aunt) and grandmother save the family business. The restaurant hasn’t been doing that great after her ex-boyfriend, Derek, started writing scathing reviews of the Filipino eatery. Fortunately for Lila, the timing for that trip back kinda worked since she had recently walked in on her fiancée getting friendly with their neighbors.

The story goes from the perfect Hallmark rom-com to Lifetime mystery when Lila’s high school sweetheart collapses and dies in the middle of dessert. Because it happens at their restaurant, Lila becomes the prime (and only) suspect.

So we embark with Lila on the journey to prove her innocence. Along the way, we meet delightful, well-rounded characters and enjoy the most delicious descriptions of Filipino dishes. In her quest to identify other people Derek (the town food critic) might’ve wronged, Lila takes us on a diverse and entertaining food tour that will leave you with all kinds of cravings and inspiration to get creative in the kitchen. That’s one of the most beautiful things about this book— Manansala wrote a book that explores and celebrates diversity and multiculturalism in a fun and heartwarming way.

I also loved and found comfort in the many Filipino language and culture references that closely resemble my Caribbean upbringing. Because the Philippines was a Spanish colony for hundreds of years, many Spanish words are part of their native language, Tagalog. But it wasn’t only about the longganisa, meryendas, and ensaymadas, in Lila’s world, friends are family, everybody is always in your business, and they all live on “brown people time” (always late). Most importantly, they all drink coffee at all times of the day. Welcome to my life.

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala is a dynamic and lighthearted murder mystery you will not want to put down. It’s, I’m sure, one of the best stay-in-bed-all-day-reading books you will have the pleasure of reading this year. 4.5

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Full of family, humor, murder, and food, Mia P. Manansala’s debut mystery Arsenic and Adobo is a great read.

Even though Lila has big culinary dreams of her own in Chicago, she puts them aside to move back home to help her aunt Rosie save the family restaurant. However, she does not expect her high school sweetheart to turn into enemy number one with his scathing restaurant reviews published on his blog and the local newspaper. When he becomes ill while eating at Tita Rosie’s Kitchen and subsequently dies, the police quickly turn their eyes to Lila as the prime suspect, not only for murder but also for drug charges. Every day the restaurant remains closed for the investigation, the closer Rosie gets to losing her livelihood and family legacy. Lila sets out to clear her name and save the restaurant even as the body count rises.

First of all, reading this book makes me hungry and my mouth water. It is a culinary cozy in all the best ways with fabulous descriptions of Filipino, Japanese, Mexican, BBQ, and gourmet coffee foodstuffs. Seriously…delicious. Luckily the author includes recipes in the back of the book and a glossary of (foreign to me) Filipino ingredients and terms in the front. Manansala’s love of food and her heritage shines through on every page. As a self proclaimed foodie, I find it educational and entertaining.

Though food is obviously the main attraction, culture and family are also greatly emphasized throughout the story. The multi-generational and multi-ethnic characters are well developed and jump off the page. The cozy mystery genre is often lacking in diversity, but Arsenic and Adobo organically weaves different heritages into a Midwestern small town setting seamlessly. I enjoy all of the characters and feel like I am well on the way to making new book friends. The characters feel like real people with relatable lives, hopes, and problems. The mystery of Derek’s death and the drug subplot are well thought out and executed. There are plenty of suspects and motives to be found in the other restaurateurs attacked by Derek’s reviews. I guessed whodunit rather early on but, just like Lila, had to work out the means and motive.

Arsenic and Adobo sets a firm foundation for the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series with its quality writing and storytelling. I look forward to reading more. Highly recommended to any cozy reader but especially to those looking for glorious food descriptions and multicultural characters.

📆Quick read

📆Fun side characters

📆Filipino culture

📆Food! And Coffee!


This was my first cozy mystery and I really enjoyed it. I was hooked from the beginning wondering who dunnit? I loved all of the characters and their unique personalities. I was hoping there might be a little side romance in this, but there wasn’t. This one will make you hungry and craving coffee. If you haven’t read a cozy mystery before, definitely give this a try! I will be reading the rest of the books in this series when they come out.

YES YES YES give me all the mystery and food. This was a wonderful book full of great diversity and delicious food. The mystery I thought I had figured out, but there were a few fun twists I didn't anticipate. I did feel some things weren't fully answered at the end but I guess that's why it is going to be a series!!

Want to read a mouthwatering cozy mystery? Then this is the book to read.

First I loved the food descriptions, there’s lots of cooking, banter and murder.
When your ex boyfriend who is a food critic drops dead after you’ve clashed and you seem to be the one and only suspect, what do you do? Well, duh... you conduct your own investigation!

I enjoyed this story, it certainly has its moments. Will definitely pick up the second book.
A fun quick read that will have you craving for coffee.

I enjoyed this one. I loved the food descriptions and the crazy family dynamic. I thought Lila was well developed and intriguing character. The mystery was a little convoluted though. There were a lot of different ways it could go, which was interesting but honestly I got a little tired of the same plot lines with each suspect. Overall it was a good read and I'm looking forward to book two.

3.5-4 stars

I got such 21st century revamped Murder, She wrote vibes, and I loved it! It didn't hurt that my mouth was watering from all the food descriptions, and bless you for the recipes at the end of the book!
I really enjoyed this book, and it was so easy to sit down and devour with no effort. The only problem was the pacing at times or the lack of that splash of excitement, but the charms and cosy mystery vibes are there.
I will be continuing with this series for sure!

Also, do you know what was very lovely? The author noted that they tried to be as aware as possible about stereotypes, and they hoped they did it ok but put trigger warnings just in case. Can we have more of this?!