Food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith's move from New York to Coral Shores, Miami, puts her academic career on hold to stay at home with her young son.
Their are bodies piling up and Miriam dives head into discovering what’s going on.
#MangoMamboandMurder #NetGalley

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of MANGO, MAMBO, AND MURDER (Book 1 of the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries) by Raquel V. Reyes in exchange for an honest review. Doctor Miriam Quiñones-Smith, food anthropologist, isn’t quite sure how she ended up living two blocks away from a mother-in-law who hates her and an absentee husband who has seemingly excluded both her and their young son from every aspect of his life except breakfast. Because of her trepidation about the status of her marriage and her fear that she may need to support herself and her son, Miriam allows Alma to find her a cooking spot on a local Spanish-language morning television show.

Also, thanks to her childhood friend Alma living locally, Miriam has a little bit of a life outside of raising her son. Alma tends to coerce Miriam into attending society functions that serve as networking opportunities for Alma’s real estate business. When Miriam goes along to a Women’s Luncheon to spend time with her friend, the experience is more miserable that expected; her dining neighbor drops dead face-first into the chicken salad. As more women collapse and/or die, Miriam suspects a local herbalist of causing the trouble. When police arrest Alma for causing one of the deaths, Miriam knows she needs to exonerate her only ally.

I liked this book and thought it was a great start to a new series. I really look forward to the next story. There is a lot of Spanish in the book, so I hope you’re further along in your Duolingo lessons that I am. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, marital troubles, motherhood, mothers-in-law, society, real estate, fad diets, cooking, food, family, friendship, Spanish, and Spanish-speaking cultures.

#MangoMamboandMurder #NetGalley

A refreshing coxy! Includes a difficult mother in law that is so relatable! An interesting plot. Story moves at a good pace. More more please! Thanks #netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

I found this mystery interesting to read from a Hispanic point of view. There was occasional use of Spanish mixed in with the dialogue that wasn't always explained. However, I found it fun to bring back up my college Spanish and use it.

Rounding up from 4 and a half stars...I'm dinging it slightly as the mystery is a little obvious, but wow the cast, characters and locale are so fresh and fun that it makes up for it. Miriam Quinoñes-Smith has returned to Miami with as PhD, a husband and a toddler. But the milieu in Miami is much different now as her husband is a member of old line society. Dragged to a society luncheon by her domineering mother-in-law, Miriam witnesses the death of a young woman. When her BFF, Alma, is arrested, Miriam starts investigating. Ah the food, mouth watering descriptions of Caribbean cuisine proliferate as Miriam cooks and eats her way through dish after succulent dish. Hope we'll be seeing Miriam, her friends and family again soon.

I received this book for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Another fun cozy! And another new to me author. Plot was great.

Such fun. I think this may be the first or one of the first #ownvoicse latinx cozies we've had in years. Can't wait for the next one.

I really enjoyed this book overall. I love cozy murder mysteries and I especially love Latinx representation in books. The food sharing was also wonderful, food is so important in Latin American culture and I loved that the author shared so much information about it.

I did feel that Miriam forgave Robert really easily, and things went back to normal immediately after he told her what was going on. I’m not sure I could’ve forgiven my husband that easy, especially keeping all of that secret instead of just telling her. I also wish that Robert would’ve said something more about his mother’s blatant racism instead of just kind of sweeping it away. Maybe this will be explored more in sequel books.

I loved all of the Spanish in the book as well, and the author does a great translation through context or indirect statements which I thought felt so organic and natural. One large issue I found was the author’s definition of “Latinx”. She describes it as a word used by American born/living Latin descendants who don’t speak Spanish with “confidence”. This is not what the word is used for at all. Latinx is a non-gendered word to be more inclusive of two-spirit, non-binary, trans, and other LGBTQ+ folks. People often use Latine too. It has nothing to do with attachment to culture, language, or even nationality. While the word may be more popular in the US, it is applicable in any Spanish speaking country to foster inclusivity for all people.

All in all, I did enjoy this book and would love to read a sequel!

A unique twist on a foodie style cozy mystery. Add a mother-in-law that’s difficult it makes it a touch sassier than most cozies! This one is a standout and I applaud the new twist on the genre. I look forward to seeing more of Raquel V. Reyes novels on shelves.

I love that the main character, Miriam, in this novel is a food anthropologist. The web of characters are all interesting. I especially like her ties to her family and her Cuban roots (and food!). Just FYI: there’s a little romantic heat that’s also thrown into the mix. What I really adore, though, is the fact that she’s a working mom with such an adorable son in Manny.

Near the end, though, I would’ve enjoyed a little more wrapping up in terms of what happens after justice gets served.

If you’re looking to devour a fun mystery, look no further than Mango, Mambo, and Murder. A delicious mystery filled with hot Miami suspense.

Moving to a new town can be difficult but bring in the prejudice of your husband's mother into it and things are equally challenging. Although Miriam loves her husband, Robert is gone alot with his job and she is bored. Her friend Alma helps by inviting her to a women's lunch which turns into a murder scene. She helps to solve the murders because her bestfriend is accused of being the murderer. The detective on the case decides to use her to get information because she is part of the Latina community. She ends up solving the murder. Miriam is asked to do a cooking show and it turns into a sensation.

Miriam Quinones-Smith has moved back to the Miami area with her husband and son. So much has changed since Miriam and her mejor amiga por siempre, Alma, grew up in the area. Now Miriam is living in a swanky area right near her mother in law. Being the good daughter in law that she his, Alma convinces Miriam to attend a luncheon at the country club and to attend an exercise class to network. Alma also talks Miriam into taking on a cooking job at a big glocal Latin TV station. As much as everything has changed, Miriam just wants to be a happy family and settle in.

At the luncheon, a young woman sitting next to Miriam falls dead into her salad. Then at a another event, one of the women she met at the park with other mothers and children drops dead. While cursing her luck, Miriam goes into full on sleuth mode when Alma is arrested for the first murder. It seems being Marjory Smith's daughter in law gets people talking and opens doors that are otherwise not as available to the local police. Now Miriam has to clear her friend's name and try to get her family settled in their new home, all while starting a new career. Pedazo de pastel, no hay problema!

This Gringa is in love with this series! I grew up in a Latino community and learned Spanish in school, so imagine my reading the Spanglish and realizing that I knew what was being said...AND that it is a great mystery! I'm hooked and will waiting for the next entry with bated breath! This is definitely a series to add to your reading list!

I love this book! It read so well and the characters were so unique and well done. I got very caught up in all the storylines, particularly the mother-in-law as I've had my own issues along those lines. Looking forward to more from this author.

This is the first time I’ve read anything by this author, and I found the story to be interesting.
Miriam is the main character and when her best friend is accused of murder, she does her best to help her prove her innocence.
I think the writing was well done, and the story itself was good. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
# MangoMamboandMurder #NetGalley

Mango, Mambo, and Murder are about Miriam a Cuban American who has moved to Miami with her husband and son Manny. She is not accepted by her mother-in-law and tries her best to deal with that situation. She has been in two just two weeks and has witnessed two deaths and gotten a job in a local tv cooking show.

Her life is even more complicated when she thinks her husband is having an affair. All this time she is trying to figure out how did these two victims die. And so, the sleuthing begin.

It felt at times that the Spanish were too much and unnecessary. Overall, the story was interesting especially when the culprit is revealed. Yes!

Recipes are always fun to try especially when they made differently from what you were used to growing up.

I really needed this cozy mystery.

After reading some really disturbing books, I was looking for a mystery that didn't involve too much horror, and this delivered just that.

This is similar to your typical "cozy mystery" genre, but I think it excels beyond that with the characters. Miriam is unlike any character I've read in a cozy mystery, and I really felt that Raquel V. Reyes has something wonderful coming with this series.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

A delightful new cozy series with a Caribbean field set in Coral Shore, Miami. You will get the vibes of the tropics along with the island hospitality.

The series focus on a Cuban-American cooking show star that has a penchant for sleuthing. Invited to a luncheon, one of the socialite guests ends up dead on chicken salad. Soon there is another woman who ends up dead during an interview with a controversial herbalist doctor.

Will she find out why they died before she becomes another victim as she gets to the truth? A fun new read to savor.

Miriam Quiñones-Smith a food anthropologist has just moved from New York to Miami with her husband Robert and son Manny. Thanks to her friend Alma, Miriam soon gets a job as Caribbean cooking expert on a Spanish tv show.

While attending a Women’s Club luncheon, a woman named Sunny Weatherman collapses right after eating the main course—chicken salad on lettuce and dies later in the hospital.

Shortly after another woman turns up dead. It’s up to Miriam to find out why these women were murdered. Even though Detective Pullman isn’t happy with her snooping.

Thank you to Raquel V. Reyes, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this book.