Finally! A good cozy mystery that I literally couldn’t put down. I loved that Miriam is a mom of a toddler. I loved her word-vomit and thought trains. I was about ready to divorce her husband for her but I’m glad they talked it out. I actually want to continue the series and a cozy hasn’t given me that reaction in a while.

I am starving! I need all the food! 😋 fantastic first book to the series. Definitely invested in the characters, side characters, and what happens next!

Super romantic mystery. I enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone that likes cozy mystery type books.

Cuban-American cooking show star Miriam Quinones-Smith becomes a seasoned sleuth in Raquel Reyes's Caribbean Kitchen Mystery debut, a savory treat for fans of Joanne Fluke and Jenn McKinlay.

Folks, I was so excited to stumble upon this series written by Cuban-American author Raquel V. Reyes about food anthropologist Miriam Quinones-Smith. Her little family has just moved from NYC back to Miami, and her life is stressful enough dealing with in-laws, tantrums, and her new job before a murder victim practically falls in her lap. The book is filled with Cuban food and culture, which I was absolutely thrilled to see in a cozy series. I look forward to more!

For once, while reading a culinary cozy mystery, I wasn't eyeing takeout options in my area, and that's absolutely not a knock on author Raquel V. Reyes. In Mango, Mambo, and Murder, Reyes writes with obvious affection for food (especially Cuban cuisine), which is convenient since the main character, Miriam Quinoñes-Smith, is a food anthropologist. With rich descriptions that give all five senses something to think about, she could make even a napkin sound appetizing.

Fortunately for my wallet, Reyes is also equally gifted at crafting a mystery and, as tempting as sancocho or flan sounded, I was too wrapped up in the story to even consider putting the book.

In this series debut, Miriam has recently moved with her husband and young son from New York to a tight Miami community, Coral Shores. While struggling to find her place outside of academia, her friend Alma acts as a lifeline, allowing Miriam the chance to network around her new home. However, when someone drops dead at a Women's Club Luncheon and investigators begin suspecting Alma, Miriam realizes she'll need more than a perfect recipe to help clear her friend's name.

From only a brief synopsis, Mango, Mambo, and Murder reads like most cozy mysteries, and yet it feels incredibly fresh. Miriam is the perfect sleuth, willing to do anything to help her friend while also mostly keeping her cool, and Reyes finds ways of using her culinary knowledge to advance the mystery. The hook is much more than just window dressing, and it was genuinely thrilling to read how careful Reyes must have been in layering this story.

As satisfying as the mystery is, I was also taken by how much of Miriam's everyday life was stirred into the story. She struggles not just with a murder but also the offer of her own cooking show on a Spanish-language TV show. Along with family drama in the form of a secretive husband and a realistically vile mother-in-law, Miriam is being pulled in all directions. Other authors might struggle packing so much into one book, but Reyes finds the right balance and, in turn, Miriam feels like a real character juggling real problems—just with a dollop of murder on the side.

Ultimately, Mango, Mambo, and Murder is more than satisfying, and I'm definitely looking forward to seconds as the series continues. Though I might have to order a little something in first.

I love a great cozy mystery and this is exactly what this was. I loved the food aspect of this mystery was brilliant and enjoyed the character developments throughout the novel.

A fun cozy mystery set in Miami Florida where food anthropologist turned stay at home mom Miriam finds herself embroiled in a murder. She does some sleuthing while taking on a part time television cooking show gig, trying to determine if her husband is cheating on her and correcting her mother in law to use her sons proper name. I love the mix of Spanish and English in this book as I am learning Spanish right now. Couldn’t put it down.

I really loved this first book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

I absolutely loved this first in a new culinary cozy series AND Reyes debut book. It was refreshing on many levels from the educated academic mother who is married with a small child, to the Florida setting and all the Cuban culture and food to the Spanish words and phrases sprinkled in. (Florida might be my new favorite setting for cozy mysteries).

Raquel V. Reyes has written a cozy mystery that includes many of my favorite ingredients (pun intended). Therevare a cooking theme, lots of family (and their interference), a TV show, murders and more. Set in Miami and with a Cuban American protagonist, there are atmosphere, interesting characters and a good mystery within these pages. Cozy readers, take a look!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Food anthropologist Miriam Quinones-Smith moved from New York to sunny Miami. She has put her career on hold to be with her young son. Miriam is having a tough time of it between her pushy mother--in-law and her husband who wants to gets something going with his ex.. Miriam's best friend gets her a temp job as a cooking expert on a Spanish cooking channel. Things seem to be going well but when she's at a Womens Club luncheon a socialite at her table falls face first in her lunch and is dead as a door knob. When another women dies and Miriam seems to always be around the police are getting suspicious of Miriam. Can she solve the murders and save herself?

This books was a wonderful quick read. The mystery keep me on my toes and the way food was described was perfect. I can't wait to rea more.

3.5 out of 5 stars

I love the blend of English and Spanish! Not to mention the recipes, yum! Miriam is a PhD food anthropologist who has recently moved back to her hometown in Miami. Trying to navigate her social life, work like, personal life, and her imposing mother-in-law, Miriam finds herself trying to prove that her best friend is NOT the most likely suspect for a string of suspicious deaths.

I like that this story does not focus heavily on romance (but it does have a sprinkling of relationship drama), but rather on Miriam, her food, and her friends. Manny is adorable and the recipes from the Caribbean make my mouth water. I will definitely be reading the next in the series!

Miriam Quiñones-Smith's young family moves back to Coral Shores, Miami for a better life. But Miriam is in a funk until her best friend Alma gets her a job as a Caribbean cooking expert on a Spanish-language morning TV show. Not the academic career as a food anthropologist that Miriam is working towards but it is a step away from her housebound life with their 4-year old son Manny. Her husband Robert is working long hours at an environmental consulting company. They also live too close to Miriam's dreadful mother-in-law Marjory. Miriam is cajoled into meeting the social elite at a Women's Club luncheon but the event is tainted with socialite Sunny Weatherman collapses face-first into the chicken salad. When yoga instructor Elliot also dies, suspicions point towards Cuban herbalist Dr. Fuentes and his healing teas. Detective Frank Pullman arrests Alma for Sunny's death but enlists Miriam to be his eyes and ears in the Spanish-speaking community.

This was a debut culinary mystery dealing with complicated family dynamics and some unique twists. I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

While I really enjoyed the cultural and food aspects of this, the main character grated on me a bit so I never really connected with her. However, I would read the next book in the series to see if my feelings changed about her.

My first & definitely won’t be the last book that I read by Raquel V Reyes! I absolutely loved reading this book.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

A good start to a new cozy mystery series. Miriam and her husband and young son move back to Miami from NYC. Good to be back, but not being so close to her mother-in-law. Like the characters, the story and the words now and then in Spanish. Highly recommend this series.

This was an interesting cozy mystery. I admit it took me a few chapters to rally get involved in the story. The bilingual text kept throwing me out of the story. This is not a bad thing just something I am not used to. Once I got used to this I really enjoyed to story. The mystery is well plotted and kept me guessing. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

I like the trend for cozies to be more realistic, whether it's dealing with family matters, cultural issues, or real world crime. A trend in cozies I don't like is how hyper quirky many are. "Mango, Mambo, and Murder" fulfilled the first while avoiding the trap of the second. It was engaging, interesting, and enjoyable. The lead, Miriam, is not a basic white-bread American but Cuban American and proud of it. The story is set in Florida and reflects the mix of cultures. I enjoyed seeing the different languages and cultures and how they played into the story. While I didn't love the book, it was slow at times, Reyes mostly avoided the first book info dumps and TSTL heroine, and I enjoyed the setting and the characters. Also, Reyes' references to old TV mystery shows made me smile. I'll definitely continue with the series.

"I was never the life of the party, that was Alma."
Well, that is a true statement.
I DNF'd this book in chapter 7.
Miriam was just too angry, negative and frankly mean spirited for me to go any further.