I have to say that I enjoyed Manasala's first offering Arsenic and Adobo more than this one. That may be because I listened to it as an audiobook and enjoyed the narration. Nevertheless, foodies with a love of cozy mysteries will flock to this one. There was just enough to suspense to keep you guessing though for me it fell flat towards the end. There was also times when the main character Lila was quite unlikeable. That said, the excerpt at the end tells me that there's another Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery in our future. I wonder what this one will have to offer.

I love this sweet, funny, and often thoughtful cozy mystery series by Mia P. Manansala. The food descriptions alone are drool-worthy. The story was fun to follow, though I found this one a little bit more predictable than the first in the series. It has some great cozy mystery tropes, so I definitely recommend this book and this series to fans of the genre!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest, personal review. Homicide and Halo-Halo did not disappoint! I did enjoy Arsenic and Adobo a bit more than this one, but I still enjoyed seeing where the characters were now. The food references inspired some hungry searches for Filipino food, but unfortunately, I felt that they were focused on more than the characters and storylines themselves. The strong female characters and the aunties make this book interesting. This time Lila is asked to judge a teen beauty pageant which she reluctantly agrees to. When a judge is murdered and her cousin is considered the prime suspect, it is up to Lila and her friends and family to find out what really happened.

This was ANOTHER delightful cozy mystery. This time, set in a beauty pageant and there are so many potential culprits.

Lia is back, but she is suffering with PTSD from the events of Arsenic and Adobo (and honestly, who can blame her?) I

I love how Manasala tackled mental health and being Filipino. The one part that really stood out for me was in the beginning when Detective Park asked how she was doing and one of her calendar club godmothers just jumped in and automatically said ‘SHE’S FINE! Now what about….

Going back to it now, I see that it was the mother of the accused who said that so while it’s understandable, it’s still an apt picture of how most treat mental health. They just breeze over it and tell you to move on. I guess that’s pretty universal for Filipino parents because I’ve seen almost the exact thing happen over and over again.

Now to the pageant aspect, gah did I get Toddlers and Tiaras vibes. Referring to the moms as ‘mom-testants’ was hilariously right.

This one is a typical cozy mystery. Again, the food takes center stage in this one like the other one. I don’t think you have to read the first book to read this one, but it definitely helps with character backstory, the history and even the settings. I read Arsenic and Adobo almost a year ago so I definitely had to pull out my copy and reference back to some things.

Overall this was a solid second book! I’m totally invested in Lia and all the characters so I am ready for BLACKMAIL AND BIBINGKA!

Mashups: Toddlers and Tiaras, the Food Network and Crazy, Rich, Asians.

When I first got back into reading, I was so excited that I was 99% sure I liked everything that could legally qualify as a book, or otherwise conveyed meaning via words on a page.

But in the intervening years of me being myself (read: critical, hateful, cruel, grumpy, endowed with all of the charm and sunshiney personality of the bad guy in a children's movie), I have eliminated genres one by one.

First it was historical. Then it was all sci-fi except for biannual occasion I think I might be wrong. Then it was most YA (still haven't accepted that one). Then it was thrillers.

Now maybe it's thrillers and mysteries at large.

This was, in many ways, a fluffy and fun turn-your-brain-off read. It had delicious food descriptions, it was silly (in the good way) and silly (in the bad way, especially the ending). It was basically what I expected from baby's first cozy mystery.

Yes, there was also a love triangle for no reason, and additionally there were DOZENS of characters with 0 to 1 lines of dialogue who I could not remember or keep straight if you offered me financial compensation to do so, and overall I don't know if this genre was my cup of tea.

But it was fun to try something new!

Bottom line: Apparently that whole "you learn something new every day" thing made some points.

Thank you to Berkley for sending me a free copy of Homicide and Halo-Halo! All opinions are my own.

This series is so fun and very binge-able. In book two of Tita's Rosie's Kitchen, Lila is asked to be a judge on the newly resurrected teen pageant after the previous judge was murdered. Lila is determined to get to the bottom of this and agrees to be the new judge. She just didn't realize she would be taking her own life in her hands.

This is a book that will keep you guessing until the very end. It's not gory or explicit, so the books are good for all readers! They are witty and fun, packed into a quick murder mystery.

I'm already excited for book 3!

We met Lila in Arsenic and Adobo, and now she’s back on the scene with a murder mystery on the fringes of a local scholarship pageant. In Homicide and Halo-Halo, Lila has been asked last minute to be a judge in a pageant, and in her real life, she’s opening a cafe with her two best friends. There’s a lot happening in her life, but that doesn’t stop her from also being an unlikely crime solver. It’s cute, there’s a hint of romantic tension, and I was googling recipes before I reached the end of the book and found them there. 😂
•
•
Happy pub day! I can’t wait to read the next Tita Rosie’s Kitchen mystery.

Mia P. Manansala delivers another engrossing mystery, bringing us back into Lila and Longganisa's lives. Set in the world of beauty pageants, Homicide and Halo-Halo is a satisfying mystery, filled with mouth watering descriptions of Filipino food and enough twists to keep you guessing as to who the killer is. I read this in two sittings and didn't want it to end. So happy there will be more in the world of Lila-verse!

I love this series so damn much. I read this and A&A back to back, and I am so sad that this isn't a cozy series that already has like 50 books because it would be the only I would be reading for the foreseeable future. With that being said, I am excited that there will be other one coming out later on this year.

This truly is my ideal cozy mystery because there is a healthy dose of mystery (and of course murder) mixed in with a well written literary story.

Loved every single minute reading this fast pace, hilarious murder mystery sprinkled with just enough suspense and laughter!
In my opinion this was even better than the first book. It had more characters depth and I was more immersed in the story.

This is a cozy mystery that is the second in series from Mia Manansala. I enjoyed this one as well. This is a cute cozy mystery series dealing with food. It seems that most cozy mysteries due revolve around a theme these days and I appreciate. I find it nice to be able to stay in that setting especially if it is something that you enjoy. This story takes place pretty soon after the first book which is nice as it brings you right back to where you left off.
Being that this is a second book in a series I don't want to give away too much from either book but I will say this is a top notch cozy series and will be enjoyed by anyone that likes smart humor and cooking!

After reading the first book of Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery a few weeks ago, I continued to read HOMICIDE AND HALO-HALO. In the first book review, I mentioned that I loved the theme of Mia P. Manansala's series. In short, food could bring people together. In this new book, the beauty pageant was the theme. I loved that Manansala integrated this element because I've heard pageants are a big thing for Filipinos.

The food element was still vital in the second book, especially Filipino dessert. While someone still got murdered, at least Lila wasn't the suspect. Instead, she became the police spy to find the culprit. In addition, her love life was still unclear between choosing a doctor or a lawyer. Sooner or later, Manansala needed to address this love triangle.

The writing was more mature, and the story was more believable than the first book. I loved the new characters that made it more colorful. The mental health topic was a great addition because it is still taboo in Asian culture. However, I felt the author abandoned the love story, but I hope the next installment will have more love connections.

Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second book in Mia P. Manansala's Tita Rosie's Kitchen books.
Lila Macapagal has just become one of the judges for the Miss Teen Shady Palms pageant after one judge dropped out. Lila won the year she entered so they are excited to have a former winner on the panel. However when disaster strikes and the head judge is murdered, Lila has to once again find out who did it.
This is such a great series and I loved that the events from the previous book carried over and stayed with Lila. Lila is suffering from PTSD which I appreciate since often in cozies, the traumatic events from the previous book are just ignored. I love Lila's family and her dog Longganisa. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

My absolute favorite kind of cozy mystery is when delicious food descriptions are involved. Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series and it gave those same delicious descriptions once again, leaving me craving all the Filipino dishes from the story, as well as a love for learning more about the culture.

I really enjoyed the first book, Arsenic and Adobo, and was excited for this latest installment to the cozy mystery series. I loved the strong female storylines and really appreciated that the author included the important discussion for mental health.

Overall I liked this sequel but it fell flat for me at times, and while I found myself laughing with the first book, I just didn’t feel this one as much, and as a mood reader it may have just hit me differently this time.

*Many thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Homicide and Halo-Halo is book 2 in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series. Lila Macapagal and her close friends are about to open a cute coffee shop called Brew Ha Cafe, but first Lila gets roped in to being a judge on the local Miss Teen Shady Palms. (She previously won the pageant even beating out her cousin Bernadette!). The pageant has received a threatening note implying that it shouldn't go on lest people get hurt. Then a body drops and it seems the threat was made good on. Their #1 suspect is Bernadette. Still struggling from PTSD as a result of the events from the first book, Lila is in a bit of a darker place this go around but she still thinks that she and her friends are better suited to conduct an investigation than the local police department. Will they discover the murderer's identity? Will a new Miss Teen Shady Palms even have the opportunity to be crowned?

I enjoyed the pageant setting in this book. I love Manansala's Filipino cuisine and can't wait to actually try some of the recipes found at the end of the book. The meddling aunties are back, but I wish I got even more of their antics as they are always humorous to me. You definitely have to suspend belief a little bit when it comes to the crew's investigation and continuously beating the local cops to the punch. The love triangle is a bit undercooked for me, I couldn't care less if she ends up with either of her love interests. Overall, if cozy mysteries are your jam or you liked Arsenic and Adobo then you should give book 2 a read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Homicide and Halo-Halo takes a few months after Arsenic & Adobo. In addition to the effects/trauma from the events in Arsenic & Adobo, Lila Macapagal feels added pressure over the opening of her new cafe, the Brew-ha Cafe, with her BFF Adeena and Adeena’s partner, Elena .

HOMICIDE AND HALO-HALO is a touch darker. The author’s note explains why, and reading this might help you better understand why Lila is in the place she’s in. In addition to strong female characters and topics that discuss female empowerment, the author takes on themes such as mental health, education, and trauma which I appreciate since these themes are still so taboo in Asian culture. Even though Lila's family is loving and supportive, the older generation doesn't believe in therapy and would rather keep quiet about mental health. I loved that the author displays the generational differences this way.

The way the characters solve the whodunnit murder mystery was similar to Arsenic & Adobo. Additionally, the pacing seemed a bit off. It’s a bit slow-burning, but it wraps up rather too quickly. I would have liked to see more meat go into the last fourth of the book. And perhaps more romantic development with the love triangle. But, the core themes of this book were food, family (the good and complicated relationships), and mental health.

It’s impossible to read this book without food. Throughout the book, the descriptions of Filipino food were one of my favorite things about this book. Food truly is such a huge part of Asian culture, and I loved how food plays a role in the book. So once I finished, I went on a quest to find some Filipino food!
-
✨If you’re in the mood for a tasty and cozy mystery, I highly recommend checking out this series!

3.5/5

This is the second story in the series and was just as good as Arsenic and Adobo! Lila is back and after her last adventure she is not in a hurry make any big life choices like open her café or figure out her love life. Then when one of the head judges of the town Shady Palms is murdered and her cousin is the main suspect, Lila must become the new judge and basically go under cover. I definitely will continue to see what happens with Lila and all the town that comes and goes through Tita Rosie’s Kitchen!

Just as funny as the first! This book has hijinks, aunties that you’ll never forget, family chaos that makes you laugh along, commentary on race, how to navigate family and cultural traditions, and coming back to your hometown and so much more!

I can’t wait for book 3!

This was my first cozy mystery and I am a fan! If you haven;t tried one yet, I definitely recommend this one and if like me you aren't sure what to expect I would say you get the intrigue of a regular murder mystery but without the scare factor. And while sometimes i want the scare factor, sometimes i can't stomach it and it's good to know there is an alternative. The characters were spot on and the food talk was soooo good! I was salivating the whole time. If you are looking for a book to change your life, I don't think this is the book for you, but if you want to cuddle up with a good book on a rainy day, this is a good one. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.