Mia P. Manansala does it again! I'm not the biggest fan of Cozy Mysteries, but hers are interesting, funny, and the mouth-watering descriptions of the food cannot be understated! Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you, Berkley Pub and NetGalley for a copy of Homicide and Halo-Halo in exchange for my honest review!

I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again, I love a good cozy mystery. Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second installment in #TitaRosie’sKitchenMystery series and it was exactly what I needed. For all that is delicious and sweet in the this world, my mouth was watering while reading this. 😋 Still dreaming about those adobo chicken wings. 😌

This book centers around “Pageantzilla” moms, that’s an accurate term found in the Webster dictionary. Lila, being a former Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant winner, is asked to be part of the judge’s panel. At the time she beat her rival, aka her cousin Bernadette. When the head judge is murdered, Bernadette becomes the main suspect. Lila and Bernadette put their differences aside to solve this mystery of who done it.

One of my favorite things in this story is the character development, the cousins are loud, they are colorful and their witty dynamic crucial to the storyline. The cousins name their cafe Brew Ha Cafe (Bruja - witch in Spanish) made cackle. 🤣

This is a fun witty story that kept me engaged the entire time. I can’t wait for the next book.

Lila Macapagal is still trying to get back on track after some unfortunate happenings at her aunt’s Filipino restaurant a few months prior. Now on the cusp of opening her own restaurant, she’s also juggling two possible suitors and being involved in the Shady Palms Miss Teen Beauty Pageant.

But things REALLY start heating up when the head judge of the pageant is murdered. As the suspects keep piling up, so do the recipes…for disaster.

Homicide and Halo Halo is the second installment in the new cozy mystery series by author @mpmthewriter. I read the first book, but it wasn’t fresh in my mind, which might have helped. (Reread, who has the time for that?) Unintentional or not, I chuckled every time I saw the Shady Palms reporter’s name, Wilson Phillipps, in print. I wanted to more out of the love story aspect as this part of the story felt like an ingredient that was added, but didn’t really add a lot of substance. Perhaps this was on purpose given it’s meant to be an ongoing series.

This story also left me hungry for more- literally, with so many references to delicious Filipino delicacies. For example, I didn’t know Halo-halo was a treat, but I’d like to try it now!

If you enjoy your cozy mysteries with a side dish of literal dishes, check our the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Series.

I enjoyed this second book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. This one takes place around a town beauty pageant in which Lila, as a former winner, is having to help judge. We have some delightful new characters show up. I enjoyed all the tension Lila has with different members of her family and friends. I really enjoy this series so much and I am looking forward to the next one.

The second book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series is darker than the first. It makes sense that Lila doesn't feel okay after the terrifying experience she had months prior. She feels like she's lost her baking spark and can't stop second-guessing herself. This seems like a natural response to that trauma. Unfortunately, Lila feels like therapy is out of the question and that she will be fine if she just throws herself into her work. Which is a classic way of (not) dealing with mental health for folks from immigrant backgrounds who have always had to struggle. I found this extremely relatable. A lot of children and/or grandchildren of immigrants (and/or low-income folks) have a hard time grappling with the idea of asking for help because their parents or grandparents didn't have that luxury. We can see that we have been through less hardships than them and if our family made it through the struggles without help, then we tend to think that we have to do the same.

Homicide and Halo-Halo felt more serious than Arsenic and Adobo because Lila's trauma was more evident in her physically. Prior to this series, I'd only ever read one other Cozy Mystery book, so I'm not sure if confronting a murder mystery in this way is common. The heaviness of it made the presence of the love triangle, both, understandable and out of place. Lila is going through a lot so it makes sense that she hasn't had a moment to think about romance which made that part of this plot seem like a last minute add on.

As for the delicious food, I loved learning about more dishes but it seemed like there were less of them in this book. It relied heavily on halo-halo, which I get, but it felt like something was missing. Regardless, the recipes are great and I appreciate Manansala continuing to provide a glossary!

Looking forward to the third book in this series!!

Get ready for your mouth to water! The Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series is a wonderful cozy filled with amazing food, quirky and meddlesome characters, and a good mystery. This novel is a tad bit darker than the first (Arsenic and Adobo), but offers up such a fun experience all set around a beauty pageant. The cultural representation brings this story to life and I’d love to order food from Tita Rosie’s!

Book 2 of a fun cozy mystery series focused on friends, family, food & murder! ⁣
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𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐨-𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐨 is the second installment of Mia P. Manansala’s 𝘛𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦’𝘴 𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯 cozy mystery series. I’m not much of a cozy mystery reader but I enjoyed the first book, 𝘈𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘣𝘰, so I was excited to meet up with all the characters to solve another mystery. Who doesn’t love a few meddling, know-it-all aunties, strong female BFFs and even a bit of a love triangle amidst solving a murder. I sure do!⁣
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This book picks up a few months after the happenings of book 1. I really like how we get to see the progression of the opening of Lila’s cafe and the aftermath the events from the previous murder have on her. I feel like often, the negative emotional elements aren’t dealt with in books like these and I really enjoyed how that aspect is being explored in this series. ⁣
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The setting of a teen beauty pageant brings up a lot of old wounds for Lila and allows us to meet many different members of the Shady Palms community. I won’t give anything away here about the actual murder but I’m thinking that the Macapagal family missed their true calling as Private Investigators because these women are all up in everybody’s business and cracking more cases wide open that the local Shady palms police department. ⁣
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Overall, I enjoyed book 1 a bit more than this one but it is a solid sophomore book in a series that I will definitely continue to follow along with. I find the characters entertaining, love the family and friendship focus, find the overall vibe of the series to be one of positivity and who can resist the lush descriptions of Filipino cuisine! If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a focus on food and family, don’t miss this series!

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest revew.

Not a lot to say about this one, the description pretty much sums it. Cozies have never really been my thing - especially culinary mysteries, but having read the first book, I was curious to see where the author would take a next. Appreciated the humorous moments, the characters, and the story is admittedly cute. If you like this kind of thing, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check out the series.

From my blog: Always With a Book

This is the second book in Mia P. Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series and I have to say I am really glad I decided to give this series a go. I’m also really glad I read book 1 first, as it gave me a better appreciation for this book though you could read this one as a stand-alone if you choose to do so.

I loved being back with Lila and the gang and while there is once again a murder to be solved that Lila somehow gets herself roped into helping figure out, I loved that this installment really puts a lot more emphasis on Lila herself. There is so much character development and if you know anything about me, you know that is my favorite aspect when it comes to reading series. We see so much growth with Lila here and I loved how this book shows just how important having a strong support system is and how it’s not a sign of weakness to rely on them.

As in the first book, there are lots of mentions of the Filipino culture infused into the book, especially when it comes to food. Lila and her friends are busy trying to get their cafe ready for the grand opening and it was fun hearing about all the different recipes they were trying out…but be forewarned – this book is best consumed on a full stomach or you will be grabbing anything within reach!

I cannot wait to see what adventures await Lila next. This really is such a fun series and even though this particular installment was a little heavier than the last, I’m very eager to continue on.

Thank you to @berkleypub for Homocide and Halo-Halo for including me on your tour.

I have the first book in this series, and had every intention of reading it before this one, but never got around to it. I felt like I was able to follow this one just fine. So if you are interested in this one, I would still say to read book one first, but if you don’t, know that you will be ok and will be able to follow everything.

I thought the story was really sweet and fun. I loved the family and food combo. This book had me feeling hungry. I loved the female characters and their strong and unique voices, and also the town! I also appreciated the honest portrayal of grief.

Check this out if you are a fan of cozy mysteries and fun food filled books/families!

This was a really nice cozy mystery for me! It was a little darker and more solemn than I expected, but I was warned ahead of time -- I also haven't read the first book in the series, so I'm not sure how it compared to that one. Four stars.

The second installment of Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries serves up another awesome mystery! I really enjoy the way the Manansala brings realistic emotions into her stories and has opened the door for the protagonist, Lila, to start dealing with her traumas and mental health. It's not something that is often broached in cozies, and I thoroughly enjoyed the realness. The mystery was also well done, I was still guessing who it was up to the end! Manansala's books have been super fun and refreshing, full of great food and mystery and I can't see what else she creates!

Homicide and Halo-Halo isn’t much delicious like the first book, but it has got depth to the characters and new relationships! I enjoyed reading very much. Excited to see what Mia has in stock for Book 3

Thank yoy Berkley via Netgalley for the arc.

CW/TW: fat phobia, murder, dismissive attitude towards mental health, mentions of infidelity, gaslighting, micro- aggressions
Rep: Filipino MC/SC, BIPOC SC

I don't think I'll ever be able to write a review for Manansala's books that isn't a stream of consciousness. Like Arsenic and Adobo, this book felt like home. As I write this review, a soft, pandan chiffon cake bakes in the oven. Halo-halo, one of the focal dishes in the story, is also my Filipino mom's favorite desserts, and so every mention reminded me of how she would order it, regardless of restaurant, during our many trips back to Cavite, where one side of my family lived. Manansala's Homicide and Halo-Halo is a murder mystery, yes, where one of the head judges is found murdered shortly before the Miss Teen Shady Palms pageant, and the protagonist's cousin-rival Bernadette becomes the main suspect. But beyond the murder, both of Manansala's books have both highlighted the importance and influence - whether willingly or not - of family. Through adversity and joy, Lila Macapagal is always been able to count on her extended - the network of grandmothers, aunts, cousins and close friends that lend truth to the adage "it takes a village". Through halo-halo candies, calamansi muffins and stewed chicken-liver (a dish that my own mom and grandmother used to make!), Homicide and Halo-Halo is a journey through the lush culinary landscape and familial comforts of Filipino culture. Looking forward to the next instalment!

Thank you PenguinRandomHouse International, Net Galley, and Mia P. Manansala for this eARC in return for an honest review.

Homicide and Halo Halo is book 2 in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. I read book 1, Arsenic and Adobo, and right away I started reading the next book in the series. I was looking forward to reading the next book, that I nearly didn't post my review on Goodreads and I just posted my review for book 1 on my blog today.

This book focuses on family, friends, past relationships, grief and loss, and also looks to the future with new friendships and the start of new relationships too. Food and family is still very much a big part of this book. The author provides a warning at the beginning of the book as this book does deal with some more serious subject matter than the first book. For me, it wasn't an issue, but I appreciated her honesty.

I enjoyed reading more of Lila and her family and friends and of the cafe, and the family recipes. I definitely recommend starting with book 1 of the series as the characters and events lead from one book to the next and they are enjoyable mysteries with Filipino food and family connection being a big part of the story.

I look forward to reading book 3, Blackmail and Bibingka, which has a publication date of October 4, 2022.

I enjoyed reading Arsenic and Adobo and was super excited to see Mia’s second book, Homicide and Halo Halo in Tita Rosie’s Kitchen mystery series was coming out on Feb 8, 2022

Mia introduced me to the cozy mystery genre and I enjoyed reading her latest witty and humorous book.

I must say Lila’s aunties are my favorite! I enjoyed their camaraderie in her first novel and in this one too! The story revolves around the death that happened at the beauty pageant where Lila is a judge. It has all the same humorous twists and turns but a bit more dramatic as her cousin is the prime suspect this time!

I really enjoy reading Mia’s writing and am already looking forward to the third in series!

Thank you @ getredprbooks @berkleypub @netgalley and @mpmthewriter for the gifted copy and galley of this book!

Homicide and Halo-Halo
By Mia P. Manansala
Berkley
February 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

As much as Lila Macapagal loves cooking and helping out at her family’s Tita Rose’s Kitchen, Lila has been dragging her feet with plans for the new Brew-ha Café. A play on the Filipino word “bruja” that means witch, the café is designed to help Lila, her BFF Adeena Awan, and Adeena’s girlfriend Elena Torres celebrate their unique, multi-ethnic backgrounds. Lila is still suffering from the PSTD caused by events documented in the previous novel, and as a result she is dealing with a Baking Block and without the mojo that enabled her to create delectable Filipino-American treats in the kitchen. While the last thing Lila wants to experience is reliving the trauma of her beauty pageant teen years, the last-minute dropout of a judge for the Miss Teen Shady Palms Pageant has her nagged by her aunties into subbing in as a replacement. A former Miss Teen Shady Palms herself, Lila still reels from the pressure to be perfect placed upon her by her ambitious, controlling mother. As Lila expects, the pageant still has its share of ruthless contestants, cutthroat momagers, and lecherous judges willing to take advantage of beautiful young women. It does seem that the funding sponsor Valerie Thompson is doing her best to update the beauty contest, allowing self-identifying women and young mothers. Her brother Rob seems to have no interest in promoting the merit of its scholarship or educational benefits though, and no one should be that surprised when his body is found bobbing underneath a river footbridge.

Lila’s lifetime nemesis and cousin Bernadette Arroyo was coaching one of the contestants in the pageant, but her protectiveness led to an angry confrontation that makes Bernadette the primary suspect in Rob Thompson’s death. A previous unpredicted truce between the cousins led to a détente that helped Lila evade unjust prosecution, so to repay the balance she is willing to investigate the many other candidates with reasons for wanting Rob dead. Fortunately, the Calendar Crew – namely Lila’s godmothers Ninang April, Ninang Mae, and Ninang June – are more than willing to meddle in small-town Illinois gossip as they uncover the pageant’s dirty secrets. Equally helpful is friendly Detective Hyung Park, whose brother Jae Park is the town dentist and whom Lila wouldn’t mind having clean more than her teeth.

This second in the series is at its best when it showcases the diverse cultures within the Shady Palms town. Lila’s Brew-ha Café is itself an amalgamation of her friends’ Filipino, Pakistani, and Mexican heritages, from the décor to the blended teas, coffees, and pastries. Lila shines when her spark is reignited through the inspiration of halo-halo, a layered Filipino confection that often consists of ice, condensed milk, and sweet beans. The variety of flavors and candies Lila creates from the unique desert is mouthwatering, and the descriptions are matched by those of the desert lumpia and other fusion treats. Dictionary definitions help those unfamiliar with Filipino-American culture, but the author excels in making the diverse cultures feel so natural and real, even embedded within the small Illinois town. Those of us in Hawaii will recognize and feel at home within Lila’s group of extended family and friends, and it’s a joy to see them all so well-represented in a fun and surprising mystery. As refreshing as Lila’s humanistic reaction to having recently suffered from acts of violence is the depiction of her culture and family, making this a continued welcome series written by and including so many Women of Color.

I really enjoyed this first book in this series. I think it was my first cozy mystery and I really enjoyed the murder in light doses. However this one didn't get me as excited about it right away. It didn't have the same vibe, which the author did warn me of at the beginning, so maybe it will be a book for another time when I know what I am getting into more.

Lila Macapagal stumbles with another homicide during the town’s beauty pageant where she is a judge. This time her own cousin is the main suspect forcing her to put aside their differences and figure out if they’re in danger. Quick and cozy mystery and I’m already looking forward the third! As the first one, this one had me craving so much food omg, I’m still looking for places around to see where I can try Halo-Halo!

Homicide and Halo-halo by Mia P. Manansala is the sequel to Arsenic and Adobo, which is a cozy mystery series that I read last week and absolutely loved. After reading the first book, I immediately jumped into this sequel because I just craved for more of the author’s writing and more of the main character’s, Lila’s, adventures.

In this book, we get to dive deeper into Lila’s personal life while still getting to see and feel the cozy mystery part of the story. I can say that I love this book more than the first one because this talked more about the more serious things in life like: a) how the past can have a huge impact on our present selves and how we deal with decision-making, b) how we don’t really know what a person is capable of even if they don’t seem like a person who does certain things, c) how it’s important to not rush into romantic relationships especially if we know that we have a lot of self-healing to do, and d) how the people who really care for us will always understand us even if at times we don’t even understand ourselves.

If you still haven’t picked this series up, this is your sign to do it.