This is the second book in the series and my first. I was a tad confused about relationships between characters and I was googling a lot for the Spanish words. Luckily I know some Spanish. I enjoyed the story and the mystery.

I gave Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes 3.75 stars.

Fall festivities are underway in Coral Shores, Miami. Cuban-American cooking show star Miriam Quiñones-Smith wakes up to find a corpse in her front yard. The body by the fake tombstone is the woman that was kicked out of the school’s Fall Festival the day before.

Miriam’s luck does not improve. Her passive-aggressive mother-in-law puts her in charge of the Women’s Club annual gala. But this year, it’s not canapes and waltzes. Miriam and her girlfriends-squad opt for fun and flavor. They want to spice it up with Caribbean food trucks and a calypso band. While making plans at the country club, they hear a volatile argument between the new head chef and the club’s manager. Not long after, the chef swan dives to his death at the bottom of the grand staircase.

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This is the second book in A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery-series. The first book was a 5 star read for me and I can really recommend listening to the audiobook. I will give this book a lower rating since I felt the mystery part was more in the background as the book was focusing a lot on Miriam’s life, family and friends. I like that the sleuth has a young kid, something I have never seen in a cozy mystery before. However, I wanted to read more about the mystery and less about her family life.

I loved that it focused a lot on the Halloween theme, making it a perfect read for this time of year. I do recommend reading the first book first, since this one picks up where the last one left off. It also contains a lot of spoilers.

I also love all the talk about food in this series and it is fun reading about Miriam's job as a TV chef. You will learn a lot about the Caribbean food culture reading this book. There is a lot of Spanish in both this book and the first one. I have no problem with that, it can many times add to the story and pull me in even more. However, I felt it was a bit too much in this book. Many times it was not explained or translated, and I felt like I missed out. It also made me stop reading, trying to figure out what was said.

I did still enjoy this book and will definitely pick up the next one in the series.

This book comes out Oct 11th.

Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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This cozy is a nice diversion and easy-to-read. Miriam is is the amateur sleuth in this series. By day she is a Mom to little Manny and a Cuban-American cooking host. Her mother-in-law has basically assigned her to be in charge of a Ladies Club fundraiser. So Miriam is very busy. She doesn't need to find the mother of a killer attacked in her backyard.

I enjoyed the characters and the story. It is easy-to-read and fun to learn about the foods and meals from the Caribbean. The killer was a surprise. The one con of the book, I feel I am being bombarded with certain political or social views. When I read, I read for fun. That's why I read cozies. If I want to read about serious societal issues I would read non-fiction.

Pub date: 10/11/22
Genre: cozy mystery, book 2 in the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries
Do I need to read book 1 first? I think so - you'll better understand the relationships between MC Miriam and other characters, and the crime from book 1 is a plot point as well.
One sentence summary: Cooking show host Miriam has a lot on her plate - two dead bodies AND her toxic mother-in-law.

I enjoyed book 1 of this series, so I was excited to get back to Coral Shores, Miami. I loved the food and the Halloween spookiness - surprisingly, I haven't read a lot of Halloween cozy mysteries! Unfortunately, the book suffered a bit from having too much going on - the beginning was more crime-focused, but then the plot went off into a lot of different directions. I had a hard time getting through the last third of the book because it felt so overly detailed.

Given that I enjoyed book 1, I would still try another book by this author. 2.5 stars.

Miriam has a lot on her plate already what with her family, her tv show, and solving crimes when her hateful mother in law informs her that she's put Miriam in charge of a fund raiser at the snooty country club. So why not food trucks? That's Miriam's plan but it seems not everyone, including the chef at the club agrees- except he's murdered! The body count is high in this second in an entertaining cozy series but it's not graphic. Know that there's Spanish throughout but I found it easy to understand from the context (I learned some new phrases). Miriam's a hoot and it's good to see her coming into her own. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Oh- and there are recipes!

Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking to start out October 🤌🏼 This is prime time to pick up this cozy mystery. Fall festival, spooky decorations, costumes, trick or treating, and a handful of dead bodies/seriously harmed people- YES! I really enjoyed the first in this series, Mango, Mambo and Murder, and this story was a great continuation. You could totally just pick up this second installment to read this month! I love the way @latinasleuths brings in Cuban and other Caribbean cultures into the story, especially through food. You can nearly smell and taste all the dishes based on the descriptions! Thoroughly enjoyed Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking and will continue the series for sure!

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for my e-arc! Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking releases Tuesday, October 11th!

I received a free epub copy from NetGalley.

This book left me a little perplexed at the end. The cooking aspects were there but very much in the background, with the culture and the crimes driving the plot forward.

The dialogue and banter among characters was excellent. This did not have the feel of a second in series book it felt like much later considering the detective's use of popular female amateur detectives as nicknames for Miriam. The

The use of Spanish without the corresponding translation was a bit jarring in the beginning but I got used to it quickly and totally understood why it was there as the book progressed.

The number of incidents that happened in this book was too many for me to follow without getting lost in the shuffle, especially with a book of this length, I couldn't keep the characters straight. But I can see how the author is just setting up story lines and characters to use for later books.

Overall the book was enjoyable and I want to read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance copy for an honest review. I enjoyed this cozy mystery. I enjoyed the main character, Miriam, and her family, except for her horrible mother-in-law. This is the second book of the series and I wish I would have read the first, because I was a little confused initially. But, I caught on quickly and enjoyed the mysterious ride. I also enjoyed the included recipes.

This is the second book in Raquel V. Reyes Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series. This is a series that I think needs to be read from the beginning because this book continues from where the first book left off and without having read the first book new readers to the series could feel lost. The Cuban/Caribbean cultural and food information in the series is interesting and add a unique quality to the storyline. Miriam is standing up for herself more in this installment! Yay! Her mother-in-law is still hateful! She’s so awful, you just have to wonder what she’ll say or do next. There’s still too much Spanish for my liking but there did seem to be more clues that helped the non Spanish speaking readers get some understanding of what was being said. To make the reading experience better and a bit less frustrating, there either has to be more translation or less Spanish spoken by the characters. I do like the characters (Miriam’s MIL not so much), the cultural information is interesting, the family and friends relationships are warm and supportive and the mystery itself is good.

CALYPSO CORPSES AND COOKING is the second book in the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries by Raquel V. Reyes. While a lot of cozy mysteries can be read as a standalone, this book incorporates events that occurred in the first book that are integral to the plot. Having read the first book, it didn’t take me long to become engrossed in this complex, multi-murder mystery spiced up with Caribbean food and Halloween hijinks. I greatly enjoy the protagonist, Miriam Quiñones-Smith. She’s a feisty, take-charge kind of woman, and the repartee she shares with close friends and family brings wit and humor to the story. I was relieved that she finally stood up to her overbearing, offensive mother-in-law in this installment and I hope the snobby woman gets her comeuppance in the future or else has a change of heart.

Aside from the mother-in-law, the characters are engaging and let the reader experience the Cuban-American community and food—and oh the delicious foods mentioned! Be prepared to drool! My only little quibble is the amount of Spanish Miriam speaks throughout the book, without the benefit of obvious meaning or translations. It pulled me from the story as I struggled with my long-forgotten Spanish lessons during school to figure out what was being said. That aside, the mystery is well-plotted with a fast pace. With suspects galore and action that kept me turning pages, I was captivated as the scenes unfolded. I look forward to the next book in this delicious series!

Such a fun new to me author and series! This cozy mystery was a real page turner and perfect for this time of year, full of heart and culture.

I'm sad I didn't read the first book first as this deals with events from it but it is totally not necessary to read it to understand this story. It is filled with wonderful characters like Cuban American tv chef Miriam and her family, complete with adorable multilingual toddler and cat. The book is filled with other diverse supporting characters from a snobby mother in law, mysterious neighbors and ever present detectives. I felt the relationships were really well done, full of fun and depth. There is no romance in this besides the moments between Miriam and her husband.

One of the highlights of the book is the multitudes of cuisine presented, it will have your mouth salivating and also using Google to research more. I loved how it is all tied into the actual plot and not just tossed in offhandedly.

This was a quick paced read that flowed well, complete with the usual mystery tropes of red herrings and buried secrets. I was surprised at the body count and got a little confused with how all the characters connected and I did feel the end was a bit rushed but still wholly enjoyed it.

Would absolutely recommend to most mystery lovers but also anyone who wants to read a story to escape into.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

I had read the first book of this series and was eagerly looking forward to reading this one. As much as I loved the setting, the characters and the spanglish, this book did not live up to my expectations - I did not find it as engaging as the first book.

There were too many side stories, too many short mysteries (attack on Lois and Nelson, and the head Chef's murder) but there seemed to be no connection between these crimes. At least, not until the end - and even that didn't make a lot of sense. I suppose too many red herrings does spoil a story.

The spotlight here was mainly on Miriam and her personal life. Yes, her curiosity did get the better of her at the end and she was almost at the death's door. As an amateur sleuth, Miriam's 'investigation' wasn't up to the mark - she was torn between solving (ahem) too many cases and preparing for a new-comer in the family. Also, her mother-in-law's snide and slightly racist remarks were a tad over the line.

Overall, this was an okay read.

3.5/5

This series is a ton of fun! I’m interested to see how Reyes will continue it, as the mystery in this book was tied to the previous novel. The characters are delightful and I love how good weaves throughout the story. Thy mystery in this one was really complicated - you absolutely had to have read the first one to get the details/nuances. I hope Reyes moves to a more traditional contained format for future books.

This book has such an intriguing premise, but I ended up disappointed. It could be because I hadn't read the first book in the series, so I started out feeling confused. The complicated plot of this book didn't help. I enjoyed the numerous Spanish phrases, but if I didn't have a basic knowledge of Spanish, I think it may have detracted from the story.

I enjoyed the main character, Miriam's relationship with her son but was disgusted by the way she was treated by her snobby mother-in-law and that Miriam's husband didn't stand up to her. Miriam's family is very likable so that helps things. Since I was sometimes confused by the mystery and investigation, so I appreciated the detailed explananation at the end. I like the Miami setting, and I think the series has potential. However, in spite of the positives, I didn't find the story to be engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance copy of this ebook. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Raquel V. Reyes’s second delightful Caribbean Kitchen mystery is even more fun (is that possible?) than the first..

Fall festivities are underway in Coral Shores, Miami. Cuban-American cooking show star Miriam Quiñones-Smith wakes up to find a corpse in her front yard. The body by the fake tombstone is the woman who was kicked out of the school's Fall Festival the day before. AND she was part of Miriam’s mother-in-law’s pack of she-devils. What could go wrong?

Read this book to see how Miriam has grown and how her ever expanding group of gal pals teams up to save each other. If you want to sharpen your Spanglish, learn about Caribbean food (warning: bring snacks to your reading chair), and test your brain to see if you can figure out who the guilty party is before Miriam, then this book is for you.

Count me in for anything fall/halloween related. Let alone cozy! It was a fun read as it was different as I haven't read anything that had this type of culture within in (as a cozy) setting. For me though, I don't speak Spanish so this book is probably not for me, but I do wish there was a note on the back or something that stated how much in another language there would be - just for the reader to know. Or translations at the bottom of the page, etc.

Interesting story- this is a second book in a series, but I couldn’t finish the first. I thought I would try again for two reasons- 1. The book is based around Halloween and autumn which I love reading about. 2. An issue I had with the first book was there was a lot of Spanish that I had to either use google to translate (which takes you out of the story) or just ignore. I took Spanish in school years ago, but I have been re-learning it on Duolingo. I’ve made enough progress that I only had to look up a few words, and I was able to follow along with about 90%. That being said, this could totally be an issue for people who do not speak Spanish, as it is not just words here and there, there is actually full sentences.

I obviously liked this second installment better, since I actually finished it! The Halloween and Autumn setting helped a lot for me. I find talking about the different traditions around food and culture interesting even if as a vegan I can’t use any recipes. I enjoyed how food was woven into the book. I liked all the Halloween events and the gala.

I am not sure if I will pick up another book in this series or not. I am confident I can follow the Spanish enough, but the setting or time of year would have to be something interesting to capture my attention.

A cozy mystery with a Latin flavor. Plenty of references to Caribbean/Latin foods and to the culture along with Spanish phrases throughout. But I found the book disjointed at times with some scenes not flowing into the next as well as I would prefer. The mother in law was a nightmare and there were a lot of characters but this book is better understood if you read book 1 in the series first due to the references and connections.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the arc.

This was a very cute cozy mystery! A solid 4-star rating.

Miriam has a new cooking show in Miami, having just moved to her husband's hometown where he's taken a dream job. But, now her mother-in-law is always up in her business, including volunteering her to be in charge of the Women's Club gala when the previous lady drops out - which is just a couple of weeks away! Add to the stress of doing all of the last minute planning, and suddenly people are dropping like flies - including in her own yard and next door, and Miriam has an even bigger problem on her hands, and the cops, like with book 1, are asking for help while telling her to stay out of the investigation. Her cooking background might just come in handy!

I enjoyed it, and it was a good change of pace from my normal reads -I love to throw in a mystery or thriller every so often, and this one fit the bill just perfectly! It was a great pace, all of the clues were given at just the right moments, I loved the dynamics between all of the characters, and I was able to follow the clues to figure things out at just the right time, before the author revealed everything but without spoiling the storyline for myself (nothing came to light too soon). I love when that is the case with a mystery and find that the mark of being well written. Great job!

A definite recommendation for everyone who enjoys cozy mysteries - fantastic story and writing!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, and this is my honest feedback.

Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking: A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery
By Raquel V. Reyes
Crooked Lane Books
October 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

As the fall season approaches, Coral Shores, Florida prepares for Halloween and the many celebrations of its multicultural community. Former New Yorker Miriam Quiñones-Smith and her husband Robert are dressing up for their son’s school Fall Festival, where her cooking show’s Spanish language network is hosting a food booth. Miriam is happy to present her Caribbean foods now that she is the host of YouTube’s “Cocina Caribeña” and has her “Abuela Approved” featured regularly on a morning TV show, but a shadow looms with the appearance of Lois Pimpkin. The mother of a woman Miriam helped put in prison, family connections to the Smith family mean that Lois is harassing them with conspiracy theories and demands for help. It’s unfortunate that after a tense confrontation, Miriam finds Lois unconscious and bleeding in their backyard next to a Halloween decoration tombstone. That one of Robert’s Frankenstein bolts is also on scene certainly doesn’t help them look innocent.

As the relatively friendly local police attempt to put the pieces together, Miriam is harangued by her mother-in-law Marjory Smith into organizing – and catering – the Women’s Club gala at the Coral Shores Country Club. That the club would never consider accepting Miriam as a member makes accepting the job absurd, especially considering Marjory’s disdainful attitude towards her non-white, middle-class daughter-in-law. What does sway Miriam is the opportunity to build herself a supportive fierce squad of women who are able to bring their own unique background in cooking. The women have been bonded together by the struggle to succeed in a world where everything seems built to oppose them, and they are able to share their memories and skills with Haitian and Cuban comfort foods. The previous murder case that Miriam encountered soon after moving to Miami continues to bring chaos in her life, with past figures somehow escaping justice with new identities and schemes. So in between her cooking show segments, coordinating multicultural food trucks, and not exploding at subtle – and unsubtle – racist attitudes, Miriam must stop a killer before he poisons her and her family’s future.

This second in the series continues to excel at showcasing Miami’s diverse food culture that continues to evolve with each new wave of immigration. What stands out in this novel is how the author skillfully incorporates Spanish into conversations, and through context is able to convey the meanings without having to provide word-for-word translations. The micro-aggressions by Miriam’s racist and classist mother-in-law are cringeworthy and painful to witness, and one wishes that Robert would stand up more against his mother. Miriam’s refusal to back down and her growing confidence is just rewarding enough to make up for those painful interactions though, especially as she builds stronger bonds with those who can relate. The struggles of immigrants to Florida is portrayed realistically but with a sense of humor, the same humor that often allows them to persevere. Food truly takes center stage here as Miriam and her squad of fierce women cook mouth-watering delights, featuring Haitian specialties like soup joumou, fudge-like dous mako, and Cuban pan de muerto. Recipes of Cuban and Haitian pastries and other savories are included at the end for the adventurous, although all will vicariously enjoy the tantalizing descriptions. Miriam’s family and friends are genuinely likable and compelling as they make the Southern Florida setting come alive with their traditions and histories, all which make their home such a unique place. Miriam’s future looks to be filled with even more excitement and danger, and readers will be hungering to join her.