Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mia P. Manansala’s “Death in the Cards” is a charming, suspenseful YA mystery that perfectly combines supernatural intrigue and coming-of-age drama into an irresistible story. Manansala brings warmth, humor, and whip-smart plotting to her young adult debut—with even more heart and a dash of tarot magic.

The story follows Danika Dizon, a high school junior juggling life as a receptionist at her mother’s private investigation agency, a tarot card reader for her classmates, and an aspiring detective herself. When a stranger seeks a tarot reading and ominous signs appear—followed by her mysterious disappearance—Danika seizes the chance to prove her investigative chops. But the deeper she digs into the missing girl’s secret life, the more danger she uncovers, putting her at odds not just with criminals but with her own heart.

Danika is a fantastic protagonist—fierce, loyal, awkward, and utterly relatable. Her journey is peppered with chaotic teenage antics, budding queer romance, and the complicated messiness of growing up under the expectations of a loving but tough Filipino family. Manansala does a brilliant job bringing Filipino culture into the story, from delicious food references to glimpses into Kali, Filipino martial arts, and spirituality. These aspects may make the book very relatable to some readers.

The tarot element isn’t just window dressing; it’s deeply integrated into the story, shaping both the mystery and Danika’s personal growth. The Chicago setting feels vivid and alive, and Danika’s lovable cast of friends, cousins, and her pesky younger brother add depth and humor to the high-stakes plot. I absolutely adored the energy and heart packed into this book.

While the mystery does have a few slow spots in the middle, the gripping beginning and fast-paced, satisfying final third more than make up for it. The romance subplot—centered around a complicated love triangle between Danika, Gaby, and Alex—is sweet, light, and authentic without ever overwhelming the main storyline. Plus, the ending strikes a perfect balance: resolving the central mystery while leaving the door wide open for more adventures with Danika.

Overall, “Death in the Cards” is a delightful and engaging YA debut that proves Mia P. Manansala can masterfully cross genres. It’s a heartfelt story about self-discovery, family loyalty, and finding your own way—even when the cards seem stacked against you. Fingers crossed this is just the beginning of Danika’s investigations—because I’m ready for many more mysteries with her.

It was a pleasant read but not her best work. i have enjoyed the previous mysteries I have ready by her. This one did not hold together as well as the previous ones. Some that might be that is was targeted, or seemed to be targeted at a younger audience. Some tightening u of the story could make future entries in a series more successful. The addition of a glossary of terms would also help, as it did in other books. Having to look them up or infer the meaning from the text took me somewhat out of the flow. The title set me up for a different story, I was expecting a more traditional murder or death mystery rather than a missing person that in the background included a death / murder. The cover also was not the best representation of the story. The use of the tarot cards and readings was in interesting and additive factor.

Keep writing and go back to your strengths in the previous novels.

Danika Dizon is a high school junior and a tarot card reader. She has a good business reading the cards for her high school classmates. But when a stranger comes for a reading, Danika is concerned by what the cards foretell. And when the stranger's sister comes to see her the next day blaming her for her sister's disappearance, Danika finds herself in the middle of quite a problem.

Danika has some experience with investigations. Her mother runs a private investigations agency, and her father writes mystery novels. Danika has done research for both and intends to be a private investigator herself after she finishes school.

The mystery was engaging and the Chicago setting interesting too. Danika is a Filippino, and the story is filled with her family and the foods they eat. Danika is also a little focused on problem solving and isn't really good at interpersonal relationships. She isn't sure what to make of her client Gaby's interest in her. Nor does she know how to handle her relationship with a boy she meets during the course of the investigation.

I enjoyed this one for its very interesting main character and the mystery she has to solve.

Mystery, Filipino-American representation, delicious food, and tarot?! Sign me up! This is Mia Manansala’s YA debut.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date is May 13, 2025.

Danika Dizon is her high school’s resident tarot reader. She also works for her family’s private investigation firm (for free) and wants to prove to her mom that she has what it takes to officially join the family business. When one of her recent clients goes missing after her reading, she knows this is the perfect opportunity to put her skills to the test. But as she uncovers more about her missing client, she realizes this is much bigger than what she thought. Can she solve this case without getting burned?

I loved the mystery, representation, and food. And I loved the inclusion of tarot. This would have been an EASY 5 star read, but I was so frustrated with the romance sideplot because I felt that the way it ended was done just because. If this were a realistic scenario, one is clearly better than the other. One is clearly toxic and controlling. But of course that wouldn’t work out in this story because it just doesn’t fit with what the author was going for. That dynamic just isn’t for me, I guess. But I’m still glad that I read it because, overall, it was really good and had me invested.

This was a fun YA mystery. I admit what drew me mostly to it was the Tarot card aspect- that the FMC Danika gives readings using them. Danika wants to be a private investigator like her mother, and so it was entertaining to see her try to solve the disappearance of a girl to which she had recently given a reading.
The plot never dulled for me, making this a pretty easy one to read or listen to in just a sitting or two. The characters had good development, and the ending wasn’t quite what I was expecting either. There wasn’t really anything groundbreaking in this book, but given its genre, I think it was a solid read.

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Young adults or true YA fans.

This was such a fun read. I loved the infusion of tarot card reading, a mystery, and a private detective agency. This books had be sucked in from the very early pages. I loved how it handled dealing with difficult emotions and also relations. Overall an amazing read that has me going to check out more books by this author.

I had so much fun reading this, and I'm not even mad at the ending to the romantic subplot.

A queer Filipina tarot-reading high school student whose mom is a PI and dad is a mystery writer gets a case of her own when a classmate's older sister goes missing.

I really enjoyed the various aspects of Danika's life that were laid out while she worked her first real case. She's got a great family, wonderful friends, and two awesome love interests. The way this ended made me hope this is the first in a series. This is a first for me by this author, but it won't be the last.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

The fact that Mia isn’t MORE popular is crazy to me. I’ve read her entire other series and didn’t know what to expect with this being YA but she absolutely delivered. As a Filipino-American, the representation I feel reading her books is so important to me and for my friends I’ve put onto her. She not only does an amazing job representing our culture, but explains it in a way a non-Filipino would understand.

To the book - amazingly written, very mysterious, most of the time I can clock who is the villain but I truly was put through the motions trying to figure it out. I hope this series continues because I love all the characters and the tie to tarot. It made me want to revisit my deck asap.

Danika Dizon wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a private investigator. When she’s not busy helping her mom out at the office Danika has a tarot card reading side hustle at school. When a student whose cards Danika just read goes missing she gets her first official assignment from her mom. As Danika investigates with the help of the victim’s sister Gaby and other friends and family, secrets and truths come to the surface. Will Danika be able to find the missing girl or will she end up jeopardizing her first case?

With a Chicago setting, LGBTQ+ character representation, delicious recipes and a loving support system this YA mystery has something enjoyable for everyone.

As alway, Mia P. Manansala delivers a thoroughly enjoyable book. I love Danika Dizon who is the main character. I loved how tarot card readings were incorporated into the plot. It was a great and suspenseful read!

For years, Danika has been trying to prove to her mother that she is capable of joining her detective agency after graduation. But her mother insists she attend college and get an education before making any big decisions, keeping her from getting too involved at the agency by sticking her in as the front desk receptionist. But when a classmate comes to Danika for help finding her missing sister, she sees it as an opportunity to prove her worth and passion for the family business.

I've read Manansala's adult cozy mysteries and really enjoyed them, but I might like this young adult mystery even more... She's set Danika up perfectly to be a qualified, yet still amateur detective, with her being a minor and in high school but with skills and resources (and defense lessons) that a true private eye needs. The mystery fascinating, with plenty of twists and turns, and a reveal that was both shocking and not totally left field (which is my favorite--I want hints, but not the answer!). Sure, Danika is still an awkward teenager who is clueless about her love life, but the mystery was just so good that it overrode any of my adult frustration over high school angst. And I'm not normally into the mystical, but I actually really loved the tarot element to this one, too. It sets up a second book (or a series??) perfectly, and I already can't wait to read it.

Thanks to Delacorte Press and Get Underlined for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

This is a 3. Things I liked: large family, the Aunts are cool, tarot readings, plenty of diverse representation. Things I didn’t like: characters aren’t very well developed, middle drags, ending isn’t surprising. This is a very middle of the road book, easy read, predictable characters, clearly articulated mystery.

yes <3

the more i read, the less i wanted to put this down. i requested this as soon as i saw it on netgalley a month or two ago, and got so excited last night when i saw my request had been approved - and i have to say it absolutely did not disappoint!!

i love a cozy mystery and death in the cards is just that for y/a readers. i loved the character relationships and friendships in particular, i found the story interesting and i thought the tarot aspect was really cool too. the mystery kept me guessing and now i’m mad that i can’t read more! at least i still have guilt and ginataan which i’ve not read yet, so there is more mia p. manansala left for me to read - even if it’s only one book.

A cozy mystery about a teenage PI searching for a lost teen. Lots of friendship, relationship dynamics and family time. It was a fun read!

Death in the Cards follows Danika Dizon, a tarot reader and wannabe private detective like her mother. When one of her clients vanishes after a reading, the client’s younger sister begs Danika to find out where her sister is. Danika jumps at the opportunity to prove to her mother she can be a real investigator. As the lines of their business relationship blur, they discover dark secrets about the missing sister that could change everything.

This was as entertaining and unique mystery. I loved the element of tarot reading and loved seeing Danika do readings. The beginning and end were super gripping, but I did find myself a bit bored in the middle as not tons happens. But the ending was satisfying, and I really enjoyed the pace of the plot in the last 30%. I also liked the twist and reveal.

Danika was a great main character. I loved how oblivious she was towards Gaby and Alex’s feelings to her. She’s so precious and fierce. Her family was so sweet, and I loved the strong relationships she had with them. All the characters in this novel were written so well and had such depth to them. I really liked her romance with Gaby.

Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

DANIKA DANIKA DANIKA
I loved this book, I loved Danika and she felt like a real teenager which is a tell of great writing. This did keep me guessing and moved at a solid pace.

Death in the Cards follows Danika, a 17 year old tarot card reader who is hoping to follow in her mother's footsteps of being a private investigator. When a girl comes up to her in school and claims her reading is what made her sister disappear, Danika is determined to get to the bottom of the case. She hopes that this will prove to her mom that she is ready to be an investigator. On top of being a twisty and turny mystery, this book had a lot of heart. I loved Danika's family and they felt like people I knew and would want to spend time with. Her friends and family are very fleshed out and the world felt very lived in. I also loved the love triangle that Danika finds herself in. This was a great YA debut for this author and I hope to see more adventures with Danika in the future.

The mystery in this book was unguessable and I loved the characters and the pacing! This was such an immersive read that I didn’t want it to end! Desi Veronica Mars, anyone? It’s excellent.

⭐⭐⭐

DEATH IN THE CARDS by Mia P. Manansala
Thank you Netgalley and GetUnderlined for the earc (May 13)

Danika reads tarot. When one of her clients go missing, the girl's sister reaches out. She needs Danika to find her sister. Danika takes the case, and what is supposed to be a missing person case turns into something bigger.
DEATH IN THE CARDS was...not my favorite. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting. But, it was also predictable and sort of slow.
In the beginning, I was drawn in. By the middle, I grew bored because it didn't seem like the investigation was going anywhere. At least to me it didn't. Honestly, it was hard for me to stick out to the end. I really hate saying that, but it is what it is.

very fun and cute murder mystery that was definitely a good YA debut by Manansala. I loved Gaby, and while I wasn't a huge fan of Danika at first she grew on me. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.