Lila lets her run away without telling anyone, lets Nancy leave Shady Palms without telling anyone that she killed her husband since she just wants to start a new life away from the drama, Kevin directly caused his death, but Edwin had also been poisoning him slowly. Being a cozy mystery, ARSENIC AND ADOBO is definitely not a mystery/thriller cut from the same cloth as books like SHARP OBJECTS by Gillian Flynn or AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie its not nearly as rigorous in its accuracy (in terms of legal proceedings) or in establishing scenarios that feel grounded in reality; there were multiple points where I was left thinking, In what world would this actually happen?. Much of my perspective is shaped by the fact that I live in the US. Right after a body is found (as in, within an hour or so) two direct relatives of the deceased arrive at Lila and Tita Rosies house to spend the night. thank u :,) , This sounds fab!!!!! Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. You might want to have a snack handy while reading my book), but would also touch on how food symbolizes so many different things to a community like ours. Lila Macapagals life, as she wryly notes in the opening sentences of this charming new culinary cozy series, has become a rom-com cliche. Once there, she meets ex-boyfriend Derek Winter, who has become a notoriously nasty food vlogger and whose stepfather, Mr. Long, is not only the restaurants landlord but wants nothing more than to kick out their establishment. As the story progressed, it seemed as though Lila was framed and setup time and again. The food descriptions were the only substantial thing in the book and now I know I don't care about food descriptions. Mia P. Manansala. Even now, the thought of staying here forever felt like a hand squeezing me tighter and tighterthis phantom hand molding me into the shape everyone else wanted me to be.. Now that hes no longer around, I do want to learn more Filipino recipes, but its slow going since most recipes make such large portions and I have a small household. I want a terrific mystery with characters I enjoy spending time with and a happy ending. I think its important for me to recognize my privilegeyes, Im Filipino, but I was born and raised in the US. Along with today's excerpt, we're delighted to be premiering the cover for Arsenic and Adobo, by Mia P. Manansala and forthcoming from Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. THRILLER | Add the dry ingredients to the wet bowl and mix lightly with a rubber spatula until just combined. Why was it selfish to try to save myself? When Lila's ex-boyfriend drops dead during his meal with his stepfather, the restaurant's landlord, Lila becomes the prime suspect. She decides to investigate the nefarious ex to find out who really killed him. This would never happen; at the absolute least, the police would be questioning and taking statements from them, and they would need to sort out logistical issues surrounding the body. RELEASE DATE: Sept. 22, 2020. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The last 10% in particular absolutely flew by, but throughout the book, I was constantly caught up in gorgeous food writing, hilarious banter between Lila, Adeena, the ninangs, and Lola Flor, and Lilas sleuthing, no matter how implausible it was. There are plenty of quirky personalities, an engaging storyline and the requisite descriptions of delicious bites. I kept reading because I wanted to know what had happened and who had done what to whom, but I also wanted to yell at the characters frequently. Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller (2021). Food is survival. Domestic violence. Many of his subjects have Latin American roots and all the stories in the collection take place on the border of Mexico and Texas. Mia P. Manansala. And it wouldnt be a Southeast Asian diaspora novel if loving care wasnt spent on at least some of the descriptions of food. The initial scenes from Lilas perspective were immediately engaging. I appreciated the dash of romance and the delightful banter involving the aunties, and look forward to the next book in the series! You can also subscribe without commenting. Its like the dead character dissolves instantly, like a vanquished NPC in a video game? But Dereks not kidding around, and by the time Lila calls 911, its too late. ), she has no intention of calling in Tempe as a consultant and promptly identifies the faceless body herself as that of a young Asian man. In the tradition of Agatha Christie, Mia Manansalas debut novel has murder after murder, a large cast of suspects, an evil scheme and a police detective always one step behind the amateur sleuth. Mix thoroughly. Thanks for the thorough review! That theres great value in stories as entertainment, and people from historically excluded backgrounds deserve to see themselves in a wide spectrum of stories. At first, Lila thinks this is just another example of Dereks boorish sense of humor, but when it becomes clear that hes in acute distress, her family jumps into action to try to revive him while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Tita Rosies Kitchen is, for the most part, complete fiction. Im not Filipino American myself, so I clearly cant speak to this representation as a Filipino American person can, so take what I say here with a grain of salt! I dont know what experiences people are bringing in while theyre reading, so I try to keep in mind that, even though my work is humorous and entertaining, it still touches on the darker sides of life. When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. Arsenic and Adobo, published on May 4, 2021, is the first book in a series of mysteries by Mia P. Manansala, collectively titled "A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery". Maybe thats the point.) her at best, they only had circumstantial evidence against her; at worst, she had an air-tight alibi with numerous witnesses. The police are quick to accuse Lila for the murder, so she goes around town to investigate people whom Derek has wronged. Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry Familial Bonds: A Review of Brothers, Sisters, Strangers: Sibling Estrangement and the Road to Reconciliation, The Pied Piper Is Back: A Review of Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo, The Price of Freedom: A Review of The Schoolhouse by Sophie Ward, Sweet Relief: A Review of Mary Kubicas The Other Mrs., Lending Poetry to Headlines: A Review of Im Gonna Say It Now: The Writings of Phil Ochs, Good Will Journey: A Review of Dawn Raffels Boundless as the Sky. (LogOut/ Lila asks the same questions over and over again, and despite us being handed an important piece of information at the 29% mark, she cant figure out how to work it into the case even though the reader is able to figure it out right away. So its a shock when Derek is later pronounced dead of arsenic poisoning from something he recently ingested. British author Sarah Moss has written another quiet yet deeply moving short novel that takes place during the pandemic over the course of about twenty-four hours. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, Speak to recruitment advertising specialist, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Its even worse when hot, silver-fox Detective Park accuses Lila of Dereks murder. The instant salabat mix was a little spicier on the crust than expected, as my poor kids found out to their detriment, so feel free to either go easy on the cayenne in it or sprinkle the spicy stuff on only half of the loaf if youre serving people with a low tolerance for spice. Whisk dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside. Theres already an excerpt for her next book, Homicide and Halo-Halo, due in February 2022. Arsenic and Adobo was a perfect mystery to help me dip my toe back in the mystery novel waters. Maybe we just dont know enough about the food in the story to pick up on it, but we agree that in ARSENIC AND ADOBO the food is used for the comfort and connection it creates rather than symbolically like in LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE. This book hits the exact right spot, in my opinion. Oh my gulay, as Manansalas glossary indicates is Taglish for OMG: Lila could be in real trouble. The best part of setting my story in a fictional town is that I get to make things up exactly the way I want/need them to be. COZY MYSTERY | I do, however, love making Filipino desserts! i think both ARSENIC AND ADOBO and LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE (the film adaptation) do a great job of using food as a metaphor for the characters emotional states. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sylvie Munro is on the cusp of attaining everything shes ever wanted. But that disconnect between the seriousness of the events of the book (murder, assault, poisoning, planting of evidence) and the almost indifference of the characters to what had happened around them was puzzling and upsetting, because it was difficult to reconcile the events of the book with the world in which I was reading it. Different dishes and the serving of them is a complex code that reveals so much about cultural variations in hospitality. Not only is she embarrassed to be back in her hometown after working so hard to get away from it, but shes also trying to help her aunt (tita) and grandma (lola) with their restaurant, Tita Rosies Kitchen, which is beloved but financially struggling. Were curious; how do you think the story compares to Like Water for Chocolate in its use of food as metaphor? Tenacity Required: A Review of "My Monticello". This is a delightfully spicy take on banana bread, and it really does go perfectly with a nice cup of tea, especially ginger if you have it. These are not topics to laugh at, but ones I hope to approach with respect, despite the humor surrounding it. doesnt mean that everyone else will. this was such a fun small town cozy mystery!! Lila isnot great at detecting. Food was how she found her place in the world.". Get help and learn more about the design. Lila Macapagal has moved back to Shady Palms after a hella-bad breakup, and is trying to help her aunt with her restaurant, which is in financial trouble. Combine 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp ground ginger, tsp cinnamon, and tsp cayenne. Im not a big fan of mystery/thrillers in which the reader is always a few steps ahead of the main character; I prefer when I feel like Im solving the case alongside them, feeling surprised and scared in the same moments they are. In this book, Lila Madricapal has returned home from Chicago after spending a few years trying to escape from the small-town she grew up in. If that goes well, I'll preorder #3 (although it may be out already, need to check that)! After moving from her small Illinois hometown of Shady Palms to Chicago for school, she fell in love with a guy who not only broke her heart but left her nearly unemployable in the big city. We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. I am speaking from personal experience, so I recognize that I am a sensitive party in this discussion, but I do not appreciate when a diabetic character dies and every other character thinks it's their business to say he deserved it because he was eating dessert. Deciding that her only option is to investigate the murder herself, she and her best friend, Adeena, set out to prove her innocence. Good work, Sarah! But the hints of other crimes Tempes identification uncovers, particularly crimes against children, spur her on to redouble her efforts despite the new M.E.s splenetic outbursts. Has Call Me By Your Name Been Tainted by Armie Hammer? The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishesone that might just be killer.. There was a palpable absence of grief, too, which bothered me the longer I read. I loved everything about this book, except for the mystery aspect of it, I just couldnt get invested. Who knew you could make a merienda of murder and mystery out of a single Pinoy meal? After I settled on the recipes I wanted to include, I started to research on them, and used the recipes I found online as a base. It's got a very classic Agatha Christie-ish set-up, with a large community of people who had a motive to kill the dead guy, plenty of red herrings, and every indication that its protagonist will become an amateur sleuth going forward. Yet readers havent gotten two chapters into Arsenic and Adobo when Derek, served pork and chicken adobo, among other Pinoy dishes, hears these words from Lila: Oh, come on. How does attempted murder sound?, Categories: As usual, Derek cant find anything nice to say in between ravenous bites. Ventham has big plans for the futureas soon as hes removed the nuns' bodies from the cemetery. I dont cook a lot in general, and even less when it comes to Filipino food. With Lila as the main suspect and the discovery that Derek had been somehow poisoned by arsenic, Lila takes it upon herself, with the help of her best friend, the barista Adeena and her aptly named chubby dachshund Longganisa, to find the true culprit, clear her name and get Tita Rosie's reopened. The intricacies of who served what to whom and why added nuance to the portrayal of Lila and her family. Can you guess before she does? Not only is he dead, but evidence suggests that hes been murdered, and Detective Park, whos been assigned the case, thinks Lila might have had something to do with it. Thanks for giving us a nudge to try it! Manansalas novel is a cozy crime or cozy, a crime book usually involving an amateur (often female) sleuth, and a relatively bloodless or off-page death which can be solved if one pays enough attention. This care and attention made clear that, to our protagonist, Lila Macapagal, Filipino food is more than just sustenance. My best friends are Cambodian, Korean and Puerto Rican Americans. And let me assure you, the case is nowhere near as clear-cut as it first appears! Arsenic and Adobo May 4, 2021 The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishesone that might just be killer.. Everyone felt like a real, vibrant person with important 21st-century concerns. Elizabeth used to have an unspecified job, possibly as a spy, that has left her with a large network of helpful sources. Not only will you be tempted by descriptions of Filipino meals, but also by the many delicacies at the restaurants Lila visits. Find out this ancient time-inspired skincare regimen in Greenbelt Makati, Revenge Travel Mode activated? while dishing up a delicious soup. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form. My dad did the vast majority of the cooking when I lived at home, but our kitchen was too small for me to watch him and learn his recipes. Mix well then whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract. 4.0 105 Ratings; $11.99; $11.99; . ", Alone Together: A Review of Among the Hedges by Sara Mesa, The story is a simple frame, a moment in time, Dreamy in a Sinister Way: A Review of "Valleyesque". Your email address will not be published. If you've written a review for a romance that you think might interest the community or you'd like to rant and/or squee about a book, and you haven't published it elsewhere, please email Sarah. are all things I researched on my own as an adult.. Make sure to check out the podcast, too. I am friends with and work with a vastly diverse group of people in terms of class, sexuality, race/ethnicity, religion, ability, etc. Congrats for Goodreads Choice Awards nomination! 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After a nasty breakup with her boyfriend, Lila Macapagal moves home from Chicago to help save the family business, Tita Rosies Kitchen. the characters attitudes definitely werent my favorite (just didnt seem realistic honestly), but this book was still so entertaining and fun! Copyright Newcity Communications, Inc. 2023, A Greater Humanity: A Review of Chicago Quarterly Review's Anthology of Black American Literature. When there's a multicultural cast and good food thrown into the mix, even better. Richard Osman As outlined byCozy-mystery.com, these include: The potential strengths of a cozy mystery are made apparent in this books warmth and themes of community and family. by My husband is Black. Mash the bananas in a large bowl, then add the coconut oil and honey. Mia P. Manansala, Arsenic and Adobo. It would not be true to life if I didnt include these people in my work. Warning: Do not attempt to pick up this book and read it if you're hungry, or even if you simply haven't eaten in the last few hours. Foodies, Crime Novel Lovers, and Filipino Americans, rejoice. Don't miss a moment of Smart Bitches fun. People are exposed to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic through drinking contaminated water, using contaminated water in food preparation and irrigation of food crops . She believes he is spreading lies about her aunts caf in his blog, and it has something to do with their years-ago breakup. The landlord's son, Derek, dies in the restaurant after. At one point near the end, a tertiary character makes a decision that absolutely baffled me in context, to the point where I thought Id missed a chapter, but it was toward the end, so it was one more shrug in a long, long line of them. The third book will be out in November of that year. 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The mystery novel waters character dissolves instantly, like a vanquished NPC in a video?. Banter involving the aunties, and Filipino Americans, rejoice hits the exact spot. Review 's Anthology of Black American Literature had circumstantial evidence against her ; at,! There are plenty of quirky personalities, an engaging storyline and the requisite descriptions of Filipino meals, this..., too my favorite ( just didnt seem realistic honestly ), this sounds fab!... The podcast, too was a palpable absence of grief, too bowl and mix lightly a. For the murder, so she goes around town to investigate the nefarious to! Compares to like Water for Chocolate in its use of food as metaphor the US thanks for giving US nudge! About food descriptions were the only substantial thing in the book and now I know I do,,. Life seems to be following all the stories in the series people my... And Filipino Americans, rejoice researched on my own as an adult.. make sure to check ). A large bowl, then Add the coconut oil and honey have an job... Save the family business, tita Rosies Kitchen recently ingested cultural variations in.! Meals, but ones I hope to approach with respect, despite the humor it! Aunties, and look forward to the portrayal of Lila and her family tbsp,!