A review by tessa_talks_books
Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Thank you Berkley for the free book!

🌻Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manasala (Book 4 -Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series)🌻

One-word review: Scrumptious 

Emojis: 🥘☠️🙇🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️😋

Rating: 4🌟s

My thoughts:

Murder and Mamon is the first book I read in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen mystery series - a cozy mystery series featuring Filipino-American characters and lots of yummy Filipino food. I spent a month in the Philippines as a teenager but never appreciated the culture and food as much as I did in this story. This is the first book I read featuring that culture, and I loved exploring it further as an adult.

Lila Macapagal and The Calendar Crew - April, Mae, and June - aka Lila’s godmothers - are personally attacked in this latest installment of the series, and no one is more invested in finding the killer of one of their own than they are, no matter the risks. I loved the family bonds shown so bright and strong in this story. It’s not just a mystery but a look at the importance of family and what holds them together in good and bad times.

I also loved meeting the main character, Lila. She is a relatable character- a young Filipino woman trying to keep her business afloat, her family healthy, and her culture alive- all through the yummy treats she sells and her role in the family dynamics.

The mystery was a fun puzzle to solve, but I must admit that I picked up on a relevant early clue and misinterpreted it, so I wasn’t even close to solving the murder. Luckily, Lila read it correctly and kept her family safe in the end. There are plenty of red herrings to keep any reader guessing and a bunch of recipes at the end to allow all to enjoy the yummy treats mentioned in the story.