A review by melziereads
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

 

Arsenic and Adobo was a great start to the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. I really liked the family dynamic. Throughout the book Lila is working through an awful breakup and being pushed to move home to take care of her aunts failing business. It is clear that Lila loves her family very much but she is stuck on the life she had back in Chicago. She doesn't want to give up her independence so she keeps pushing her life in Shady Palms to the background. Throughout the story she is forced to visit different suspects, the other restaurants in town and come face to face with her past. She also learns that much has changed since she moved away and that Shady Palms isn't as bad as she once thought. 

 

The mystery aspect of the Arsenic and Adobo was really well done. I had no idea who the killer was until the very end. I enjoyed the investigation. Is Lila a great sleuth... Hell No... But she sure is entertaining. I also loved her best friend Adeena. She really helped level Lila out. While Lila comes on strong with her questioning Adeena smooths things over making people more sympathetic to their plight. 

 

Arsenic and Adobo made me super hungry for Filipino food. I think I might have to try the recipe for Tita Rosie's Adobo from the back of the book. 

 

My one complaint from the book is that people were always on Lila's case for wanting to leave Shady Palms. It almost felt like they were trying to force her to fit into what they wanted for her life. Especially her best friend Adeena. There was also a part in the book where Terrance blamed Lila for not noticing that her Ex Boyfriend Derek was addicted to drugs. It was like he was blaming her for Derek's choices. That felt really gross to me. 

 

Overall I loved this book and will be continuing the series.