A review by svangleboyer
Arsenic and Adobo, by Mia P. Manansala
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Arsenic and Adobo is a good own voices cozy mystery that introduces you to Filipino culture, involves a mysterious murder, a fun cast of characters, and a cute little Dachshund thrown in. It all comes together to create a unique and entertaining cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
I will definitely be keeping my eye out for Mia P. Manansala because I am a huge fan of her writing style. I felt like I learned a lot about Filipino culture along with trying to determine who the murderer was. I really appreciated the author's introduction at the beginning of the novel to show that Arsenic and Adobo does include similar situations the author has been through and also providing the reader with a list of commonly used Filipino terms for easy reference. It was a life saver. Also, THANK YOU for those mouthwatering recipes because the descriptions in Arsenic and Adobo make you want to try everything right now! I can practically taste all the various desserts.
The pacing was pretty consistent throughout the novel which I enjoyed, and the ending of each chapter hooked me to the point I continued on until next thing I know, I stayed up all night and had finished the book in one go. I really enjoyed the interesting twists along the way.
I really loved that all the characters in Arsenic and Adobo remind of someone I know in my life, so I really connected to each one in their own special ways. I enjoyed that our heroine Lila was flawed, and those flaws were not hidden. I also loved the strong family bond theme because I was raised with similar values that family is everything and always number one. I also enjoyed seeing the friendship between Lila and Adeena because it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows, but they continued to support and love each other even if they didn't always agree.
I highly recommend Arsenic and Adobo to all cozy mystery fans, to anyone interested in learning a bit about Filipino culture and/or any of their delicious recipes, or anyone looking for a quick mystery read.
I will definitely be keeping my eye out for Mia P. Manansala because I am a huge fan of her writing style. I felt like I learned a lot about Filipino culture along with trying to determine who the murderer was. I really appreciated the author's introduction at the beginning of the novel to show that Arsenic and Adobo does include similar situations the author has been through and also providing the reader with a list of commonly used Filipino terms for easy reference. It was a life saver. Also, THANK YOU for those mouthwatering recipes because the descriptions in Arsenic and Adobo make you want to try everything right now! I can practically taste all the various desserts.
The pacing was pretty consistent throughout the novel which I enjoyed, and the ending of each chapter hooked me to the point I continued on until next thing I know, I stayed up all night and had finished the book in one go. I really enjoyed the interesting twists along the way.
I really loved that all the characters in Arsenic and Adobo remind of someone I know in my life, so I really connected to each one in their own special ways. I enjoyed that our heroine Lila was flawed, and those flaws were not hidden. I also loved the strong family bond theme because I was raised with similar values that family is everything and always number one. I also enjoyed seeing the friendship between Lila and Adeena because it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows, but they continued to support and love each other even if they didn't always agree.
I highly recommend Arsenic and Adobo to all cozy mystery fans, to anyone interested in learning a bit about Filipino culture and/or any of their delicious recipes, or anyone looking for a quick mystery read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent