Homicide And Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala

Lila Macapagal is fine. She's just fine, which is what she tells everyone who asks her how she’s doing in the aftermath of the events that rocked her small town of Shady Pines, Illinois just a few short months ago. Her ex-boyfriend was killed, her family was under suspicion of his murder, and she and her best friend Adeena Awan were – for a brief, terrifying time – in the clutches of his killer. But she's fine now, as she's quick to tell anyone who asks, whether it's a concerned new friend or the police detective who keeps bringing up the therapist he's recommended she see. Plus, she’s just too busy for therapy. Not only is she opening the Brew-ha Cafe with Adeena but also, with significantly less enthusiasm, judging the Miss Teen Shady Pines beauty pageant, which she herself won in her teens.

To her surprise and delight though, Miss Teen Shady Pines has reorganized itself into more of an actual scholarship competition than the rather superficial parade of years past, largely due to the influence of Valerie Thompson, daughter of the family that owns the pageant's largest sponsor. Valerie’s younger brother Rob is head judge, and Lila and another local entrepreneur, Sana Williams, round out the rest of the judging panel. Under the new rules, they're to score the aspiring beauty queens based on thoughtful interviews, volunteer work, design and talent, not just on appearance.

Lila has a lot of bittersweet memories wrapped up in her pageant days, mostly to do with her former beauty queen mom and her own rivalry with her not-quite-cousin Bernadette. She's pleased to see that most of the contestants she’s judging are far more assured and generous with each other than she and Bernie were back when they were competing for the crown.

She's the opposite of pleased, however, when she and Sana stumble across Rob's body, drowned in a local river. When Bernie becomes prime suspect in his murder, their extended Filipina family closes ranks, and looks to Lila yet again to protect them by uncovering the truth and bringing the real killer to justice. But for all that Lila insists that she's fine and totally up for more sleuthing, she hasn't really recovered from her prior ordeal, nor come to terms with all the ways being on the pageant scene again has invoked her late mother's memory. Will a murderer be able to take advantage of her emotional turmoil to evade exposure, or even worse, kill once again?

This was another extremely absorbing installment of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen mystery series, as Lila has to come to terms with her own personal trauma and biases in order to not only thrive but to save another family member from being wrongfully imprisoned for murder. I loved the varied representation of cultures throughout, but especially of Lila's own Filipino heritage. The food descriptions were absolutely mouthwatering, and Mia P. Manansala generously includes recipes for several of the dishes she lovingly describes in the narrative. Of the four included here, I decided to try the following:

QUOTE
Tita Rosie's Grilled Adobo Chicken Wings

Ingredients (per pound of chicken)
1 pound of chicken wings and/or drumsticks per person
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the sauce (per pound of chicken):
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar (white cane vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 bay leaf
Red pepper flakes (to taste)
Black pepper, to taste

Rinse chicken and pat dry. Mix the baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, and coat the wings.

Lay flat in baking trays or zippered plastic bags and store in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight.

The next day, prep your grill and cook the wings over indirect heat for 30 to 40 minutes until the skin is crisp, turning once or twice. You can also bake in a 400°F. oven for 40 to 60 minutes, turning every 20 minutes to evenly crisp the skin.

While the chicken is cooking, add all the sauce ingredients to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered until the liquid reduces to a thin glaze.

Toss the grilled chicken wings in the sauce until evenly coated and serve.
END QUOTE

This was the first time I've put baking powder in a marinade but it is certainly something I'll be doing again! I loved the texture of the chicken skin, which crisped up nicely even when baked, as I chose to do. My only regret is that I didn’t use plumper wings here. The sauce was very tasty and made for delicious wings that reminded me of my own Malaysian relatives’ much-missed cooking.

Next week, we stay in the Midwest to bake another savory treat while solving a murder mystery on the water. Do join me!

It’s hard to wrap murder, mystery, and family into a tidy bow. Mia P. Manansala, author of the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, has successfully pulled off this feat in her latest release, Homicide and Halo-Halo.

Family ties are immediately apparent as the families of both main character of the series, Lila Macapagal, and the murder victim—and sexual predator—Rob Thompson’s relatives are integral to the story. For Lila this manifests in all aspects of her personal and professional life. She still lives in her family home, regularly contributes desserts to the family restaurant, and leans on the investigative gossip skills of her aunties to probe into answers surrounding the murder of Rob Thompson, patron and fellow judge of the town’s beauty pageant. Rob’s family is responsible for the industry in the town and have long used their wealth and influence to act in any manner they like. Because of his history of lewd and unforgivable behavior, the list of possible suspects for his murder is long. Though the Thompson family is responsible for her returning to the pageant scene as a judge, Lila has no intention of getting to the bottom of who did him in after she and a fellow judge stumble upon his body—primarily because she is dealing with PTSD from the last time she investigated a murder—until everyone begins to blame her cousin for the murder. Unfortunately, Lila’s cousin was seen openly reprimanding Rob for hitting on her teenage pageant protege before he was found dead and has motive as a former pageant contestant who lost to Lila due to an accident. Fortunately, Lila finds herself drawn into situations with people who have more motive for seeing Rob dead: his calculating wife, passed over older sister, a person he blackmailed, and some underhanded pageant moms.

This is definitely a cozy mystery for those who want all the familiar beats of the genre along with compelling character dynamics. Yes, Lila investigates the murder like all of the protagonists in mystery series but her personal and professional conflicts are given as much time and develop in the story as the mystery itself. Her avoidance of failure mirrors the reality of how hard it is to balance everyday needs and responsibilities when you feel off balance. As a big fan of the genre, I found this a satisfying read, even without reading the first book in the series. If you’re interested in strong family/friend relationships, personal growth as an adult, town intrigue, and cozy mystery drama, you should give Homicide and Halo-Halo a try.

HOMICIDE AND HALO-HALO is the second book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series by Mia Manansala. I just loved the first book and had high expectations for this second book… and boy did Ms. Manansala deliver! In fact, I think this one is even better! The story reflected the sentiments of the author’s heartfelt note about her personal struggle with the pandemic and everything that has ensued. It was clearly evident that the protagonist, Lila Macapagal, shared her creator's same state of mind. There is an undercurrent of her emotional struggles from not only events that have happened to her over the course of her life, but also the PTSD triggered by a murder in book one. This brought a feeling of genuineness to the story and an authentic relatability as Lila tries to avoid facing her issues by working hard and staying constantly busy. I admire the author for tackling serious issues such as emotional and mental health, along with harassment and others, in her book, yet still delivers an entertaining whodunit.

Lila and her supporting characters—friends and family alike—are well developed, each with their own unique characteristics. I appreciate the peek into the lives of Lila’s close-knit Filipino family from their banter, and dare I say meddling, to their amazing food-centric world. Ms. Manansala’s descriptions of the meals shared and served at her aunt’s restaurant are all mouthwatering.

With a plot centered around the local beauty pageant, I expected the usual vapid beauty queens vying for the crown with swimsuit and evening gown struts down the runway. Instead, I loved seeing an updated version based on what matters in life: intelligence and giving back to the community, along with celebrating strong, empowered women. The author uses the backdrop of those who want to keep the pageant status quo and those who want to be forward thinking, for the murder. With a strong plot, the suspects mount when the head judge is murdered. Lila, as one of the judges, starts asking questions and uncovers some unpleasant facts about the victim. Ms. Manansala dishes up clues while whetting your appetite to find out what happens next with each page… and has me anxiously waiting for the next book in the series!

I can’t say enough about the food descriptions… I was hungry throughout and want to try every single recipe included in the back of both the books.

As a full time fan of murder mysteries, I was so excited for Homicide and Halo-Halo. If you were worried if Manansala would continue delicious and delightful descriptions of food - worry not. Not only are there recipes at the back, but the food is going to make your mouth water. It's also illustrates perfectly the way that food impacts our lives - the signifigance not only culturally but in our memories. All the differences a good nostalgic dish can make. The ways we can express love and tell stories through food.

Lila is still reeling from the events of Arsenic and Adobo. But she won't get a break in this one. Tensions rise from the beginning especially as she is re-immersed into her memories (and relationship with her mother) when she's involved in the pageant again. She's not only helping to solve another mystery to clear the family name, but to also avoid an attempt on her life. I loved the mystery element and the pageant scene. The memories, and working through her own issues with her mother and the pageant, was a fabulous character development.

Homicide and Halo-Halo was such a fun and entertaining continuation of the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, and it was an excellent book to read during my vacation!

What appealed to you the most in this story?

This story was filled with Filipino culture. I just loved the traditions and family dynamics! I really love reading about families like this - the ones with strong relationships and support systems. These families always combine the good with the bad, and that made the characters and storyline real.

I also appreciated how much deeper this story was compared to the first book, Arsenic and Adobo, and should be after all Lila had been through in the first book.

How was this cozy mystery?

What a fun whodunnit - so many potential suspects and the incompetent detective is back and trying to redeem himself by asking Lila for help! Like the first book, this was not a predictable mystery and I enjoyed trying to solve the murder along with Lila.

I will say that for me the mystery took a backseat to Lila’s growth as a character and all the connections she made with both new and old characters.

How was the pace?

Steady

Do you recommend it?

If you are looking for a story full of intelligent and strong female characters, humor, multiple cultures, mystery, and real-life issues surrounding mental health, then I recommend you pick up Manansala’s latest book in this cozy mystery series!

Also, a warning…Don’t read this book on an empty stomach!

Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

A fun, delicious mystery to read, Homicide and Halo-Halo!

I really enjoyed reading this book as much as the first book. The story and characters just grew on me, and there's more recipes for readers as well! I'm looking forward to the next book!!

This series is 2/2 for choosing the murder victim I would most like on the chopping block (ok, so I clearly have issues). It's also perfection for introducing a cast of suspects where I genuinely hoped most of them didn't do the crime so we would be graced with their presence again in future books. I was specifically excited because this one adds to the queer ensemble with a woman who I interpret to be aro/ace based on a conversation around her lack of desire to be in a romantic partnership of any kind.

As the author notes at the outset, this book still offers a cozy mystery ambience and a satisfying resolution, but it delves into some difficult themes along the way. After Lila's last round of sleuthing, expect to see her dealing with the fallout to her mental health while resisting the idea of seeking professional help (or any help for that matter). As Lila steps up to judge the town's beauty pageant, an event where she once wore the crown, uncomfortable truths about her relationship with her deceased mother also surface.

I was sympathetic/empathetic towards Lila's mental health struggles, but not so much towards her love triangle, which intersects with another love triangle and is basically a big, complicated, jealous, petty mess. My irritation was swallowed up by a tide of hilarity when a character called it out in front of all three members of the triangle and an avid audience. That ~almost~ made the angst worth it. To be fair, it is resolved by the end of the book, and I'm relieved to know it won't drag out through the series.

This cozy mystery doesn't shrink from complex issues. I would expect nothing less given its predecessor. It has the delicious foods and fun characters that make the genre sparkle while also approaching topics surrounding race, gender, and power with grace and style.

I loved the first book in the series and this one was no exception. I really like the family and friendship dynamics. The mental health rep in this book was done so well and each of the characters brought their own side stories into the main murder mystery. I will follow this series until the end. It has culture and food and friendship and fun and family and everything you could want!

If you like cozy mysteries, adorably named pets, and endless mentions of delicious food…then totally check out Mia Manasala's new book Homicide and Halo-Halo. This is the second installment in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Series and I truly enjoyed it…maybe even more than the first one.

This time we find Lila investigating the death of a judge for a local pageant competition. I loved that in this book we got to dive deeper into the characters and their backstories, as well as process some old wounds…all while being fully immersed into Filipino culture.

If you like cozy mysteries then this is definitely one to check out. And oh my, please don’t read this on an empty stomach because you will be craving takeout before the night is over.

*Thanks to Penguin Random House, the author, and NetGalley for the ARC.

The second in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery Series. After the stressful events in the first book Lila and her friends are still recovering and adjusting to life.

Shady Palms has brought back their beauty pageant that Lila had won so she has been asked to volunteer. And the drama starts... 

I enjoyed getting to know more about the characters in this book and the family drama this time around was digging up old wounds. We get to learn more about Lila's mom and her pageant days.

But there's a murder of one of the "pillars of the community" who is also a judge and it's not the best person so it could have been anyone.

It wasn't who I thought it was!

And the food!! I need to go get some of all this food and drinks but I'm not sure if Lila's special recipes are at any restaurant. I'm gonna go look though! I need the Bru-ha Cafe in my town! 

Thank you berkleyromance and netgalley for the e-ARC for the honest and voluntary review.

Ah, it was so lovely to be reunited with Lila, her pup Longganisa, her family aka the Calendar Crew, her love interests, and her friends in Shady Palms. We return to this town (that is aptly named for what seems to occur here) a few months after book 1: Arsenic and Adobo, to find out Lila is a judge for the beauty pageant, one that she participated in as a teen.

In the same vein as in the first novel, Lila finds herself investigating the murder of the head judge. On top of this, she is working on developing recipes for her new cafe, Brew-Ha, struggling with PTSD related to happenings in the first novel, and having to face some things that the pageant is bringing up related to her mom.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second book and I think more than the first since the characters were previously introduced, we were able to dive deeper into them. The hints to the murderer become pretty clear as the book goes on and I don’t think there will be many people who don’t figure out “whodunit”, but it was still an enjoyable read nonetheless. I’m also excited for the next book in the series!

Mia P. Manansala is back again with her second installment, 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙤-𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙤, in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. If there’s a murder and danger afoot in Shady Palms, then Lila Macapagal is somewhere close. Before Lila can even get the new menu items configured for the Brew-ha Cafe, determine if her heart flutters more for Amir or Dr. Jae, or cope with the trauma of the last murder, she is yet again transported in dangerous waters when she helps her rival cousin Bernadette, who’s been pegged as the prime suspect in Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant murder case. Does our feisty and fun heroine have too much on her plate this time?

As a past winner, Lila is called in to be a judge and mentors the local contestants, making sure they understand the values of womanhood, entrepreneurship, and independence. I was hesitant of this plot line because I don’t like beauty pageants, but I really liked how Manansala circumvents the narrative around the way we usually think about them. In fact, she talks about what nobody would talk about—the predatory behavior behind them. Rob Thomson is murdered and the community is now questioning his involvement in the pageant. Many of the pageant girls feel uneasy about their experiences with him, too. Lila exclaims to one of them: “You did nothing wrong, do you hear me? Rob was the one at fault in that situation. Never blame yourself for how someone mistreats you. Especially when it’s an adult in a position of power.”

My favorite part of the cozy mystery is never really solving the case, but the lessons learned. Lila is clearly suffering from PTSD and is need of therapy, but struggles to seek out help, noting that “It’s considered a sign of weakness, that we couldn’t work things out for ourselves” or that her family would shame her. The inability to center herself was heartbreaking, but to see the transformation is beautiful and necessary for readers going through similar ordeals. We are best when we heal slowly and gradually. Lila is enough.

𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙤-𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙤 is a good mix-mix.

3.5 Stars

Lila Macapagal should be getting ready for the grand opening of her and her best friend’s new restaurant, but recent events in her life have left her feeling uninspired in her baking. Lila has two wonderful men interested in her, but has also put her love life on hold. She agrees to fill in as a judge in the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant that she won as a teenager as a distraction from everything going on in her life. The wealthy sponsor and head judge of the pageant is murdered and Lila’s cousin and sometime rival, Bernadette, becomes the main suspect. Lila puts her past with Bernadette and her current issues aside to prove her cousin’s innocence.

Homicide and Halo-Halo is the follow-up to the author’s first book Arsenic and Adobo. This is a new cozy mystery series featuring a Filipino-American family who live in a small town outside Chicago. Lila has been helping at her aunt’s restaurant, Tita Rosie’s Kitchen, but has always dreamed of opening her own bakery. Now that her dream is close to coming true, Lila is feeling unhappy and anxious. She hesitates to speak to a counselor because she has been raised to get through things on her own. The portrayal of Lila’s anxiety is realistic, but not the typical topic for a cozy. Having the murder mystery centered around a beauty pageant that looks at the inner beauty and intelligence of the contestants makes the book entertaining. Portions of the beauty pageant storyline help lighten the mood of the book, but then one of the judge’s questionable behavior brings up additional serious issues.

The best part of the book is the glimpse into Filipino culture and the discussion of the various dishes served at the family’s restaurants and in their homes. I love reading about so many different types of food that are new to me with recipes for a few of the dishes included at the end. I like Lila as a main character and Tita Rosie is a sweet woman that I would like to have as my aunt. Both men that may have a romantic interest in Lila are good guys. However, there are so many other unlikable characters in the book. Lila talks about the importance of family in her culture, but most of Lila’s family members and closest friends not only aren’t supportive of Lila, but are rude and unsympathetic. This has the potential to be such a unique and wonderful cozy mystery series, but I hope future books are a little more upbeat.

~ Christine

Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries is a cozy mystery series that follows Lila Macapagal, a Filipino-American woman solving murders while working at her family's Filipino restaurant. Homicide & Halo-halo is the second installment and takes place shortly after Arsenic & Adobo.⁣
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Lila's just been recruited as a judge for a local teen beauty pageant, but when a fellow judge turns up dead, she finds herself playing sleuth again—while pursuing her dream of opening a café & bakery with her BFF and still helping out at Tita Rosie’s Kitchen. ⁣
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This series features Filipino culture & cuisine front and center, which I love to see as a Filipino-American reader! I appreciated reading a cozy mystery that also touches on mental health—the events of the first book have heavily impacted Lila's mental health and she’s struggling to admit she needs help. It was lovely to see conversations around mental health treatment & stigma in a cozy mystery. ⁣
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In terms of rep, Lila & her family are Filipino and there are supporting characters who are queer, Muslim, South Asian, East Asian, Latinx, Caribbean, disabled, and more. I love seeing such a diverse cast in a cozy!⁣
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Check out this series if you love food-themed cozies that bring a little something extra to the subgenre. Also, if you’ve never had Filipino food before I highly encourage you to try out your local Filipino restaurants or markets if you have one nearby & have the financial means to do so!

I was a big fan of ARSENIC AND ADOBO and this second installment did not disappoint! Lila is struggling as she works to open the Brew-ha cafe - add in a murder and a teen beauty pageant, and she'll need more than some good halo-halo to get through it. Of course, chaos ensues! This is a solid follow up and I cannot wait for more in this cozy mystery series!

CW - Death, Violence, Infidelity, mental health struggles

A super cozy mystery with tons of personality. I went into this book thinking that I would like it since I loved the first book in the series and I will say that I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the beginning of this book, but near the middle, it got a little slow for a moment. I love all the descriptions of the different types of foods and i appreciate that we get to learn more about Lila in this installment.

If you enjoyed Arsenic and Adobo then I think you'll also enjoy this one.

Homicide and Halo-Halo by @mpmthewriter is the second installment of Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series. Lila Macapagal is back and opening her new cafe. When she is recruited as a judge for The Shady Palms beauty pageant it causes drama with her cousin Bernadette. When one of the head judges comes up murdered Lila and her family are determined to get to the bottom of it.

Y’all this book should not be read on an empty stomach. The food descriptions are mouth watering and I’m currently trying to find out where to get some Halo-Halo (cold Philippine dessert) in Austin, TX. I love cozy mysteries because they are often humorous. I lol’d at this one. If you are a foodie I recommend this one plus it comes with recipes!

I was very excited to get my hands on the second entry in this series. Lila is back and hasn’t quite fully recovered from the events of the first book. While she struggles in the aftermath, she is roped into judging a beauty pageant just before one of her fellow judges is murdered. Was it a scheming “momtestant” willing to go too far to ensure her daughters success? Was it his suspiciously unemotional wife? Or was it his sister, sidelined her whole life from the family business? I appreciated the realistic exploration of the emotions a person would experience after enduring what Lila went through in the previous novel, and it made for interesting relationship dynamics. I can’t wait for the next Christmas-themed book.

Thank you so much PRH International for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Back to Shady Palms, we get to see the effects and aftermath of what happened on the first book. Lila is trying to move on from the past, she is currently trying to come up with desserts to serve in their upcoming new cafe and finds herself being one of the hosts of the upcoming pageant. And of course, there were more Filipino representation and culture showed here. I love all the Filipino food mentioned here and I love how Lila added her own twist to those food.

Speaking of the pageant, I loved this part because it definitely showed female empowerment. The purpose of the pageant here sent such a powerful message to all the young girls out there because this one focused more on one’s personality, intelligence, and passion in life. And this is where the mystery begins, and there are a lot of potential suspects because everyone seemed like they had a secret from their past or a personal vendetta against the victim.

The murder mystery here was just as intriguing and captivating as the first book. Although this time around, the suspect, Bernadette, is someone close to Lila. It was really an adventure to see them finally get along and team up to try and solve this murder together. I was glad that they finally mended their bond. Every clue and secret revealed had me guessing as to who is the true suspect and what could be their motive. Honestly, the plot twist was pretty shocking for me!

The side characters, our Calendar Crew, Tita Rosie, and Lola Flor, never disappoints to entertain me and remind me how typical Filipino titas are. I enjoyed seeing the usual gossiping and judgmental comments of these titas and the moms in the beauty pageant.

Lastly, there is finally a growing romance between Lila and a certain someone... I knew from the first book that there was going to be a potential relationship between these two and I'm glad Lila is finally seeing that too. But also I love how she's not pressuring herself to be in a relationship and she's prioritizing herself first.

Definitely recommend this to all fans of cozy murder mysteries, hilarious and witty characters, food lovers, and of course huge fans of beauty pageants!

I’m back with the next book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, it’s called Homicide and Halo-Halo. In my opinion, it’s hold up as well as book 1!

At the end of Arsenic and Adobo, Lila was thinking about opening a cafe with her bff, Adeena. This book opens up in their new cafe, along with Elena, Adeena’s new girlfriend. Lila is still reeling from all that happened recently, including the murder of her ex bf. But life goes on! It’s summer time in Shady Palms and this means it’s time for the annual Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty pageant. Lila has been asked to judge as a former winner. It’s a little bit of an issue with Bernadette, Lila’s cousin who wanted to be a judge. That is until the main judge is found murdered! Bernadette and Lila are forced to work together to clear Bernadette’s name as she looks like the main suspect.

This was another fun cozy mystery. I love the combination of food and family. But this book also has fun town shenanigans which reminded me a little of Gilmore Girls. The town is its own character within this series. These books make you so hungry! The descriptions of all the different foods is incredible. I really appreciate how much goes into the different dishes, but especially how Lila puts passion, love, and her culture into amazing desserts.

Thank you so much to @berkleypub and @mpmthewriter for my advanced copy. This book is on sale today. Thank you again to Mia for including recipes to try out. I’m so happy that there is still a part 3 coming next year called Blackmail and Bibingka!