Thank you to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for my gifted digital advance reader copy!

Lila is back in another installment of Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries. This time, the Calendar Crew is busy preparing to open their own laundromat. Lila is busier at the cafe than ever, and to add to this, Ninang April's niece Divina has come to Shady Palms from the Philippines, though no one is quite sure why. The grand opening of the laundromat hits a snag when the business is vandalized, and Divina is found dead inside. Lila must now figure out if Divina was an unfortunate victim of her godmothers' gossiping or if someone had a problem with Divina, herself.

This was another solid cozy mystery from Manansala! I enjoyed this one- maybe I'm better acquainted with some of the secondary characters, but I didn't feel quite as overwhelmed with trying to keep everyone straight as I read. I thought this one flowed really well, and I was interested in seeing how everything resolved.

The reason I keep coming back to this series (because we all know I usually avoid them) is because I really enjoy reading about my culture! I never learned tagalog, and I love being able to learn a few new words each time I read. I can also completely sympathize with Lila having to deal with her godmothers' constant gossiping (iykyk).

As always, I couldn't get enough of Nissa, and I'm excited to try another recipe! Tbh I was hoping there'd be one for the Ube Oreo Rice Crispy Treats. :)

There is one thing you should know about this series and this book. Do not read it if you are hungry! You should probably do most of your reading right after a big meal. The food, desserts, and drinks had my mouth watering until the final page.
Now back to Murder and Mamon. Lila’s business and her friends and family are all doing well. Her godmother’s, April, Mae, and June are opening a laundromat and April’s niece, Divanda is visiting. But all is not well in Shady Palms. Someone is upset with April, Mae, and June and their incessant truth telling. When someone is murdered, and someone is seriously injured, the police don’t have a clue whodunnit. . That’s the cue sound you hear now. Yep, it’s up to Lila to figure out who is the killer and why did they do it.
Divanda hasn’t been in town long but she seems to have a mysterious past. Then again, maybe she was just at the wrong place at the wrong time and the Calendar Crew( Lila’s godmother’s) have just pushed the wrong person too far.
Another fun and delicious cozy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.

With each book, I think Manansala and Lila alike are growing. I really appreciate how the author emphasizes the devastation of the murders in her books, something that cozy mysteries often elide. I do think the murderer was a little too easy to spot in this one, but I still appreciated the journey to the end.

Book 4 in this charming multicultural series is my fav yet. I love spunky MC Lila, her family, friends, and the delicious dishes that make me drool. Cosy mystery fans will devour it!

"When murder mars the grand opening for Lila Macapagal's aunties' new laundromat, she will have to air out all the dirty laundry in Shady Palms to catch a killer...

Lila Macapagal's godmothers April, Mae, and June - AKA the Calendar Crew - are celebrating the opening of their latest joint business venture, a new laundromat, to much fanfare (and controversy). However, what should've been a joyous occasion quickly turns into a tragedy when they discover the building has been vandalized - and the body of Ninang April's niece, recently arrived from the Philippines, next to a chilling message painted on the floor. The question is, was the message aimed at the victim or Lila's gossipy godmothers, who have not-so-squeaky-clean reputations?

With Ninang April falling apart from grief and little progress from the Shady Palms Police Department in this slippery case, it's up to Lila and her network to find justice for the young woman.

The Calendar Crew have stuck their noses into everybody's business for years, but now the tables are turned as Lila must pry into the Calendar Crew's lives to figure out who has a vendetta against the (extremely opinionated yet loving) aunties and stop them before they strike again."

I just realized that I really need a name for my crew...

While this is the fourth book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries series, you can read these as standalone. However, I do think you’ll get the most out of reading the series in order as everything connects and you get to see the same characters who you come to know and love.

As for Murder and Mamon, Lila is excited about her aunties opening a new laundromat business which is in stiff competition with another local business. While the Calendar Crew is excited, things are quickly put on hold after Lila’s cousin, Divanda who comes to their small town for a fresh start is murdered.

With the murder of her cousin plaguing her, Lila is determined to investigate and figure out why her cousin was killed and how everything connects. Of course, things go a bit awry as per usual yet it doesn’t feel formulaic. That’s why I enjoy Mia P. Manansala’s books so much. While we do see the same characters from previous books, each book feels fresh and fun.

What I enjoyed most about Murder and Mamon was how Manansala turned their gaze inward at the Calendar Crew. They really had to look at what they’ve done in the past and reflect on how it could have affected others. Even though I’m sure they’ll end up repeating those same patterns again, I enjoyed that aspect immensely.

Seeing how everything was tied together was so satisfying and on the whole, this was a good book. Ultimately if you’re looking for a fun mystery with some good twists and delicious-sounding food, I highly recommend it. Plus these books are so fun and fast-paced that you’ll sink your teeth into them immediately.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me the invitation to read this. I didn't read the third book, but it sounds like that was for the best since one thing that I didn't enjoy from the first book was Lila's flare for the dramatic in her love life.

To be honest, I don't know that this series has much going for it other than the food culture. I think the mysteries are ok, they're pretty standard cozy crimes. But Lila still annoys me and that's kind of hard to get past when the book is her first person POV. Still, this was fine.

3.5/5 - Lila is back again and this time trying to avoid investigating any murders or crimes. Unfortunately her godmothers are in need of her help, when a murder happens at their new laundromat. There are more suspects than not, as the calendar crew has stuck their noses in everyones business in Shady Pines and made their fair share of enemies. Lila, along with her friends work to solve the crime and keep her godmothers safe.

This is a cozy, foodie mystery that makes me hungry every time I am reading. The author tells us about all these different drinks and foods, sometimes being a little over descriptive. The mystery was good, with lots of suspects. I had it figured out quite early on, but with cozy mysteries I tend to find the "solution" more obvious, but it didn't make it any less enjoyable.

We get both mystery and a little bit of romance with Lila and Jae's relationship. This is the ultimate in slow-burn, these two are not even spending the night together. I thought something was going to change in this book, but nothing really did. It is a little to slow for my taste.

This was the fourth installment in the series and I enjoyed it. I thought the mystery was good and the cast of characters keep me interested. If you want a fun and light mystery, this is a good book for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

We are back again with another Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery book. And I am personally excited that we get a new book in the series. I miss reading about Lila’s crazy adventures as she navigates mystery cases. And this one is a bit of a dozy.

In Murder and Mamom, Lila is trying her best to avoid or solve any crimes. It’s just a bit too much for her and her family. She rather focuses on herself and her blooming relationship. However, she can’t catch a break because, unfortunately, her godmothers are dealing with a murder at their grand opening. And it’s going to be tricky to discover who did it since so many people don’t like Lila's godmother's meddling ways or even the murder victim.

While Lila tries her best to avoid murder cases, she knows deep down that she has to help her godmother. They are always going to be in her life. She just knows that secrets are going to come out. And she won’t like what she finds out.

Lila may be worried about the secrets that she will discover, but she is glad that she will have her boyfriend along the way. It’s a big step forward in their relationship. They have come a long way. Usually, she would do it herself, but she is determined to do better, which means her boyfriend is along for the ride. I personally think it’s cute that they are looking out for each other. They are meant to be together in the long run. I just know it.

I know that I am a bit vague about what’s going on. But I can’t say too much because it will spoil the story. Just read it if you are into cozy mystery books.

Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries remain one of my favorite series of mysteries to date. Lila and her crew are always entertaining and the dishes they describe always sound amazing. And with a twist at the very end, Murder and Mamon continues the trend of these books still managing to surprise me. These are cute, cozy mysteries with just enough intrigue to hook you at the start of each story. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced eCopy!

Manansala's books are just the kind of cozy mystery I love, food driven in small towns with a sassy heroine. Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke's Series!

I liked this edition of this series, but I fear that the author might be running out of suspects and murder victims! The writing is fast paced and the characters work well together. I like how diverse the character list is. It will be interesting to see how long the series keeps going.

I love this series but I’m soooo hungry while reading! I don’t know what I like best about these books, the murder mystery, Lila and her family, or the food descriptions and recipes. Maybe all equally. In this installment of the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, Lila (dessert chef extraordinaire and part owner of a cafe with good friends) is finally in a stable relationship with dentist Jae Park…so her personal and professional life is great. Lila’s loving and extended Pilipino-American family include three Aunties who love to gossip and spread the hottest news. Unfortunately, this hasn’t made them everyone’s favorite people in their town outside of Chicago. When their new business venture is repeatedly vandalized and a niece visiting from the Philippines is murdered, Lila and friends once again investigate the crimes and bring justice for all.

This is an extremely foodie mystery as it seems that every other page has lists of unusual drinks, coffees, teas, with ingredients and combinations the average reader would not know about. It is quite interesting to read but tiresome after a while of endless food and drink listings as everyone seems to be eating all the time.

It's a cultural aspect that those who know Filipino food would relish reading about as something familiar and dear.

The mystery of the death of a visiting cousin from home, Divina, takes up the time of coffee shop owner, Lila Macapagal, and her friends. That her beloved aunties are involved makes the sleuthing more urgent and personal for Lila also. The plot is intriguing, becomes more involved, starting in the middle of the book.

An interesting read, from many points of view.

Once again Manansala hits it out of the park with this cozy mystery series. I always enjoy these books as a fun light read and am always left hungry after reading and this newest installment did not disappoint

Thank you for an advanced copy of Murder and Mamon!

I classify this book series as a cozy mystery series, and I enjoy them a lot. It's a little out of my comfort zone, but they're cute, fun, and of course, full of murder. I like the characters, and I enjoy the plot...so I keep reading them!

Murder and Mamon is the fourth book in the series, and it's a wild ride! I like that both mystery AND romance are included in the books! Lila and Jae's relationship is moving along, albeit slowly for my taste, and I'm here for every little romantic moment the two can dig up. Better than that, though, is Tita Rosie and Jonathan! I want, no, I demand, more of them!

The murder in this one was pretty predictable (even I figured it out, and I'm notoriously bad at murder mystery plots); that's what led to my three star rating. I wanted a bit more suspense/who-done-it elements, and that wasn't there in this book. I will definitely keep reading this series, though! I love it, and I would have rated this book four stars if the plot wasn't so easily guessed.

This is the fourth installment in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series. While it does reference the first three books, it could also be read as a stand alone.

In this book, the Calendar Crew (Lila's godmothers) are being targeted. Those who have read the previous books know that the Calendar Crew knows everything about everyone and has no problem sharing what they know. When they decide to open up a laundromat, we find out someone who was hurt by their gossiping is trying to sabotage their business. They go as far as murdering Ninang June's niece. Despite being advised to stay out of it, Lila begins investigating to find out who is targeting the laundromat and whether it is connected to the murder.

As always, Mia does a great job of ensuring that people of all backgrounds are included in the story. It took me a while to figure out who the murderer was, which is always great. I love the progression of Lila's romantic relationship, as well as the growth of her business. Out of the four books, I think Homicide and Halo Halo is my favorite, followed by Arsenic and Adobo, Murder and Mamon, and then Blackmail and Bibingka.

Murder and Mamon is the fourth book in Mia P. Manansala's Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries, a series about a Filipina family in rural/suburban Illinois who own a few different stores. In this installment, Lila's three aunties are having trouble opening their new laundromat soon after one of their nieces arrives for a visit. The young woman has connections to a few people in town, and some of them are angry with the aunties for gossiping about them. The niece ends up murdered just before the opening of the new laundromat. Was it a coincidence or did she have a tie to someone that wanted it severed? Lila investigates, much to the dismay of some people in her life. Filled with elaborate recipes and family dynamics, this is a lovely series with a great setting. Sometimes it's a bit too much for me to handle, in terms of how in-your-face everyone is but some families can be like that. Lila and her boyfriend are progressing nicely yet they do seem a bit boring at times. I would like more scenes with Lola, the grandmother, and Tita Rosie, who seems far too in the backdrop for this to be a series with her name in the title. The mystery was clever and had an element of surprise, but I also wondered whether it needed more drama to give us a stronger reason for the murder. Will definitely continue to read the series.

MURDER AND MAMON is a puzzling cozy mystery that I couldn't put down! More fun and suspense fill the pages of Ms. Manansala's new book. Lila and her aunties', known as, The Calendar Crew, are at it again. This time the aunties are opening up a new laundromat. Their competition in town is furious about it too. Plus, the Calendar Crew's loose lips have made a man in town angry, blaming them for breaking up his marriage. When their business is vandalized, they suspect the man or his wife did the damage. Also, the situation has turned serious. Ninang April's niece, who recently arrived from the Philippines, is found dead on the floor of the laundromat, with an angry note painted next to her. Lila and her aunties will have to call on all their friends to break the case. What do they uncover? Is this a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or not?

Complex characters, delectable dishes, comical cops, and a puzzling plot mesh together for a compulsively readable mystery. MURDER AND MAMON is the fourth book in this series and all the characters have grown and expanded into new ventures. The author expertly throws in red herrings so you have to wait until the end to see how it all ties together. Many subplots are woven into the story that adds richness and atmosphere. Completely loved it! Loved how the Asian culture is heavily influenced throughout with mouthwatering foods. Can't wait to try the recipes! Grab a drink and snack, you will get hungry while reading this!

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Cozy light reads, quick reads, whodunits, Filipino culture

I love this series so much. It's funny, dramatic, and I can't stop reading them. This one moved a bit slower than the previously three. The mystery was very entertaining and shocking. As always, the characters are great, and so are the food descriptions. I highly recommend this!