This latest in a lively cozy series (totally enjoyable as a standalone) sees Miriam dealing with bones. Bones found at the site where her husband is building and bones which have washed ashore. She's also, as always, dealing with her mother in law (not as much as in the earlier books) but on the positive side, her parents are happily settled. And she's got an actual murder to solve. Reyes might have pushed too much into this one but it's still a good read. Know that there is Spanish-easily understandable from context for non-speakers but there are also translations-which is makes this feel more realistic. It's a good cozy read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. And- recipes!

This is a great addition to this series! I love that it takes place three years after the last book, so you get a chance to see both of Miriam's kids a little bit older. The way the author weaved in the pandemic was good, too. This one was really fun because instead of focusing on just one mystery, there were three woven throughout, which kept you on your toes and kept the storyline moving at a nice pace. I'll definitely keep reading this series.

Miriam Quiñones-Smith is busy with two young children and her popular Spanglish culinary show, Abuela Approved. Miriam's husband Robert Smith is also busy working on a hotel project near a golf course. Trouble comes when human bones are found on-site. A bunch of experts arrive to examine the site. Miriam’s boss Delvis had argued with a pushy tour guide who wandered through the crew-only area on set. The woman is later found dead in a closed theater and Delvis is considered the main suspect. On top of that, a skeleton with the name 'Smith' etched into it is found floating in the bay with an ominous note. Miriam is worried that the threat is targeting either Robert or her in-laws.

It's a challenge for Miriam to deal with all these issues affecting her work and family in the latest book in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own

BIPOC Culinary Cozy Mystery featuring a Florida food anthropologist and Cuban-American cooking show star who turns sleuth after human bones are found at her husband's hotel project and a tour guide's murdered.

5/5 stars: This is the fourth entry in Reyes' Caribbean Kitchen Mystery which is a BIPOC Culinary Cozy Mystery that takes place in Miami, Florida and features a Cuban-American food anthropologist and cooking show star who finds herself turning sleuth after three years to protect her friends and family. With her boss the main suspect in a tour guide's murder, her husband's hotel project halted after the discovery of human bones and an ominous note left on a fake skeleton found floating in the bay that seems to threaten her family, it's up to her to dig up the truth that has been hiding in plain sight. With plenty of twists and turns, Reyes has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Reyes's writing and character work are brilliant; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's a joy to catch up with Miriam, her husband and their adorable kids and get to spend more time with her lovely parents. I also really love her group of friends and colleagues and the folks of Coral Shores. Oh and one can't forget Camo, the calico cat. Additionally, I really appreciate all the Caribbean and Latine cultural information Reyes includes, the use of Spanish throughout and the diverse and inclusive cast of characters. Be aware, the food descriptions are so good they'll have your stomach grumbling, so you'll most definitely want try out the included recipes. Reyes touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check out the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Mango, Mambo, and Murder. A great read, highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Unfortunately, I didn't like this book. I actually dnf'ed it. I really wanted to like it because it had a lot of themes I liked, but it was not to be.

1. I liked reading about Miriam's family and life, but it was too much. It felt like the book was 70% centered on her family and 30% on the suspense and thriller.
2. In addition to this, I stopped reading at 40%. Yes, there was a murder, but the FMC is yet to put any effort into solving the crime.
3. I was familiar with the Yoruba culture that was mentioned in the book because I'm Yoruba too, and I liked that.

This book was not for me, but you can read it if you like family centered cozy mysteries

Rating: 3.5

From book 1, I have enjoyed reading about the Miriam and her adventures. Author Raquel V. Reyes has sprinkled Spanglish, educated us about etymology, enticed our taste buds with recipes, shared family drama, and of course taken us along for the ride to solve a mystery, or three as is the case in this, book 4 of the series.

We are once again brought into Miriam Quiñones-Smith’s life. Picking up 3 years after book 3, we see what life has become for her, her family and her career due to the pandemic. In addition to my favorite character little Manny who is now six years old, there is his sister Sirena (at the end of book 3 Miriam was nearly ready to pop), and Miriam’s parents now living with them in Miami. Their home a truly a multigenerational bilingual home now.

Miriam, like a lot of working moms, has a lot to juggle. Added to this, are the mysteries:
1. The bones found at husband Robert’s job site
2. The death of the tour guide with producer and friend Delvis as prime suspect
3. The death threats on Senior, Robert’s dad that are causing Marjory to look past her bigotry and ask for Miriam’s help

The endearing way that Detective Pullman addresses Miriam, is just fun. And just because there are mysteries doesn’t mean that life is on hold. There is the upcoming nuptials between Robert’s cousin, Police Sergeant Gordon Smith and Miriam’s friend Omarosa. The celebration that seems doomed. And much more.

While the story may not be a quick, light read is a fulfilling one with history, family, food, a bit of mysticism, social inclusion, and heady mysteries.

I need a BFF like Alma! I was happy to have familiar characters make an appearance (gotta love someone named Stormy Weatherman)

I am looking forward to a second read/first listen as I really enjoy the narrator, especially since my Spanish is horrible.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!

Dominoes, Danzon, and Death by Raquel V. Reyes is set a couple of years after the last book. Miriam and her family are hilarious.

Will Miriam solve all the mysteries that are taking place in her life?

Miriam Quiñones-Smith
Miriam has been enjoying her life without solving mysteries for the last three years, and she's quite happy about that. She is a loving mother of two amazing kids, a great wife, a loving daughter, and the not-so-great daughter-in-law to the Smith family. That is because she's Latina and is on a cooking show. The parts I loved in this story are when Miriam is filming her segments, being with her family, and being with her mother-in-law. Miriam is a great person, and it is easy to see why so many people can talk to her instead of the cops.

The Mystery
Miriam's husband, Robert, is trying to build a hotel on the golf course, but that's met with another troubling dilemma. They found a dead body and some other things. Not only does Miriam have to hear about this from her husband, but she also finds out that her in-laws are being threatened. Of course, she also finds a fake skeleton. Is it fake? While filming an episode for her show, they found out a tour guide had been killed later that day. Miriam has her work cut out for solving all of these crimes. Are all of them connected, or just two of them? I'm so happy I got at least one of these mysteries figured out!

Five Stars
I am giving Dominoes, Danzon, and Death by Raquel V. Reyes five stars, and I recommend reading this series. The one thing I do have to say is that Ms. Reyes does use Spanglish in this book, but thankfully, she gives an English translation of what was said afterward. To me, that made it easier to read. Ms. Reyes has created an incredible group of people in this book. Dominoes, Danzon, and Death by Raquel V. Reyes is my first book by this author, and I enjoyed it. I am definitely putting the first three on my TBR.

Don't forget to check out the recipes in the back. Some of these sound pretty good. They are Frita Cubana/Cuban Hamburger, Bocaditos, Miriam's Tortilla Espanola, Palmeras, and Cuban Natilla.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Dominoes, Danzon, and Death by Raquel V. Reyes.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Food and a cosy mystery series? Oh, count me in! And especially with such fun and entertaining characters. "Dominoes, Danzón, and Death" is the fourth novel in the popular Caribbean Kitchen Mystery by Raquel V. Reyes. And though this is only the first book in the series that I've read, I'm off straight away to read the three previous novels.
This time around, Miriam's business is proving more successful than ever, when her husband's construction project uncovers human bones on the site and then, her boss is accused of murder. While continuing to run a business, being a full-time mum (let's face it, being a mum IS a 24x7 job), helping her Robert, dealing with her in-laws, and now investigating the bones and murder, Miriam is once again deep in trouble.
There are so many mysteries in this book, but the author cleverly juggles and interweves the storylines to hold the readers attention. And I particularly enjoyed the occasional mix of Spanish or "Spanglish" throughout the text. It reminded me of how we use Irish and seemed so naturally for mixed language families.
Fantastic series.

Since Miriam’s sleuthing put her danger before (previous novels), she is reticent to take on new mysteries, but curiosity, loyalty to friends and family, and a sense of justice will not allow her to leave these mysteries alone. Miriam is an instantly likable character.

Miriam’s quest for answers in these new mysteries occurs against the back drop of her vibrant life in South Florida. She lives in a multi-generational household with her parents, husband, and two children. Family and friends live nearby and are an important part of daily life. The only problematic person is her mother-in-law, a well to do, white, racist snob.

And then there’s work. Miriam hosts a cooking show focusing on South Florida and Caribbean cuisine. Yum!

So how many mysteries can one book contain? Three. The first is occurs when human bones are unearthed at the site of a new hotel her husband is building. At first, they were concerned that the bones were Native American and the dig had disturbed a burial site. But no, the bones are of a much more recent vintage, and the victim was murdered.

The second mystery? Who killed the tour guide with whom Miriam’s friend and colleague, Delvis, had words? Delvis stands accused of the murder, and Miriam can’t let this stand.

Lastly, someone seems to have Miriam’s father in law, a federal judge, on his hit list.

While the mysteries moved the plot along nicely, I loved being immersed in the warmth of this lovely Latin family. The book is written primarily English, but as often occurs in bilingual households, Spanish and Spanglish occur in conversation as well. (It made me want to return to my Spanish lessons.)

This is the 4th book in the series, and I have already added the previous three to my TBR list.

Oh! And there are recipes in the back of the book.

I enjoy this series so much and highly recommend this 4th book, as it can be read as a stand-alone. Dr. Miriam Quinones-Smith, culinary anthropologist, appreciates that life, in a post-COVID world, is returning to a more normal pace. Her TV food show is back to studio and onsite filming around Miami, highlighting interesting businesses that need a post-COVID boost to stay in business. She’s still dealing with her bigoted ‘old money’ mother-in-law while celebrating that her parents have moved into her home with her, husband Robert, and their two small children. Life is good, right? Well, with the exception of three mysteries that all pop up at the same time.
When an on location dispute between her producer, Delvis, and an obnoxious tour guide results in the guide’s death, Miriam is certain that Delvis isn’t responsible.
Robert’s boutique hotel work at local golf course is derailed when bones are found, and the construction work is halted. The bones are found to be modern, not ancient, which presents a whole different issue than protecting an older Native American burial site.
Finally, why are Robert’s parents suddenly being targeted by threatening notes that prompt the FBI and local police involvement since ‘Senior’ is a federal court judge? Was it a current case, a past case or something personal?
Ms. Reyes weaves these story lines, along with wonderful points of history and issues about cultural appropriation and oppression into another interesting cozy. I look forward to the next in this series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Raquel V. Reyes for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Dominoes, Danzón, and Death coming out November 19, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read the second book in this series and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to receive this book. I love Spanish stories and culinary cozy mysteries. I liked this book, but it didn’t feel as cozy to me as the other one I read. There was something missing for me. There seemed to be a lot of arguing that I don’t remember from the other book. I love the recipes though. I would check out more books by this author.

Another great book in the series! The time jump threw me a little, at first, but I understand trying to move past the initial quarantine period. I thought the archeological elements were well done, and I liked the secondary mystery with Miriam’s monster-in-law. Can’t wait to read more about Miriam’s next adventure! The hints at the end of the book gave me a good idea of some of those themes, and I can’t wait!

This series just keeps getting better and better. I loved all the previous books and this one, with a time jump, really hit for me! I love Reyes’ characters and setting which is really such a huge part of this series. The food is phenomenal and makes me want to be in Miami trying all of it! I loved the mysteries in this book and always enjoy how these books turn out. I’m a big fan and looking forward to each subsequent book!

I enjoyed this story, though it seemed a little bit like I was missing a couple of pieces even though I have followed this series from the beginning..
I went back into the past books and was only slightly successful in answering my questions, realizing that the Author was simply backfilling and I
then returned to just enjoying the book! Perhaps in addition to the entertaining story are the wonderful backdrops and settings of the story, whichI
I have come to enjoy as a holiday all on their own. Also, in each and every book is the delicious cuisine, with recipes we can make for ourselves!
Truly an experience to look forward to with each book. I would not mind (much) if Miriam would keep her adventurous messes to a reasonable
life or death situation so I don’t have to stay up too late just to make sure she’s OK! I almost forgot that I also adore the language lessons.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for the download copy of the book for review purposes.

I really enjoy this series and had been waiting for this book! Reyes took an interesting approach and had a significant time jump, including glossing over some major events in the characters lives. It felt a little weird, but things eventually settled in and calmed down. I liked the layers of mystery in this book, although it did get a little distracting. Overall, Reyes has another solid entry in a fun and slightly different cozy series.

In “Dominoes, Danzon, and Death,” Miriam, food anthropologist and cooking show star, finds herself in the throes of several mysteries, once again. Bones are unearthed at her husband’s worksite, a skeleton with a menacing note with her husband’s family name on it washes ashore, and her boss is caught in the middle of a potential murder. Miriam is forced to put on her sleuthing hat to protect her family and friends.

This is the fourth in the series, and I have enjoyed them all a lot. I love the setting in Miami, and I love all of the cooking and food sprinkled throughout the book. I love to cook and love learning about other cultures’ foods. The multiple mysteries in this one was fun, and though it could’ve felt like too many, the author did a good job of balancing them and fitting them in at different points.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and am grateful to NetGalley, Raquel Reyes, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC to be able to read this before its release on November 19!

It's been awhile since Miriam's last brush with a mystery. This time her husband's construction site is under the microscope when bones are found. The character development is good. Her stories get better and better. Enjoyed this one. Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Miriam's parents are now living with her family in the Miami area. Her mother in law Marjory is still an obnoxious snob. Her colleague Delvis is suspected of murder after having a public argument with the victim, and husband Robert's construction project is being held up due to the discovery on bones on the site. Miriam is the star of a cooking show called Abuela Approved, and recipes are included. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Everything seems to be going right for Miriam Quinones-Smith--until bones show up at her husband's construction site and her boss is accused of murder. She's off to investigate again! I really enjoy the Spanglish, culture, recipes, and friendships in this cozy mystery series. This book was lighter on investigation and had more practice of Regla de Ocha, which I am not that familiar with. The action is fast paced, and the characters are hilarious. I read a lot of mystery series, and this one feels like real people. I often get lost in the story and forget Miriam isn't my real life friend.

I had access to an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and my honest opinion is that I love this series. This wasn't my favorite book in the series, but I will definitely be reading the next one because I love Miriam and her quirky friends.

Raquel Reyes keeps getting better, while retaining the charm and humor of her earlier works. By staying in Miami, Dominoes, Danzon and Death allows Reyees to highlight the uniqueness of her location and the inner workings of the TV station, while bringing death into the picture. Miriam's mother-in-law becomes a more realistic character when she's threatened, And many of the other supporting characters get their chance to shine. A really fun book.