For years, Danika has been trying to prove to her mother that she is capable of joining her detective agency after graduation. But her mother insists she attend college and get an education before making any big decisions, keeping her from getting too involved at the agency by sticking her in as the front desk receptionist. But when a classmate comes to Danika for help finding her missing sister, she sees it as an opportunity to prove her worth and passion for the family business.

I've read Manansala's adult cozy mysteries and really enjoyed them, but I might like this young adult mystery even more... She's set Danika up perfectly to be a qualified, yet still amateur detective, with her being a minor and in high school but with skills and resources (and defense lessons) that a true private eye needs. The mystery fascinating, with plenty of twists and turns, and a reveal that was both shocking and not totally left field (which is my favorite--I want hints, but not the answer!). Sure, Danika is still an awkward teenager who is clueless about her love life, but the mystery was just so good that it overrode any of my adult frustration over high school angst. And I'm not normally into the mystical, but I actually really loved the tarot element to this one, too. It sets up a second book (or a series??) perfectly, and I already can't wait to read it.

Thanks to Delacorte Press and Get Underlined for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

This is a 3. Things I liked: large family, the Aunts are cool, tarot readings, plenty of diverse representation. Things I didn’t like: characters aren’t very well developed, middle drags, ending isn’t surprising. This is a very middle of the road book, easy read, predictable characters, clearly articulated mystery.

yes <3

the more i read, the less i wanted to put this down. i requested this as soon as i saw it on netgalley a month or two ago, and got so excited last night when i saw my request had been approved - and i have to say it absolutely did not disappoint!!

i love a cozy mystery and death in the cards is just that for y/a readers. i loved the character relationships and friendships in particular, i found the story interesting and i thought the tarot aspect was really cool too. the mystery kept me guessing and now i’m mad that i can’t read more! at least i still have guilt and ginataan which i’ve not read yet, so there is more mia p. manansala left for me to read - even if it’s only one book.

A cozy mystery about a teenage PI searching for a lost teen. Lots of friendship, relationship dynamics and family time. It was a fun read!

Death in the Cards follows Danika Dizon, a tarot reader and wannabe private detective like her mother. When one of her clients vanishes after a reading, the client’s younger sister begs Danika to find out where her sister is. Danika jumps at the opportunity to prove to her mother she can be a real investigator. As the lines of their business relationship blur, they discover dark secrets about the missing sister that could change everything.

This was as entertaining and unique mystery. I loved the element of tarot reading and loved seeing Danika do readings. The beginning and end were super gripping, but I did find myself a bit bored in the middle as not tons happens. But the ending was satisfying, and I really enjoyed the pace of the plot in the last 30%. I also liked the twist and reveal.

Danika was a great main character. I loved how oblivious she was towards Gaby and Alex’s feelings to her. She’s so precious and fierce. Her family was so sweet, and I loved the strong relationships she had with them. All the characters in this novel were written so well and had such depth to them. I really liked her romance with Gaby.

Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

DANIKA DANIKA DANIKA
I loved this book, I loved Danika and she felt like a real teenager which is a tell of great writing. This did keep me guessing and moved at a solid pace.

Death in the Cards follows Danika, a 17 year old tarot card reader who is hoping to follow in her mother's footsteps of being a private investigator. When a girl comes up to her in school and claims her reading is what made her sister disappear, Danika is determined to get to the bottom of the case. She hopes that this will prove to her mom that she is ready to be an investigator. On top of being a twisty and turny mystery, this book had a lot of heart. I loved Danika's family and they felt like people I knew and would want to spend time with. Her friends and family are very fleshed out and the world felt very lived in. I also loved the love triangle that Danika finds herself in. This was a great YA debut for this author and I hope to see more adventures with Danika in the future.

The mystery in this book was unguessable and I loved the characters and the pacing! This was such an immersive read that I didn’t want it to end! Desi Veronica Mars, anyone? It’s excellent.

⭐⭐⭐

DEATH IN THE CARDS by Mia P. Manansala
Thank you Netgalley and GetUnderlined for the earc (May 13)

Danika reads tarot. When one of her clients go missing, the girl's sister reaches out. She needs Danika to find her sister. Danika takes the case, and what is supposed to be a missing person case turns into something bigger.
DEATH IN THE CARDS was...not my favorite. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting. But, it was also predictable and sort of slow.
In the beginning, I was drawn in. By the middle, I grew bored because it didn't seem like the investigation was going anywhere. At least to me it didn't. Honestly, it was hard for me to stick out to the end. I really hate saying that, but it is what it is.

very fun and cute murder mystery that was definitely a good YA debut by Manansala. I loved Gaby, and while I wasn't a huge fan of Danika at first she grew on me. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

A fun coming of age mystery YA filled with queer identity, a strong headed MC, golden retriever energy, a love triangle, and chaotic teenage antics.
It’s a little bit The Scooby Gang meets Enola Holmes. Incredibly charming, fantastically written, and engaging enough that it’s hard to set down!
Our MC, Danika, is a young Filipina who has always had an interest in her mom’s work as a private investigator. You’ll find the sweet and fiercely loyal themes of what it’s like to grow up in a Filipino household, and learn a bit about Kali, Filipino martial arts, and spirituality through both Kali and our MC’s side hustle of tarot reading. Her best friends, cousins, and younger brother make for lovable side characters who really add to the depth of this story. I think you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised with how this mystery plays out.

What an incredible YA debut for Mia P Manansala! Fantastic work. I was introduced to MPM’s work thanks to Arsenic and Adobo: a Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series. I fell in love with her writing and writing style through that series and when I heard she was debuting a YA novel that included tarot, mystery, and young queer love I was sold.
I had such an enjoyable time reading this book. It’s well paced, cleverly plotted, and Mia has some clever tricks up her sleeves to keep things interesting. I can happily say that although I wasn’t VERY surprised by the ending, I still was a little surprised with the direction she took. Throughout the book you see several directions MPM would’ve taken with how to end it, and I think she takes the least obvious route. Which is a treat in itself, but especially with a YA book.
I am also happy that it ends on a note that seems there will be more to our main character’s journey! So I’m really looking forward to future books in this series.

Thank you Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I read this in a day! Danika Dizon wants nothing more than to become a private investigator like her mom, she even helps out at her agency. Of course her whole family does since her mom can’t afford to hire anyone, her dad helps out in between writing his mystery novels. She thinks her mom will take her more seriously if she can get her car fixed up. So to make money she does tarot readings to her classmates, she loves doing it and she is good at it, which means a lot of repeat customers. Then Gaby Delgado accuses her of being the reason her sister is missing. Danika remembers Eli and she did get the death card at their reading. She can’t help but she gets her mom involved and they take the case. Better yet her mom is allowing her to do more than research for the first time. But she’s only supposed to talk to the kids at her school. Soon Danika and Gaby have discovered Eli kept a lot of things from their parents, including that she had a job. Danika meets Alex who worked with Eli, and gets the two girls jobs. Soon they’ll discover that there is more going on at their place of employment than it seems. Eli had a lot of secrets and was involved in something big. But what exactly made her disappear? As they dig things will become more and more dangerous. Also Danika, who’s never dated, will find herself being the love interest for two people. Can she find Eli? Will she figure out what is going on? Can she impress her mother? And who will she choose? This one had a lot of sweet moments on top of the intriguing mystery! Danika’s romantic cluelessness was so endearing! I loved her family closeness and of course the lovely sounding food! One of my best friends is Filipina so I always enjoy reading books that have characters that are Filipino and have that culture! Makes me feel closer to her. But I love the tarot readings the most, an interesting element to the mystery story! And I’ve always found it interesting and want to have mine read but also a little nervous to know what it says! I loved when Danika did readings! A fun mystery that hooked me from the first page!

I'm a huge fan of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series, so when I learned Mia P. Manansala had written a YA book, I knew I'd be into it. And I was! I think YA is severely missing out on cozy mysteries that slowly build up, what with all the suspenseful thrillers that everyone buzzes about. Danika is a terrifically compelling character, and her big family and all her friends are a delight. Also, slight spoilers: I could not have predicted the way this book's love triangle was resolved.

I like to suggest to my students books like this, written for them and with a smart, spunky strong independent young woman as the lead, a tarot reader, jr detective trying to figure out what happened to another student who ran away after a reading with her. Enjoyable and engaging read.

As someone who read "Arsenic and Adobo" by Manansala, I was excited to see that she was diving into the YA world. This book is a great read. Love that she still talks about food in heavy details when it is brought up. The story was a good YA mystery. Not too much going on but enough to keep the plot moving and the reader engaged. Enjoyed the use of tarot cards/readings Manansala used. She had enough in the book without being too much or confusing.

I literally squealed with delight when I got my hands on Mia P. Manansala's young adult debut! As someone who's devoured every word of her Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series, I dove into this book with sky-high expectations - and oh my goodness, did it deliver! This story grabbed my heart from page one and wouldn't let go, blending family bonds, supernatural elements, and edge-of-your-seat mystery into something absolutely magical.

Let me tell you about Danika Dizon - I wish I could be her best friend! There's something so special about watching this whip-smart teen navigate her world with tarot cards in one hand and determination in the other. When a simple card reading turns dark with the appearance of the death card, followed by her client's mysterious disappearance, I found myself holding my breath. Having detective parents definitely runs in her blood, and watching her channel their investigative spirit made me grin from ear to ear.

I stayed up way too late following every twist and turn of this mystery. Each revelation about the missing girl's secret life had me gasping, and don't even get me started on the brilliant way the tarot readings weave through the story! It's not just window dressing - these cards tell their own haunting story, adding layers of meaning that gave me chills.

Manansala has this incredible gift for bringing characters to life. I could practically hear their voices, feel their fears, and share their triumphs. The whole time I was reading, I felt like I was right there beside Danika, piecing together clues and trying to stay one step ahead of danger. This isn't just a mystery - it's an adventure that had my heart racing and my mind spinning with theories.

Trust me, whether you're already a Manansala fan or this is your first time discovering her work, you're in for such a treat! This book is like your favorite snack - totally addictive, impossible to put down, and leaves you craving more. If you love clever mysteries with heart, soul, and a dash of supernatural intrigue, do yourself a favor and grab this book immediately. Your next favorite YA detective is waiting to meet you!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for sharing this YA debut' arc copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.