Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

 Murder and Mamon

Book Summary

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.

My Thoughts

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala takes us back to Shady Palms where there is controversy surrounding the opening of the Calendar Crew’s laundromat.  The highlight of the story is the characters.  The characters are complex and relatable.  I like that they continue to develop as the series progresses.  I like Lila, her friends, and her extended family.   The murder of Divina, Ninang April’s recently arrived niece from the Philippines, shocks Lila, her friends, and her relatives.  When the police do not make progress on the case, Ninang April asks Lila for her help.  Lila must turn the spotlight onto the Calendar Crew.  She will need to ask some uncomfortable questions, but Lila knows that the tiniest detail could be important to discovering the identity of the killer.   Readers can join Lila as she asks questions and gathers clues.  There are a several suspects and a red herring or two.  There was a detail I caught early in the story that sent me on the trail of the killer.  Other clues along the way solidified my decision.  I liked the action in the story that kept things lively.  There is a good wrap up at the end.  

I enjoyed learning about the Filipino culture and their food.  There are some interesting flavor combinations.  The rich descriptions of the food will have your mouth watering.  I do feel that there is too much detail at times as the ingredients of each drink and food item are listed.  Murder and Mamon is the fourth A Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  Lila and Jae’s romance is moving along at a leisurely pace which is my preference for cozy mystery romances.  Tita Rosie and Jonathan are a cute couple.  I think Jonathan’s post-retirement career will prove helpful.  I found the pronunciation guide very useful and there are recipes for some of the dishes mentioned in the book.  Murder and Mamon is a cute cozy with an imaginative niece, a defaced laundromat, delightful Filipino fare, an intimidating message, a senseless slaying, and thoughtful family and friends.

Murder and Mamon is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries here.  If you follow Mia P. Manansala on Amazon, you will receive an email when she has a new book release.  The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan, Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas by Vicki Delany, and A Splendid Gift by Barbara Elle Prisceaux were also released today.  Thank you for joining me today.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas by Vicki Delany. It is the sixth A Year-Round Christmas Mystery. I am off to work on my closet.  I am slowly getting it organized.  When you have minimal storage, every inch counts.  I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

 

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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