Dominoes, Danzón, and Death - (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery) by Raquel V Reyes (Hardcover)

About the Book

It's been three years since food anthropologist and cooking show star Miriam Quinones-Smith had her last brush with death. Her Spanglish culinary show, Abuela Approved, is topping the charts. Her parents are back in Miami and living with her in Coral Shores. And her kids are great. But when bones start popping up in unexpected places, Miriam's idyllic life is threatened.

Book Synopsis

Latina sleuth and culinary master Miriam Quiñones-Smith is cooking up a storm in the fourth installment of the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series.

It's been three years since food anthropologist and cooking show star Miriam Quiñones-Smith had her last brush with death. Her Spanglish culinary show, Abuela Approved, is topping the charts. Her parents are back in Miami and living with her in Coral Shores. And her kids are great. But when bones start popping up in unexpected places, Miriam's idyllic life is threatened.

Her husband Robert's much-delayed hotel project screeches to a halt when human bones are unearthed. Tribal representatives, forensic archaeologists, and a pompous professor rain down on the possibly ancient site. Then a fake skeleton with the name "Smith" etched into it is found floating in the bay with an ominous note. Is it a threat to Miriam's husband or her inlaws? And when Miriam's boss Delvis is seen going off on a tour guide who marched through the crew-only area on set and is later found dead, Delvis is declared the main suspect.

To protect her family and friends, Miriam must dig up the truth that has been hiding in plain sight.

Review Quotes

Praise for Dominoes, Danzón, and Death
"Endlessly interesting . . . The novel is elevated by its engagement with Caribbean cuisine and culture, and Florida and Native American history."
--BookPage

"Reyes again has the right recipe for a mystery with Dominoes, Danzón, and Death."
--South Florida Sun Sentinel

"An exceptional and riveting read."
--Midwest Book Review

"A delicious treat."
--Kings River Life

Praise for the Carribbean Kitchen Mysteries:
"Crime and cuisine really do mix."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Enjoyable . . . Fans of Mia P. Manansala's Arsenic and Adobo will want to check this out."
--Publishers Weekly

"Raquel V. Reyes's series debut, Mango, Mambo, and Murder, furthers my belief that the cozy mystery has become one of the most diverse, and most vibrant, in contemporary crime fiction."
--The New York Times

"Mango, Mambo, and Murder has everything you look for in a cozy mystery but also feels like a breath of fresh air . . . Dig into this inviting, suspenseful feast for the senses."
--BookPage, starred review

"Grab yourself a cafecito and settle in to read Mango, Mambo, and Murder, Raquel V. Reyes's refreshing and delicious spin on the cozy mystery genre. She deftly weaves the importance of food, family, and culture in her delicious Caribbean-tinged debut, while also producing an engaging mystery and a protagonist with the coolest job ever. This series is now on my insta-buy list, and I can't wait to see what our beloved food anthropologist turned cooking show host cooks up next!"
--Mia P. Manansala, award-winning author of Arsenic and Adobo

"Featuring an appealing, whip-smart sleuth, and rich with the Latin culture and cuisine of south Florida, Mango, Mambo, and Murder is a delicious page-turner of a mystery. Me encantó. I loved it."
--Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author of the Cajun Country Mysteries, on Mango, Mambo, and Murder

"A delicious culinary cozy that serves up both mouthwatering Caribbean food and a fun, family-centered mystery. I'm looking forward to food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith's next adventure."
--Gigi Pandian, award-winning author of the Accidental Alchemist Mysteries, on Mango, Mambo, and Murder

About the Author

Raquel V. Reyes writes Latina protagonists. Her Cuban American heritage, Miami, and Spanglish feature prominently in her work. Mango, Mambo, and Murder, the first in the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series, won a Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery. It was nominated for an Agatha Award and optioned for film. Raquel's short stories appear in various anthologies, including The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2022.