Murder and Mamon - (A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery) by Mia P Manansala (Paperback)

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.