Thank you @GetRedPrBooks/Crooked Lane Books #partner, for the finished copy of Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal in exchange for my honest review. I borrowed the audiobook from the library.
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books / Dreamscape Media
Published: November 7, 2023
Summary:
In the third installment of the Caribbean Kitchen mysteries, for fans of Mia P. Manansala , Miriam Quiñones, cooking show sensation and amateur sleuth, has sand between her toes and a murderer nipping at her heels.
A surprise trip to Miriam’s parents in Punta Cana, which should be filled with arroz con pollo and breezy days under the tamarind tree, quickly becomes a hunt for a possible property saboteur. But before Miriam can begin to uncover the person damaging the vacation rentals her parents manage, she’s called away to Puerto Rico to film a Three Kings Day special. She’s welcomed to the blue ballast-stone streets of Old San Juan by crime scene tape, and things only get worse from there.
An anonymous personal gift on Miriam’s doorstep on New Year’s Eve screams stalker, and the 400-year-old guesthouse creaks and moans like there is something trapped in its walls. Luckily, her BFF, Alma, and their mutual friend Jorge are in town to keep her distracted between filming cultural segments for the network. But private chef tables and spa days come to an abrupt halt when Jorge’s telenovela heartthrob novio goes missing. And there is something worrisome about Alma’s too-perfect boyfriend–specifically, his duffle bag full of cash.
Will demon masks, African drumbeats, and dark alleys lead to Miriam’s demise? Or will the mysterious events come together like the delicious layers of a pastelón?
My thoughts:
This is the third book in the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series, though the first one I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. While I haven’t read any of the previous books in this cozy mystery series, I had no issue jumping into this one at this point as the author does a great job of providing just enough backstory to give the reader enough information to feel like they know what is going on.
What really appealed to me with this book was the fact that the main character, Miriam Quinones, is a food anthropologist. I’ve never come across that in any food cozy and I loved how the author was able show how food and one’s cultural heritage can go hand-in-hand.
While there is a mystery to be solved that of course Miriam finds herself in the middle of, I also appreciated how the author was able to shine a light on some of the historical and social issues that are happening in Puerto Rico right now. It definitely gives you food for thought.
All in all, this was a fun, entertaining read and I look forward to reading more from this series.
Audio thoughts:
I listened to the audiobook and I’m so glad I did. The narrator, Frankie Corzo, really did an amazing job bringing this story to life, especially with all the Spanish sections! She was such an engaging narrator and made this such a fun book to listen to!
Books in this series:
- Mango, Mambo, and Murder
- Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking
- Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal
