Mango, Mambo, and Murder
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $27.99
Publisher Description
A Cuban-American cooking show star becomes a seasoned sleuth in this first savory Caribbean Kitchen cozy mystery for fans of Joanne Fluke and Jenn McKinlay.
“A breath of fresh air” (BookPage): Features a diverse cast of characters, frothy intrigue, and mouthwatering Latinx recipes!
Food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith's move from New York to Coral Shores, Miami, puts her academic career on hold to stay at home with her young son. Adding to her funk is an opinionated mother-in-law and a husband rekindling a friendship with his ex. Gracias to her best friend, Alma, she gets a short-term job as a Caribbean cooking expert on a Spanish-language morning TV show. But when the newly minted star attends a Women's Club luncheon, a socialite sitting at her table suddenly falls face-first into the chicken salad, never to nibble again.
When a second woman dies soon after, suspicions coalesce around a controversial Cuban herbalist, Dr. Fuentes—especially after the morning show's host collapses while interviewing him. Detective Pullman is not happy to find Miriam at every turn. After he catches her breaking into the doctor’s apothecary, he enlists her help as eyes and ears to the places he can't access, namely the Spanish-speaking community and the tawny Coral Shores social scene.
As the ingredients to the deadly scheme begin blending together, Miriam is on the verge of learning how and why the women died. But her snooping may turn out to be a recipe for her own murder.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Cuban American Miriam Quiñones-Smith, the spunky, resilient narrator of Reyes's refreshing debut and series launch, wants nothing more than to finally finish her PhD in food anthropology. That prospect remains remote, however, since she moved from New York to Coral Shores, "a 1950s time-warped village within the city of Miami," for her husband's work and she decided to stay at home with her small son. Miriam is saved from the drudgery of her new life by an offer to contribute her Caribbean food expertise to a Spanish-language morning TV show. Things are starting to look up for Miriam, until a socialite drops dead at a women's club lunch she attends. Another suspicious death follows. When Miriam's best friend and partner-in-crime, Alma, is framed for one of what turn out to be murders, Miriam determines to find the truth. The judicious use of Spanish phrases helps bring the reader closer to these well-defined characters and their vibrant social scene. Mouthwatering recipes round out the volume. Hopefully, Miriam and friends will be back soon.
Customer Reviews
Loved it!
While I am a fan of Mexican cuisine, I’ve not had the pleasure of Cuban or other South American food. This wonderful novel is full of references to the food and the language, making it a fun murder mystery.