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A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #3
Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal
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?
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?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2023
42 people are currently reading
846 people want to read
About the author
Raquel V. Reyes
15 books315 followersRAQUEL 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 and an International Latino Book Award. 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.
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November 19, 2023
3.5 stars
This review was first posted on Mystery and Suspense. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews. https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/ba...
This is the third book in the 'Caribbean Kitchen' cozy mystery series, featuring Miriam Quiñones-Smith, a Cuban-American food anthropologist and amateur sleuth. Miriam and her husband Robert Smith live in Miami, Florida and have a four-year-old son named Manny. The couple are also expecting, and Miriam has nicknamed the seafood-craving baby La Sirena (the mermaid).
Miriam hosts two Caribbean culinary shows, a Spanish version called 'Cocina Caribeña' on the morning program UnMundo, and an English version called 'Abuela Approved' on YouTube.
In the past, Miriam has helped the Miami police solve crimes, and Detective Frank Pullman likes to call her Jessica Fletcher or Veronica Mars.
As the story opens, it's Christmas season and Miriam is going to visit her parents in the Dominican Republic, where the Quiñones' manage a small vacation rental resort. The resort, called Punta Palma, features attractive villas, a pool, and a patio surrounded by fruit trees like guava, fruta bombas, banana, guanabana, tamarind, and passion fruit.
When Miriam arrives at Punta Palma she meets a guest named Jules Howard, who says he's in commercial real estate. Miriam asks a real estate broker about Jules, and is told 'Golden Jules' has a talent for finding properties and getting the owners to sell. Jules then turns the properties into mix-use luxury developments, with lots of restaurants.
As Miriam settles in at Punta Palma, her Papi goes off to fix a broken pipe. Miriam is told her dad repaired a pipe yesterday, only to have another one break today.
Other things are also going wrong at the resort. The Wi-Fi keeps going out, the satellite dish is broken, a rat was found in the water tank, and a visitor left a scathing review online. Miriam begins to think someone is sabotaging Punta Palma, to force the owners to sell, and she suspects Jules is the villain.
Before Miriam can investigate the suspected vandalism, her boss at UnMundo calls to say Miriam is expected in San Juan for 'Día de Los Tres Reyes Magos' (Three Kings Day), a Puerto Rican celebration that marks the end of the Christmas season.
Miriam is scheduled to interview food vloggers, film a clip about cooking tostones de pana (breadfruit) on an outdoor stove, demonstrate traditional headwraps, dance a Bomba, and more. Miriam's friends Alma and Jorge are in San Juan as well, and Miriam gets to meet Alma's new mega-rich boyfriend Herbie, and Jorge's new beau Lucas.
While Miriam is in San Juan, a man is shot near her hotel, and an elderly building owner falls down his stairs and dies. Miriam also finds a piece of paper in her hotel room that reads 'You'll sell or you'll be sorry.' Miriam hears that americanos come to Puerto Rico to buy up property and build luxury developments, and she suspects the natives are being coerced.
At UnMundo festivities, Miriam is surprised to see real estate developer Jules Howard, who she last saw in the Dominican Republic. Jules is hobnobbing with American Bitcoin mogul Brandon Pickles, and Miriam suspects the men are colluding to buy up Puerto Rican properties. Miriam fears Jules and Pickles might do anything to get their way, even murder.
In between filming appearances for UnMundo, sightseeing in Old San Juan, going to parades and dances, socializing with her friends, and shopping, Miriam tries to investigate the real estate hijinks and suspicious deaths. This puts both Miriam and her friends in grave danger.
The story refers to many Caribbean foods that came with the African diaspora, such as Alcapurrias (fritters), Pollo en salsa criolla (chicken with Creole sauce), and more. For her seafood-craving La Sirena, Miriam also samples dishes like Mofungo de mariscos (plantain mash and shellfish) and Ensalada de pulpo (octopus salad). Several recipes are included at the end of the book.
Alcapurrias
Pollo en salsa criolla
Mofungo de mariscos
Ensalada de pulpo
In addition to a compelling plot, the novel contains colorful descriptions of Puerto Rico. There are also references to interesting Caribbean traditions, such as protecting a pregnant woman and her baby by throwing a watermelon into the ocean, and dousing the pregnant mother with a stinky rinse made of plants. The story also includes many Spanish phrases, which adds to the Caribbean ambiance of the novel.
Readers who enjoy multicultural cozy mysteries will like this book.
Thanks to Netgalley, Raquel V. Reyes, and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the manuscript.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
June 25, 2023
I received an ARC of “Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal. A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery” from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
I recently read author Raquel V. Reyes’ first book, “Mango, Mambo, and Murder,” in her Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series. I acknowledge that I haven’t read her second book in the series, but I didn’t get lost at all. Reyes gave me just enough backstory to keep me up to speed without bogging me down in unnecessary details. In fact, she made one statement in the first chapter—about being locked in a freezer by a murderer—that it made me want to go back and read the second novel in the series. Later in the book, Reyes alluded to her second book in the series.
I love the author’s writing style, her guts, and her social consciousness. But I need to be completely honest with other potential readers: There were some ***serious issues*** with this book—ones that likely won’t be ignored by Cozy Mystery readers, namely:
GENRE BENDING
This novel is billed as a “Cozy Mystery,” but by the time I had read a third of the book, it had morphed into a “Hangry Mystery.” Instead of being able to escape from the realities of the harsh world with a light, easy, read, Reyes offered up a novel jam packed with sociopolitical and socioeconomic diatribes about ongoing American injustices in the Caribbean.
Now don’t get me wrong! People in the United States need to fully understand how the history of U.S. colonialism has, and continues to be, a source of problems. This applies to both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic specifically, and to the entire Caribbean in general. If this was just a general mystery novel, it wouldn’t be a problem. But it’s not. It’s a cozy mystery.
A cozy mystery is supposed to allow readers to escape from the real world. Why? Because all one has to do is look around to see the political and social dysfunction. The abusive and discriminatory language hurled by racists and neo-Nazi’s can be heard around the world, not to mention the atrocious acts committed by them. And in the United States, the government is still divisive. So, what do you do when the everything becomes too much? You escape into a book.
The Cozy Mystery genre provides a safe haven for readers—readers who want a light read, something that’s not scary; a book without all of the political drama that can be seen on the streets and listened to on MSNBC every evening. And, if that’s not good enough, I can pick from a wide number of non-fiction books that have already been published that highlight all of the current (and past!) atrocities committed against peoples around the world by the U.S. government. But it’s only in a Cozy Mystery where I can escape from all of that.
By the time I had finished the thirteenth chapter, I wasn’t just angry. I was (almost quite literally) foaming at the mouth about the injustices. The MC’s parents in the Dominican Republic and her aunt and uncle in Puerto Rico are under fire. Why? Because millionaire American realtors are swindling poor, elderly islanders out of their property. Instead of a light novel, readers are confronted with,
“…the same old colonial plunder and pillage song and dance but sung to a new tune….” (Reyes 2023: 90) that made her, “…blood boil…” (Reyes 223: 117)
The whole issue of America’s colonialism wasn’t just peppered here and there but permeated the entire book. But what really horrified me was a conversation that the MC had:
“…She corrected me. “U-prree. U-P-R-I. Unidos para un Puerto Rico Independente [United for an Independent Puerto Rico]…”
“Wouldn’t that be u-poo-pre? U-P-U-P-R-I.”
“…“Prima, it was named before I joined it. If I had named it, I’d have called it M-L-C. Muerte a los Colonizadores.” [Death to the Colonizers]…” (Reyes 2023: 119).
Really? As an anthropologist, I don’t need to be reminded about America’s colonial past and present. What the U.S. has done and is doing is completely unacceptable. And while a lot of readers or potential readers might not be aware of this aspect of our nation’s history, a Cozy Mystery isn’t the proper avenue for it.
Cozy Mystery readers don’t want to be afraid. They don’t want to read a novel and become angry. And they don’t want to be deceived.
I recently reviewed another of Crooked Lane’s books by Sennefelder “How the Murder Crumbles” (2023). Before I even had a copy of that novel in my possession, I knew what I was getting. Other than the usual murder and the mysteries surrounding that murder, there were no unexpected OMG’s! What I mean is that Sennefelder wrote within the genre’s conventions. Sennefelder kept me engaged with the story, kept me guessing about ‘whodunnit’, and throughout the novel, she ticked off all of the necessary boxes that one expects with Cozy Mysteries. There were no raw political emotions. It was a ‘Feel-Good-Read’ that left me emotionally satisfied in a world where that often doesn’t happen.
To be completely honest, I felt tricked. When I read Reyes’ first novel, “Mango, Mambo, and Murder,” there were a few slight issues with the manuscript, but overall, it was what I expected from a Cozy Mystery. I admit that I didn’t read her second novel, but when I read the first 3 chapters of this book, everything seemed fine. However, my feelings were soon deflated when the author forced me to delve into American imperialism. Once again, I know American history. And I’m not proud of it. But when I pick up a Cozy Mystery, I don’t expect to experience internal drama that affects me to the point where I have to go out into the garden and do some weeding just to calm myself down.
My biggest concern with Reyes’ genre bending in this novel is that it might discourage readers to not read any of her future works. For me, this is unbearable because Reyes is ***such*** a good writer. She’s talented with great ideas. But let’s face it: No matter how many times an author mentions Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars in their novel (all 3 of which I stream on Disney+), it is not going to guarantee that a Cozy Mystery reader is going to love, or read, a book.
LANGUAGE
I’ve gone over the use of Reyes’ overuse of Spanish versus Spanglish when I reviewed her first novel. In fact, many other reviewers commented on it as well. But the author apparently thought it unnecessary to make any changes.
Not every American is bilingual. In fact, a large proportion of the population is monolingual, speaking and reading only English. In some cases, Reyes includes large sections of Spanish-only dialogue in the book, but then spends a sentence or even a small paragraph translating that text for the readers (For example, see Reyes 2023: 43; 60; and 86). In other cases, Reyes doesn’t offer a translation at all. Instead, readers have to guess what is being said based on context.
Readers don’t need a translator. Rather, readers need to understand for themselves what is going on in real time. People that read Cozy Mysteries have HUGE imaginations. It wouldn’t be difficult for readers to ‘pretend’ that a conversation is being spoken in Spanish, but appears as English in the text. As it stands, Reyes leaves monolingual and non-Spanish speakers and readers with a feeling that they’re being left out.
Someone who’s immature and selfish might retort, “So learn Spanish!” This type of my-way-or-the-highway reaction never ends up with the desired results. In fact, it’s similar in many ways to the discrimination against Spanish-only speakers. All it does is alienate people.
I thought it was interesting that the author had the MC discuss how people complained about her speaking Spanish. I infer that this might be a novelesque reaction to the complaints that the author received about the use of Spanish in her previous novels.
I get it. There IS language discrimination not just in the United States—Spanish and Indigenous languages as well—but around the world. The United States is unique in that we are one of the only countries in the world that does NOT have a national language. But not everyone is bilingual. And this is an English language book.
In an English language book, an author can get away with Spanglish (or Arabglish or Francoglish), but anything more than that is unacceptable and negatively affects many monolingual English speakers. And book sales.
This isn’t a one-off. This is the author’s third novel. I can only assume (based on comments about the overuse of Spanish from reviewers of the author’s previous two books), that the author just doesn’t give a damn. She’s already been paid and published and that’s all that matters. For now.
Using a written language that is not universally understood by all of the readers can alienate people. And alienation means fewer readers. It means fewer reviewers. And it means fewer copies get sold. In the long run, this means less money for publishers and fewer book sales for authors.
When I first looked for Reyes’ first book, “Mango, Mambo, and Murder,” my library no longer carried a copy of it, even though it is a relatively new book. So, I looked on Amazon and was further surprised I only had to pay $1.99 for the ebook.
I want Reyes’ career to flourish. She is a really good writer. I love how I’m able to connect with the characters. And the voice that Reyes brings to the literary world can’t be understated. I want people everywhere—from metropolitan Florida to the rural Ozark Mountains to the shores of Oregon—to read and fall in love with Reyes’ writing. But in order to get those books into people’s hands, the author needs to use: 1) Spanglish; or 2) English only. No translations. Just write in a way that everyone can understand so that readers will be able to fall in love with the world you’ve created.
WHERE’S THE BODY?
I’m ecstatic that the MC went to Puerto Rico! I am absolutely in love with the Taino!! I remember being amazed at how the Puerto Rican community joined together, allowing anthropologists and geneticists to determine the amount of Spanish, African and Taino DNA in modern populations. I was amazed because many people are fervently opposed to providing genetic samples for various reasons.
I’ve never been to either the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico, but Reyes definitely had me dreaming about it. By Chapter 12, the MC was already traveling—but there still wasn’t a body! Of course, this is a “Cozy Mystery,” not a “Cozy Death.” But for many people (like me), a murder is part of the equation. Instead, the mystery that readers are dealing with is: Is the Bitcoin guy, Jules, trying to force the MC’s parents and aunt and uncle out of their businesses so that he can buy them cheap, only to remodel, resell, and raise the rents? The writing was compelling, but the story line wasn’t.
CONTENT
I’ve already discussed some of these issues under GENRE BENDING, but statements like,
“…Okay, but why can’t Mami see that rich Americans are stealing our land?…” (Reyes 2023: 126)
are just way over the top. Are they truly stealing the land? Or are they buying the land? These are questions readers are going to be asking themselves. Once again, I don’t think that a Cozy Mystery is the place for this. I wonder if, by even bringing up these subjects, the author isn’t further alienating her readership.
Earlier in the book, the author made a comment about refugees from Cuba and Haiti fleeing their countries by boat. It seems that Reyes is placing the blame solely on wealthy Americans. However, many of those same wealthy Americans are also Cozy Mystery readers. The point I’m trying to make is that it is not in a writer’s best interests to accuse and/or alienate their readers.
At the 45% mark, I found it increasingly difficult to read the remainder of the novel. Of course, other readers may feel differently. However, I wouldn’t recommend this book to a traditional Cozy Mystery reader. The text incorporates a lot of Spanish, and this will alienate monolingual English readers. The content is highly political and, for some, may result in a read that is **not** a light, fun, read. Other readers may be disturbed by the continuous references to verbal, racial, and/or social abuse. For example, when the MC said,
“…Pero, no. She’s an angry, scared xenophobe that hates that her son married a brown-skinned woman who speaks Spanish…” (Reyes 2023: 139).
I just can’t even finish this book.
I recently read author Raquel V. Reyes’ first book, “Mango, Mambo, and Murder,” in her Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series. I acknowledge that I haven’t read her second book in the series, but I didn’t get lost at all. Reyes gave me just enough backstory to keep me up to speed without bogging me down in unnecessary details. In fact, she made one statement in the first chapter—about being locked in a freezer by a murderer—that it made me want to go back and read the second novel in the series. Later in the book, Reyes alluded to her second book in the series.
I love the author’s writing style, her guts, and her social consciousness. But I need to be completely honest with other potential readers: There were some ***serious issues*** with this book—ones that likely won’t be ignored by Cozy Mystery readers, namely:
GENRE BENDING
This novel is billed as a “Cozy Mystery,” but by the time I had read a third of the book, it had morphed into a “Hangry Mystery.” Instead of being able to escape from the realities of the harsh world with a light, easy, read, Reyes offered up a novel jam packed with sociopolitical and socioeconomic diatribes about ongoing American injustices in the Caribbean.
Now don’t get me wrong! People in the United States need to fully understand how the history of U.S. colonialism has, and continues to be, a source of problems. This applies to both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic specifically, and to the entire Caribbean in general. If this was just a general mystery novel, it wouldn’t be a problem. But it’s not. It’s a cozy mystery.
A cozy mystery is supposed to allow readers to escape from the real world. Why? Because all one has to do is look around to see the political and social dysfunction. The abusive and discriminatory language hurled by racists and neo-Nazi’s can be heard around the world, not to mention the atrocious acts committed by them. And in the United States, the government is still divisive. So, what do you do when the everything becomes too much? You escape into a book.
The Cozy Mystery genre provides a safe haven for readers—readers who want a light read, something that’s not scary; a book without all of the political drama that can be seen on the streets and listened to on MSNBC every evening. And, if that’s not good enough, I can pick from a wide number of non-fiction books that have already been published that highlight all of the current (and past!) atrocities committed against peoples around the world by the U.S. government. But it’s only in a Cozy Mystery where I can escape from all of that.
By the time I had finished the thirteenth chapter, I wasn’t just angry. I was (almost quite literally) foaming at the mouth about the injustices. The MC’s parents in the Dominican Republic and her aunt and uncle in Puerto Rico are under fire. Why? Because millionaire American realtors are swindling poor, elderly islanders out of their property. Instead of a light novel, readers are confronted with,
“…the same old colonial plunder and pillage song and dance but sung to a new tune….” (Reyes 2023: 90) that made her, “…blood boil…” (Reyes 223: 117)
The whole issue of America’s colonialism wasn’t just peppered here and there but permeated the entire book. But what really horrified me was a conversation that the MC had:
“…She corrected me. “U-prree. U-P-R-I. Unidos para un Puerto Rico Independente [United for an Independent Puerto Rico]…”
“Wouldn’t that be u-poo-pre? U-P-U-P-R-I.”
“…“Prima, it was named before I joined it. If I had named it, I’d have called it M-L-C. Muerte a los Colonizadores.” [Death to the Colonizers]…” (Reyes 2023: 119).
Really? As an anthropologist, I don’t need to be reminded about America’s colonial past and present. What the U.S. has done and is doing is completely unacceptable. And while a lot of readers or potential readers might not be aware of this aspect of our nation’s history, a Cozy Mystery isn’t the proper avenue for it.
Cozy Mystery readers don’t want to be afraid. They don’t want to read a novel and become angry. And they don’t want to be deceived.
I recently reviewed another of Crooked Lane’s books by Sennefelder “How the Murder Crumbles” (2023). Before I even had a copy of that novel in my possession, I knew what I was getting. Other than the usual murder and the mysteries surrounding that murder, there were no unexpected OMG’s! What I mean is that Sennefelder wrote within the genre’s conventions. Sennefelder kept me engaged with the story, kept me guessing about ‘whodunnit’, and throughout the novel, she ticked off all of the necessary boxes that one expects with Cozy Mysteries. There were no raw political emotions. It was a ‘Feel-Good-Read’ that left me emotionally satisfied in a world where that often doesn’t happen.
To be completely honest, I felt tricked. When I read Reyes’ first novel, “Mango, Mambo, and Murder,” there were a few slight issues with the manuscript, but overall, it was what I expected from a Cozy Mystery. I admit that I didn’t read her second novel, but when I read the first 3 chapters of this book, everything seemed fine. However, my feelings were soon deflated when the author forced me to delve into American imperialism. Once again, I know American history. And I’m not proud of it. But when I pick up a Cozy Mystery, I don’t expect to experience internal drama that affects me to the point where I have to go out into the garden and do some weeding just to calm myself down.
My biggest concern with Reyes’ genre bending in this novel is that it might discourage readers to not read any of her future works. For me, this is unbearable because Reyes is ***such*** a good writer. She’s talented with great ideas. But let’s face it: No matter how many times an author mentions Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars in their novel (all 3 of which I stream on Disney+), it is not going to guarantee that a Cozy Mystery reader is going to love, or read, a book.
LANGUAGE
I’ve gone over the use of Reyes’ overuse of Spanish versus Spanglish when I reviewed her first novel. In fact, many other reviewers commented on it as well. But the author apparently thought it unnecessary to make any changes.
Not every American is bilingual. In fact, a large proportion of the population is monolingual, speaking and reading only English. In some cases, Reyes includes large sections of Spanish-only dialogue in the book, but then spends a sentence or even a small paragraph translating that text for the readers (For example, see Reyes 2023: 43; 60; and 86). In other cases, Reyes doesn’t offer a translation at all. Instead, readers have to guess what is being said based on context.
Readers don’t need a translator. Rather, readers need to understand for themselves what is going on in real time. People that read Cozy Mysteries have HUGE imaginations. It wouldn’t be difficult for readers to ‘pretend’ that a conversation is being spoken in Spanish, but appears as English in the text. As it stands, Reyes leaves monolingual and non-Spanish speakers and readers with a feeling that they’re being left out.
Someone who’s immature and selfish might retort, “So learn Spanish!” This type of my-way-or-the-highway reaction never ends up with the desired results. In fact, it’s similar in many ways to the discrimination against Spanish-only speakers. All it does is alienate people.
I thought it was interesting that the author had the MC discuss how people complained about her speaking Spanish. I infer that this might be a novelesque reaction to the complaints that the author received about the use of Spanish in her previous novels.
I get it. There IS language discrimination not just in the United States—Spanish and Indigenous languages as well—but around the world. The United States is unique in that we are one of the only countries in the world that does NOT have a national language. But not everyone is bilingual. And this is an English language book.
In an English language book, an author can get away with Spanglish (or Arabglish or Francoglish), but anything more than that is unacceptable and negatively affects many monolingual English speakers. And book sales.
This isn’t a one-off. This is the author’s third novel. I can only assume (based on comments about the overuse of Spanish from reviewers of the author’s previous two books), that the author just doesn’t give a damn. She’s already been paid and published and that’s all that matters. For now.
Using a written language that is not universally understood by all of the readers can alienate people. And alienation means fewer readers. It means fewer reviewers. And it means fewer copies get sold. In the long run, this means less money for publishers and fewer book sales for authors.
When I first looked for Reyes’ first book, “Mango, Mambo, and Murder,” my library no longer carried a copy of it, even though it is a relatively new book. So, I looked on Amazon and was further surprised I only had to pay $1.99 for the ebook.
I want Reyes’ career to flourish. She is a really good writer. I love how I’m able to connect with the characters. And the voice that Reyes brings to the literary world can’t be understated. I want people everywhere—from metropolitan Florida to the rural Ozark Mountains to the shores of Oregon—to read and fall in love with Reyes’ writing. But in order to get those books into people’s hands, the author needs to use: 1) Spanglish; or 2) English only. No translations. Just write in a way that everyone can understand so that readers will be able to fall in love with the world you’ve created.
WHERE’S THE BODY?
I’m ecstatic that the MC went to Puerto Rico! I am absolutely in love with the Taino!! I remember being amazed at how the Puerto Rican community joined together, allowing anthropologists and geneticists to determine the amount of Spanish, African and Taino DNA in modern populations. I was amazed because many people are fervently opposed to providing genetic samples for various reasons.
I’ve never been to either the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico, but Reyes definitely had me dreaming about it. By Chapter 12, the MC was already traveling—but there still wasn’t a body! Of course, this is a “Cozy Mystery,” not a “Cozy Death.” But for many people (like me), a murder is part of the equation. Instead, the mystery that readers are dealing with is: Is the Bitcoin guy, Jules, trying to force the MC’s parents and aunt and uncle out of their businesses so that he can buy them cheap, only to remodel, resell, and raise the rents? The writing was compelling, but the story line wasn’t.
CONTENT
I’ve already discussed some of these issues under GENRE BENDING, but statements like,
“…Okay, but why can’t Mami see that rich Americans are stealing our land?…” (Reyes 2023: 126)
are just way over the top. Are they truly stealing the land? Or are they buying the land? These are questions readers are going to be asking themselves. Once again, I don’t think that a Cozy Mystery is the place for this. I wonder if, by even bringing up these subjects, the author isn’t further alienating her readership.
Earlier in the book, the author made a comment about refugees from Cuba and Haiti fleeing their countries by boat. It seems that Reyes is placing the blame solely on wealthy Americans. However, many of those same wealthy Americans are also Cozy Mystery readers. The point I’m trying to make is that it is not in a writer’s best interests to accuse and/or alienate their readers.
At the 45% mark, I found it increasingly difficult to read the remainder of the novel. Of course, other readers may feel differently. However, I wouldn’t recommend this book to a traditional Cozy Mystery reader. The text incorporates a lot of Spanish, and this will alienate monolingual English readers. The content is highly political and, for some, may result in a read that is **not** a light, fun, read. Other readers may be disturbed by the continuous references to verbal, racial, and/or social abuse. For example, when the MC said,
“…Pero, no. She’s an angry, scared xenophobe that hates that her son married a brown-skinned woman who speaks Spanish…” (Reyes 2023: 139).
I just can’t even finish this book.
July 18, 2023
Miriam Quinones, pregnant food anthropologist with her own TV show, finds herself in the Dominican Republic with her preschool son as her husband gifts her with surprise tickets to visit her parents. When it seems as if someone is sabotaging the property they manage in order to purchase it cheaply, Miriam flies to Puerto Rico for a work assignment. There's a lot going on for a cozy mystery: anger over rich outsiders buying local property, ill gotten gains from money laundering, bitcoin money, corrupt cops, and FBI involvement. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
August 9, 2024
Summary: This one is hard to summarize because so many things happen but I'll give it my best try. Miriam Quiñonez-Smith has two trips during this book, she was sent on vacation to see her parents to the D.R. with her son by her lovely husband but needs to go to San Juan, P.R. to film her popular show "Abuelita Approved." There are several mysteries happening at the same time in this book. In the D.R. everything that could go wrong at the property her parents manage goes wrong. In P.R. there are people taking advantage of the honestly really messed up laws for people from the mainland that do not apply to Puerto Ricans, on top of that it seems like someone is not only taking advantage of those laws but they are also forcing people to sell their property and gentrifying the area by force. Additionally, her friends' significant others might be involved in it. Miriam needs to figure out what real estate dealings might be causing the issues for her parents and forcing people to sell their property.
Review: I really like these books. I like the vibrancy of the characters, the mystery was a little easy but still really interesting, I like that we get backstory of the places that the character visits, I like the recipes, and I personally love the Spanglish. The fact that I like this book is reflected in the 4/5 stars score but I felt like too much was going on, which is why it did not get 5 stars. I do not think that we needed to visit two places in one book. I did not think that we needed to be introduced to two significant others to two of the main characters. I did not think we needed so many mysteries to be solved. It was too much sometimes but all the components were good if they were individually given to me.
Who do I recommend it to? Honestly I would recommend these books to anyone because it is a fun book but I don't know if everyone would enjoy it. I think this book is somewhat specific in the people who would enjoy it because I think you need to be open to other cultures and reading a language that might not be yours. I also think that you need to be okay with the social justice aspect of these books. However, to me it was a fun read and I rate based on vibes. I can't wait for the next.
Review: I really like these books. I like the vibrancy of the characters, the mystery was a little easy but still really interesting, I like that we get backstory of the places that the character visits, I like the recipes, and I personally love the Spanglish. The fact that I like this book is reflected in the 4/5 stars score but I felt like too much was going on, which is why it did not get 5 stars. I do not think that we needed to visit two places in one book. I did not think that we needed to be introduced to two significant others to two of the main characters. I did not think we needed so many mysteries to be solved. It was too much sometimes but all the components were good if they were individually given to me.
Who do I recommend it to? Honestly I would recommend these books to anyone because it is a fun book but I don't know if everyone would enjoy it. I think this book is somewhat specific in the people who would enjoy it because I think you need to be open to other cultures and reading a language that might not be yours. I also think that you need to be okay with the social justice aspect of these books. However, to me it was a fun read and I rate based on vibes. I can't wait for the next.
November 18, 2023
TITLE: Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal
AUTHOR: Raquel V Reyes
PUB DATE: 11.07.2023 Now Available
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.
THOUGHTS:
I love a good cozy mystery - it’s such a comforting read for me that probably stems from my gran and I watching Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote on the long dog days of summer. I am also a huge fan of Mia P Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries, so I immediately jumped on this book and how I loved it. I love learning about Caribbean culture and author Reyes lovingly incorporates the culture, food, family, and diverse group of friends in this fast paced cozy mystery.
Though this may be the third book in the series, I felt that the author catches up the reader to not miss anything… I have read all books in the series and I highly recommend it.
AUTHOR: Raquel V Reyes
PUB DATE: 11.07.2023 Now Available
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.
THOUGHTS:
I love a good cozy mystery - it’s such a comforting read for me that probably stems from my gran and I watching Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote on the long dog days of summer. I am also a huge fan of Mia P Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries, so I immediately jumped on this book and how I loved it. I love learning about Caribbean culture and author Reyes lovingly incorporates the culture, food, family, and diverse group of friends in this fast paced cozy mystery.
Though this may be the third book in the series, I felt that the author catches up the reader to not miss anything… I have read all books in the series and I highly recommend it.
November 17, 2023
4.25 stars
I enjoy this series and this book was the first one I listened to the audiobook and it made it so much better. The narrator was engaging and added so much flair with her pronunciations of the Spanish. The audiobook flew for me.
As always, I am famished for all the delicious foods mentioned throughout the book.
I enjoy this series and this book was the first one I listened to the audiobook and it made it so much better. The narrator was engaging and added so much flair with her pronunciations of the Spanish. The audiobook flew for me.
As always, I am famished for all the delicious foods mentioned throughout the book.
did-not-finish
September 1, 2024I liked the first two in this series, but maybe it had been too long since I read them because the beginning of this one was not holding my attention.
November 9, 2023
Thank you go GetRedPr and Crooked Lane for my complimentary copy of Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While this is the 3rd in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series, it may be read as a stand alone. There is enough of a backstory which makes it easy to follow along with Miriam and her friends/family.
While I went into this one thinking it was going to be a typical cozy mystery, lots and lots of food to make me hungry, it was more of a social commentary on the wrongs done to the people of Puerto Rico and Punta Cana. I see how Raquel is able to reach a broad audience with her book and bring something to light they may not even think about on a daily basis. I read to be entertained, and this one just made me angry at the wrongs being done by those with money.
I paired the audio book from Hoopla as I found myself just glancing over all the Spanish words/phrases. I am so glad I did. It was a pleasant listen and I felt as if I was on the island.
While this is the 3rd in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series, it may be read as a stand alone. There is enough of a backstory which makes it easy to follow along with Miriam and her friends/family.
While I went into this one thinking it was going to be a typical cozy mystery, lots and lots of food to make me hungry, it was more of a social commentary on the wrongs done to the people of Puerto Rico and Punta Cana. I see how Raquel is able to reach a broad audience with her book and bring something to light they may not even think about on a daily basis. I read to be entertained, and this one just made me angry at the wrongs being done by those with money.
I paired the audio book from Hoopla as I found myself just glancing over all the Spanish words/phrases. I am so glad I did. It was a pleasant listen and I felt as if I was on the island.
November 8, 2023
I loved this latest in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series! Usually, when sleuths leave their home for a book, we see them struggle with investigating outside their comfort zone. However, for Miriam, we see her enveloped in more comfort than usual. Between her time with her parents in the D.R. in Punta Cana and shooting her show in Puerto Rico, we see Miriam welcomed and embraced in a way she isn’t always in Coral Shores surrounded by her white in-laws and county club drama.
I also liked the way we see our regular characters coming into this story in ways that feel a bit abnormal, but still believable. Alma and Jorge appearing at the same time might be suspicious timing or just the popularity of holiday destination trips.
I also really loved the amount of Spanish we see in this book. The previous two had a good amount sprinkled in, but Miriam and her friends’ use of Spanish isn’t as common due to the setting. In this book, English dialogue almost becomes the rarity in a fun switch of perspectives. We still get Miriam offering context clues for words that may not be familiar to readers or close to English words, but it felt like it was more immersive in a realistic way. We even get the differences between some dialogue for the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
I also liked the way we see our regular characters coming into this story in ways that feel a bit abnormal, but still believable. Alma and Jorge appearing at the same time might be suspicious timing or just the popularity of holiday destination trips.
I also really loved the amount of Spanish we see in this book. The previous two had a good amount sprinkled in, but Miriam and her friends’ use of Spanish isn’t as common due to the setting. In this book, English dialogue almost becomes the rarity in a fun switch of perspectives. We still get Miriam offering context clues for words that may not be familiar to readers or close to English words, but it felt like it was more immersive in a realistic way. We even get the differences between some dialogue for the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
November 28, 2023
Miriam is visiting her parents in the Dominican Republic after Christmas when she gets word that she needs to fly to Puerto Rico to work on her culinary show for Three Kings Day. While she is there, she becomes entangled in some odd real estate occurrences, mysterious deaths, and the disappearance of a friend.
I say "entangled" but that's not really the truth. Miriam becomes distracted by these things as she is touring Puerto Rico filming for her job. There is only the slightest thread tying her to each of these circumstances, and she takes it upon herself to question some people and follow others around. If she weren't the heroine of the book, her actions would be considered nosy and irritating. And yet, I could have dealt with it if it weren't for the fact that her snoopiness is the only thing that keeps this book in mystery territory for nearly the first half of the book. Until then, it is simply an anthropological tour through Puerto Rico and commentary on colonization. These are important topics, and should be examined more widely. But this isn't how I want to do that, and it often felt forced - for example, when Miriam is standing over a knocked-out and bleeding friend and contemplating influences on Puerto Rican cuisine that have led to the use of frozen mixed vegetables. Not my favorite, and I don't know that I want to continue reading if this is how the series will continue.
I say "entangled" but that's not really the truth. Miriam becomes distracted by these things as she is touring Puerto Rico filming for her job. There is only the slightest thread tying her to each of these circumstances, and she takes it upon herself to question some people and follow others around. If she weren't the heroine of the book, her actions would be considered nosy and irritating. And yet, I could have dealt with it if it weren't for the fact that her snoopiness is the only thing that keeps this book in mystery territory for nearly the first half of the book. Until then, it is simply an anthropological tour through Puerto Rico and commentary on colonization. These are important topics, and should be examined more widely. But this isn't how I want to do that, and it often felt forced - for example, when Miriam is standing over a knocked-out and bleeding friend and contemplating influences on Puerto Rican cuisine that have led to the use of frozen mixed vegetables. Not my favorite, and I don't know that I want to continue reading if this is how the series will continue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2023
What a delightful bookI I chose it solely based on the title and cover art ( which is
not the only method I use but the art work was just fun!) Here are a few things I
did not know: This is the third book in the series, which I much enjoyed without the
benefit of the previous books, and the delightful recipes included, Spanish is not required but some basic knowledge is helpful as there are many passages that, while you can skip over, are an important part of the story. None of these apparent
obstacles took away from my enjoyment of this delightful book 3,
Barbacoa, Bomba and Betrayal.
Protagonist, Miriam, finds herself in a sticky situation when a visit to her parents in
Punta Cana turns into a hunt to try to understand whether they are being victimized
by a crooked real estate developer and property manager. When she is called out
of town for a photo shoot for her popular cooking show for a local television show in Puerto Rico, it’s hard for Miriam to keep her mind on her fans who adore her delicious
food offerings and her delightful way of engaging people. All while she is 5 months
pregnant! Around every corner she senses danger. Her friends, the local police &
the FBI become involved, and Miriam knows she should be home protecting her
family, but will she get home in time?
I enjoyed this book! I recommend it to fans of Joanne Fluke and her Hannah Swensen Cookie Jar series, and everyone who would enjoy learning about new
places and delicious food - recipes are included!
I’m going to go back and read the first two books! I did not have trouble keeping up, but it’s clear I missed some background that would be fun.
Author, Raquel V Reyes did a masterful job teasing bad guy vs good guy right up
to the end! For returning fans, I’d say you’re in for another great ride.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for this free download in
exchange for my honest review of this book.
not the only method I use but the art work was just fun!) Here are a few things I
did not know: This is the third book in the series, which I much enjoyed without the
benefit of the previous books, and the delightful recipes included, Spanish is not required but some basic knowledge is helpful as there are many passages that, while you can skip over, are an important part of the story. None of these apparent
obstacles took away from my enjoyment of this delightful book 3,
Barbacoa, Bomba and Betrayal.
Protagonist, Miriam, finds herself in a sticky situation when a visit to her parents in
Punta Cana turns into a hunt to try to understand whether they are being victimized
by a crooked real estate developer and property manager. When she is called out
of town for a photo shoot for her popular cooking show for a local television show in Puerto Rico, it’s hard for Miriam to keep her mind on her fans who adore her delicious
food offerings and her delightful way of engaging people. All while she is 5 months
pregnant! Around every corner she senses danger. Her friends, the local police &
the FBI become involved, and Miriam knows she should be home protecting her
family, but will she get home in time?
I enjoyed this book! I recommend it to fans of Joanne Fluke and her Hannah Swensen Cookie Jar series, and everyone who would enjoy learning about new
places and delicious food - recipes are included!
I’m going to go back and read the first two books! I did not have trouble keeping up, but it’s clear I missed some background that would be fun.
Author, Raquel V Reyes did a masterful job teasing bad guy vs good guy right up
to the end! For returning fans, I’d say you’re in for another great ride.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for this free download in
exchange for my honest review of this book.
May 15, 2023
Miriam has a PhD in culinary anthropology, has a foodie program on Spanish language TV, is married to a wonderful husband (whose mother is from The Pit), has one small son and is pregnant. Husband gifts her with arrangements and tickets for her and small one to visit her family in the Dominican Republic. While there, work calls and she has to meet them in Puerto Rico. And bad things happen there and to her parents concerns.
Very current problems and people.
As one who isn't bad at printed Spanish but awful at spoken, the bilingual English/Espanol adds a lot to everything. The cultural aspects are a good learning experience, as are the food anthropology lessons and the recipes, and the political attitudes, not to mention learning about flora and fauna of the Carib tropics. I love this entry into this fun series!
I requested and received an EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Very current problems and people.
As one who isn't bad at printed Spanish but awful at spoken, the bilingual English/Espanol adds a lot to everything. The cultural aspects are a good learning experience, as are the food anthropology lessons and the recipes, and the political attitudes, not to mention learning about flora and fauna of the Carib tropics. I love this entry into this fun series!
I requested and received an EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
May 3, 2023
Robert surprises Miriam with a trip to visit her parents over the holidays. Unfortunately, work has different plans for her and she finds her self leaving Manny with her parents while she flies off to work in Puerto Rico. What should be a few easy days of filming turns into quite an interesting time for Miriam, her colleagues and her friends.
Upon arriving at the guest house, where Miriam is staying, the police are working at the hotel next-door, where her body was found in the alley. Soon, Miriam finds herself trying to figure out who killed the man and why. Well, she’s not officially sleuthing, her curious mine just won’t let things rest. And when her friend seem to be caught up into the mystery. Somehow, she finds her self more involved than she expected.
Upon arriving at the guest house, where Miriam is staying, the police are working at the hotel next-door, where her body was found in the alley. Soon, Miriam finds herself trying to figure out who killed the man and why. Well, she’s not officially sleuthing, her curious mine just won’t let things rest. And when her friend seem to be caught up into the mystery. Somehow, she finds her self more involved than she expected.
November 8, 2023
I loved how much Miriam gets to be a foodie and discuss history and societal issues. We get such a good feel for Puerto Rico. It is not just the setting, but also the issues facing the island and how people are trying to make it better. And Miriam is the perfect voice for us to learn through.
The mystery is complicated and twisty. I loved uncovering all the pieces and seeing how it tied into the issues we are learning about. The use of Spanish felt authentic and the narrator did a great job seamlessly using both Spanish and English.
If untranslated language isn’t your thing, you might not enjoy this one. Also if you want a murder and investigation, this one is not your typical murder and investigation cozy.
If you like a strong sense of place and lots suspects, you will like this one. If you like lots of suspicious actions and Miriam’s food anthropology career, you will love this one.
I was along for the ride with Miriam, so I loved the story and the audiobook.
The mystery is complicated and twisty. I loved uncovering all the pieces and seeing how it tied into the issues we are learning about. The use of Spanish felt authentic and the narrator did a great job seamlessly using both Spanish and English.
If untranslated language isn’t your thing, you might not enjoy this one. Also if you want a murder and investigation, this one is not your typical murder and investigation cozy.
If you like a strong sense of place and lots suspects, you will like this one. If you like lots of suspicious actions and Miriam’s food anthropology career, you will love this one.
I was along for the ride with Miriam, so I loved the story and the audiobook.
January 2, 2024
"Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal" by Raquel V. Reyes is book three in the "Caribbean Kitchen Mystery" series. Miriam's husband, Robert, buys Miriam and their son, Manny, plane tickets to go and visit her parents in Punta Cana. She hasn't seen her parents in years, and Manny has only video chatted with them. Miriam has to fly to Puerto Rico to film for her cooking show, and while she is there, she is trying to figure out who is damaging rental properties and making it to where the owners have to sell because if bad reviews. There is so much that happens in this book, and the way that Raquel writes keeps you wanting to read more.
January 23, 2025
"Siempre es la misma mierda. Americans getting tax-free status to invest in the island, but the boricuas get nothing but taxation without representation."
Barbacoa, Bomba, Betrayal by Raquel V. Reyes was such a delight to read. It was a love song to El Viejo San Juan and a love letter to Puerto Ricans who continue to resist and fight to remain on their island. Reyes' writing was descriptive and vibrant. Reading this book felt like I was walking through the streets of San Juan and having some yummy street food along the way. Overall, this book brought me so much comfort and nostalgia that I can't wait to go back to Puerto Rico soon.
Reyes' storytelling ability has sold me on the genre of cozy mysteries. It was packed with Caribbean flavor, history, and culture. I appreciated the attention to detail and the call to action, especially for readers who are not familiar with Puerto Rico's history. I loved how Reyes connected Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans through the common thread of colonialism and modern-day gentrification. This story calls out the tourism and predatory real estate industries and unmasks its true intent—advancing US corporate interest and displacing caribeños. Reyes managed to tackle themes of colonialism, influencer culture, the explosion of bitcoin, Air BnB's and native displacement in Puerto Rico but still celebrate the moments of joy, resilience, humor and pride that embodies the Puerto Rican people. I was swept up instantly in the mystery and I loved the humorous interplay with names and Easter eggs Reyes dropped throughout the story. I won't easily forget Mr. Brandon Pickles, a bitcoon bro. I adored the fact that this one was told through the lens of food anthropology and history.
The shining stars are Reyes' characters. I'm officially obsessed with Miriam, the main protagonist. She reminds me of myself and the ways that I always end up playing amateur sleuth detective accidentally. Alma and Jorge were so much fun to read. All of the characters were fully fleshed out and had so much personality and individual flair. Their chemistry made this such an enjoyable reading experience. I can't wait to read the rest of Reyes' books.
Barbacoa, Bomba, Betrayal by Raquel V. Reyes was such a delight to read. It was a love song to El Viejo San Juan and a love letter to Puerto Ricans who continue to resist and fight to remain on their island. Reyes' writing was descriptive and vibrant. Reading this book felt like I was walking through the streets of San Juan and having some yummy street food along the way. Overall, this book brought me so much comfort and nostalgia that I can't wait to go back to Puerto Rico soon.
Reyes' storytelling ability has sold me on the genre of cozy mysteries. It was packed with Caribbean flavor, history, and culture. I appreciated the attention to detail and the call to action, especially for readers who are not familiar with Puerto Rico's history. I loved how Reyes connected Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans through the common thread of colonialism and modern-day gentrification. This story calls out the tourism and predatory real estate industries and unmasks its true intent—advancing US corporate interest and displacing caribeños. Reyes managed to tackle themes of colonialism, influencer culture, the explosion of bitcoin, Air BnB's and native displacement in Puerto Rico but still celebrate the moments of joy, resilience, humor and pride that embodies the Puerto Rican people. I was swept up instantly in the mystery and I loved the humorous interplay with names and Easter eggs Reyes dropped throughout the story. I won't easily forget Mr. Brandon Pickles, a bitcoon bro. I adored the fact that this one was told through the lens of food anthropology and history.
The shining stars are Reyes' characters. I'm officially obsessed with Miriam, the main protagonist. She reminds me of myself and the ways that I always end up playing amateur sleuth detective accidentally. Alma and Jorge were so much fun to read. All of the characters were fully fleshed out and had so much personality and individual flair. Their chemistry made this such an enjoyable reading experience. I can't wait to read the rest of Reyes' books.
April 22, 2025
A trip to Miriam's parents in Punta Cana 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. Then, she finds an anonymous personal gift on her doorstep on New Year's Eve. Luckily, her BFF, Alma, and their friend Jorge are in town to keep her distracted between filming cultural segments for the network. But the fun comes to a halt when Jorge's telenovela heartthrob novio goes missing. And there is something worrisome about Alma's new boyfriend. Can Miriam figure out what's going on before it's too late?
This was an interesting cozy mystery. I like the main character and how she tries to help her friends and family when something is wrong. Puerto Rico was described very well, and I felt like I was there as I was reading. The political problems in Puerto Rico were accentuated more than the actual mystery. I read cozy mysteries for the escape, and the puzzles within the plots. I love reading about the different places and characters. Politics has no place in a cozy mystery because it stops the plot and takes time away from what makes them enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.
This was an interesting cozy mystery. I like the main character and how she tries to help her friends and family when something is wrong. Puerto Rico was described very well, and I felt like I was there as I was reading. The political problems in Puerto Rico were accentuated more than the actual mystery. I read cozy mysteries for the escape, and the puzzles within the plots. I love reading about the different places and characters. Politics has no place in a cozy mystery because it stops the plot and takes time away from what makes them enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.
January 9, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal is the third Caribbean Kitchen cozy mystery by Raquel V. Reyes. Released 8th Nov 2023 by Crooked Lane, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is a fun cozy mystery full of food, culture, and (as the author herself refers to it) "Spanglish" phrases. The amateur sleuth is also a cultural anthropologist with a specialization in food culture and also the host of her own youtube channel and network cooking show. The plotting moves along at a good clip and I never found myself yanked out of the story by clunky dialogue or uneven writing. There is a fair amount of Spanish in the story, more than usual for a mainstream cozy, but almost all of it is either easy to understand in context or explained by character responses.
The central characters are appealing, well rounded and largely female. There are a phenomenal number of food descriptions included and the author has an impressive grasp of ingredients and history for the relevant dishes and their importance to the different cultures who developed them. There's a lot of really interesting food history to be found here.
This volume sees MC Miriam traveling to visit her parents in the Dominican Republic. She's soon dragged into a multi-thread mystery with property sabotage, potential stalking, and disappearances. She's also 5 months pregnant and the shenanigans she gets up to are not, strictly speaking, medically sound. The climax, resolution, and denouement are self contained in this volume, so it works well as a standalone. The violence is mostly off-page and not extreme, given that it's a cozy mystery.
The book includes several delicious and intriguing recipes which are also featured in the media scenes from her cooking show.
The unabridged audiobook runs 9 hours 1 minute and is very well narrated by Frankie Corzo. She has a rich alto voice and does the accents and Spanish parts (and "Spanglish") perfectly well.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal is the third Caribbean Kitchen cozy mystery by Raquel V. Reyes. Released 8th Nov 2023 by Crooked Lane, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is a fun cozy mystery full of food, culture, and (as the author herself refers to it) "Spanglish" phrases. The amateur sleuth is also a cultural anthropologist with a specialization in food culture and also the host of her own youtube channel and network cooking show. The plotting moves along at a good clip and I never found myself yanked out of the story by clunky dialogue or uneven writing. There is a fair amount of Spanish in the story, more than usual for a mainstream cozy, but almost all of it is either easy to understand in context or explained by character responses.
The central characters are appealing, well rounded and largely female. There are a phenomenal number of food descriptions included and the author has an impressive grasp of ingredients and history for the relevant dishes and their importance to the different cultures who developed them. There's a lot of really interesting food history to be found here.
This volume sees MC Miriam traveling to visit her parents in the Dominican Republic. She's soon dragged into a multi-thread mystery with property sabotage, potential stalking, and disappearances. She's also 5 months pregnant and the shenanigans she gets up to are not, strictly speaking, medically sound. The climax, resolution, and denouement are self contained in this volume, so it works well as a standalone. The violence is mostly off-page and not extreme, given that it's a cozy mystery.
The book includes several delicious and intriguing recipes which are also featured in the media scenes from her cooking show.
The unabridged audiobook runs 9 hours 1 minute and is very well narrated by Frankie Corzo. She has a rich alto voice and does the accents and Spanish parts (and "Spanglish") perfectly well.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
May 19, 2025
So far this is my favorite of the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series. We finally get to know Miriam's parents, something I have been waiting for, and the mystery me kept me guessing (at first I wasn't even sure what the mystery was going to be!). I also love that the author continues to incorporate Spanish (always translating and/or providing context clues) and plenty of cultural content, while still incorporating the silly, familiar, cozy mystery elements readers have come to expect from this genre.
In this volume, Miriam, partly to visit her parents, and also to film on location for her foodie cooking show, travels to both the Dominican Republic and to Puerto Rico. I really enjoyed her food anthropology lessons, and the cultural and religious traditions integrated into the characters' lives, (especially some involving Miriam's pregnancy). On that note, there's a fair bit of social commentary on colonialism, voiced by the characters, particularly regarding the perception that wealthy people from the United States have had an exploitive relationship with Puerto Rico, buying real estate and pricing access away from native hands, yet ignoring the island's residents after natural disasters. I took a Caribbean anthropology class back in undergrad, but now I want to spend some time learning about current majority Puerto Rican sentiment with regard to the United States.
In this volume, Miriam, partly to visit her parents, and also to film on location for her foodie cooking show, travels to both the Dominican Republic and to Puerto Rico. I really enjoyed her food anthropology lessons, and the cultural and religious traditions integrated into the characters' lives, (especially some involving Miriam's pregnancy). On that note, there's a fair bit of social commentary on colonialism, voiced by the characters, particularly regarding the perception that wealthy people from the United States have had an exploitive relationship with Puerto Rico, buying real estate and pricing access away from native hands, yet ignoring the island's residents after natural disasters. I took a Caribbean anthropology class back in undergrad, but now I want to spend some time learning about current majority Puerto Rican sentiment with regard to the United States.
August 25, 2023
I acknowledge that I did not read book one or two of this series. This is book three of the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Easy to jump in but I probably wouldn't request another book where I hadn't already started the series unless it's book one. Miriam and Robert have been married 6 years, have one son, Manny, another on the way and a cute kitty named Camo. Robert surprises Miriam and Manny with a trip to Punta Cana to visit her family. Just after arriving, she discovers she needs to be on Puerto Rico in just a few days to film for her cooking show.
The first problem in the story is Miriam's parents place. Someone is sabotaging the restoration and wants them to sell the place. They receive multiple bad and 'planted' reviews, receiving letters, and things keep breaking. The second problem is on New Year's Eve, Miriam receives a mysterious package which makes her think she now has a stalker. Her bestie, Alma, and her friend Jorge keep her afloat whole dealing with multiple issues at once. And not all is as it seems with Alma's new man...
Easy to jump in but I probably wouldn't request another book where I hadn't already started the series unless it's book one. Miriam and Robert have been married 6 years, have one son, Manny, another on the way and a cute kitty named Camo. Robert surprises Miriam and Manny with a trip to Punta Cana to visit her family. Just after arriving, she discovers she needs to be on Puerto Rico in just a few days to film for her cooking show.
The first problem in the story is Miriam's parents place. Someone is sabotaging the restoration and wants them to sell the place. They receive multiple bad and 'planted' reviews, receiving letters, and things keep breaking. The second problem is on New Year's Eve, Miriam receives a mysterious package which makes her think she now has a stalker. Her bestie, Alma, and her friend Jorge keep her afloat whole dealing with multiple issues at once. And not all is as it seems with Alma's new man...
November 7, 2023
This is a great addition to the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series! Miram is not your average cozy-mystery heroine and I love it. She’s a wife and a mother as well as a crime-solver with a cooking segment for a Spanish-language tv studio. She’s also a fierce friend. The mystery itself was interesting with several twists and turns. The rest of the story was both fun and informative. I feel like I learned a lot about Caribbean food culture, el Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day), and the side effects of gentrification. There’s also an adorable cat with black and white spots named vaquita (a.k.a. little cow”).
Similar to the rest of the series, this book still incorporates Miriam’s Cuban-American culture but also adds Puerto Rican and Dominican elements as appropriate. I loved all the historical and cultural tidbits that made their way into the story.
NOTE: This is the 3rd book in the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series and should be read in order. Book 1 is Mango, Mambo, and Murder.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an Advanced Reader Copy.
Similar to the rest of the series, this book still incorporates Miriam’s Cuban-American culture but also adds Puerto Rican and Dominican elements as appropriate. I loved all the historical and cultural tidbits that made their way into the story.
NOTE: This is the 3rd book in the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series and should be read in order. Book 1 is Mango, Mambo, and Murder.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an Advanced Reader Copy.
October 8, 2024
I continue to like this series, but almost hesitate to call it a "cozy mystery" series. It feels more like a lot about Caribbean food and culture, with a bit of suspense thrown in. This time, Miriam spends most of her time on Puerto Rico, filming for her TV series, after dropping her son Manny off with her parents in the Dominican Republic, while her husband remains in Miami.
Both in the DR and Puerto Rico, Miriam runs into a lot of suspicious activities involving Bitcoin, questionnable property buying, and the like. While some of this occurred in the first half of the book, at least the first half was completely dominated by the Caribbean culture portion of the story.
Don't get me wrong, I mostly enjoyed the book, and will continue with the series. However, if you want a more traditional cozy mystery focused on at least one murder and the investigation of the murder, I'm not convinced this is the series for you.
Both in the DR and Puerto Rico, Miriam runs into a lot of suspicious activities involving Bitcoin, questionnable property buying, and the like. While some of this occurred in the first half of the book, at least the first half was completely dominated by the Caribbean culture portion of the story.
Don't get me wrong, I mostly enjoyed the book, and will continue with the series. However, if you want a more traditional cozy mystery focused on at least one murder and the investigation of the murder, I'm not convinced this is the series for you.
November 7, 2023
We are back with the third installment of the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries and the stakes are higher than ever!!
In Barbacoa, Bomba & Betrayal - Miriam is visiting her parents in beautiful Punta Cana. Instead of the relaxing trip she had planned, she is whisked away to Puerto Rico for an amazing job opportunity. Things quickly take a turn for the worse when her work trip is laden with crime scene tape, missing persons, creaking walls and small business sabotage! Now it’a up to Miriam to sleuth around & solve the mystery, while cooking up some amazing cuisine!
🍛 Mouth Watering Recipes
🔍 Head Scratching Mysteries
🫶 Family Over Everything
💼 Exciting Work Adventure
🇵🇷 History & Social Issues
I am 100% loving the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries series and cannot wait to see what Raquel V. Reyes serves up next! 📚
Thank you GetRedPRBook & Crooked Lane Books for the physical copy and DreamScape Media for the Audiobook! 📚 🎧
In Barbacoa, Bomba & Betrayal - Miriam is visiting her parents in beautiful Punta Cana. Instead of the relaxing trip she had planned, she is whisked away to Puerto Rico for an amazing job opportunity. Things quickly take a turn for the worse when her work trip is laden with crime scene tape, missing persons, creaking walls and small business sabotage! Now it’a up to Miriam to sleuth around & solve the mystery, while cooking up some amazing cuisine!
🍛 Mouth Watering Recipes
🔍 Head Scratching Mysteries
🫶 Family Over Everything
💼 Exciting Work Adventure
🇵🇷 History & Social Issues
I am 100% loving the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries series and cannot wait to see what Raquel V. Reyes serves up next! 📚
Thank you GetRedPRBook & Crooked Lane Books for the physical copy and DreamScape Media for the Audiobook! 📚 🎧
November 6, 2023
Thank you to Get Red PR Books Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy
When Miriam surprises her parents in Punta Cana, she doesn't expect it to turn into a work travel AND a journey to discover the culprit behind her parents' property damages. Before long, Miriam is called away to Puerto Rico to film a Three Kings Day special. But things only get worse from there.
BARBACOA is a cozy mystery perfect for those looking for a light read filled with Caribbean culture and delicious food. I adore how this story transported me to another weather & setting—I kept getting hungry while reading and could imagine the vibrant music. Many of the conversations in BARBACOA are in Spanish; depending on the reader, one might have to do considerable googling (like me 😅). Regardless, I could guess based on context most of the time.
I also appreciate that Reyes discusses gentrification, real estate development, and (mostly white) & wealthy investors flooding into Puerto Rico, pushing out native/indigenous people and causing displacement, especially for elders. On the other hand, the mystery aspect in BARBACOA is more straightforward, and I feel 100 pages could've shortened the book.
Overall, this is an enjoyable and entertaining book with light drama. Fans of the TITA ROSIE'S KITCHEN MYSTERY series (Mia P. Manansala) and VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS (Jesse Q. Sutanto) will enjoy BARBACOA too!
When Miriam surprises her parents in Punta Cana, she doesn't expect it to turn into a work travel AND a journey to discover the culprit behind her parents' property damages. Before long, Miriam is called away to Puerto Rico to film a Three Kings Day special. But things only get worse from there.
BARBACOA is a cozy mystery perfect for those looking for a light read filled with Caribbean culture and delicious food. I adore how this story transported me to another weather & setting—I kept getting hungry while reading and could imagine the vibrant music. Many of the conversations in BARBACOA are in Spanish; depending on the reader, one might have to do considerable googling (like me 😅). Regardless, I could guess based on context most of the time.
I also appreciate that Reyes discusses gentrification, real estate development, and (mostly white) & wealthy investors flooding into Puerto Rico, pushing out native/indigenous people and causing displacement, especially for elders. On the other hand, the mystery aspect in BARBACOA is more straightforward, and I feel 100 pages could've shortened the book.
Overall, this is an enjoyable and entertaining book with light drama. Fans of the TITA ROSIE'S KITCHEN MYSTERY series (Mia P. Manansala) and VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS (Jesse Q. Sutanto) will enjoy BARBACOA too!
November 10, 2023
My family just visited Puerto Rico to explore San Juan and the coastal town of Vega Baja for a week in October so I was thrilled to receive this next installment in Reyes’ Caribbean Kitchen cozy mystery series. While this book was fully immersive in the culture, architecture, and food of Puerto Rico (also inclusive of the Dominican Republic), Reyes uses the plot and the main character, Miriam, to also inform readers about the sociopolitical injustices of the region. The mystery has multiple suspects, twists and turns and Miriam has such a unique career as a food anthropologist that held my attention until the end!
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November 9, 2023This is book three in the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries series, but my first read in this series.
This book sounded so interesting especially since most of the cozy mysteries I read tend to be good based, or at-least food titled.
I liked the diversity aspect of the Cuban-American culture of the main character Miriam as well as the locations Miriam visited. I am always looking for more diverse titles.
Read for:
Mystery
Yummy recipes
Family
Travel
This book sounded so interesting especially since most of the cozy mysteries I read tend to be good based, or at-least food titled.
I liked the diversity aspect of the Cuban-American culture of the main character Miriam as well as the locations Miriam visited. I am always looking for more diverse titles.
Read for:
Mystery
Yummy recipes
Family
Travel
January 7, 2024
Very cute cozy, nice characters, fast paced mystery. Great job describing “my Island”. It felt like a visit. Recommend it.
January 10, 2024
I love the mix of Spanish and English in these book, as I'm studying Spanish. This was a really fun read with a lot of twists and turns. Very enjoyable!!
October 25, 2024
Good book, enjoyed this one form the series as well
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