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Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #6
Death and Dinuguan
Love is in the air for the citizens of Shady Palms, but Cupid’s arrow isn’t the only thing striking the town—not with another killer on the loose.
Things are looking up for the Brew-ha Cafe, and Lila Macapagal can’t think of anything that could break the spell, especially with Valentine’s Day coming up—she can’t wait to celebrate with her boyfriend, Jae Park. Adding to the lovey-dovey atmosphere is Hana Lee, Shady Palms’s newest resident. She’s also Jae’s beloved cousin and chocolatier at Choco Noir, the latest addition to the town’s culinary offerings. Everything is coming into place for Hana, who left her old life in Minnesota behind to work at Choco Noir, owned by her best friend.
Unfortunately, beneath the sweet surface of Shady Palms runs a bitter undercurrent, as a series of attacks against women-owned businesses in the area escalates from petty theft to assault and murder when Hana is found knocked unconscious inside Choco Noir, and the chocolate shop owner is put out of business—for good.
With Hana left in a coma, a murderer hiding amongst them, and the safety of the women entrepreneurs of Shady Palms at risk, the Park brothers team up with the Brew-ha crew to put a stop to the villain before they strike again.
Things are looking up for the Brew-ha Cafe, and Lila Macapagal can’t think of anything that could break the spell, especially with Valentine’s Day coming up—she can’t wait to celebrate with her boyfriend, Jae Park. Adding to the lovey-dovey atmosphere is Hana Lee, Shady Palms’s newest resident. She’s also Jae’s beloved cousin and chocolatier at Choco Noir, the latest addition to the town’s culinary offerings. Everything is coming into place for Hana, who left her old life in Minnesota behind to work at Choco Noir, owned by her best friend.
Unfortunately, beneath the sweet surface of Shady Palms runs a bitter undercurrent, as a series of attacks against women-owned businesses in the area escalates from petty theft to assault and murder when Hana is found knocked unconscious inside Choco Noir, and the chocolate shop owner is put out of business—for good.
With Hana left in a coma, a murderer hiding amongst them, and the safety of the women entrepreneurs of Shady Palms at risk, the Park brothers team up with the Brew-ha crew to put a stop to the villain before they strike again.
Audible Audio
First published November 25, 2025
265 people are currently reading
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About the author
Mia P. Manansala
10 books4,362 followersMia P. Manansala is a book coach and the author of ARSENIC AND ADOBO (Berkley 2021), the first in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series.
She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture.
She is the winner of the 2018 Hugh Holton Award, the 2018 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award, the 2017 William F. Deeck - Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers, and the 2016 Mystery Writers of America/Helen McCloy Scholarship. She's also a 2017 Pitch Wars alum and 2018-2020 mentor.
A lover of all things geeky, Mia spends her days procrastibaking, playing JRPGs and dating sims, reading cozy mysteries, and dreaming of becoming best buds with Wonder Woman and Kamala Khan.
When she’s not sassing her ever-so-patient husband, she’s cuddling her dogs Max Power and Bayley Banks (bonus points to those who get the name references) at her home just outside of Chicago.
Mia is quite the joiner, as she is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Color, Banyan: Asian American Writers Collective, the Chicago Writers Association, and the Chicago Nerd Social Club.
Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MPMtheWriter
Or check out her website: www.miapmanansala.com
Represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture.
She is the winner of the 2018 Hugh Holton Award, the 2018 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award, the 2017 William F. Deeck - Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers, and the 2016 Mystery Writers of America/Helen McCloy Scholarship. She's also a 2017 Pitch Wars alum and 2018-2020 mentor.
A lover of all things geeky, Mia spends her days procrastibaking, playing JRPGs and dating sims, reading cozy mysteries, and dreaming of becoming best buds with Wonder Woman and Kamala Khan.
When she’s not sassing her ever-so-patient husband, she’s cuddling her dogs Max Power and Bayley Banks (bonus points to those who get the name references) at her home just outside of Chicago.
Mia is quite the joiner, as she is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Color, Banyan: Asian American Writers Collective, the Chicago Writers Association, and the Chicago Nerd Social Club.
Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MPMtheWriter
Or check out her website: www.miapmanansala.com
Represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
December 3, 2025
I have absolutely LOVED the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series and I’m devastated to be giving the final instalment one star, but it just didn’t hit for me at all.
I felt like this book was 15% mystery, 10% food descriptions (which I looooove 🤤) and then 75% business meetings in which our MC is teeing up her next “collab”. The mystery itself was meh, and somewhat predictable and there was SO MUCH just telling and re-telling that it got boring real fast.
There were sooooo many characters, and despite this being book 6, we were introduced to them all again. And while I complain there is too many characters, we didn’t get enough of Tita Rosie, Lola Flor or the Calendar Crew. Part of the reason I fell in love with this series was Lila’s interactions with her family, and how they all banded together to sleuth. This book really lacked that and I would have liked to see more of this rather than Lila’s boring business dealings!
Overall, I’ve loved being in Shady Palms, but I’m glad to be saying goodbye 😘
I felt like this book was 15% mystery, 10% food descriptions (which I looooove 🤤) and then 75% business meetings in which our MC is teeing up her next “collab”. The mystery itself was meh, and somewhat predictable and there was SO MUCH just telling and re-telling that it got boring real fast.
There were sooooo many characters, and despite this being book 6, we were introduced to them all again. And while I complain there is too many characters, we didn’t get enough of Tita Rosie, Lola Flor or the Calendar Crew. Part of the reason I fell in love with this series was Lila’s interactions with her family, and how they all banded together to sleuth. This book really lacked that and I would have liked to see more of this rather than Lila’s boring business dealings!
Overall, I’ve loved being in Shady Palms, but I’m glad to be saying goodbye 😘
July 12, 2025
I have been reading this series since it first came out with Arsenic and Adobo. I loved the characters from the start and devoured the first two books. What I did like: The premise of the mystery was interesting and was enough to keep me guessing. The culprit was clever but how it was solved was abrupt.
This book, a bit a lot better than Guilt and Ginataan, but the pacing felt really sporadic.
The sudden murder, and then the process of solving the case felt slow. There was so much focus on their food concoctions, business and retelling of backgrounds for every single character. I felt overwhelmed by the number of people that were making appearances. There was some connection to EVERY single previous character from the past books and it was a lot. I felt like I was trapped in Lila's inner monologue over every single thing that was going. I understand it's first-person but it just felt like Lila was just telling me what was happening, and it was a lot of characters telling Lila and the reader what is going on, rather than sleuthing going on. There were a lot of scenes that felt so random in the book, and the overall story from a bigger picture felt discombobulated. At one point she made a phone call to a character, and that was it. It was 2 paragraphs of plot that had no connection to the mystery at all. Also, the series is called Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery, and Tita Rosie had since become more and more of a background character as the series carried on.
For a final book, I wanted so much more for the ending. Perhaps we saw so many characters because it was the last book, but overall.. I was a bit disappointed in this final installment.
I would give this 3/5 mainly for nostalgia and appreciation of the concept, characters and story. But this was not one of my faves from this author.
This book, a bit a lot better than Guilt and Ginataan, but the pacing felt really sporadic.
The sudden murder, and then the process of solving the case felt slow. There was so much focus on their food concoctions, business and retelling of backgrounds for every single character. I felt overwhelmed by the number of people that were making appearances. There was some connection to EVERY single previous character from the past books and it was a lot. I felt like I was trapped in Lila's inner monologue over every single thing that was going. I understand it's first-person but it just felt like Lila was just telling me what was happening, and it was a lot of characters telling Lila and the reader what is going on, rather than sleuthing going on. There were a lot of scenes that felt so random in the book, and the overall story from a bigger picture felt discombobulated. At one point she made a phone call to a character, and that was it. It was 2 paragraphs of plot that had no connection to the mystery at all. Also, the series is called Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery, and Tita Rosie had since become more and more of a background character as the series carried on.
For a final book, I wanted so much more for the ending. Perhaps we saw so many characters because it was the last book, but overall.. I was a bit disappointed in this final installment.
I would give this 3/5 mainly for nostalgia and appreciation of the concept, characters and story. But this was not one of my faves from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
August 14, 2025ARC received! Thank you so much, Berkley!!
I can't believe we're on to the 6th-book in this series!!
I can't believe we're on to the 6th-book in this series!!
December 9, 2025
4.5/5 stars
This is a review of the ebook and the audiobook read by Danice Cabanela.
This is the final book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen cozy mystery series. I love this series. And am so sad that it is over!
Death And Dinuguan is a wonderful ending to such a good series.
I adore how food is such an important part of the series. Lila is Filipino. And I love how Danice Cabanela does Lila’s voice. But I especially love how she does the older Filipino women. I do wish that Lila’s aunt and godmothers had been in this book more. But there is a lot of Jae (Lila’s boyfriend) and his brother Detective Park.
Overall this book is so good. I highly recommend the audiobooks!
This is a review of the ebook and the audiobook read by Danice Cabanela.
This is the final book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen cozy mystery series. I love this series. And am so sad that it is over!
Death And Dinuguan is a wonderful ending to such a good series.
I adore how food is such an important part of the series. Lila is Filipino. And I love how Danice Cabanela does Lila’s voice. But I especially love how she does the older Filipino women. I do wish that Lila’s aunt and godmothers had been in this book more. But there is a lot of Jae (Lila’s boyfriend) and his brother Detective Park.
Overall this book is so good. I highly recommend the audiobooks!
December 10, 2025
This is the sixth and final book in the series. It's been wild, Lila Macapagal.
November 18, 2025
"I did my best to push down the feeling in my gut that trouble was coming." (Ch 3)
This is the first book of this author and series that I have read. What drew me to it was the title and Filipino author. Dinuguan being a dish I'm acquainted with that I used to frown and grimace at as a kid (I mean it looked like chocolate stew or er 'chocolate meat', but it was definitely not chocolate). Now, as an adult, I love it and try to get it whenever I have an opportunity, like at popup markets or annual Asian festivals. Sadly, there are no Filipino restaurants near me that make it, and I've tried... and failed to make it correctly. But... maybe I can try again using the recipe at the back of the book! Need to try the other recipes, too.
Being part Filipino, myself, made me even more curious to read this book. And nothing like a good food and comedy infused murder mystery!
If anything, I was reading for the food. Too bad I couldn't just reach into the pages and pull them out to eat 🤣. Made me hungry and craving comfort food, just so happens Filipino food and desserts are two of them for me.
"“Never back down, never surrender,” Adeena said. “That’s our motto. At least when it comes to sweets."" (Ch 9)
Also, got to love that Lila's fashion-forward dachshund is cleverly named Longganisa (which is a Filipino sausage)!
"Clichés be damned, but this time, it was personal." (Ch 4)
This was such a fun read with light humor. Emotional and heartwarming. Enjoyed the coming together and rallying of friends and tight-knit family community as they investigated and tried to solve the cases so that it didn't continue to happen to any more of their own. And of course, Lila's sleuthing (and baking) skills and the building suspense of whodunit were unputdownable.
“Even if we think there’s no way our loved one could be a target, even if we’d like to believe they would do nothing to invoke such ire . . . we can’t know what’s in people’s hearts. We can only ever see what they choose to show us.” (Ch 6)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Berkley Publishing Group
This is the first book of this author and series that I have read. What drew me to it was the title and Filipino author. Dinuguan being a dish I'm acquainted with that I used to frown and grimace at as a kid (I mean it looked like chocolate stew or er 'chocolate meat', but it was definitely not chocolate). Now, as an adult, I love it and try to get it whenever I have an opportunity, like at popup markets or annual Asian festivals. Sadly, there are no Filipino restaurants near me that make it, and I've tried... and failed to make it correctly. But... maybe I can try again using the recipe at the back of the book! Need to try the other recipes, too.
Being part Filipino, myself, made me even more curious to read this book. And nothing like a good food and comedy infused murder mystery!
If anything, I was reading for the food. Too bad I couldn't just reach into the pages and pull them out to eat 🤣. Made me hungry and craving comfort food, just so happens Filipino food and desserts are two of them for me.
"“Never back down, never surrender,” Adeena said. “That’s our motto. At least when it comes to sweets."" (Ch 9)
Also, got to love that Lila's fashion-forward dachshund is cleverly named Longganisa (which is a Filipino sausage)!
"Clichés be damned, but this time, it was personal." (Ch 4)
This was such a fun read with light humor. Emotional and heartwarming. Enjoyed the coming together and rallying of friends and tight-knit family community as they investigated and tried to solve the cases so that it didn't continue to happen to any more of their own. And of course, Lila's sleuthing (and baking) skills and the building suspense of whodunit were unputdownable.
“Even if we think there’s no way our loved one could be a target, even if we’d like to believe they would do nothing to invoke such ire . . . we can’t know what’s in people’s hearts. We can only ever see what they choose to show us.” (Ch 6)
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Berkley Publishing Group
June 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing House for providing me with an advance reader's copy.
Firstly, this is one of my favourite series of all time, and I've loved every installment so far. I'm definitely sad to see the series wrap up and to say goodbye to Shady Palms. If you like cozy vibes, great food inspo, and a hella diverse cast of characters, this is the series for you!
As always, I love the beautiful friendships and community represented in these novels, along with the fascinating world of small-town rivalries and gossip. Every time I read about the Brew-ha Cafe, I feel such an urge to move to a middle-of-nowhere town to open a cafe of my own. The author does a fantastic job of making the reader feel like a part of the town and really brings all the different characters to life.
While I've loved the series, the books have gotten quite repetitive. If you've read any of the past Tita Rosie's, this one was pretty easy to predict. I would also have liked to spend more time expanding and growing the existing characters, rather than introducing a whole new set of people, knowing this is the final book in the series. It's hard to get invested in the investigation when it primarily centers around brand-new people. Additionally, all the new additions to the Shady Palms/Shelbyville community made it difficult to determine who or what was important. It felt like a lot was casually mentioned once or twice and then never addressed again. I also felt that the ending was rushed and somewhat thrown together in the last few pages of the book. The big reveal felt random and was kind of a letdown, given how many interesting options that were hinted at throughout the novel.
Firstly, this is one of my favourite series of all time, and I've loved every installment so far. I'm definitely sad to see the series wrap up and to say goodbye to Shady Palms. If you like cozy vibes, great food inspo, and a hella diverse cast of characters, this is the series for you!
As always, I love the beautiful friendships and community represented in these novels, along with the fascinating world of small-town rivalries and gossip. Every time I read about the Brew-ha Cafe, I feel such an urge to move to a middle-of-nowhere town to open a cafe of my own. The author does a fantastic job of making the reader feel like a part of the town and really brings all the different characters to life.
While I've loved the series, the books have gotten quite repetitive. If you've read any of the past Tita Rosie's, this one was pretty easy to predict. I would also have liked to spend more time expanding and growing the existing characters, rather than introducing a whole new set of people, knowing this is the final book in the series. It's hard to get invested in the investigation when it primarily centers around brand-new people. Additionally, all the new additions to the Shady Palms/Shelbyville community made it difficult to determine who or what was important. It felt like a lot was casually mentioned once or twice and then never addressed again. I also felt that the ending was rushed and somewhat thrown together in the last few pages of the book. The big reveal felt random and was kind of a letdown, given how many interesting options that were hinted at throughout the novel.
November 10, 2025
4⭐
oh how fun it was to be back in shady palms with lila and her friends! well, as fun as it could be... because once again, we're here to solve another murder. baked goods and coffee are an absolute necessity when reading this - you WILL be hungry! 😋
this cozy murder mystery was just what i needed! and it really did feel bittersweet that this is the last book in the "tita rosie's kitchen mystery" series. i've become more and more attached to lila, especially being a filipina myself, and i adore her ambition to fight for what's right. with that being said, "death and dinuguan" did not come to play! we're brought right into the mix - there's several small businesses that have faced burglaries. and on top of that, hana and blake (who are new chocolatiers in town) are attacked and one of them ends up murdered. lila and her friends are taking this one personal, and they do everything in their power to solve what happened.
while the formula of these books typically becomes somewhat repetitive and thus quite predictable, i still had a lot of fun reading this. it's fast paced, easy to read, and everything you could ask for in a cozy mystery book.
thank you, berkley for the e-ARC, all opinions are my own.
oh how fun it was to be back in shady palms with lila and her friends! well, as fun as it could be... because once again, we're here to solve another murder. baked goods and coffee are an absolute necessity when reading this - you WILL be hungry! 😋
this cozy murder mystery was just what i needed! and it really did feel bittersweet that this is the last book in the "tita rosie's kitchen mystery" series. i've become more and more attached to lila, especially being a filipina myself, and i adore her ambition to fight for what's right. with that being said, "death and dinuguan" did not come to play! we're brought right into the mix - there's several small businesses that have faced burglaries. and on top of that, hana and blake (who are new chocolatiers in town) are attacked and one of them ends up murdered. lila and her friends are taking this one personal, and they do everything in their power to solve what happened.
while the formula of these books typically becomes somewhat repetitive and thus quite predictable, i still had a lot of fun reading this. it's fast paced, easy to read, and everything you could ask for in a cozy mystery book.
thank you, berkley for the e-ARC, all opinions are my own.
November 17, 2025
3.5⭐ (rounded up to 4)
Thank you to Berkley Pub and Mia Manansala for the e-ARC of this book!
What a cute ending to the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. I do wish that I read the rest of the series to have the full effect of the found family that was in the story, but I fully intend going back to read the rest of the books!
As I stated, this book was heavy on the found family aspect and it was so adorable. I loved the Filipino representation as well, ESPECIALLY the Filipino food. I made the mistake of reading this before lunch time and now my stomach won't stop grumbling, craving for adobo :( I honestly did not expect the ending either (I'm horrible at solving mystery books before they end) but I did not expect it to end like that!!!! Honestly, this book reminds me of the Hallmark cozy mysteries and I giggled and had a lot of fun with these. Lila lowkey cannot mind her business to save herself (nearly literally) and that's the chismosa in her!
This definitely falls in the cozy mystery category and I ate up every moment. This book is for all of the chismosas who love an easy read, and to just cry at every moment whenever yummy food was brought up. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to Berkley Pub and Mia Manansala for the e-ARC of this book!
What a cute ending to the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. I do wish that I read the rest of the series to have the full effect of the found family that was in the story, but I fully intend going back to read the rest of the books!
As I stated, this book was heavy on the found family aspect and it was so adorable. I loved the Filipino representation as well, ESPECIALLY the Filipino food. I made the mistake of reading this before lunch time and now my stomach won't stop grumbling, craving for adobo :( I honestly did not expect the ending either (I'm horrible at solving mystery books before they end) but I did not expect it to end like that!!!! Honestly, this book reminds me of the Hallmark cozy mysteries and I giggled and had a lot of fun with these. Lila lowkey cannot mind her business to save herself (nearly literally) and that's the chismosa in her!
This definitely falls in the cozy mystery category and I ate up every moment. This book is for all of the chismosas who love an easy read, and to just cry at every moment whenever yummy food was brought up. Highly recommend!!
November 20, 2025
Food and mystery? Where do I sign up??
Thank you to the author and GetRedPR for the chance to read the last in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series. While I am sad the series has concluded, I loved that we had the whole gang back together at some point.
Cozy mysteries are my fall back, kinda like watching your favorite shows over an over, and this series is one I will be recommending to all!
Thank you to the author and GetRedPR for the chance to read the last in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series. While I am sad the series has concluded, I loved that we had the whole gang back together at some point.
Cozy mysteries are my fall back, kinda like watching your favorite shows over an over, and this series is one I will be recommending to all!
December 21, 2025
I loved this series and I’m so sad it’s over. I really hope Mia writes more cozy mysteries because everyone starts to feel like family. I got my friend into the series too and she feels the same way.
December 10, 2025
3.5🌟 rounded down to 3. Love this series and these characters so much, but not my favorite of the series!
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June 20, 2025Pub date: 25 Nov 2025
Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so sad that this series has come to an end. Since we're now six books in, I won’t give anything away plot-wise. I will say, though, that this was sadly my least favourite in the series, though still an enjoyable read overall.
What made it my least favoruite was the feeling that, even six books in, we were still being hand-held. I completely understand giving a quick refresher on characters, places, and key points, but at this stage, it felt a bit excessive. As the final book, I really wanted to see our sleuths come into their own and feel like pros. Instead, they still came across as quite amateurish. After six investigations, I expected more confidence and growth.
I also have to say that this was my least favorite mystery of the series. That said, I still enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend it if you’ve read the first five!
Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so sad that this series has come to an end. Since we're now six books in, I won’t give anything away plot-wise. I will say, though, that this was sadly my least favourite in the series, though still an enjoyable read overall.
What made it my least favoruite was the feeling that, even six books in, we were still being hand-held. I completely understand giving a quick refresher on characters, places, and key points, but at this stage, it felt a bit excessive. As the final book, I really wanted to see our sleuths come into their own and feel like pros. Instead, they still came across as quite amateurish. After six investigations, I expected more confidence and growth.
I also have to say that this was my least favorite mystery of the series. That said, I still enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend it if you’ve read the first five!
November 26, 2025
Book Title: Death and Dinuguan (A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery: Book #6)
Author: Mia P. Manansala
Publishers: Berkley/Penguin Random House Audio
Publication Date: November 25, 2025
Currently Available on KU? 🙅🏼♀️
Audiobook? ✅
Narrator: Danice Cabanela
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I can’t believe the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series is over!! 😭😭 This 6-book series ends with Death and Dinuguan and though I’m sad it’s over, it couldn’t have ended on a better note. Well, maybe it could have but we won’t talk about that. 🙉😜
🧺 𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: This was a very emotional installment, and not just because it is the last book of the series. I always appreciate Mia P. Manansala’s ability to tackle hard subjects while also creating a cozy mystery atmosphere, and she went extra touching here. Previous books have mostly pertained to Lila’s crew/family/etc. but this storyline put Jae in the spotlight, and it was the perfect way to get to know him better as a character even as told all through Lila’s POV as usual. The whodunnit totally threw me for a loop, and I loved the ending!
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: Danice Cabanela has narrated the whole series and she is quite lovely. You can listen to her at 2x speed or sped up like I usually do, and she sounds great either way! She has such a wonderfully enthusiastic style, and you feel all the emotions you are supposed to feel from the characters thanks to her voicing them.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: If you love a good cozy series but want genuine emotional vulnerability with real world messaging, this is the series you have been looking for! It has mouthwatering food descriptions, plenty of funny moments, and is a good time no matter how you slice it. 😉
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🚨🍵❤️🩹🍫
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🚫 (none)
Thank you to Get Red PR, the author, and publishers for my complimentary book and advance listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Mia P. Manansala
Publishers: Berkley/Penguin Random House Audio
Publication Date: November 25, 2025
Currently Available on KU? 🙅🏼♀️
Audiobook? ✅
Narrator: Danice Cabanela
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: I can’t believe the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series is over!! 😭😭 This 6-book series ends with Death and Dinuguan and though I’m sad it’s over, it couldn’t have ended on a better note. Well, maybe it could have but we won’t talk about that. 🙉😜
🧺 𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: This was a very emotional installment, and not just because it is the last book of the series. I always appreciate Mia P. Manansala’s ability to tackle hard subjects while also creating a cozy mystery atmosphere, and she went extra touching here. Previous books have mostly pertained to Lila’s crew/family/etc. but this storyline put Jae in the spotlight, and it was the perfect way to get to know him better as a character even as told all through Lila’s POV as usual. The whodunnit totally threw me for a loop, and I loved the ending!
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: Danice Cabanela has narrated the whole series and she is quite lovely. You can listen to her at 2x speed or sped up like I usually do, and she sounds great either way! She has such a wonderfully enthusiastic style, and you feel all the emotions you are supposed to feel from the characters thanks to her voicing them.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: If you love a good cozy series but want genuine emotional vulnerability with real world messaging, this is the series you have been looking for! It has mouthwatering food descriptions, plenty of funny moments, and is a good time no matter how you slice it. 😉
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🚨🍵❤️🩹🍫
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🚫 (none)
Thank you to Get Red PR, the author, and publishers for my complimentary book and advance listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 19, 2025
ARC
Well what started as a quick and cute read ended up a six book series that I grew to love very easily. The sixth and final installment in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, Death and Dinuguan, reunites us with our favorite crew for one last banger in the cozy town of Shady Palms several months after the last book. This new book kicks us readers off with a wave of crimes targeted against women-owned businesses in Shady Palms, leading to the assault of local chocolatier Hana Lee. Queue Lila, family and friends to the rescue. Girl is over here being the best female version of Sherlock Holmes and I’m living for it.
Ugh and the amount of Filipino-American food culture (including recipes) that Mia gives us, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…she makes my mouth water. It’s also a really special thing that Mia gives us, you can tell food is a passion for her and it connects her to her culture and family. By her adding in these recipes and integrating food into most of the books including this one, feels like I’m very fortunate to have started this series and been a part of something that I normally wouldn’t have gone out of my way to read. Mia has made the mystery genre a bit more appealing to me with this witty and cozy read.
A shout out to our girl, Longganisa, she carried this series on her little back…practically breaking those four whittle wegs. She’s an angel, there is no room for debate. The one flaw of this book and it’s my own burden to bear is I needed more steam with Jae and Lila but Mia keeps everything PfrigginG, but good for her, I’m not mad…I think? Hahaha. No, in all sincerity, I enjoyed every single minute of this book and the series including, the characters and their dynamics and the unforgettable town full of gossip and those crazy but loving tita’s.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group.
4 stars!
Well what started as a quick and cute read ended up a six book series that I grew to love very easily. The sixth and final installment in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, Death and Dinuguan, reunites us with our favorite crew for one last banger in the cozy town of Shady Palms several months after the last book. This new book kicks us readers off with a wave of crimes targeted against women-owned businesses in Shady Palms, leading to the assault of local chocolatier Hana Lee. Queue Lila, family and friends to the rescue. Girl is over here being the best female version of Sherlock Holmes and I’m living for it.
Ugh and the amount of Filipino-American food culture (including recipes) that Mia gives us, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…she makes my mouth water. It’s also a really special thing that Mia gives us, you can tell food is a passion for her and it connects her to her culture and family. By her adding in these recipes and integrating food into most of the books including this one, feels like I’m very fortunate to have started this series and been a part of something that I normally wouldn’t have gone out of my way to read. Mia has made the mystery genre a bit more appealing to me with this witty and cozy read.
A shout out to our girl, Longganisa, she carried this series on her little back…practically breaking those four whittle wegs. She’s an angel, there is no room for debate. The one flaw of this book and it’s my own burden to bear is I needed more steam with Jae and Lila but Mia keeps everything PfrigginG, but good for her, I’m not mad…I think? Hahaha. No, in all sincerity, I enjoyed every single minute of this book and the series including, the characters and their dynamics and the unforgettable town full of gossip and those crazy but loving tita’s.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group.
4 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2025
Thanks so much to Mia P. Manansala, berkleypub for the free book! I was shocked to see this bookmail in my hands! ❤️ Yes, I let out a little scream of delight!
“Never back down, never surrender,” Adeena said. “That’s our motto. At least when it comes to sweets."
This book was such a treat! It’s actually the first (and last) book in the series that I picked up and what really caught my eye was the Filipino author. We definitely need more of those. A murder mystery mixed with comedy and good food? Yes please! Plus, dinuguan is one of my absolute favorite dishes, especially my dad’s version! 😋
If you love cozy vibes, delicious food inspiration and a wonderfully diverse cast of characters, this series is perfect. The friendships and community were so heartwarming, full of small-town rivalries, gossip and that sweet found-family feeling. And the Filipino representation (especially the food) made my heart so full. I swear half the time I was reading for the food. Too bad I couldn’t just pull it out of the pages and eat it! 🤣
Lila’s fashionable dachshund named Longganisa (literally the name of my kids fav filipino sausage) is absolutely adorable 🐶✨
Overall this was such a fun, light and uplifting read. I loved how everyone came together: family, friends, practically the whole community. Working to solve the mystery and protect each other. Lila’s cooking and sleuthing kept me hooked all the way through.
If you’re the type who loves cozy mysteries, strong family ties, Filipino culture, supportive women and a good comforting story that goes great between heavier reads, this book is perfect. I truly ate up every moment! 💛
“Never back down, never surrender,” Adeena said. “That’s our motto. At least when it comes to sweets."
This book was such a treat! It’s actually the first (and last) book in the series that I picked up and what really caught my eye was the Filipino author. We definitely need more of those. A murder mystery mixed with comedy and good food? Yes please! Plus, dinuguan is one of my absolute favorite dishes, especially my dad’s version! 😋
If you love cozy vibes, delicious food inspiration and a wonderfully diverse cast of characters, this series is perfect. The friendships and community were so heartwarming, full of small-town rivalries, gossip and that sweet found-family feeling. And the Filipino representation (especially the food) made my heart so full. I swear half the time I was reading for the food. Too bad I couldn’t just pull it out of the pages and eat it! 🤣
Lila’s fashionable dachshund named Longganisa (literally the name of my kids fav filipino sausage) is absolutely adorable 🐶✨
Overall this was such a fun, light and uplifting read. I loved how everyone came together: family, friends, practically the whole community. Working to solve the mystery and protect each other. Lila’s cooking and sleuthing kept me hooked all the way through.
If you’re the type who loves cozy mysteries, strong family ties, Filipino culture, supportive women and a good comforting story that goes great between heavier reads, this book is perfect. I truly ate up every moment! 💛
November 5, 2025
This is my second book in the series but it’s actually the sixth and final in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries. I will go back and read the others eventually but I can say this one was a deliciously fun send off! If you’ve enjoyed the previous books in this series you’ll be right at home here with all the sassy women, mouth watering food, and small town charm that Mia does so well.
This time around there is a string of burglaries targeting women owned businesses and it has the whole town on edge. But things really take a dark (and chocolatey 🍫) turn when one of the break ins leaves a chocolatier dead and another person in a coma. Don’t worry though...Lila and her crew are on the case, sleuthing, gossiping, and cozying up to suspects like the pros they are.
I just love this group of characters! From the aunts to the friends it always feels like you’re dropping into a lively Filipino family gathering. There is warmth, wit, women with opinions and lots of chaos. 😂
My public service announcement to you is: EAT BEFORE YOU READ. Seriously. Every single book in this series makes me so hungry and this one with all the chocolate talk kind of felt like torture. I listened as I drove back from a hockey tournament and it was extremely hard for me not to pull off at the next exit to grab a chocolate bar.
This series (and book) is perfect if you love cozy mysteries with strong family ties, found family, Filipino culture, and supportive women who never back down. For me it is lighthearted and the a great book to break up all the heavy reads I’ve been picking up lately.
Anywho, this was just such a sweet (and satisfying!) way to wrap up the series. 🥰 I can’t wait to see what Mia dreams up next!
This time around there is a string of burglaries targeting women owned businesses and it has the whole town on edge. But things really take a dark (and chocolatey 🍫) turn when one of the break ins leaves a chocolatier dead and another person in a coma. Don’t worry though...Lila and her crew are on the case, sleuthing, gossiping, and cozying up to suspects like the pros they are.
I just love this group of characters! From the aunts to the friends it always feels like you’re dropping into a lively Filipino family gathering. There is warmth, wit, women with opinions and lots of chaos. 😂
My public service announcement to you is: EAT BEFORE YOU READ. Seriously. Every single book in this series makes me so hungry and this one with all the chocolate talk kind of felt like torture. I listened as I drove back from a hockey tournament and it was extremely hard for me not to pull off at the next exit to grab a chocolate bar.
This series (and book) is perfect if you love cozy mysteries with strong family ties, found family, Filipino culture, and supportive women who never back down. For me it is lighthearted and the a great book to break up all the heavy reads I’ve been picking up lately.
Anywho, this was just such a sweet (and satisfying!) way to wrap up the series. 🥰 I can’t wait to see what Mia dreams up next!
November 24, 2025
Book Report: Death and Dinuguan by Mia P. Manansala
When Valentine’s Day season arrives in Shady Palms…everything feels extra sweet…especially with Lila excited to celebrate with Jae and the arrival of his cousin Hana…a talented chocolatier starting fresh at Choco Noir🍫💘 But when a wave of attacks targets women owned businesses…things take a dark turn. And after Hana is found unconscious and her shop owner is murdered the Brew-ha crew and Park brothers team up to find the culprit before more women are hurt🔍💥
Ahhhh the final book in the Tita Rosie Kitchen Mystery series and I’m devastated it’s over 😭💔Returning to Shady Palms has become such a true comfort read for me…the cozy formula…the warmth…the FOOD…the aunties…the chaos…it always delivers.
This installment might honestly be my favorite. The community Mia has built feels so alive and I loved seeing the friendships and family bonds shine through. And the setting in a chocolate shop?? Mouth-watering🍫🤤If you love classic cozies that stick to a familiar…comforting rhythm…this one hits every beat in the best way🧩✨
The bright side? I realized I somehow missed the holiday book so guess who’s diving into that next? 🎄📚💫
Thank you Berkley & PRH Audio for the gifted copy
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
When Valentine’s Day season arrives in Shady Palms…everything feels extra sweet…especially with Lila excited to celebrate with Jae and the arrival of his cousin Hana…a talented chocolatier starting fresh at Choco Noir🍫💘 But when a wave of attacks targets women owned businesses…things take a dark turn. And after Hana is found unconscious and her shop owner is murdered the Brew-ha crew and Park brothers team up to find the culprit before more women are hurt🔍💥
Ahhhh the final book in the Tita Rosie Kitchen Mystery series and I’m devastated it’s over 😭💔Returning to Shady Palms has become such a true comfort read for me…the cozy formula…the warmth…the FOOD…the aunties…the chaos…it always delivers.
This installment might honestly be my favorite. The community Mia has built feels so alive and I loved seeing the friendships and family bonds shine through. And the setting in a chocolate shop?? Mouth-watering🍫🤤If you love classic cozies that stick to a familiar…comforting rhythm…this one hits every beat in the best way🧩✨
The bright side? I realized I somehow missed the holiday book so guess who’s diving into that next? 🎄📚💫
Thank you Berkley & PRH Audio for the gifted copy
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
November 22, 2025
✨ BOOK REVIEW — Death and Dinuguan by Mia P. Manansala ✨
⭐️ 4 stars
This one blends cozy mystery vibes with real emotional weight — food, family, chaos, and danger all stirred together in the best way. From the opening chapter, you’re pulled straight into Shady Palms drama as attacks hit women-owned businesses, and Lila finds herself caught in the middle of something way darker than the usual small-town trouble.
Here’s what you’re getting into:
🍫 Filipino food descriptions that make you so hungry
💥 Mystery with higher stakes than the earlier books
👯 Found-family energy that feels warm and real
💔 A shocking attack that raises the emotional tension
⏳ Slower pacing in some chapters, but still worth it
Lila and her crew show up for each other in all the messy, loyal, heartfelt ways that make this series so addictive. It’s cozy, tense, and full of cultural flavor.
Overall? A satisfying, emotional addition to the series. 4 stars — and definitely recommend if you love cozy mysteries with heart and heat.
⭐️ 4 stars
This one blends cozy mystery vibes with real emotional weight — food, family, chaos, and danger all stirred together in the best way. From the opening chapter, you’re pulled straight into Shady Palms drama as attacks hit women-owned businesses, and Lila finds herself caught in the middle of something way darker than the usual small-town trouble.
Here’s what you’re getting into:
🍫 Filipino food descriptions that make you so hungry
💥 Mystery with higher stakes than the earlier books
👯 Found-family energy that feels warm and real
💔 A shocking attack that raises the emotional tension
⏳ Slower pacing in some chapters, but still worth it
Lila and her crew show up for each other in all the messy, loyal, heartfelt ways that make this series so addictive. It’s cozy, tense, and full of cultural flavor.
Overall? A satisfying, emotional addition to the series. 4 stars — and definitely recommend if you love cozy mysteries with heart and heat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2025
The sixth and, sadly, final book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series brings all the intrigue and heart we've come to expect and adore! This time, the women-owned businesses of Shady Palms are being burgled and no one has been able to find the culprit. But things get scarier when the new chocolate shop is robbed and one owner is left dead and the other is in the hospital in a coma. Lila and friends are now on the case.
I liked this, just like I've liked all of this series, but I have one bigger issue. Much is made in the beginning of how only women-owned businesses are being targeted, but there's never an explanation on why that was. Obviously, we get why the burglaries happened, but not why women-owned businesses were the only targets.
I also don't know the publishing process of edits and such, but most ARCs I read don't have nearly as many errors as this one did. I'm sure they'll be corrected before publishing, but there were SO MANY!
I liked this, just like I've liked all of this series, but I have one bigger issue. Much is made in the beginning of how only women-owned businesses are being targeted, but there's never an explanation on why that was. Obviously, we get why the burglaries happened, but not why women-owned businesses were the only targets.
I also don't know the publishing process of edits and such, but most ARCs I read don't have nearly as many errors as this one did. I'm sure they'll be corrected before publishing, but there were SO MANY!
December 20, 2025
So this is the last in the series of these mysteries and I will be sad to see them go. They are quick, easy and non-controversial mysteries to read and always full of food descriptions. I have enjoyed the series! In this one, maybe a few too many descriptions of food, especially long passages about food for people who are gluten free or have allergies. Good topics, but in this case, it took away from the pacing of the story. And, considering this is the last of the series, couldn’t we have seen an engagement if not a wedding for Lila and Jae? They seem to be stuck in a perpetual state of middle school dating. Oh well, maybe that is just my opinion haha!
Overall this was a good book and a nice capstone for the series although I would have liked to have seen some more interesting final story lines for the main characters. Maybe that means there might be more to come at some point!
Overall this was a good book and a nice capstone for the series although I would have liked to have seen some more interesting final story lines for the main characters. Maybe that means there might be more to come at some point!
August 11, 2025
I’m so sad that this is the last book in tita Rosie’s kitchen mysteries… like the other books in this series, I really enjoyed it! Being Filipino American, these books gave me a sense of home with all the mentions of food and family. Mia does a great job as always, keeping me guessing throughout the entire book! Every time I felt like I knew what was going on or who committed the crime, I didn’t lol. I’m going to miss the brew-has, the calendar crew, tita Rosie and Lola flor, and of course longganisa! Thank you so much Mia for these amazing books, they’re a huge reason why I started reading again! I can’t wait to read more from you soon.
December 14, 2025
*closer to 3,5 stars*
I feel like I always say the same thing when I review these books, but they’re quick, entertaining reads that satisfy my craving for cozy mysteries with POCs as main characters. I didn’t realize this was the final book until I started it, and I’m definitely going to miss the series.
The mystery itself was engaging, if a bit predictable, though there were a few details I didn’t see coming. I appreciated getting glimpses of so many characters from the previous books; however, for a final installment, there wasn’t much real development of the characters or the relationships between them.
I feel like I always say the same thing when I review these books, but they’re quick, entertaining reads that satisfy my craving for cozy mysteries with POCs as main characters. I didn’t realize this was the final book until I started it, and I’m definitely going to miss the series.
The mystery itself was engaging, if a bit predictable, though there were a few details I didn’t see coming. I appreciated getting glimpses of so many characters from the previous books; however, for a final installment, there wasn’t much real development of the characters or the relationships between them.
December 1, 2025
I'm going to miss this series. I loved this books so much. I love how so many friends and family come together to help solve this case and everyone used their strengths and connections to get it done. I especially loved seeing the Brew-ha Cafe crew work seamlessly together to solve this and keep each other safe. They have come a long way with their business and worked so much on their friendship and all their amazing ideas made me so happy. I had no idea where this was going and had so much fun following the investigation and the many fun gatherings. Jay and Lila are adorable together. And of course this book made me soooooo hungry.
A fabulous book in a series that gets better and better and I will miss so much!
Note: I HIGHLY recommend experiencing this book and series with the audiobooks!
A fabulous book in a series that gets better and better and I will miss so much!
Note: I HIGHLY recommend experiencing this book and series with the audiobooks!
December 6, 2025
Entertaining immersion into Filipino culture, especially food, as a cozy mystery. I found myself using the glossary at the beginning so much more that I thought I would. All the family and friends of those at Brew-ha Cafe and Tita Rosies are back to help figure out who is targeting female-owned businesses. The mystery itself plays less a role than the shenanigans of the crew which works in this book. Incredible sounding good had me salivating throughout. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
November 21, 2025
Such a fun read! I'm so glad I got to read the final installment of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series! I loved reading this series! This book in particular was so good! Of course, all the food mentioned made my mouth water. Lila and everyone in Shady Palms had a mystery to solve and this one wasn't small. Really enjoyable!!
*Thank you partners @getredprbooks @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted book and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*
*Thank you partners @getredprbooks @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted book and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*
November 19, 2025
This series was the coziest, warmest and most mouth-watering set of mysteries I've ever read and I have read plenty! I can tell that every character was very well thought out, crafted with a lot of heart with each of their story lines planned out very well.
With that said, I am very sad that this series has come to an end. I must also be honest, while this is still a full 4 stars because the mystery and the plot were cleverly crafted with neat little kernels dropped in very well as clues, it is not my favorite of the 6 book series. I know Lila's difficulties with her BFFs were necessary for her character growth and the undercurrent of the tension has been brewing for a while. But I'm not sure I loved the idea of finishing the series out in this way? I think it would have made me feel better if this was seen earlier in the series and for a book or two more, we see that she's working on the selfishness and growth. If that makes any sense? It may also just be me, but I didn't think Lila was the type of person who would get hurt by her BFFs consoling each other? Again, that might just be me!
I may re-read this series in the future because it is just one of the best hugs that I could receive from a homesick little Filipina living in America, hoping to find her place in the world.
Thank you, Mia P. Manansala and Berkley Publishing for the ARC of this book!
With that said, I am very sad that this series has come to an end. I must also be honest, while this is still a full 4 stars because the mystery and the plot were cleverly crafted with neat little kernels dropped in very well as clues, it is not my favorite of the 6 book series. I know Lila's difficulties with her BFFs were necessary for her character growth and the undercurrent of the tension has been brewing for a while. But I'm not sure I loved the idea of finishing the series out in this way? I think it would have made me feel better if this was seen earlier in the series and for a book or two more, we see that she's working on the selfishness and growth. If that makes any sense? It may also just be me, but I didn't think Lila was the type of person who would get hurt by her BFFs consoling each other? Again, that might just be me!
I may re-read this series in the future because it is just one of the best hugs that I could receive from a homesick little Filipina living in America, hoping to find her place in the world.
Thank you, Mia P. Manansala and Berkley Publishing for the ARC of this book!
December 20, 2025
A great ending to the series! So sad that it had to end. I truly enjoyed these cozy mysteries. But I especially loved the Filipina representation and laughter each book provided.
November 29, 2025
Fun ending to the series
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