Mari Ramirez has her hands full running her family's restaurant and juggling family drama at the same time. But when she serves up a plate of steaming hot Carne Asada to her meat delivery man, a killer strikes while the plate is still hot. Mari's father becomes the number one suspect in a murder investigation, and Mari finds herself on the prowl to clear her family's name. With the help of her mischievous brothers and a bulldog named Tabasco, Mari uncovers a shocking truth. Will she unveil what really happened before she too is seared with a side of rice and beans?
I've never read a cozy mystery with a Latina lead and have been looking for one for awhile. I think a Mexican restaurant is a great setting for one. The problem I had with this one was not the characters but that it came across so gringo. It felt like a white person's perception of a Mexican family and not the authentic Mexican family it was supposed to be. Abuela only speaks Spanish yet the author wasn't bothered to put her lines in Spanish. Instead she wrote her parts in English stating she was speaking in Spanish. And the recipes used in the restaurant are supposed to be family recipes yet the dishes mentioned are Tex Mex instead of authentic Mexican. Chile con carne, chimichangas, queso, etc are not dishes you would find on the dining room table in a Mexican household. I would like to see her include more traditional dishes into the series as well as some traditions and more Spanish phrases.
This book went so fast that I thought it was a short story but Kindle and Amazon both said 216 pages. I guess it was so good and kept my interest that it just read fast. Great story, interesting characters and a murder that anyone could have committed. Mari runs her families Mexican restaurant (the only one in town) along with her brothers and father. When their meat man is killed with a knife while eating at their restaurant the father becomes the main suspect. In order to get things back to normal, Mari decides she has to find out who the killer is with help from her brothers. There are a lot of twist and turns that will keep your interest. I enjoyed the book and may try the next one.
I've never read this author and have enjoyed her work here. I love a cozy mystery that has a family setting to it so I'm excited to start book two. As a librarian I will definitely begin suggesting her books to patrons. The only thing to improve the series is if she begins including recipes, because the food descriptions make you hungry.
Mari helps her Dad running the family's Mexican restaurant. The only other restaurant in town is the Chinese one across the street. One morning Steve, had delivered their meat order, and Mari gave Steve some leftovers. When she went back in the room, Steve was on the floor dead with a knife in his back. The police think Mari's Dad did it, so Mari and her brothers do some sleuthing. Mari has a close call when the killer comes after her.
Omg what can I say I found a few of her books and omg loved them . Never heard of this author before and saw the cover of this one and had to read it . Could not put it down , may not have been a long read but it was one of the best books I ever read . Looking forward to read u g more of this author . Recommend it especially if u like mysteries 😊😊
This is a very easy beach read. The characters really aren't well developed (maybe as the series continues they will be). The family runs the only mexican restaurant in town and now there is a dead body in the dining room! Mari is on the case, she has to save their restaurant. Her brothers are playing on both sides of the law so them helping couldn't possibly cause any problems....
I have read other "Plum" books, but this was too short to develop a decent plot! I like the characters, what we saw of them. But again, just not enough substance for s good read!
This book has a lot of great characters and a lot of great potential. I am going to read more. I give it 3.5 stars. I think it could use stone more detail and depth to the story and it could really flourish more. A very quick read.
Kindle Unlimited, cardboard characters, fill in the blank situation/reaction, 2/3 at most of the 'book' per story with rest filler from another totally unrelated story.
Mexican Cafe Cozy Mystery Series Murder Con Carne 1 - Killer Salsa 2 - Smothered In Lies 3 - Rice, Beans, and Revenge 4 - Crimes and Chimichangas 5
Will definitely NOT even bother with Patty's Cakes Bake Shop by same 'writer'.
The book was upbeat. I wish there had been recipes for the food mentioned in it. Also would like to see more about the characters. Descriptions of places.