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A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #1
Mango, Mambo, and Murder
Cuban-American cooking show star Miriam Quiñones-Smith becomes a seasoned sleuth in Raquel V. Reyes’s Caribbean Kitchen Mystery debut, a savory treat for fans of Joanne Fluke and Jenn McKinlay.
Food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith’s move from New York to Coral Shores, Miami, puts her academic career on hold to stay at home with her young son. Adding to her funk is an opinionated mother-in-law and a husband rekindling a friendship with his ex. Gracias to her best friend, Alma, she gets a short-term job as a Caribbean cooking expert on a Spanish-language morning TV show. But when the newly minted star attends a Women’s Club luncheon, a socialite sitting at her table suddenly falls face-first into the chicken salad, never to nibble again.
When a second woman dies soon after, suspicions coalesce around a controversial Cuban herbalist, Dr. Fuentes–especially after the morning show’s host collapses while interviewing him. Detective Pullman is not happy to find Miriam at every turn. After he catches her breaking into the doctor’s apothecary, he enlists her help as eyes and ears to the places he can’t access, namely the Spanish-speaking community and the tawny Coral Shores social scene.
As the ingredients to the deadly scheme begin blending together, Miriam is on the verge of learning how and why the women died. But her snooping may turn out to be a recipe for her own murder.
Food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith’s move from New York to Coral Shores, Miami, puts her academic career on hold to stay at home with her young son. Adding to her funk is an opinionated mother-in-law and a husband rekindling a friendship with his ex. Gracias to her best friend, Alma, she gets a short-term job as a Caribbean cooking expert on a Spanish-language morning TV show. But when the newly minted star attends a Women’s Club luncheon, a socialite sitting at her table suddenly falls face-first into the chicken salad, never to nibble again.
When a second woman dies soon after, suspicions coalesce around a controversial Cuban herbalist, Dr. Fuentes–especially after the morning show’s host collapses while interviewing him. Detective Pullman is not happy to find Miriam at every turn. After he catches her breaking into the doctor’s apothecary, he enlists her help as eyes and ears to the places he can’t access, namely the Spanish-speaking community and the tawny Coral Shores social scene.
As the ingredients to the deadly scheme begin blending together, Miriam is on the verge of learning how and why the women died. But her snooping may turn out to be a recipe for her own murder.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2021
244 people are currently reading
4364 people want to read
About the author
Raquel V. Reyes
15 books314 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 614 reviews
November 14, 2022
3.5 stars
This review was first posted on Mystery and Suspense. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/ma...
This is the first book in the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series, featuring a Hispanic sleuth and her circle of friends and relatives.
Miriam Quiñones-Smith and Robert Smith, both natives of Miami, met at NYU when Robert was an adjunct professor and Miriam was a teaching assistant.
Miriam and Robert fell in love, married, moved into a tiny Manhattan apartment, and had a baby named Manuel.
Little Manny is now four-years-old.....
......and the couple have moved back to Miami, where Robert has a job with the Department of Environmental Resources and Development, and Miriam - a Cuban-American with a Ph.D. in food anthropology - plans to write a book about the Caribbean kitchen and its importance in retaining cultural identity.
Though Miriam is happy to be back in Miami, close to her native Latin community and her best friend Alma Diaz, things aren't all rosy.
Miriam and Robert's new home in classy Coral Shores is only blocks away from Robert's parents, and Robert's mother Marjory - an upper-class snob who thinks Miriam isn't good enough for her son - constantly drops by and criticizes her daughter-in-law.
Also, while Miriam is unpacking, setting up the house, and taking care of little Manny, Robert is golfing and meeting friends at the country club - including his old high school girlfriend Juliet.
Miriam is a bit irritated by this but is really thrown for a loop when, within weeks of moving to Miami, Robert announces he's taken a new job with a land acquisitions and development company owned by Juliet's father - a job that doesn't fit with Robert's environmental interests. Moreover, Robert buys a $90,000 Tesla the Smiths can't afford, and - despite Miriam's questions - avoids explaining his actions.
Meanwhile, Miriam's best friend Alma, a real estate agent who knows the value of networking, insists Miriam establish herself in toney Coral Shores. So Alma sets Miriam up with an audition for a cooking segment on the Latino morning show UnMundo and takes Miriam to a Women's Club luncheon.
At the luncheon, a woman named Sunny Weatherman collapses and dies. A few days later, Alma takes Miriam to a promotional event where a woman called Elliot Truman collapses and dies. Both Sunny and Elliot had been using products sold by Dr. Mario Fuentes, who advertises himself as a preeminent MD who combines western medicine with ancient herbal practices from the West Indies.
To Miriam's shock, her friend Alma is arrested, accused of giving Sunny Weatherman drugs that caused a cocaine heart attack. Miriam is certain Alma is innocent, and feels if anyone is responsible for Sunny's death, it must be Dr. Fuentes. So Miriam launches her own investigation, to the annoyance of Detective Frank Pullman, who's in charge of the police case.
Soon enough, however, Detective Pullman sees the value of having someone 'inside' the Coral Shores community and brings Miriam into his investigation, anointing her the neighborhood's Veronica Mars (a fictional TV sleuth).
At this point, Miriam has a lot on her mind. She's taking care of Manny, who she converses with in Spanish, so he'll be bilingual; she's taping cooking segments and promotional blurbs for the UnMundo show; she's going to Mambo-cise classes, to keep in shape; she's concerned about her marriage to Robert, who's spending a lot of time with Juliet; she's trying to clear her best friend Alma of murder charges; and she's making new friends in the community.
Things are not always as they seem in this cozy mystery and Miriam perseveres until she discovers the truth about everything.
This is a multicultural cozy, with some Spanish dialog sprinkled throughout. This didn't bother me because the meaning is usually clear from the context. For instance, when little Manny wakes up and wanders into the kitchen, Miriam says: "Buenas dias mi principe. ¿Qué quieres para desayunar?" Manny responds "¡Panqueques!" and Miriam makes her son pancakes with a topping of cream cheese and guava.
Miriam is a bold, appealing character who takes the high road with her difficult mother-in-law; prepares delicious Cuban dishes; braves vermin and bugs to clear her friend Alma's name; and deftly bridges Miami's multiethnic culture. I look forward to her future adventures.
The book contains recipes for Papaya Smoothie, Saint-Tropez Sangria, Picadillo de Pavo (Spanish Sloppy Joe), and Chicken Fricassee Cuban Style.
Papaya Smoothie
Saint-Tropez Sangria
Picadillo de Pavo (Spanish Sloppy Joe)
Chicken Fricassee Cuban Style
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
November 1, 2022
Fall always evokes a desperation in me for cozy mysteries, and while the cozy aspect is more in the food related aspects of the story, this fit the bill pretty well. I had a blast buddy reading this with Carmen from @Tomesandtextiles, because she has firsthand experience with the Miami Cuban culture and I was able to ask all kinds of questions and learn new things along the way.
Miriam was a fun character to follow, and I fell in love with her portrayal of food as a love language. The murderer was pretty easy to spot, and I wasn't a fan of the side plot involving the miscommunication trope (as many before me have stated), but the atmosphere and overall vibe was enough to leave me wanting to purchase the next book instantly, while also intriguing me to try and make some of the recipes included at the end of the story.
A solid debut, and I'm looking forward to more character building with Miriam, her family, and her friends in Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking.
Miriam was a fun character to follow, and I fell in love with her portrayal of food as a love language. The murderer was pretty easy to spot, and I wasn't a fan of the side plot involving the miscommunication trope (as many before me have stated), but the atmosphere and overall vibe was enough to leave me wanting to purchase the next book instantly, while also intriguing me to try and make some of the recipes included at the end of the story.
A solid debut, and I'm looking forward to more character building with Miriam, her family, and her friends in Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking.
December 4, 2022
It was not as good as I was hoping it to be, but I will still continue with the series. The story was predictable, many characters were just too mean and not fun to read about. I am hoping book 2 will be better.
October 2, 2024
3.5 rounded up for the representation. Hispanic Heritage Month read. I did enjoy this Cozy mystery overall, but I think it also maybe tried to do too much at once. The mystery felt a bit weak and perhaps more there rather than all the snobbery & intolerance of Coral Shores and it's "Karen" mean girls (including a beootch MIL), possible infidelity, diet & infertility struggles, cooking influencers, and more. Those are all very valid issues but maybe not all in one cozy? Anyway, overall it was fine & I don't regret reading it at all.
June 23, 2023
When I first started reading, “Mango, Mambo, and Murder. A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery” by Raquel V. Reyes, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy reading this book. However, after having read all 37 chapters and reviewed all 4 recipes at the end of the book (Papaya Smoothie, Saint-Tropez Sangria, Picadillo de Pavo, and Fricasé de pollo), I found myself feeling emotionally satisfied. And that’s always a good sign!
I liked the MC Miriam at the beginning of the book, but by the halfway point, I had become emotionally invested in her, her life, and the story. If Miriam liked someone, I liked them. When Miriam was angry with her husband, I was angry at Robert, too. And don’t even get me started on the MC’s hateful, racist mother-in-law Marjory! I’m convinced that Miriam’s concern and love for her bestie, Alma, really helped to propel the action after the second half of the story.
What I really loved about this book is that the MC is a food anthropologist. We anthros aren’t regular features in novels, so this was really exciting for me. I did notice, though, that there were a few problems with the book regarding Miriam’s career, namely:
1. In Chapter 3, Reyes describes Miriam as having only 2 degrees: a BA and MA. There are a few academic programs where scholars can earn a joint MA and a PhD degree at the same time, but Reyes didn’t state this. Instead, she named both degrees (BA and MA)—so where was Miriam’s doctorate? If Miriam only had an MA, then she definitely wasn’t a PhD (in the U.S., MA’s write theses, while only PhD’s write dissertations).
2. In the book, Miriam has a conversation with another character:
1. “I’m a food anthropologist.”
2. “You dig up old food?” Ileana asked.
3. No, I … I …” I’d never had it put that way before, and I wasn’t going to insult her by explaining that archeology and anthropology were two very different fields of study…”
In the U.S., Anthropology has 4 subfields: Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, Biological/Physical Anthropology, and Archaeology. All 4 subfields are united by the focus on human culture. For example, many people mistakenly think that Archaeologists dig up dinosaurs. Archaeologists, in fact, focus their research solely on human material culture. In Europe, like the U.K., for example, Archaeology **is** considered a separate, though related, field of study. To be fair to the author, there are **some** U.S. institutions that have separated the subfields of Anthropology. But overall, the vast majority of scholars in the country recognize that all 4 subfields are, and should remain, a unified field of study.
I wholeheartedly agree with José Medina when he said that, “…Speaking #Spanglish is a superpower!…” Reading a novel with written Spanglish is fine by me. But when the author included several sentences with full-on Spanish, that was a little disappointing because although I’ve studied Spanish, I’m not fluent in that language. I felt like I was right in the middle of the action and then Poof! I had to head off to Google Translate to understand what was being said.
Many people are shocked when they hear that the United States has no official language. But with hundreds of indigenous languages in the U.S., along with the country’s close proximity to Spanish and French-speaking countries (French in Quebec)—not to mention a huge influx of immigrants—it’s not surprising. English, though, is considered a lingua franca, not just in the U.S., but also around the world. I’ll give Reyes a thumbs up for the Spanglish, but the author’s inclusion of whole sentences in Spanish really detracted from the story, at least for me.
The one thing that concerns me the most about the author’s use of several Spanish sentences used back to back deals primarily with the readership. If Reyes’ target audience is the bilingual Spanish-American community, then she definitely met her target. If Reyes wants people who live in the American Southwest or Southeast or Northeast where a lot of Spanish speakers live to read this book, then she met her target. But there are SO many places in the country where Spanish is not used as a first, or as a second, language. And I want those people to fall in love with this story, too.
Inclusivity means more than just ethnicity and gender. It also means that when we speak, other people can understand as well. While I read the book, when I came upon sentences in Spanish, it felt like I was being left out. Some might feel the need to chastise me, saying, “Well, then learn Spanish!” But I’ve already learned several indigenous languages (Lakota, Delaware, etc.) and Arabic, and many other people only know one (English). I know that Reyes was using the Spanish to emphasize the fact that the MC was teaching her son Spanish while the father was teaching him English. But had the author relied more on Spanglish rather than whole Spanish sentences, English-only readers would be able to understand right away and wouldn’t feel left out of the conversation.
The author included a **ton** of diversity, for which I’m grateful. Besides Cuban Americans, she included ethnicities from South and Central America and the Caribbean (Colombian, Honduran, Dominican, Haitian) European Americans, African Americans, and the LGBTQ+ community.
The story was fast moving and included a good number of suspects along with 2 deaths. The author maintained my curiosity and I was surprised by how the plot unfolded. Reyes also included a number of really interesting subplots and I especially love how she became a YouTube star!
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and I look forward to reading Reyes’ other works. In fact, I will soon begin reading the third novel in this series and am eagerly anticipating opening the first page. The only issues that I could find relate to what I described above (anthropology corrections and overuse of Spanish vs. Spanglish). I really do recommend that people invest the time in purchasing and reading this book. This novel was a light read, humorous, not scary, and really interesting—some of the many things that readers of this genre appreciate.
I liked the MC Miriam at the beginning of the book, but by the halfway point, I had become emotionally invested in her, her life, and the story. If Miriam liked someone, I liked them. When Miriam was angry with her husband, I was angry at Robert, too. And don’t even get me started on the MC’s hateful, racist mother-in-law Marjory! I’m convinced that Miriam’s concern and love for her bestie, Alma, really helped to propel the action after the second half of the story.
What I really loved about this book is that the MC is a food anthropologist. We anthros aren’t regular features in novels, so this was really exciting for me. I did notice, though, that there were a few problems with the book regarding Miriam’s career, namely:
1. In Chapter 3, Reyes describes Miriam as having only 2 degrees: a BA and MA. There are a few academic programs where scholars can earn a joint MA and a PhD degree at the same time, but Reyes didn’t state this. Instead, she named both degrees (BA and MA)—so where was Miriam’s doctorate? If Miriam only had an MA, then she definitely wasn’t a PhD (in the U.S., MA’s write theses, while only PhD’s write dissertations).
2. In the book, Miriam has a conversation with another character:
1. “I’m a food anthropologist.”
2. “You dig up old food?” Ileana asked.
3. No, I … I …” I’d never had it put that way before, and I wasn’t going to insult her by explaining that archeology and anthropology were two very different fields of study…”
In the U.S., Anthropology has 4 subfields: Cultural Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, Biological/Physical Anthropology, and Archaeology. All 4 subfields are united by the focus on human culture. For example, many people mistakenly think that Archaeologists dig up dinosaurs. Archaeologists, in fact, focus their research solely on human material culture. In Europe, like the U.K., for example, Archaeology **is** considered a separate, though related, field of study. To be fair to the author, there are **some** U.S. institutions that have separated the subfields of Anthropology. But overall, the vast majority of scholars in the country recognize that all 4 subfields are, and should remain, a unified field of study.
I wholeheartedly agree with José Medina when he said that, “…Speaking #Spanglish is a superpower!…” Reading a novel with written Spanglish is fine by me. But when the author included several sentences with full-on Spanish, that was a little disappointing because although I’ve studied Spanish, I’m not fluent in that language. I felt like I was right in the middle of the action and then Poof! I had to head off to Google Translate to understand what was being said.
Many people are shocked when they hear that the United States has no official language. But with hundreds of indigenous languages in the U.S., along with the country’s close proximity to Spanish and French-speaking countries (French in Quebec)—not to mention a huge influx of immigrants—it’s not surprising. English, though, is considered a lingua franca, not just in the U.S., but also around the world. I’ll give Reyes a thumbs up for the Spanglish, but the author’s inclusion of whole sentences in Spanish really detracted from the story, at least for me.
The one thing that concerns me the most about the author’s use of several Spanish sentences used back to back deals primarily with the readership. If Reyes’ target audience is the bilingual Spanish-American community, then she definitely met her target. If Reyes wants people who live in the American Southwest or Southeast or Northeast where a lot of Spanish speakers live to read this book, then she met her target. But there are SO many places in the country where Spanish is not used as a first, or as a second, language. And I want those people to fall in love with this story, too.
Inclusivity means more than just ethnicity and gender. It also means that when we speak, other people can understand as well. While I read the book, when I came upon sentences in Spanish, it felt like I was being left out. Some might feel the need to chastise me, saying, “Well, then learn Spanish!” But I’ve already learned several indigenous languages (Lakota, Delaware, etc.) and Arabic, and many other people only know one (English). I know that Reyes was using the Spanish to emphasize the fact that the MC was teaching her son Spanish while the father was teaching him English. But had the author relied more on Spanglish rather than whole Spanish sentences, English-only readers would be able to understand right away and wouldn’t feel left out of the conversation.
The author included a **ton** of diversity, for which I’m grateful. Besides Cuban Americans, she included ethnicities from South and Central America and the Caribbean (Colombian, Honduran, Dominican, Haitian) European Americans, African Americans, and the LGBTQ+ community.
The story was fast moving and included a good number of suspects along with 2 deaths. The author maintained my curiosity and I was surprised by how the plot unfolded. Reyes also included a number of really interesting subplots and I especially love how she became a YouTube star!
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and I look forward to reading Reyes’ other works. In fact, I will soon begin reading the third novel in this series and am eagerly anticipating opening the first page. The only issues that I could find relate to what I described above (anthropology corrections and overuse of Spanish vs. Spanglish). I really do recommend that people invest the time in purchasing and reading this book. This novel was a light read, humorous, not scary, and really interesting—some of the many things that readers of this genre appreciate.
December 26, 2021
Haters take note, I am of Hispanic descent, live in Miami and did not care for this book at all.
This story wanted to tick too many politically and socially correct boxes but ticking boxes (no matter how good your intentions) isn't enough to create a strong story. The plethora of 4 star reviews make me wonder if white guilt or some such thing was at work. As a proud Hispanic, I am grateful to see Latin authors and artists make their marks but this book makes it by relying on stereotypes and a less than empowered Hispanic protagonist.
Beyond that, I am a fluent Spanish speaker and wondered how non-Spanish speakers dealt with all the Spanish in the book.
The story takes place in fictional Coral Shores, a wealthy village with water views, country clubs and fire rescue always on hand in case something should go wrong. Miriam Quinones Smith, the protagonist, previously of New York city, panics when she realizes she has a gig to do at 5am on a certain day, and no car. It's literally "a problem to be solved". Because apparently in this universe, Uber and taxi's don't exist.
Miriam wants to preserve her Cuban heritage for her son, she speaks to him in Spanish and limits his English language TV time. She becomes quite irate when her mother in law calls him by his American middle name, rather than his Spanish first name. But Miriam changes her husbands name with impunity (Robert becomes Roberto).
This incredible wealthy enclave is also (apparently) the only one in Miami that has no Hispanic homeowners. The only Hispanics (with the exception of Miriam) that live there full time are the help. That is a such a tired trope that it infuriated me. The "village" on which this one seems to be based is riddled with wealthy Hispanics from many Spanish speaking countries. The author, rather than accurately reflect how well many Hispanics have fared, instead gives all the power and influence to white characters. Miami is crawling with rich Hispanics who may or may not also have Hispanic household help. The fact that so many people loved this story of imbalance also gives me pause.
Minor point of irritation - the 3/2 house Miriam, her husband and child live in is so big they'll never fill it with furniture - and only cost $390,000. I mentioned this to my husband who asked if the story was set in 1970.
The evil mother in law is a tired and boring way to build in a foil. Aren't writers supposed to write? The weak husband who keeps secrets, restricts financial information from Miriam and makes purchases of Tesla's without recrimination is a useless character. And Miriam is more like a 1950's typical American housewife rather than a strong Hispanic woman who defends what's hers and doesn't shrink from confrontation.
This book was so bad I struggled to get through it.
This story wanted to tick too many politically and socially correct boxes but ticking boxes (no matter how good your intentions) isn't enough to create a strong story. The plethora of 4 star reviews make me wonder if white guilt or some such thing was at work. As a proud Hispanic, I am grateful to see Latin authors and artists make their marks but this book makes it by relying on stereotypes and a less than empowered Hispanic protagonist.
Beyond that, I am a fluent Spanish speaker and wondered how non-Spanish speakers dealt with all the Spanish in the book.
The story takes place in fictional Coral Shores, a wealthy village with water views, country clubs and fire rescue always on hand in case something should go wrong. Miriam Quinones Smith, the protagonist, previously of New York city, panics when she realizes she has a gig to do at 5am on a certain day, and no car. It's literally "a problem to be solved". Because apparently in this universe, Uber and taxi's don't exist.
Miriam wants to preserve her Cuban heritage for her son, she speaks to him in Spanish and limits his English language TV time. She becomes quite irate when her mother in law calls him by his American middle name, rather than his Spanish first name. But Miriam changes her husbands name with impunity (Robert becomes Roberto).
This incredible wealthy enclave is also (apparently) the only one in Miami that has no Hispanic homeowners. The only Hispanics (with the exception of Miriam) that live there full time are the help. That is a such a tired trope that it infuriated me. The "village" on which this one seems to be based is riddled with wealthy Hispanics from many Spanish speaking countries. The author, rather than accurately reflect how well many Hispanics have fared, instead gives all the power and influence to white characters. Miami is crawling with rich Hispanics who may or may not also have Hispanic household help. The fact that so many people loved this story of imbalance also gives me pause.
Minor point of irritation - the 3/2 house Miriam, her husband and child live in is so big they'll never fill it with furniture - and only cost $390,000. I mentioned this to my husband who asked if the story was set in 1970.
The evil mother in law is a tired and boring way to build in a foil. Aren't writers supposed to write? The weak husband who keeps secrets, restricts financial information from Miriam and makes purchases of Tesla's without recrimination is a useless character. And Miriam is more like a 1950's typical American housewife rather than a strong Hispanic woman who defends what's hers and doesn't shrink from confrontation.
This book was so bad I struggled to get through it.
July 22, 2021
The author does an incredible job of getting the reader in Miriam’s head. We are looking at the world of Miami and Coral Shores so much through her eyes that at times it is easy to forget that we are just reading a book. Mostly that is good, but there are some dangers in that as well.
I was definitely halfway into the book before I realized some of the dangers of seeing so much from Miriam’s perspective. When Miriam feels helpless to deal with her rude and conniving mother in law, I felt helpless. When Miriam felt helpless in dealing with her secretive husband, I felt helpless. However, when Miriam finds her strength and stands up for herself in really clever and dignified ways, it feels like such a success! When Miriam starts making new friends and finding career success, it made me so happy. I squealed out loud when she name dropped María Hinojosa!
Oh and there is a mystery too. The mystery is fairly straight forward, but for me that was a good thing. I was happy to see the bad guys get theirs in the end. And I thought the way Miriam went about collecting clues and interviewing people was really well done and logical. There were several side characters that I loved meeting and I can’t wait to hear more from them next time.
There is a lot of Spanish used in the book, but there are lots of context clues around it. I can speak Spanish, so I loved the inclusion of the language. But even if I didn’t speak it, I think it is still understandable. There are several nods to Miriam’s Cuban culture as well. I thought that helped round out her character.
Overall, this book is heavy on character and lighter on plot. And that is just what it needed to be.
I received a copy of the book. This is my review.
I was definitely halfway into the book before I realized some of the dangers of seeing so much from Miriam’s perspective. When Miriam feels helpless to deal with her rude and conniving mother in law, I felt helpless. When Miriam felt helpless in dealing with her secretive husband, I felt helpless. However, when Miriam finds her strength and stands up for herself in really clever and dignified ways, it feels like such a success! When Miriam starts making new friends and finding career success, it made me so happy. I squealed out loud when she name dropped María Hinojosa!
Oh and there is a mystery too. The mystery is fairly straight forward, but for me that was a good thing. I was happy to see the bad guys get theirs in the end. And I thought the way Miriam went about collecting clues and interviewing people was really well done and logical. There were several side characters that I loved meeting and I can’t wait to hear more from them next time.
There is a lot of Spanish used in the book, but there are lots of context clues around it. I can speak Spanish, so I loved the inclusion of the language. But even if I didn’t speak it, I think it is still understandable. There are several nods to Miriam’s Cuban culture as well. I thought that helped round out her character.
Overall, this book is heavy on character and lighter on plot. And that is just what it needed to be.
I received a copy of the book. This is my review.
October 22, 2021
This story was different from many of the cozies I've read and I really liked it. For one Miriam Quiñones-Smith, our heroine is married and a mother. She and her husband have recently moved from NYC to his old hometown in Florida. It's not like Miami where she grew up and she's still getting adjusted. Miriam is a food anthropologist and she gets offered an opportunity to do a cooking segment for a Spanish language television network.
I like how Spanish was incorporated. Miriam easily switched from English to Spanish, sometimes mid-sentence and it felt realistic to how many bilingual Spanish speakers talk. And there were enough context clues to figure out what was being said. Not only was Cuban culture included but also Haitian culture which has a big presence in South Florida.
Her shady hubby got on my nerves the entire book. Had her out here thinking crazy for no reason! I really loved her relationship with her young son. And I wanted to slap her racist mother-in-law!
I can't say I was super invested in the mystery aspects but I enjoyed the fun ride of navigating Miriam's world.
Also the audiobook is amazing. I received an arc from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
I like how Spanish was incorporated. Miriam easily switched from English to Spanish, sometimes mid-sentence and it felt realistic to how many bilingual Spanish speakers talk. And there were enough context clues to figure out what was being said. Not only was Cuban culture included but also Haitian culture which has a big presence in South Florida.
Her shady hubby got on my nerves the entire book. Had her out here thinking crazy for no reason! I really loved her relationship with her young son. And I wanted to slap her racist mother-in-law!
I can't say I was super invested in the mystery aspects but I enjoyed the fun ride of navigating Miriam's world.
Also the audiobook is amazing. I received an arc from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2023
Mango, Mambo and Murder by Raquel V Reyes
A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series #1. Spanish-language mixed with English throughout.
Miriam Quinones-Smith moves with her husband and children to Coral Shores, Miami, a rather exclusive resort area. But she’s closer to her family so that makes her happy. Her friend Alma, gets Miriam a job on a Spanish-language morning show as an on-air cooking expert where she successfully wows the crew and audience. Miriam is also invited to an exclusive country club event where one woman faints and another dies. Miriam is soon in the middle of the investigation of a Cuban herbalist and helping Detective Pullman ask questions of the club members.
A mystery series starter that is complex and yet follows a general cozy mystery format. The most interesting variance here is the amount of Spanish that’s included in the dialog that isn’t alway interpreted but it’s mostly clear in the end what is said. That’s accomplished by Mariam answering questions in the alternate language or restating the question. It’s quite cleverly done. There were some comments or sentences not restated, but those were generalized. The family drama adds depth to Mariam’s character but I still have questions on some of the money issues. Perhaps those will be answered later in the series.
There are several recipes included at the end of the book that sound quite tasty.
An entertaining premise. I’ll probably continue this series when time permits.
A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series #1. Spanish-language mixed with English throughout.
Miriam Quinones-Smith moves with her husband and children to Coral Shores, Miami, a rather exclusive resort area. But she’s closer to her family so that makes her happy. Her friend Alma, gets Miriam a job on a Spanish-language morning show as an on-air cooking expert where she successfully wows the crew and audience. Miriam is also invited to an exclusive country club event where one woman faints and another dies. Miriam is soon in the middle of the investigation of a Cuban herbalist and helping Detective Pullman ask questions of the club members.
A mystery series starter that is complex and yet follows a general cozy mystery format. The most interesting variance here is the amount of Spanish that’s included in the dialog that isn’t alway interpreted but it’s mostly clear in the end what is said. That’s accomplished by Mariam answering questions in the alternate language or restating the question. It’s quite cleverly done. There were some comments or sentences not restated, but those were generalized. The family drama adds depth to Mariam’s character but I still have questions on some of the money issues. Perhaps those will be answered later in the series.
There are several recipes included at the end of the book that sound quite tasty.
An entertaining premise. I’ll probably continue this series when time permits.
July 9, 2021
Cuban-American Miriam has just moved from NYC to Miami with her husband and young son. They are both originally from Florida, and decide to relocate when he’s offered a better job, despite the fact that she has a PhD, and university jobs in her field, food anthropology, are unavailable. His mother, who is bigoted nasty, and interfering, lives right down the street, much to Miriam’s dismay. Her best friend from grade school, Alma, a successful local realtor, takes her to a boring luncheon with women from Coral Shores but someone dies there. Was it murder? Is there a cocaine connection? Miriam starts to wonder about others she meets, including a Mambocise instructor, a quack who is peddling herbal remedies for everything from weight loss to infertility, and an unpleasant woman who seems too interested in Miriam’s husband. I liked Miriam’s foray into broadcast TV with a cooking segment on a Spanish language station (recipes are included), and look forward to reading future installments of this cozy mystery series. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
April 18, 2021
Rounding up from 4 and a half stars...I'm dinging it slightly as the mystery is a little obvious, but wow the cast, characters and locale are so fresh and fun that it makes up for it. Miriam Quinoñes-Smith has returned to Miami with as PhD, a husband and a toddler. But the milieu in Miami is much different now as her husband is a member of old line society. Dragged to a society luncheon by her domineering mother-in-law, Miriam witnesses the death of a young woman. When her BFF, Alma, is arrested, Miriam starts investigating. Ah the food, mouth watering descriptions of Caribbean cuisine proliferate as Miriam cooks and eats her way through dish after succulent dish. Hope we'll be seeing Miriam, her friends and family again soon. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2021
Miriam Quinones-Smith met and married her husband Robert in New York, where they also had a son. But when Robert's mother offers them a down payment on a new home -- near hers, of course -- Robert doesn't refuse and so they find themselves living back in Miami, where both of them grew up. Robert has asked Miriam to put her career on hold for a year while their four-year-old son grows adapted to his new life, and so she does.
But she doesn't expect her new life to become part of a Women's Club, and on her first visit there with her friend Alma, a real estate agent, a woman passes out and dies. Ruled an accident, it's soon apparent the woman was murdered. When another woman dies, it's a sealed deal. Now Miriam is caught up in a murder investigation, trying to raise her young son, and keep her marriage together. It's not as easy as it sounds...
The rest of the review contains spoilers, so do not read if you have not read the book:
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.
But she doesn't expect her new life to become part of a Women's Club, and on her first visit there with her friend Alma, a real estate agent, a woman passes out and dies. Ruled an accident, it's soon apparent the woman was murdered. When another woman dies, it's a sealed deal. Now Miriam is caught up in a murder investigation, trying to raise her young son, and keep her marriage together. It's not as easy as it sounds...
The rest of the review contains spoilers, so do not read if you have not read the book:
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.
January 12, 2022
All the cozy mystery series that I have read till date are set in small towns/villages. Mango, Mambo and Murder is set in Miami and celebrates Cuban culture by having a female protagonist of Cuban heritage, a healthy dose of Cuban cuisine and a significant amount of Spanish dialogues. The overall feel was vibrant and colourful introducing me to a whole new culture through food but I had issues with the Spanish dialogues. There was quite a bit of it and without the basic translation within the dialogue for a person like me (who doesn't know the language) to easily follow. The murder mystery wasn't as twisted and mysterious since I managed to guess who the culprit would be long before the last chapter. I have my doubts about Miriam's husband Robert and I do hope she gets a chance to give her snooty and racist mother in law a dressing down in the coming books.
I received the e-Arc of the book by the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author via NetGalley.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
I received the e-Arc of the book by the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author via NetGalley.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
October 8, 2021
Miriam Quiñones-Smith is a food anthropologist with a lot on her plate (sorry not sorry) whose husband has just moved them from NY back to her hometown of South Florida. If her parents still lived in Miami, it would be great; but they’ve moved away and she’s left with her meddling mother-in-law who may be trying out for the role of passive aggressive queen. Her husband is being super weird, working nonstop, and not telling her what he’s doing or where all their money is suddenly coming from. It doesn’t help that her husband’s brief high school girlfriend seems thrilled to have him back in town and that her mother-in-law sure seems like she wishes they’d stayed together.
But Miriam has plenty to distract her from her sudden marital woes, including reconnecting with her best friend, hosting a food show she knows nothing about (the hosting part, she’s great at cooking), caring for her young son, and did I mention attending a luncheon where a woman drops dead in front of her? When her best friend gets accused of murder, she’ll just have to figure out who is really responsible—no matter how much the detective tells her to stop.
I love the mix of Latinx food in this book (delicious, mouth watering descriptions but also interesting history and recipes at the end), the women’s friendships, the look behind the scenes of a food show, and all the Spanglish which was music to my ears. I’m really looking forward to this series and hope it’s long-running.
(TW diet culture, eating disorder, disordered eating/ mentions past addiction/ briefly mentioned with no details: past miscarriage; past overdose; past suicide)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: https://link.bookriot.com/view/56a820...
But Miriam has plenty to distract her from her sudden marital woes, including reconnecting with her best friend, hosting a food show she knows nothing about (the hosting part, she’s great at cooking), caring for her young son, and did I mention attending a luncheon where a woman drops dead in front of her? When her best friend gets accused of murder, she’ll just have to figure out who is really responsible—no matter how much the detective tells her to stop.
I love the mix of Latinx food in this book (delicious, mouth watering descriptions but also interesting history and recipes at the end), the women’s friendships, the look behind the scenes of a food show, and all the Spanglish which was music to my ears. I’m really looking forward to this series and hope it’s long-running.
(TW diet culture, eating disorder, disordered eating/ mentions past addiction/ briefly mentioned with no details: past miscarriage; past overdose; past suicide)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: https://link.bookriot.com/view/56a820...
November 20, 2021
This book engages all the senses with the sights, sounds, and tastes of Miami! Miriam Quinones Smith returns to her hometown hoping to start a new life with her husband and young son, only to become embroiled in a murder case when a woman at a luncheon faints dead away--literally. Making matters worse, her mother-in-law intrudes on their lives every chance she gets and never misses an opportunity to put Miriam down. Things aren't all bad, though, as Miriam's career as a food anthropologist takes an exciting new turn and she just might become the next big celebrity chef on TV and the internet. Lots of interesting facts about life in Miami and a darned good mystery, too!
January 12, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Miriam Quiñones-Smith was happy in New York. Then her mother-in-law bought her son and grandson a house in Coral Shores, Florida, 3 blocks away from her house. Miriam, a food anthropologist, had been in line for a professorship. Now her career is on hold and she is attending a Women’s Club luncheon at the country club, and Alma, her best friend, is trying to get her to accept a job on a Spanish-language morning TV show as a Caribbean cooking expert.
Well, the luncheon takes a tragic turn when socialite Sunny Weatherman, sitting next to Miriam, passes out and plants her face into her plate of chicken salad. She dies later at the hospital. Then another woman dies and it is thought the herbal remedies Dr. Fuentes is peddling may be the cause. The theory gains traction when he appears on a morning talk show and the host interviewing him crumbles on the set. But Detective Pullman is focusing on Miriam’s friend Alma. Miriam decides she needs to help her friend which makes the good detective a little crazy. Then he admits he could use her help. She has access to places he doesn’t and she speaks Spanish fluently.
Miriam may take the detective’s request too far even though knows she is getting close to the truth about the deaths. But due to her “investigation,” she may find herself in hot water with the killer ready to strike.
I liked Miriam, she is well-educated, a great mom to her son, Manny, and an excellent cook, but she allows her very pushy mother-in-law to walk all over her. Her husband really pushed my buttons as well with his secrets and not standing up to his mother for the way she was treating his wife. I felt sorry for the woman as she tried to deal with the abuse on her own. Alma is a good friend to her but she has a lot on her plate being a murder suspect. Miriam is a bit stronger at the end of the story which gives me hope for future installments.
The mystery was well-plotted with several suspects. Miriam is almost consumed with solving the murder mystery all while starting a new job, taking care of her child and home, and jumping every time her mother-in-law demands it. She asks good questions and ruminates on the answers and clues. She follows leads sometimes when she shouldn’t but it does get Detective Pullman’s attention. He quickly nicknames her Veronica Mars even though she has no idea who that is. All the clues came together for Miriam and she was delighted when the arrest was made. I solved the case before Miriam but the way everything played out was quite entertaining.
Miriam is a Cuban American and slips easily into Spanish. She speaks almost exclusively in Spanish to her son Manny while her husband speaks to him in English to raise him bilingual. This is great and I fully support how they live their lives but I am not fluent in Spanish. I do know some words but not enough to instantly translate. Fortunately, I was reading on my Kindle which allowed me to highlight and request the translation but that really messed with the flow of the story. I wish the translation had been right there in the text.
Mango, Mambo, and Murder has laid a great foundation for this series. I feel invested in Miriam and Manny and want to see how their lives in Coral Shores develop and grow. Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking is calling from my Kindle. I hope most of the translations are in the text or I may have to sign up for a Babbel course to learn more Spanish.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Miriam Quiñones-Smith was happy in New York. Then her mother-in-law bought her son and grandson a house in Coral Shores, Florida, 3 blocks away from her house. Miriam, a food anthropologist, had been in line for a professorship. Now her career is on hold and she is attending a Women’s Club luncheon at the country club, and Alma, her best friend, is trying to get her to accept a job on a Spanish-language morning TV show as a Caribbean cooking expert.
Well, the luncheon takes a tragic turn when socialite Sunny Weatherman, sitting next to Miriam, passes out and plants her face into her plate of chicken salad. She dies later at the hospital. Then another woman dies and it is thought the herbal remedies Dr. Fuentes is peddling may be the cause. The theory gains traction when he appears on a morning talk show and the host interviewing him crumbles on the set. But Detective Pullman is focusing on Miriam’s friend Alma. Miriam decides she needs to help her friend which makes the good detective a little crazy. Then he admits he could use her help. She has access to places he doesn’t and she speaks Spanish fluently.
Miriam may take the detective’s request too far even though knows she is getting close to the truth about the deaths. But due to her “investigation,” she may find herself in hot water with the killer ready to strike.
I liked Miriam, she is well-educated, a great mom to her son, Manny, and an excellent cook, but she allows her very pushy mother-in-law to walk all over her. Her husband really pushed my buttons as well with his secrets and not standing up to his mother for the way she was treating his wife. I felt sorry for the woman as she tried to deal with the abuse on her own. Alma is a good friend to her but she has a lot on her plate being a murder suspect. Miriam is a bit stronger at the end of the story which gives me hope for future installments.
The mystery was well-plotted with several suspects. Miriam is almost consumed with solving the murder mystery all while starting a new job, taking care of her child and home, and jumping every time her mother-in-law demands it. She asks good questions and ruminates on the answers and clues. She follows leads sometimes when she shouldn’t but it does get Detective Pullman’s attention. He quickly nicknames her Veronica Mars even though she has no idea who that is. All the clues came together for Miriam and she was delighted when the arrest was made. I solved the case before Miriam but the way everything played out was quite entertaining.
Miriam is a Cuban American and slips easily into Spanish. She speaks almost exclusively in Spanish to her son Manny while her husband speaks to him in English to raise him bilingual. This is great and I fully support how they live their lives but I am not fluent in Spanish. I do know some words but not enough to instantly translate. Fortunately, I was reading on my Kindle which allowed me to highlight and request the translation but that really messed with the flow of the story. I wish the translation had been right there in the text.
Mango, Mambo, and Murder has laid a great foundation for this series. I feel invested in Miriam and Manny and want to see how their lives in Coral Shores develop and grow. Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking is calling from my Kindle. I hope most of the translations are in the text or I may have to sign up for a Babbel course to learn more Spanish.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
May 26, 2022
This is a cozy mystery set in Miami where Cuban food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith has recently moved to with her family, only to find herself soon immersed into crime. It´s an easy-to-read even if sometimes longish story which mostly deals with Miriam´s problems with her husband, mother-in-law and friends. The mystery only takes over towards the end of the book. Also not always easy to understand if you don´t talk Spanish - I could help myself with French and Italian. I liked that Latinos, strong women, xenophobia and LGBTQ+ characters appeared. Would have liked Miriam getting to work in her skilled job. Yummy Cuban recipes attached!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2022
This is one of those rare mysteries that is so fun to read that I forget all about trying to figure out whodunit and just enjoyed the book! Delicious food, lovely friends, and a large family all add to the joy of this perfectly crafted story.
And on a personal note (since the author includes personal stories along with the recipes), I know that I hit the in-law lottery, but after meeting the MC's mother-in-law, I'm even more grateful that I dodged the horrible MIL bullet!
And on a personal note (since the author includes personal stories along with the recipes), I know that I hit the in-law lottery, but after meeting the MC's mother-in-law, I'm even more grateful that I dodged the horrible MIL bullet!
November 26, 2021
I absolutely loved this one and want more!!!
January 11, 2022
There's a lot I liked about this book: the focus on Cuban food and culture, the relationships between Miriam and her friends and family, the writing kept me engaged without bogging me down with too much information. The author does a fantastic job of placing you in the Miami area and making you really feel like you're there, enjoying the food and meeting the people. The investigation doesn't start until halfway through so Miriam spends her time getting her house together, making friends, and getting treated terribly by her husband and mother-in-law. I really felt bad for her for most of the book but am so glad everything worked out in the end.
With that being said, there was something that really bothered me with this book. When a book is written about a particular culture, it is understood that some things might be said better in language other than the one the book is written in. This book is about Cuban people and food. I would expect names of dishes to be in Spanish as well as a few phrases that would lose too much in translation if said in English. However, full conversations without translation should be left out. A simple, "I explained to my son, in Spanish,..." would have worked better and left readers less confused. And "I could finally get a big ola (sp?) de presion for making frijoles negros"- really? We're familiar with pressure cookers in the English speaking world; you can call it that. A little bit of Spanish sprinkled in here or there goes a long way. Yes, I realize this is how people talk but we don't write the way we talk . No need to overdo it. I will read the next one in the hopes that there will be significantly less.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
With that being said, there was something that really bothered me with this book. When a book is written about a particular culture, it is understood that some things might be said better in language other than the one the book is written in. This book is about Cuban people and food. I would expect names of dishes to be in Spanish as well as a few phrases that would lose too much in translation if said in English. However, full conversations without translation should be left out. A simple, "I explained to my son, in Spanish,..." would have worked better and left readers less confused. And "I could finally get a big ola (sp?) de presion for making frijoles negros"- really? We're familiar with pressure cookers in the English speaking world; you can call it that. A little bit of Spanish sprinkled in here or there goes a long way. Yes, I realize this is how people talk but we don't write the way we talk . No need to overdo it. I will read the next one in the hopes that there will be significantly less.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2022
3.5 stars rounded to 4 because CUBAN COZY MYSTERY!
This book was VERY Miami Cuban with lots and lots of Caribbean food (including recipes in the back of the book!).
The central part of the story is a murder mystery with bodies piling up everywhere that kept you on your toes with lots of potential suspects.
I loved the mixture of Spanish, Spanglish and English. You rarely see this in books, even though this is a reality with so many children and grandchildren of immigrants who are born in different countries. It's not a monolith and a bit messy. This was such a realistic portrayal.
There was lots of push back against racism in colorism in this book--both inside and outside the Latinx community. I do wish the racist mother-in-law plot would have been literally anyone else in the story because it conflates having a difficult MIL with racism, but I understand the editing decision and why of it in the context of race and class of the character.
Also there was a subplot I don't want to spoil, but it was basically miscommunicaiton driven and I was not a fan at all.
Again, the premise and the food culture were outstanding, I just wish a few small changes would have been made to the plot for maximum enjoyment (although I did just finish the 2nd one in the series).
This book was VERY Miami Cuban with lots and lots of Caribbean food (including recipes in the back of the book!).
The central part of the story is a murder mystery with bodies piling up everywhere that kept you on your toes with lots of potential suspects.
I loved the mixture of Spanish, Spanglish and English. You rarely see this in books, even though this is a reality with so many children and grandchildren of immigrants who are born in different countries. It's not a monolith and a bit messy. This was such a realistic portrayal.
There was lots of push back against racism in colorism in this book--both inside and outside the Latinx community. I do wish the racist mother-in-law plot would have been literally anyone else in the story because it conflates having a difficult MIL with racism, but I understand the editing decision and why of it in the context of race and class of the character.
Also there was a subplot I don't want to spoil, but it was basically miscommunicaiton driven and I was not a fan at all.
Again, the premise and the food culture were outstanding, I just wish a few small changes would have been made to the plot for maximum enjoyment (although I did just finish the 2nd one in the series).
June 19, 2022
In a story peppered with humor and recipes, Raquel. V. Reyes introduces an array of likeable characters in a series sure to be a hit. When Miriam’s friend is accused of murder, she sets on the case to clear Alma’s name. Miriam is new to Coral Shores in South Florida and is just starting a job as a Caribbean cook on a Spanish-language TV show. But as her celebrity star rises, her relationship with husband Robert takes a dive. Is he having an affair with one of the snobbish society women she’s met recently? It’s no piece of cake dealing with a young son, a hostile mother-in-law, and a murder. With her close access to the community, can she convince the police detective that she could be helpful? This debut title in the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series is a delicious delight!
June 2, 2021
The book was fun to read and entertaining. I enjoyed Miriam as the amateur sleuth. Adding Manny, her cute toddler, to the entire book made it more fun.. Although I figured out the whodunit, I did not mind; it made the story more enjoyable. The characters brought the story to life. However, the dialogue switches from Spanish to English. The experience was not bothersome to me. Miriam's job was something I had never encountered in a cozy mystery, as was her cooking job at the Spanish TV station. It made the book worth it to read.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.
June 6, 2021
An amateur sleuth who’s also a food anthropologist who specializes in Caribbean food? Yes, please! This is a delicious culinary cozy that serves up both mouthwatering Caribbean food and a fun, family-centered mystery.
March 22, 2022
A fun, youthful and modern addition to the cozy mystery genre! Can’t wait to read more in this series!
October 29, 2021
Dr. Miriam Quinones-Smith along with her husband, Robert and son, Manny have moved from New York to Coral Shores, Florida. Her best friend, Alma drags Miriam to the Women’s Club luncheon where Sunny Weatherman collapses and later dies at the hospital. Detective Frank Pullman focuses in on Alma as the guilty party. Miriam knows that her friend is innocent and sets out to prove it to the consternation of Detective Pullman. Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel Reyes is the debut of A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series. I liked Miriam and her son, Manny as well as Alma. There are a couple of other friendly secondary characters. Miriam has a doctorate in food anthropology, and she is also an excellent cook. Her cooking along with her food knowledge lands her job at UnMundo doing cooking segments. I was frustrated with Miriam’s mother-in-law, Marjory Smith who treats Miriam terribly (likes she is dirt on her otherwise pristine shoes) and Miriam’s husband, Robert. He does not listen to Miriam, does things without consulting her, and believes his mother is just wonderful (talk about wearing blinders). The mystery followed the standard formula. Sunny Weatherman is killed early in the story, but there is little action until the second half of the book. Miriam asks good questions and uncovers clues that help her investigation. Detective Frank Pullman is your standard detective. He asks questions, arrests the wrong person, and appreciates Miriam’s help (the information she uncovers) while telling her to keep her nose out of his investigation. I ended up liking the detective more by the end of the book. I like how he calls Miriam Veronica Mars. The mystery can easily be solved early in the story. As clues were revealed, it reinforced my decision. They why took longer to figure out. I liked how the mystery came together at the end. The biggest problem I had with Mango, Mambo, and Murder was the Spanish dialogue. Miriam is Cuban and I expected there to be some Spanish in the story. There is a significant amount of Spanish dialogue with no translation (I tried to learn Spanish, but I was not successful). There is plenty of cooking in this cozy that will have you hungering for Cuban food. There is humor scattered throughout the story that I enjoyed, and I loved little Manny. Mango, Mambo, and Murder is a cute Cuban cozy with a monster mother-in-law, a mysterious murder, a key conundrum, a television triumph, an unhelpful husband, and shrewd sleuthing.
October 26, 2021
MANGO, MAMBO, AND MURDER is the first book in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series by Raquel V. Reyes. The appealing setting of Miami and the Cuban cultural theme made for a unique backdrop to the cozy mystery murder. With the protagonist, Dr. Miriam Quiñones-Smith, being a food anthropologist, the reader is treated to not only the tastes of the Cuban food on page, but also to some history of the dishes and ingredients. This added a layer of enjoyment for me personally. (Tip: don’t read while you’re hungry or have a snack nearby!)
I really wanted to love Miriam as a character – she’s super intelligent, a caring mother to her adorable 4-year-old son, creative, and an excellent cook – but, she doesn’t have much of a backbone… yet. She has a lot of internal dialog that indicates she’s fed up with how her utterly despicable mother-in-law treats her (and treats any person of color), but she chooses to suck it up and not rock the boat so to speak. Even Miriam’s husband seems oblivious to his mother’s prejudices or willfully ignores her barbs. I hope this changes in future books and that the character growth is swift. As other reviewers have stated, the amount of dialog in Spanish, without translation instantly provided, slowed down the pace for me even when I have a basic understanding of the language.
The mystery itself is well-plotted with plenty of suspects to keep the reader on their toes. Miriam does an admirable job of juggling her duties as a mother, as a brand-new cooking segment tv and YouTube host, and for snooping. I appreciated that the detective investigating the murder(s) recognizes her valuable insight and connection to the community. Mango, Mambo, and Murder is a solid platform for future books and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really wanted to love Miriam as a character – she’s super intelligent, a caring mother to her adorable 4-year-old son, creative, and an excellent cook – but, she doesn’t have much of a backbone… yet. She has a lot of internal dialog that indicates she’s fed up with how her utterly despicable mother-in-law treats her (and treats any person of color), but she chooses to suck it up and not rock the boat so to speak. Even Miriam’s husband seems oblivious to his mother’s prejudices or willfully ignores her barbs. I hope this changes in future books and that the character growth is swift. As other reviewers have stated, the amount of dialog in Spanish, without translation instantly provided, slowed down the pace for me even when I have a basic understanding of the language.
The mystery itself is well-plotted with plenty of suspects to keep the reader on their toes. Miriam does an admirable job of juggling her duties as a mother, as a brand-new cooking segment tv and YouTube host, and for snooping. I appreciated that the detective investigating the murder(s) recognizes her valuable insight and connection to the community. Mango, Mambo, and Murder is a solid platform for future books and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 12, 2021
What a wonderful read. Well-developed characters, realistic problems with in-laws, prejudice, female friendships, an adorable toddler and a strong sense of Caribbean-American culture elevate this above the normal cozy. While many cozies center on food in some flavor or another, I haven’t run into a food anthropologist before which adds depth and cultural association with the recipes and ingredients (plus they sound scrumptious).
While the culprits are a bit obvious, overall, the story is strong. There is a lot of time setting the scene and introducing the characters with their background, but that is not unusual in the first book in a series. I enjoyed it. It moves a long without feeling bogged down by an info dump. It is also interesting seeing the behind-the-scenes of a making of a food segment of a morning show. When you are finished reading this, it doesn’t feel like one of the million of other cozy series out there.
If you are looking for a good story and something beyond the usual cozy, grab this. You won’t be disappointed. I look forward to reading more about Miriam and her family and friends in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in return for an honest opinion.
While the culprits are a bit obvious, overall, the story is strong. There is a lot of time setting the scene and introducing the characters with their background, but that is not unusual in the first book in a series. I enjoyed it. It moves a long without feeling bogged down by an info dump. It is also interesting seeing the behind-the-scenes of a making of a food segment of a morning show. When you are finished reading this, it doesn’t feel like one of the million of other cozy series out there.
If you are looking for a good story and something beyond the usual cozy, grab this. You won’t be disappointed. I look forward to reading more about Miriam and her family and friends in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in return for an honest opinion.
January 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this as a first in a cozy series. This setting and the main character were a breath of fresh air. I loved following Miriam through the town, trying to navigate moving to her husband's old stomping grounds, learning about the very stuffy culture that she is going to have to live in, and watching her grow and be proud of herself. I loved reading about the Caribbean food. I am currently wanting to eat all of it as I type this. I loved the intertwining of the Spanish language with English. I never felt thrown off by it, and it only immersed me in the story more.
The fact that Miriam is a mother and loving wife didn't detour from the story and I never felt like Manuel was left alone or not cared for. This was a wonderful way to start my 2024 reading.
The fact that Miriam is a mother and loving wife didn't detour from the story and I never felt like Manuel was left alone or not cared for. This was a wonderful way to start my 2024 reading.
May 2, 2024
I won't repeat the blurb, but it was interesting to read about a character who returns so close to where she grew up but in a very different neighbourhood and married to someone not of the same culture. Miriam, as in all mysteries of this type, becomes an amateur sleuth when the police suspect her best friend who she is sure is not guilty, and there is at least one fun spin on how this works. For those of us who didn't grow up in the Hispanic world, there are things we can learn about while enjoying the whodunnit aspects of this book.
Reyes is a new-to-me author and the title appealed to me. The series is fun, but as a Canadian I know no Spanish, so the bits of Spanish dialogue, which fit perfectly with the Hispanic/Caribbean culture was over my head and when I'm reading for fun I don't like to stop and check, plus online translators aren't particularly good. For that reason, I don't plan to continue it, but don't let that stop you from trying it, and of course for all those who speak Spanish and/or Spanglish it must be fun to read books with this in it.
Reyes is a new-to-me author and the title appealed to me. The series is fun, but as a Canadian I know no Spanish, so the bits of Spanish dialogue, which fit perfectly with the Hispanic/Caribbean culture was over my head and when I'm reading for fun I don't like to stop and check, plus online translators aren't particularly good. For that reason, I don't plan to continue it, but don't let that stop you from trying it, and of course for all those who speak Spanish and/or Spanglish it must be fun to read books with this in it.
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