Arsenic and Adobo
A RUSA Award-winning novel! The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer.... When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes.
She's tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case. With the cops treating her like she's the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila's left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation.
Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…
- Pages
- 295
- First published
- January 1, 2021
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ebook
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Shelved by 13 Litcadians
3 are currently reading
Reviews
Started October 3, 2026 · Finished October 4, 2026
- funnycozyFast-paced
Started October 1, 2026 · Finished October 2, 2026
I really enjoyed it even if I felt like they were skirting so much around the topic and the investigation. Lila especially has so many side quests in my opinion. It doesn't help that all those side quests involve food. It made me hungry. Word of caution to the homegrown Filipinos though, take the disclaimer to heart and prepare yourself. You might end up getting triggered, whether sad or angry, in some parts. But don't worry, the titas and ninangs will be there to set your priorities straight. To the tsismis. Onward to the new food and cozy mystery then.
- cozyemotionalmysterioustenseMedium-paced
Started October 1, 2026 · Finished October 2, 2026
- lightheartedmysteriousFast-paced
Started July 29, 2023 · Finished July 29, 2023
Charming characters and setting but a bit bland overall, and far too much of it was composed of conversations in which people remembered events and conversations with unusual degrees of accuracy (possibly I have read too much crime nonfiction for cozy mysteries, so that is on me). It needed more snooping about instead of just talking and I wish the dog had ever done anything relevant to the plot. However I think as a first novel it's promising so I'll probably pick up the next one in the series.