Author: Mia P. Manansala
Series: Tia Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery #4
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 304
Date of Publication: September 19, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
When murder mars the grand opening for Lila Macapagal’s aunties’ new laundromat, she will have to air out all the dirty laundry in Shady Palms to catch a killer…
Lila Macapagal's godmothers April, Mae, and June—AKA the Calendar Crew—are celebrating the opening of their latest joint business venture, a new laundromat, to much fanfare (and controversy). However, what should’ve been a joyous occasion quickly turns into a tragedy when they discover the building has been vandalized—and the body of Ninang April’s niece, recently arrived from the Philippines, next to a chilling message painted on the floor. The question is, was the message aimed at the victim or Lila's gossipy godmothers, who have not-so-squeaky-clean reputations?
With Ninang April falling apart from grief and little progress from the Shady Palms Police Department in this slippery case, it’s up to Lila and her network to find justice for the young woman.
The Calendar Crew have stuck their noses into everybody’s business for years, but now the tables are turned as Lila must pry into the Calendar Crew’s lives to figure out who has a vendetta against the (extremely opinionated yet loving) aunties and stop them before they strike again.
MY THOUGHTS:
It is the grand opening of a new laundromat, opened by Lila Macapagal’s godmothers, April, Mae, and June—older women who have become known as the Calendar Crew. Custom has Lila calling her godmothers by the affectionate title of Ninang. Ninang April is excited that her niece Divina will be visiting from the Phillipines. From the start, Lila is equally put off and also impressed with Divina. Divina’s thoughtless insults towards Lila for her penchant of amateur sleuthing is really annoying. Any draw Lila has towards Divina quickly evaporates.
Despite the recent establishment of the new laundromat, a murder has occurred, prompting Lila to take it upon herself to investigate the incident, particularly given that it has happened to her godmothers. Furthermore, the deceased woman was actually Ninang’s April’s niece, Divina, and her apparent murder is a profound shock, leaving April in a state of utter heartbreak.
Between Lila and the Calendar Crew, there will undoubtedly be numerous inquiries raised by anyone who could potentially have possessed the motive and the means to commit murder. In fact, this rather strains Lila’s relationship with her godmothers. This fourth installment in the Tia Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series is an exceptional read, particularly when following Lila’s aptitude for solving crimes.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
She is the winner of the 2022 Anthony Award for Best First Novel, 2022 Macavity Award for Best First Novel, 2022 RUSA Reading List for Mystery, 2021 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, 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 was shortlisted for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery/Thriller and the 2021 CHIRBy Award for Fiction by the Chicago Review of Books. She's also a 2017 Pitch Wars alum and 2018-2020 mentor.
A lover of all things geeky, Mia spends her days procrastibaking, playing RPGs and otome games, reading cozy mysteries and diverse romance, and cuddling her dogs Gumiho and Max Power.
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