In the third installment of the Caribbean Kitchen mysteries, for fans of Mia P. Manansala , Miriam Quiñones, cooking show sensation and amateur sleuth, has sand between her toes and a murderer nipping at her heels.
A surprise trip to Miriam's parents in Punta Cana, which should be filled with arroz con pollo and breezy days under the tamarind tree, quickly becomes a hunt for a possible property saboteur. But before Miriam can begin to uncover the person damaging the vacation rentals her parents manage, she’s called away to Puerto Rico to film a Three Kings Day special. She's welcomed to the blue ballast-stone streets of Old San Juan by crime scene tape, and things only get worse from there.
An anonymous personal gift on Miriam's doorstep on New Year's Eve screams stalker, and the 400-year-old guesthouse creaks and moans like there is something trapped in its walls. Luckily, her BFF, Alma, and their mutual friend Jorge are in town to keep her distracted between filming cultural segments for the network. But private chef tables and spa days come to an abrupt halt when Jorge's telenovela heartthrob novio goes missing. And there is something worrisome about Alma's too-perfect boyfriend--specifically, his duffle bag full of cash.
Will demon masks, African drumbeats, and dark alleys lead to Miriam's demise? Or will the mysterious events come together like the delicious layers of a pastelón?
Praise for Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal:
“Crime and cuisine really do mix.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Original, carefully crafted, and with a genuine flair for the kind of narrative storytelling style that fully engages the rapt attention of the reader from start to finish.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal features a determined heroine . . . I’ll be back for another helping.”
—Fresh Fiction
“A culinary series that readers are craving, drawn in by Reyes’ brisk plots and appealing characters.”
—South Florida Sun Sentinel
Praise for the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series:
2022 LEFTY AWARD FOR BEST HUMOROUS MYSTERY NOVEL - MANGO, MAMBO, AND MURDER
“Raquel V. Reyes’s series debut, Mango, Mambo, and Murder, furthers my belief that the cozy mystery has become one of the most diverse, and most vibrant, in contemporary crime fiction.”
—The New York Times
“This series is now on my insta-buy list."
—Mia P. Manansala, author of Arsenic and Adobo
“Raquel Reyes’ debut is as bright as the Miami sun and as satisfying as a big pot of sancocho, with a kick like a shot of Cuban coffee."
—Catriona McPherson, multi-award-winning author of the Last Ditch Motel series
“A delicious culinary cozy that serves up both mouthwatering Caribbean food and a fun, family-centered mystery."
—Gigi Pandian, award-winning author of the Accidental Alchemist Mysteries
"Mango, Mambo, and Murder has everything you look for in a cozy mystery but also feels like a breath of fresh air."
—BookPage, starred review
"A vibrant, diverse, LGBTQ-inclusive cast and Raquel Reyes’s deft balance of sensitive topics and frothy intrigue make this a standout."
—BookRiot
"Mystery fans will instantly be pulled into this one."
—Reader's Digest
“[A] refreshing debut and series launch . . . [with] well-defined characters and [a] vibrant social scene. Mouthwatering recipes round out the volume.”
—Publishers Weekly
“It is refreshing to see the diversity of this story.”
—New York Journal of Books
“The character-driven debut introduces a fresh protagonist.”
—Library Journal, starred review
“Raquel V. Reyes has found the right recipe for an engrossing, light mystery that blends Cuban-American culture, a love of food and appealing characters.”
—South Florida Sun Sentinel
“Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking holds community, family, and the joy of food at the heart of it; keeping it immensely joyful, while being an incredibly fun read.”
—Latinx in Publishing
