Murder and Mamon
Murder and Mamon is the latest in Mia P. Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Series. I have reviewed two of the previous entries including the first book Arsenic and Adobo. The series resolves around Lila Macapagal and her friends and family. Her aunt who raised her is the owner of a Filipino restaurant, which is where the series name is derived from. I think this may have been my favorite novel in the series so far; it focuses on her godmothers, a gossipy bunch who have just opened a laundromat. Lila must discover whether the threating letter’s they are receiving are due to vengeance for the rumors they spread or an angry competitor. The mystery kept me guessing till the very end. The food featured sounded mouthwatering as always and recipes are included at the end if you want to try making some Filipino classic or fusion dishes. Although each book can be enjoyed separately and each mystery is self-contained you will get spoilers about Lila’s romantic partners and other life events if you read the stories out of order. This novel will appeal to fans of New Adult Fiction as well as Cozy Mysteries.
The Nameless Restaurant
by Tao Wong
The Nameless Restaurant is the first in Canadian author, Tao Wong’s Hidden Dishes series. It is a novella and I enjoyed this quick bite as an audiobook narrated by Emily Woo Zeller who charmingly voices the many characters and brings them to life. This is a cozy fantasy set at a mysterious restaurant in Toronto frequented by not quite human patrons who manage to find it. The chef is a lovable grump who creates fantastic meals even if out of the humble ingredients with his skills and knowledge of a variety of Asian cuisine. You do not want to be reading/listening to this one on an empty stomach. This will appeal to anyone looking for more mellow low-stake fantasies similar to Legends and Lattés by Travis Baldree, which a colleague had previously reviewed. Check out next week’s post which includes a fiction novel with a dragon gourmand and two Lovecraft cookbooks!
Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 
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