Homicide and Halo-Halo

Homicide and Halo-Halo (2022) Mia P. Manansala (A Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery)

Lila Macapagal is supposed to be getting ready for the opening of the cafe she is opening with her best friend. But instead she is guilted into judging the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant, which she won as a teenager.

And, of course, another murder.

“Look, I know the other night didn’t end well, but if you care about your cousin, it doesn’t matter who’s right. She needs your help, whether she admits it or not.”

Excuse me? It didn’t matter who was right?! In what world?

One of the things I especially liked in this book was that it forced Lila to come to terms with the events of the previous book.

“So your family taught you to not talk about your problems and throw yourself into your work to avoid dealing with them? Does that sound healthy to you?”

The mystery was fine. I was pretty sure whodunnit before the big reveal.

Although I dislike pageants I did appreciate they were trying to make it more about accomplishments rather than beauty. But still. I really dislike even the idea of pageants.

Publisher: Berkley

Rating: 7/10

• Browse the archives:
  
• Come Unto These Yellow Sands » »
• « « Grilled Cheese and Goblins: Adventures of a Supernatural Food Inspector