Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal

Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal (2023) Raquel V. Reyes (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery)

What did I like about this story?

“No te olvides de tus uvas,” Mami warned me. It was a tradition practiced in many Latinx and Hispanic homes. You had to eat twelve grapes for good luck before the clock struck to signal the new year.

I really liked how much Spanish and Spanglish was used in the story.

No, I can’t speak or read Spanish, but I can guesstimate words from their similarity to French, and also from context.

“No te olvides de tus uvas,” Mami warned me. It was a tradition practiced in many Latinx and Hispanic homes. You had to eat twelve grapes for good luck before the clock struck to signal the new year.

And, since I read it on a kindle, a simple highlight and swipe gave me a translation. So I got to confirm my guesses, which I really enjoyed.

I also loved the cultural (and anthropological) bits.

my Cuban family stayed up on Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, cooked a whole pig, had a delicious meal, danced and sang, played games, and opened presents. Then twelve days later, the Three Kings came to give the kids more gifts.

And I very much appreciated the Latinx view of the politics of the DR.

(T)he fiscal oversight board had enacted legislation that allowed outside investors to avoid paying taxes on the premise that it would entice businesses to come to the island, which would, in theory, help the local economy. Outside investors were putting their money into projects, but the profits were not staying local. It was the same old colonial plunder and pillage song and dance but sung to a new tune.

“(I)t was a hex breaker cleanse from my aunt. My mother thinks it will rid me of my bad luck,” I said.

Marie, who’d been listening, agreed. “That stuff works.” She nodded and splashed some water on her shoulders. “Vodou is like a Wi-Fi connection to your ancestors.”

The problem was the mystery.

I admit I was having a great deal of trouble concentrating, so it’s possible I missed things, but the mystery felt unresoved. Was the ending supposed to be that way? Or was this to be continued in another book (which we know I hate)?

I just felt lost and like I was missing something (or a lot of things).

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Rating: 6/10

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