While I enjoyed Raquel V. Reyes’ first Caribbean Kitchen mystery, and Mango, Mambo, and Murder went on to win the 2022 Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery, I was disappointed in the second book. The setting and diverse cast are as entertaining as ever. But, the mystery seemed disjointed. And, as others have said, although I read some Spanish, some of it in this book was not easily understood when it wasn’t in context and I didn’t find a definition. This one might not have as much appeal to the target audience as the first book did.
Miriam Quinones-Smith, a food anthropologist and cooking show host for the Spanish station UnMundo, enjoys the fall festival at her son’s school, despite the angry woman who verbally attacked Robert, Miriam’s husband. But, after rattling disturbances during the night, blamed on a raccoon, she’s stunned to find that same woman passed out in the front yard. Lois Pimpkin may have been poisoned. Fortunately, Detective Frank Pullman sees Miriam as an amateur sleuth with her pulse on the community. Actually, though, it’s Robert who has connections and knows all the gossip, including the stories of Lois’ feuds within her family.
Miriam has her own family problems. Her hateful mother-in-law volunteers Miriam to be in charge of the Women’s Club gala and menu, even though she’s not a member of the stuffy club. It’s Miriam’s idea to round up her friends, and cater the gala with ethnic food trucks. But, while Miriam and her friends are at the country club, they overhear an argument, and the new chef takes a header off the staircase.
As usual, Pullman finds Miriam a little too nosy for her own good, but she’s caught up in the investigation. It’s a case that can only lead to trouble because she doesn’t know the suspects well enough to watch her own back.
As I said, I had problems with this book. Miriam isn’t at all subtle as an amateur sleuth. There was too much Spanish in the book. And, the ending seemed abrupt and left some threads dangling. This time, I’m not sure I’m going to move on to the third in the series.
Raquel V. Reyes’ website is https://rvreyes.com/
Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes. Crooked Lane Books, 2022. ISBN 9781639101061 (hardcover), 336p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley so I could review the book for a journal.
