Starred review from March 1, 2025
When Adeena is found next to a body in a corn maze, holding a bloody knife, Lila will do anything to prove her friend's innocence. Manansala's fifth "Tita Rosie's Kitchen" mystery (after Murder and Mamon) sees Filipino restaurateur Lila Macapagal grow as an investigator and a friend. Series fans will continue to be charmed by the growing Shady Palms community, and new listeners will settle easily into the inclusive, boisterous cast. Lila remains a self-aware protagonist, feeling too nosy not to investigate, but also understanding where her skills lie, what she can do that the police can't, and how to improve. Her personal life may take more nudging, as she and her business partners and best friends, Adeena and Elena, have arguments that could lead to stronger relationships. Narrator Danice Cabanela has the Shady Palms residents down pat, with every returning character immediately recognizable and distinct. Her commendable facility for creating new voices is tested here, as Lila seems to expand her friend group with every investigation. Listeners will certainly look forward to meeting some of these characters in Manansala's next mystery. VERDICT A true joy from the initial murder to the corn recipes at the end.--Matthew Galloway
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