Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala is a solid third book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen cozy mystery series (3.5/5 stars)

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala is a solid third book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen cozy mystery series.

I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at a little under nine hours and is narrated by Danice Cabanela.

Lila has been busy with her new business, The Brew-ha Café, and her newly minted boyfriend as she prepares for the holiday season. Fifteen years after ghosting their family, her cousin Ronnie comes back to Shady Palms after co-purchasing a local winery. Rumors, secrets, and murder seem to follow him to town.

This is another solid book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen cozy mystery series. As always, there are lovely descriptions of food that I wish I could pull out of the pages and take a bite! Thankfully, the author always includes some recipes at the back of the book.

All of the side characters are still great! The whole Shady Palms community really tends to be the highlight of my reading journey for this series. The Brew-ha Café is growing, and I really loved seeing that all come together. Another thing I’m enjoying the growth of is Lila’s new relationship, but I wish they spent more time on page with each other.

I tend to read each book in this series in close to one sitting. They’re lovely little morsels and great comfort reads.

CW: substance abuse, gambling addition, infidelity, emotional abuse, police corruption, family abandonment, physical violence, mentions of suicide

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The Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Series includes:

• Arsenic and Adobo
• Homicide and Halo-Halo
• Blackmail and Bibingka
• Murder and Mamon
• Guilt and Ginataan
• Death and Dinuguan (expected 2025)