Book Reviews: Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes

Mango, Mambo, and Murder is the first book in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series. Miriam is what you'd call a food anthropologist. She's recently moved to Coral Shores, Miami from NYC with her husband and son which should have been a chance for a new chapter instead she finds a whole lot of complications. She's having to deal with a busybody mother-in-law, her husband's ex that's getting a little too friendly, and the murder of a socialite. Miriam finds herself drawn further into the investigation much to the disapproval of Detective Pullman but the more she digs, the closer she comes to uncovering a killer. Recipes are included.

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REVIEW

"Familia is all we have in life."

 - Miriam's Tia, Chapter 27

The story blends food, family, relationships, and murder into a suspenseful and charming start to a new series. These elements are woven throughout Miriam's transition to a new place where she's now with her family and in-laws constantly. Her husband takes a new job that has him working alongside his ex-girlfriend and leads Miriam to wonder if more than a working relationship is brewing. This adds some tension between the married couple and drama within the plot as he starts working too much and she's struggling to find her place when she lands herself in the middle of a murder investigation. She's strong-willed and empowering, working to find balance in her life which makes her a relatable and well-rounded character. She's looking for work, dealing with an overbearing mother-in-law, bonding with her sister-in-law, worried about her marriage, and striving to figure out who she is outside of being a mother.

Reyes excels at drawing out different layers to Miriam with each serving equal importance to her character as a mother, a wife, a friend, a businesswoman, and as an amateur sleuth. She's relatable through her jealousy, her spirit, her struggles to multitask all aspects of her life, and her spitfire nature. The attitude and empowering strength that Reyes has infused within the character make her unforgettable. The familial elements are an important part of her journey as Miriam faces the fear of her marriage ending and deals with an overbearing mother-in-law which adds to the realness of the story. Miriam's bonding with her sister-in-law adds humor to the story and gives her a sidekick dealing with her husband's family. Reyes explores various themes such as marriage, family, finding your place, and changes. As Miriam learns to embrace the new changes in her life, she's learning to balance every element of her life while taking the opportunity to explore herself. The strain on Miriam's marriage creates tension, drama, and humor (loving Miriam's temper and attitude) after they move to a new location and her husband takes a new job. Though, it's to be noted that this isn't a story about the crumbling of a relationship but the strength of one as Miriam and her husband come to a stronger place by the end of the mystery. 

Charming, funny, and relatable, Reyes delivers a murder mystery that sets up an addicting new series that is hard to put down from the first page.