Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

Summary: "When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She's tasked with saving her Tita Rosie's failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case."

I enjoyed this! I appreciated the Midwestern setting and especially the diverse foods. 

I wanted a bit more out of the mystery, and a bit more out of the non-existent romance. More Amir, please! Or, even more Dr. Jae!

But it was an impressive first novel for an author, and I may follow the series as it continues.

316 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

A Cookbook Conspiracy by Kate Carlisle

A cozy mystery, in the Bibliophile series, featuring Brooklyn Wainwright as a bookbinder and foodie who happens to keep getting involved in solving murders.  This time the story revolves around an old cookbook and a group of diva chefs, one of whom is Brooklyn's sister. One of the chefs, the bad boy of the group, is killed on the opening night for his new restaurant. Brooklyn's sister, Savannah (yes, the siblings are all named after cities), is found with the bloody murder weapon in her hand. The plot has a few interesting twists but Brooklyn does way too much gushing about her divinely sweet and handsome boyfriend and how she doesn't deserve him.  A few recipes are included at the end.  305 p.