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Book Review
Reviewed: 13 October 2024

Dominoes, Danzón, and Death

by: Raquel V. Reyes

A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery - Book 4

  • Rating: full starfull starfull starhalf starstar outline (3.5/5)

How many Ph.Ds does it take to solve a mystery? 

From book 1, I have enjoyed reading about the Miriam and her adventures. Author Raquel V. Reyes has sprinkled Spanglish, educated us about etymology, enticed our taste buds with recipes, shared family drama, and of course taken us along for the ride to solve a mystery, or three as is the case in this, book 4 of the series.

We are once again brought into Miriam Quiñones-Smith’s life. Picking up 3 years after book 3, we see what life has become for her, her family and her career due to the pandemic. In addition to my favorite character little Manny who is now six years old, there is his sister Sirena (at the end of book 3 Miriam was nearly ready to pop), and Miriam’s parents now living with them in Miami. Their home a truly a multigenerational bilingual home now.

Miriam, like a lot of working moms, has a lot to juggle. Added to this, are the mysteries:

  1. The bones found at husband Robert’s job site
  2. The death of the tour guide with producer and friend Delvis as prime suspect
  3. The death threats on Senior, Robert’s dad that are causing Marjory to look past her bigotry and ask for Miriam’s help

The endearing way that Detective Pullman addresses Miriam, is just fun. And just because there are mysteries doesn’t mean that life is on hold. There is the upcoming nuptials between Robert’s cousin, Police Sergeant Gordon Smith and Miriam’s friend Omarosa. The celebration that seems doomed. And much more.

While the story may not be a quick, light read is a fulfilling one with history, family, food, a bit of mysticism, social inclusion, and heady mysteries. 

I need a BFF like Alma!  I was happy to have familiar characters make an appearance (gotta love someone named Stormy Weatherman)

I am looking forward to a second read/first listen as I really enjoy the narrator, especially since my Spanish is horrible.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story. 

Happy Reading!

Release Date: 19-November-2024
Cozy Mystery, Food Mystery, Female Sleuth, NetGalley

Plot Summary

Latina sleuth and culinary master Miriam Quiñones-Smith is cooking up a storm in the fourth installment of the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series.

It’s been three years since food anthropologist and cooking show star Miriam Quiñones-Smith had her last brush with death. Her Spanglish culinary show, Abuela Approved, is topping the charts. Her parents are back in Miami and living with her in Coral Shores. And her kids are great. But when bones start popping up in unexpected places, Miriam’s idyllic life is threatened.

Her husband Robert’s much-delayed hotel project screeches to a halt when human bones are unearthed. Tribal representatives, forensic archaeologists, and a pompous professor rain down on the possibly ancient site. Then a fake skeleton with the name 'Smith' etched into it is found floating in the bay with an ominous note. Is it a threat to Miriam’s husband or her inlaws? And when Miriam’s boss Delvis is seen going off on a tour guide who marched through the crew-only area on set and is later found dead, Delvis is declared the main suspect.

To protect her family and friends, Miriam must dig up the truth that has been hiding in plain sight.