Mia P. Manansala (Arsenic and Adobo; Murder and Mamon) again folds the ingredients of culture, family, friendship, and food into Guilt and Ginataan, the lively fifth volume in her Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series.
Brew-ha Cafe co-owner Lila Macapagal and her friends and co-workers find that their booth at the annual Shady Pines Corn Festival is drawing new customers eager to try their Filipino dishes and excellent coffee.
Two of those new customers are Judy Reyes, mayor of nearby Shelbyville, Ill., and her wife, Yvonne. Near the end of the day, Yvonne is found stabbed to death in the corn maze, a popular festival destination. Adeena Awan, Lila's best friend and business partner, lies unconscious next to the body, along with a bloody knife. Adeena remembers nothing about the murder. To prove her friend's innocence, Lila enlists her usual group: her three ninangs (godmothers), April, Mae, and June, whom she calls the "Calendar Crew"; her handsome boyfriend, Jae Park; Jae's brother, Jonathan; and Adeena's girlfriend, Elena Torres.
While adhering to the tenets of the cozy mystery, Manansala deftly addresses subjects such as stalking, toxic friendships, and political corruption. The characters' close relationships, respect, and love for one another continue to be an important aspect of Manansala's novels. Manansala also realistically shows how even strong friendships can be bumpy. Frequent meals at Tita Rosie's Kitchen, where characters discuss the crime and festival offerings, infuse the plot with mouthwatering diversions, and a welcome selection of recipes as well as a glossary of terms are also included. --Oline H. Cogdill, freelance reviewer