In Homicide and Halo-Halo, we’re back in Shady Palms just months after book 1. Lila, our amateur sleuth, is just about to open the Brew-Ha Cafe with her bestie. And she’s been asked to guest judge Miss Teen Shady Palms, a local pageant she won as a teenager.
Beauty pageants aren’t really my thing, but it’s a great set up for drama, complete with catty pageant moms, local politicians, and a rich family bankrolling most of it. Mia again serves up lots of Filipino food and culture and more characters of color in general. Ate Bernie continues to be my favorite character because she’s not afraid to call Lila out. And this time around, Lila’s self-centeredness is on full display. But there’s a reason…
Homicide and Halo-Halo is darker than Arsenic and Adobo. It’s still a cozy, of course, but be sure to read the Author’s Note and check the content warnings before diving in. Lila’s not just investigating the murder of someone close to the pageant, she’s got a lot on her plate emotionally/mental health-wise. And is avoiding dealing with it.
Homicide and Halo-Halo is unequivocally a cozy mystery for the 21st century with details that leave no question about where it stands. Against a pageant backdrop, characters mention their pronouns, comment on how pageants could be more gender-inclusive, and how women are often punished for things men get away with simply by virtue of being dudes. And the MC and her family are Filipino American. It’s a refreshing reflection of our times. As an Asian American reader, high fives all around.
The whodunnit was easier to figure out this time, even with so many new and returning characters on the board. While there may not be a lot of twists, turns and red herrings, it’s an enjoyable series worth reading. I’ll be back for Blackmail and Bibingka in October.
3.5 stars
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If you’re enjoying the food, culture and family elements of this series, check out Naomi Hirahara’s Leilani Santiago mysteries set on Kaua’i. Iced in Paradise is available now. An Eternal Lei, the second book in the series, hits shelves March 22.