ARSENIC AND ADOBO Tita Rosie's Kitchen, Book 1

Danice Cabanela is the perfect narrator for this cozy mystery. Lila Macapagal returns home to Illinois after a messy breakup. She is committed to rejuvenating her Tita Rosie's restaurant, but her ex-boyfriend, Derek, runs a smear campaign to ruin its reputation. When Derek dies after Lila serves him a dish, the Macapagals find themselves under investigation. Cabanela adeptly portrays characters with diverse backgrounds. She is especially commendable voicing Lila and her Filipino-American relatives. Though her pronunciation is hit-or-miss--there are instances in which she puts the wrong stress on some Filipino words and sometimes exaggerates the accent--her charming voice shines through. Listeners will savor this treat. A.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2021]