Crime and Comfort Food
Mia P. Manansala is the award-winning writer behind the Tita Rosie Kitchen Mystery Series. She loves books, baking, and badass women. (Photo courtesy of Mia P. Manansala)
Arsenic and Adobo was launched in May 2021, followed by Homicide and Halo-Halo[, Blackmail and Bibingka] in 2022, Murder and Mamon in 2023, and Guilt and Ginataan in 2024. The final book, Death and Dinuguan, comes out on November 25.
These six books comprise the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Series written by Mia P. Manansala. (Book covers designed by Vi-An Nguyen, graphic courtesy of Berkley/Penguin Random House)
Set in the fictional town of Shady Palms, Illinois, Lila Macapagal and her relatives run Tita Rosie’s Kitchen, where they serve Filipino cuisine and solve crimes on the side. Now, why would you want to live here if a suspicious death occurs frequently? It’s the food.
The descriptions alone are mouthwatering—from what they are serving and eating at the restaurant to the recipes found at the end of the book—you’re guaranteed to be hungry. There is the pull of family, so no matter what kind of relationship you have with them, they are always the ones you turn to.
The Manansala Family is Mia’s biggest support system. She says, “They’ve always encouraged me to go after my not-Asian approved career choice of writing.” (Photo courtesy of Mia P. Manansala)
There is also a slice of Filipino life on every page: nosy aunties, tsismis (gossip), an obsession with beauty pageants, the habit of recycling ice cream containers as Tupperware, a deep respect for elders, running on Filipino time (tardiness), and the use of Tagalog words in the dialogue. If you are Filipino, these situations are very familiar, and if you’re not, they invite you to step into our shoes.
Chicago-based author and book coach Mia P. Manansala describes the idea behind Arsenic and Adobo: “There were actually a few inspirations. First, my mom, who introduced me to cozy mysteries. We both love the genre, but until recently there hasn’t been much diversity in it. I wrote the book my mom and I wanted to see on the shelf. Second, was my dad, who’s the inspiration for all the food-related content. Sadly, he passed away before I got my deal, but there’s so much of him in the book. Food was his love language, and that’s something I wanted to explore. Lastly, I was joking with my mentor, Kellye Garrett, about how cozy mysteries are basically rom-coms (romantic comedies) with dead bodies. Soon after, the first line of the book appeared in my head, fully formed, while on the train to work, and I had to write it down on my phone because I knew this was my next story idea.”
It was no surprise that her book proposal got the attention of the publisher Berkley/Penguin Random House. Editor Angela Kim explains, “It was a combination of many great elements—Mia’s fresh voice, the story she wanted to tell with the perspective she had to tell it, the fascinating cast of characters, and not to mention the food! We loved how Mia incorporated the perfect balance of mystery, heart, and delicious recipes,]and felt that it would open up the cozy genre to a broader audience.”
Author Mia P. Manansala with her editors Michelle Vega and Angela Kim during the Agatha Award Ceremony. Mia won the 2021 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. (Photo courtesy of Mia P. Manansala)
“It’s inviting and accessible to those who aren’t familiar with the genre, particularly younger readers. We place a character in their twenties in a small town, going through things that young people today experience: love, loss, family drama, and career struggles. The series is grounded but incorporates these themes in a fun, fast-paced mystery, and we’ve seen that readers have loved following Lila’s journey because it’s so relatable (minus the murder, of course!). We also have to mention the amazing covers by Vi-An Nguyen—they’re so fun and fresh and vibrant, which I think [sets] the series apart from others in the market. They really speak to the youthful and active tone of the books,” adds Angela.
Author Mia P. Manansala with her first writing teacher Lori Rader-Day who guided her down the mystery writing path. (Photo courtesy of Mia P. Manansala)
“Cozy mysteries are always series, or at the very least have a sequel, so I wrote Arsenic and Adobo knowing there would be future books,” Mia elaborates. The success of the first book resulted in a six-book deal, audiobook editions, translation rights, and a slew of awards such as the 2022 Anthony Award for Best First Novel, 2022 Macavity Award for Best First Mystery, 2022 RUSA Reading List for Mystery, 2021 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, and 2021 Chicago Reader’s Best New Novel by a Chicagoan.
On the warm reception of her books, Mia says, “I write for two main reasons: because I never saw myself in the books I read growing up, and because books were my main sources of solace and entertainment (and still are). I write the stories I always wish I had as a kid, but if other Fil-Ams feel seen as well, that’s something precious. Also, if my books provide a sense of comfort, entertainment, and escape when a reader needs it, then I’ve done my job. The fact that numerous readers have told me how much my books mean to them, often sharing very personal stories, is truly an honor.”
Mia’s cheering squad, her husband James Stennis and their dogs Max Power and Gumiho. (Photo courtesy of Mia P. Manansala)
On average, she spends four hours a day on focused writing. Her biggest struggle: “Being disciplined enough to write consistently even if I’m not in the mood; writing is my full-time job, so I can’t just sit around waiting for inspiration to strike.” She admits to occasional “procrasti-baking,” developing recipes that appear in every book. She likewise belongs to several writing communities to refine her craft.
“The goal post for success is always changing. As a writer, it starts as ‘If I finish a book, that’s a success.’ And then it becomes, ‘Well, I wrote a book, now I need a literary agent.’ ‘Now I have a literary agent, so I need a book deal.’ ‘Now I have a book deal, so I need the book to do well.’ ‘The book seems to be doing OK, so now I need to sell another book.’ ‘That one author got a major deal or multiple foreign sub rights or a film/TV option or hit the bestseller list, so now I need to do all those things too.’ On and on and on. For me, if I can continue making a living by writing stories I truly care about, that's all that matters. Everything else is a bonus,” she adds.
The descriptions alone are mouthwatering—from what they are serving and eating at the restaurant to the recipes found at the end of the book.
Now that the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series is ending, Mia confesses, “It’s bittersweet. It was definitely time to say goodbye, but these books changed my life. I’ll always love this series.”
“I left Lila and her crew in a good place at the end of Death and Dinuguan, so I hope that readers are happy with the wrap-up. Also, I’m still writing and have a new Young Adult mystery series. The first book, Death in the Cards, came out in May, and the sequel, Murder Under the Full Moon, comes out [in] Spring 2027. I’m also currently working on a new project that I absolutely love, but it’s not under contract yet, so wish me luck!”
Claire Mercado-Obias is a writer, food stylist and pastry chef based in New Jersey.
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