Lila Macapagal is back in Mia P. Manansala's second Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery. In HOMICIDE AND  HALO-HALO, a beauty pageant and a dead judge take center stage.  With spunk, sass, community engagement, and large family dynamics, this is an entertaining and endearing mystery.

Lila and her friends are getting ready to open the Brew-ha Café, when she is persuaded to fill in as a judge for the upcoming Shady Palm’s Miss Teen Beauty Pageant.  Lila won the pageant years ago, and her cousin Bernadette won’t let her forget it.  As Lila meets with the planning committee, she realizes one of the judges and sponsors, Rob Thompson, is a little too interested in the girls and female judges.  When he winds up dead in the river, Lila wonders who killed him off.  Lila’s cousin, Bernadette, looks like the prime suspect, but Lila knows that it must be someone else.  Was it a contestant or judge?  A momtestant or Rob’s angry wife?  Or his sister, who never got a chance to run the family business?   And what is the new yoga instructor in town hiding?  So many questions to answer!  As the competition ramps up, Lila realizes someone is out to win the crown, even if it means taking others down in the process.

This is a solid mystery with lots of great moments in Lila’s Filipino American family.  Lila is juggling two possible love interests, meddling aunts, PTSD from her first mystery, and a bout of depression.  She’s relatable and fun and has many missteps in trying to find her place in the world.  She has a big support system and their genuine love for each other shows through.  The mystery itself is well-constructed with enough colorful suspects and revelations to keep you invested and guessing.  Delicious recipes such as Halo-Halo Ice Candy and Lila’s special iced coffee are also included.