This was my first time reading Raquel V. Reyes's Caribbean Kitchen mysteries featuring food vlogger and anthropologist, Miriam Quiñones. In this latest book, she visits historic Puerto Rico for filming. Sounds simple, but BARBACOA, BOMBA, AND BETRAYAL make it clear that all does not go well.  

Barbacoa is a style of cooking from the Caribbean, and the Bomba is a lively dance. These are combined when, after Christmas, Miriam visits ahead of the Three Kings Festival which ends the holiday season. In an interesting touch, she’s mid-pregnancy, and this means she keeps having to watch her step, drink fruit juice, eat well, plus find restrooms pretty often. The last is a way to get her moving around buildings at opportune moments to see odd behaviours, or hear suspicious conversations. But really, she is not looking for trouble. Apparently, the last time Miriam found trouble, a murderer locked her in a hotel freezer. Her family in Punta Cana haven’t let her forget it.

Miriam’s friend Alma who sells real estate is in Puerto Rico working, and their cheerful friend Jorge also turns up, being very much a drama queen as he thinks his new boyfriend is seeing someone else. Producer Delvis makes the arrangements to keep the show on the road. Another interesting character is Brandon Pickles, a Bitcoin baron. Someone suspects Brandon is laundering dirty money through Bitcoin, or just taking advantage of a pyramid scheme. Whichever is the case, he’s buying property. The island is still striving to recover from Hurricane Maria, and some businesses are selling. Others are reluctant, but suspicious accidents occur and Miriam has to wonder if there is a plot to force landlords to sell, maybe involving tourist Jules Howard, who rooms where she does in the good care of Doña Santos.

Since the theme is foods of the African diaspora mingled with Caribbean Native people’s cookery, expect a meal or food chat every few pages. The major characteristic of Raquel V. Reyes’ novel, however, is that her characters speak Spanglish. As someone who did not learn Spanish at school, I found it a little daunting at first, but everything is double-stated or explained later, and after a couple of chapters I was fine. Also, many people are referred to as Miriam’s prima, so I have to guess this means close family. You don’t need to understand every word to follow the building suspense, but you’ll pick up some Spanish for sure, and you’ll learn a great deal about Caribbean cookery, and the precarious state of the beautiful island. BARBACOA, BOMBA, AND BETRAYAL features a determined heroine who wants to grow her career and celebrate her family. I’ll be back for another helping.