Cuban-American cooking show host Miriam Quiñones-Smith is back to amateur sleuthing in Raquel V. Reyes’ second installment in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series – Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking. Miriam is loving her new career hosting a Spanish-language cooking segment and being the primary caregiver for her son Manny. Then her mother-in-law volunteers her to host the catering for the Women’s Club annual gala, making her roll up her sleeves more and use her network of culinary connections. But when she finds the body of a woman in her front yard among her Halloween decorations, Miriam finds herself yet again at the center of another murder mystery. With bodies piling up everywhere and the suspects involved in her event, Miriam relies on her squad and investigative skills to identify the murderer before it’s too late. 

Read the book review of Mango, Mambo, and Murder.

Reyes steps it up from the events in Mango, Mambo, and Murder. The woman whose body was found in Mariam’s front yard is Lois Pimpkin, mother of the infamous Juliet from the first book. Juliet is in jail for her crimes, awaiting trial. And Lois is not happy with the lack of help from Miriam’s husband, Robert, and his family. After causing a scene at the school’s Fall Festival, Miriam is concerned that Lois might be a threat to her family. When she appears on the Smith’s front lawn, Detective Pullman and Miriam return to their interesting non-professional relationship. Except this time, Pullman warns her to stay away from the case. As us Miriam fans know, that’s easier said than done. 

When it comes to handling the Women’s Club charity event, foodies will be glad that Miriam decides to step it up this year to feature local Caribbean food trucks, plus a calypso band to ensure fun and flavorful vibes. These menu-planning scenes – from both the event planning and Miriam’s cooking segment – remind readers why Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking falls into the “cozy culinary” category of the murder mystery genre. While at the country club to meet with the facility’s event manager and chef, she and her squad overhear an argument right before the head chef falls to his death. With another possible crime to solve, Miriam worries if the drama surrounding the club and its management will possibly sabotage the event and endanger its guests – including her. 

I seriously wish I could be one of Miriam’s taste testers. Or even just to be in the kitchen while she works. Reyes’ talent for walking the readers through the recipes and making their mouths water returns in this second installment. I also love how Miriam’s PhD background shines through by connecting cuisine, culture, and history with her inner monologue. Plus, as promised, the recipes are in the back of the book. The only tricky part is choosing which one to try first. This time the author convinced me to make the Pastelitos de Guayaba y Queso (Guava and Cheese Pastries). And once again, they were a hit.

Reyes returns for another Cantina Conversation to talk about any different experiences from the first book, how she picked her recipes for the second book, and plans for the more Caribbean Kitchen mysteries. Keep an ear out for an upcoming episode of The Nerd Cantina Show podcast and preorder Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking, available October 11.