BLACKMAIL AND BIBINGKA

𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗮
𝗕𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗮 𝗣. 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿: 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘆
𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: 𝟐𝟖𝟖
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱: 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓







Blackmail and Bibingka is the third instalment in Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries, a cosy mystery series set in the Midwest and centred around a warm, lively Filipino family. This time, the story unfolds during Christmas—Lila’s favourite holiday—but her festive spirit is soon tested by the unexpected return of her estranged cousin Ronnie after fifteen years. Claiming to have purchased a winery nearby, Ronnie reenters the family’s life as if nothing had happened. While Tita Rosie is overjoyed at her son’s return, Lila harbours doubts, especially after a mysterious blackmail letter hints at Ronnie’s questionable past.
As the family tours the winery, Lila meets Ronnie’s partners and staff, as well as investor Denise Sutton and her fiancé, Xander Cruz. What begins as a cheerful reunion quickly turns grim when Denise suddenly falls ill and later dies at the hospital under suspicious circumstances. With Detective Park back on the case and Ronnie under suspicion, Lila once again finds herself drawn into uncovering the truth.

While I generally enjoy cosy mysteries, I found this instalment also less captivating compared to the previous books in the series. The blackmail and murder elements didn’t hold my attention as strongly, and much of the narrative felt dominated by Lila’s frustrations with Ronnie and her uncertainty about Xander’s character. That said, the story did shine in its exploration of family dynamics—Ronnie’s return stirred up plenty of drama, leading to some intense and memorable family moments.
In terms of pacing, the book felt uneven. The middle section slowed considerably due to extensive descriptions of food, cookies, and Lila’s café activities. While I appreciate that food is at the heart of this series, at times the culinary details felt excessive and weighed down the mystery.
Character-wise, Lila shows some growth compared to earlier instalments, though I still found her a bit inconsistent—sometimes sharp and cautious, other times impulsive and careless in her sleuthing. I continue to adore Adeena and Elena, whose unwavering support and charm make them delightful to read.

Ultimately, I rated this book three stars. While the pacing was a bit slow and the heavy focus on food somewhat dampened the mystery for me, the author's descriptions of Filipino food and family traditions will delight readers who love culinary cosy mysteries. Blackmail and Bibingka is a light, heartwarming read filled with food, family, and festive spirit—though it may feel slow at times, it still offers plenty to enjoy.

My Rating:

3/5

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