Mia P. Manansala (MAH-nahn-sah-lah) (she/her) is a writer and book coach from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture.She is the winner of the 2018 Hugh Holton Award, the 2018 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award, the 2017 William F. Deeck - Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers, and the 2016 Mystery Writers of America/Helen McCloy Scholarship. She's also a 2017 Pitch Wars alum and 2018-2020 mentor.A lover of all things geeky, Mia spends her days procrastibaking, playing JRPGs and dating sims, reading cozy mysteries, and cuddling her dogs Gumiho, Max Power, and Bayley Banks (bonus points if you get all the references).Her debut novel, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, comes out May 4, 2021 with Berkley/Penguin Random House and is the first in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series.Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MPMtheWriter
History Lessons (2025) Zoe B Wallbrook "Equal parts nerdy and funny, romantic and thrilling, Wallbrook's debut has introduced a fascinating new sleuth: Daphne Ouverture. Just like her overprotective parents (who may have some secrets of their own), her ride-or-die besties, and the handsome bookseller/ex-detective, I'm ready to follow Daphne anywhere. Bring on her next case!"
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club (2025) (Hu Done It Mystery, book 1) Gloria Chao "The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club has it all: wacky shenanigans, heartfelt vulnerability, and a cleverly plotted murder. Throw in the most ride-or-die friendship ever and you get a book I could NOT put down. Such a fun read!"
Detective Aunty (2025) (Kausar Khan Investigates, book 1) Uzma Jalaluddin "A read as cozy and delicious as a cup of chai, Kausar Khan proves aunties get stuff done. I already loved Jalaluddin's romances and now I've found a new favorite cozy mystery series as well!"
Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder (2025) (Pomona Afton, book 1) Bellamy Rose "A super fun spin on the amateur sleuth story with a great dash of romance, Pomona Afton joins the list of spoiled yet lovable heiresses like Cher Horowitz and London Tipton. I couldn't put it down!"
Murder in the Dressing Room (2025) (Misty Divine Mystery, book 1) Holly Stars "Murder in the Dressing Room provides all the comfort and entertainment of a traditional amateur sleuth story, but from a wholly new and absolutely enthralling perspective. A page-turning mystery, larger than life protagonist, and a behind the scenes look at the glamorous and gritty world of drag... what more could you want?"
Off the Air (2024) (Jolene Garcia Mysteries, book 1) Christina Estes "Jolene Garcia is persistence personified - this is a woman who will get that next big scoop, come hell or high water. If you love investigative reporter stories and are looking for one that's clearly written by a pro, Off the Air is your new favorite read!"
Freya Sampson "Freya Sampson is a master at creating complicated, nuanced characters you care deeply about and Nosy Neighbors is no exception! While a mystery is the central engine of the book, the true story lies in the mundane lives of the residents of Shelley House and the pain each person carries within them. A fun and beautiful book about the devastating power secrets can have on our lives and the many ways community can help you heal."
What Is Mine (2024) Lyn Liao Butler "This rollercoaster of a novel follows two women seeking redemption and their fight over the boy they think will provide it for them. Hope's fear is absolutely palpable, and the tension powering the book made it impossible to put down. A gripping, at times heartbreaking, look at family, betrayal, and how far one will go to claim what they believe is theirs."
The Body in the Back Garden (2023) (Crescent Cove Mystery, book 1) Mark Waddell "Waddell's debut, The Body In The Back Garden, hits every cozy mystery beat perfectly while adding a fresh and much-needed perspective to the genre. I can't wait to read more of Luke Tremblay's adventures in Crescent Cove (both in sleuthing and with his handsome Mountie 'friend')!"
A Most Agreeable Murder (2023) (Beatrice Steele) Julia Seales "Absurdly entertaining, with twist upon twist upon twist, A Most Agreeable Murder is a most agreeable read! Jane Austen fans will appreciate the insightful observations as well as the wry humor that pokes fun at certain well-known characters and tropes."
Charlotte Illes is Not a Detective (2023) (Not a Dectective Mystery, book 1) Katie Siegel "For anyone who ever wondered how Nancy Drew or Encyclopedia Brown are doing now that they're all grown up, former kid detective Charlotte Illes is here to tell you: Not Great. An immensely fun, voice-y read with a twisty mystery that is very relevant to today, I can't wait to see what Charlotte (and Lucy and especially Gabe) get up to next!"
The Golden Spoon (2023) Jessa Maxwell "Who knew that the one thing to make me love the Great British Bake-Off even more was to add a (fictional) dead body? Take a cozy setting like Grafton, add in a diverse cast with their own hopes and dreams and hidden agendas, and toss in a couple of hosts who are not as perfect as they'd like you to think, and you've got a foolproof recipe for a great read. If you're a fan of character-driven mysteries and delicious bakes, you absolutely have to check out The Golden Spoon."
Against the Currant (2023) (Spice Isle Bakery Mystery, book 1) Olivia Matthews "If you enjoy culinary cozies, buy this book immediately!."
Vinyl Resting Place (2022) (Record Shop Mystery, book 1) Olivia Blacke "Rockin' music, taco trucks, pun-tastic coffee drinks, family bonds, and a twisty mystery to boot! What's not to love about Vinyl Resting Place? A fantastic start to the Record Shop Mystery series, which is definitely an auto-buy for me from now on. Can't wait for the next one!"
Death by Bubble Tea (2022) (LA Night Market, book 1) Jennifer J Chow "Delicious treats, family drama, and a bit of murder are the order of the day for Yale Yee, the engaging and multilayered lead in Death by Bubble Tea. A fantastic series starter, I can't wait to see what else is in store for the Yee family and the Eastwood Village Night Market regulars. Don't forget to try the recipes at the end!"
A Deadly Bone to Pick (2022) (Molly Madison Dog Wrangler Mystery, book 1) Peggy Rothschild "Dog lovers and mystery fans alike will love A Deadly Bone To Pick."
Mango, Mambo, and Murder (2021) (Caribbean Kitchen Mystery, book 1) Raquel V Reyes "Grab yourself a cafecito and settle in to read MANGO, MAMBO, AND MURDER, Raquel V. Reyes's refreshing and delicious spin on the cozy mystery genre. She deftly weaves the importance of food, family, and culture in her delicious Caribbean-tinged debut, while also producing an engaging mystery and a protagonist with the coolest job ever. This series is now on my insta-buy list, and I can't wait to see what our beloved food anthropologist turned cooking show host cooks up next!"
Dead Dead Girls (2021) (Harlem Renaissance Mystery, book 1) Nekesa Afia "Though she be but little, she is fierce.' Shakespeare might as well have been describing Louise Lloyd, the flawed yet fantastic protagonist in Afia's debut set in 1920s Harlem. I loved the world that Afia created and can't wait to follow Lou and her friends on their next adventure. Come for the wonderfully diverse and twisty mystery, stay for the amazing 20s slang and fashion."
