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Mia P. Manansala's ARSENIC AND ADOBO Wins "Best First Novel"

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Mia P. Manansala’s Berkley debut, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, won the 2022 Anthony Award for “Best First Novel.”

The Anthony Awards are among the most prestigious literary awards for mystery writers, presented at the annual Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.  

Mia P. Manansala, © Jamilla Yip

Regarding the win, Mia said, “Bouchercon 2016 was my very first mystery convention. I still remember the excitement and awe of being surrounded by so many people who loved writing and crime fiction as much as I do, so to be accepting an Anthony Award all these years later—for a cozy mystery no less—means the absolute world to me.”  

This award follows the book’s previous “Best First Novel” win at the Agatha Awards and the recently announced “Best First Mystery” win at the Macavity Awards.  

Manansala burst on the scene with ARSENIC AND ADOBO, the debut for her Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series that redefined the cozy mystery genre and brought in a brand-new generation of readers.

Full of sharp humor and delectable dishes, ARSENIC AND ADOBO is a clever mystery novel that centers around family and Filipino culture. The series has been covered by mystery and mainstream outlets such as The Washington Post, New York Times Book Review, the Skimm, L.A. Times, Mystery Scene Magazine, and many more.  

Mia P. Manansala is also 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2018 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award, the 2017 William F. Deeck – Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers, and the 2016 Mystery Writers of America/Helen McCloy Scholarship.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 2018-2019 mentor. 


Posted: September 14, 2022