Murder and Marinara

Book One of the Italian Kitchen Mysteries

A Daphne DuMaurier Award Finalist

Included among Suspense Magazine’s Best Cozies

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Author Victoria Rienzi takes a break from writing murder mysteries—only to find herself caught in the middle of a real one

Victoria heads back to the Jersey shore to explore her family’s roots and the specialty Italian cuisine their restaurant, the Casa Lido, is famous for. But she barely hits town before she finds that Oceanside Park is abuzz about a reality show slated to film on its beach. Not everyone in the cozy seaside town is happy with the news, and Victoria’s family is leading the protest.

But when the show’s brash producer winds up face down in the tomato garden after eating at the restaurant, things look bleak for the Rienzi clan—and Victoria finds herself in some hot pasta water. She served the dead man his last meal, her ex-boyfriend prepared it, and now the Casa Lido is on the verge of closing. Adding to her troubles is a nosy journalist, a determined prosecutor, and a plateful of suspects, all spelling a recipe for disaster. That’s when her formidable nonna gives her a new job: solve the murder before the summer season starts and save the Casa Lido.

With her deadline only days away, this saucy sleuth jumps into action—but can Victoria serve up the culprit before it’s too late?

 Recipes Included!

 [This is a new edition of a book previously published by Penguin Random House under the same title. Its contents have been slightly updated, but the setting, characters, and story remain the same.]

Photo banner by Hossein Farahani via Unsplash