In this second book in the Nonna Maria series, the shrewd Italian grandmother helps catch two law-breakers: a thief and a murderer. The book works fine as a standalone.
*****
Nonna Maria, who lives on the beautiful Italian island of Ischia, is in her seventies, walks with a slight limp, keeps her thick white hair in a bun, likes espresso coffee and white wine, loves to cook, and dines only at her own table - near a photo of her deceased husband Gabriel. Nonna Maria is always happy to help her friends, who include most of the locals on Ischia.
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Ischia
Nonna Maria's first concern develops when a fine young man named Federico Castagna confides that he may have hit a pedestrian the night before, on a curvy road shrouded by thick fog. Federico felt a bump and got out of the car, but it was too dark to see anything. Today Federico learned a woman's body was found, and he fears he may have killed her.
Nonna Maria consults Captain Paolo Murino of the carabinieri, who divulges that the dead woman, who's unidentified, was strangled.
This lets Federico off the hook but leaves Nonna Maria with another problem. Nonna Maria thinks she may know the victim, and has an idea about the motive for the crime. So Nonna Maria sets out to 'investigate' via her wide network of friends and acquaintances, which encompasses all of Italy.
Nonna Maria's other problem involves her goddaughter Loretta, who works as a cleaner at the Grand Hotel Excelsior.
A guest at the hotel, Arianna Conte, claims a very valuable necklace was stolen from her room, and she insists Loretta, who attends to Conte's room, took it.
Loretta is suspended from her post while the carabinieri investigate, but Nonna Maria, who's confident her goddaughter is innocent, sets out to resolve the matter herself. It seems no one in the hotel or on the island has seen Conte wearing such a necklace, and Nonna Maria suspects the woman is lying.
As Nonna Maria makes her inquiries she chats with people all around Ischia. Thus we get to meet a variety of residents, including: taxi-van driver Giovanni, who rescues dogs and cats;
restaurateur Gennaro Rossi, a chef who owns the most popular eatery in Ischia;
Il Presidente, a former thug who's become Nonna Maria's friend and protector;
the strega, who tells fortunes for a living;
Federica D'Amato, the medical examiner; and more.
The novel comes to a satisfactory conclusion, with a cliff-hanger that promises a third installment in the series.
The story is enhanced by descriptions of the sights and sounds of Ischia, and depictions of tempting Italian delicacies. Nonna Maria loves to prepare food for her friends, and these treats include panini with breaded chicken, roasted peppers, and broccoli rabe; peppers stuffed with breadcrumbs, anchovies, olives, parsley, and capers; eggplant parmigiana; and more.
Chicken Panini
Stuffed Peppers
Eggplant Parmigiana
I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more Nonna Maria adventures.
Thanks to Netgalley, Lorenzo Carcaterra, and Bantam Books for a copy of the manuscript.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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