*****
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.
Ischia
Nonna Maria's friend, carabinieri Captain Paolo Murino, has been living and working on Ischia for five years.
Murino is happy on the island, where he performs his carabinieri duties and spends time with the love of his life, his fiancée Loretta D'Angelo.
Unfortunately, trouble has now followed Murino to Ischia. Eight years ago, when Murino was a cop in northern Italy, he took down the most dangerous criminal in Florence, mob leader Guido Ostino. Ostino has been stewing in prison ever since, planning revenge. Now Ostino has sent assassins to murder Murino.
Through an acquaintance form Naples, Nonna Maria learns of the threat to Murino and informs the carabinieri captain. Murino responds, 'Nonna Maria, you are my friend but I am asking, pleading to let me handle this on my own. The last thing I want to see happen is to have anyone bring harm to you because of me.'
Nonna Maria won't hear it and insists she and other friends will help Murino. These include il Presidente - a former thug who's become Nonna Maria's friend and protector;
and the Mourners - a group of women who work in the shadows.
So the battle is on: Ostino's criminal gang vs. Murino and his friends on Ischia.
Meanwhile, Nonna Marie gets a visit from a young woman named Rita whose grandfather recently died. Shortly before he passed, Rita's grandfather told her about a treasure he'd hidden in Ischia's caves.
It's well known that Ischia's caverns have been used for centuries, to store wine, grain, and flour; and by black marketeers, to hide cigarettes, whiskey, wine, and money. Rita's grandfather gave her a fragile old map, with lines and markings depicting the location of his treasure.
Ischia's caves are VERY dangerous however, with maze-like tunnels and traps in the entrances and walls. Nonna Maria agrees to help Rita find the treasure, and enlists the assistance of three friends familiar with the caverns: the Pirate, the Magician, and Pepe the Painter.
The Pirate, who rides around on a motorboat, is a wiry barefoot old man who always wears a red Speedo;
the Magician is a tall muscular man (and talented thief);
and Pepe the Painter has been drawing Ischia's castle - which has secret openings into the caves - for decades.
Nonna Maria and her friends need to find the treasure ASAP, because news of Grandfather's secret has spread through Italy, and treasure seekers - both crooks and hobby hunters - are on their way to Ischia.
Nonna Maria is fearless, and though one might expect her to watch the action from a distance, Nonna Maria does no such thing. She goes right along to help Captain Murino escape the assassins, and to ensure Rita gets her treasure.
The story is accentuated by descriptions of the sights, sounds, and history of Ischia, along with mentions of tempting Italian delicacies. Nonna Maria loves to prepare food for her friends and relatives, and these goodies include veal cutlets with arugula; marinated artichokes; eggplant parmigiana paninis; tomatoes and red onion salad; pasta with grilled chicken; and more.
Veal Cutlets with Arugula
Marinated Artichokes
Eggplant Parmigiana Panini
Tomatoes and Red Onion Salad
Pasta with Grilled Chicken
I enjoyed the book and recommended it to fans of cozy mysteries in exotic settings.
Thanks to Netgalley, Lorenzo Carcaterra, and Ballantine for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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