"Murder in an Italian Cafe" By Michael Falco: Review/Giveaway

Review by Sharon Marchisello 

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Murder in an Italian Cafe is the second book in a delightful cozy mystery series by Michael Falco. The protagonist, Bria Bartolucci, is a young widow who runs a bed and breakfast in Positano, on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. She has a precocious eight-year-old son, Marco; a very smart dog, Bravo; and a big loving, but opinionated, Italian family. As with the first book, the reader will fall in love with the characters, the gorgeous setting, and the mouth-watering descriptions of Italian cuisine.

When the story opens, the whole village is excited about the arrival of Chef Lugo, a celebrity TV chef, who has just published a book of his signature recipes. A segment of his cooking show will be filmed at the Café Positano, and he will later do a signing at the local bookstore. A member of the production crew is staying at Bella Bella, Bria’s B&B.

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Many of the townspeople turn up at Café Positano to watch the live production. The café owner, Bria’s friend Annamaria, must run a last-minute errand unexpectedly, and the impatient director asks Bria to fill in for her on camera as Chef Lugo’s assistant. But almost as soon as filming begins, Chef Lugo suddenly drops dead. At first, everyone believes it’s from natural causes, but soon it becomes apparent that he was poisoned.

Because of her proximity to the victim when he died, Bria inserts herself into the murder investigation, as she doesn’t want the reputation of her friend’s café tarnished. Luca, the police chief and brother of Bria’s best friend, Rosalie, has learned not to immediately discount Bria’s theories. After all, her sleuthing helped solve the last murder that darkened their peaceful village. Also, the romantic chemistry between Luca and Bria continues to heat up.

Rosalie is less involved in Bria’s sleuthing in this book; perhaps because she has a new love interest. Michele, the nephew of a local mechanic, has caught her eye, but when Bria finds him hiding on the set just after Chef Lugo drops dead, Michele becomes a prime suspect.

As in the last book, suspects abound. There is tension among the production crew, and Chef Lugo was about to make an announcement that his director, Massimo, would not have liked. A mysterious woman turns up as a local tour guide, and she may be romantically linked with the deceased. And everyone seems to have a secret.

Just when the police think they have the case wrapped up, Bria puts together clues leading to new evidence that takes the investigation in another direction. Although I suspected the killer early on, I had no idea what the motive could be. The author did a good job constructing a clever mystery.

This was a very fun read!

To enter to win a copy of Murder in an Italian Cafe, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "Italian Cafe,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 5, 2024. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! 

You can click here to purchase this book.

Sharon Marchisello (sharonmarchisello.com) is the author of Trap, Neuter, Die (September 2024), the first in a cozy mystery series from Level Best Books about a woman who does animal rescue. Her previous two mysteries were published by Sunbury Press: Going Home (2014) and Secrets of the Galapagos (2019). She has also published a nonfiction book, travel articles, and several short stories. She earned a Masters in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is active in Sisters in Crime. Retired from a 27-year career with Delta Air Lines, she lives in Peachtree City, GA, doing volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society and the Fayette County Master Gardeners.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.