Review by Sharon Marchisello
This week we have a review of the latest cozy mystery by Ang Pompano, along with an interesting interview with Ang. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase it.
Diet of Death by Ang Pompano
Review by Sharon Marchisello
Diet of Death is the first book in a new humorous cozy mystery series by Ang Pompano, and it will be interesting to see where he takes it.
The story is told in first person by Quincy Lazzaro, the amateur sleuth protagonist. Although he strives to become an investigative reporter, Quincy took a job ghost-writing a food column in a regional newspaper run by a friend. They never dreamed “Cooking with Betty” would become so successful, and it’s a closely guarded secret that Betty doesn’t exist. And that Quincy, “her assistant,” can’t even cook. He relies on his octogenarian Italian neighbor for recipes, along with a few left behind by his hostile ex-wife.
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| Image Source Level Best Books |
Quincy smells a story. Signs point to a heart attack, but if the diet was so great, why does the doctor who follows it have a heart condition? Stephen Richardson, Tolzer’s attorney and possible successor to take over the institute, and Dr. Bernard Lang, Tolzer’s personal physician, try their best to deflect his inquiries.
But the cause of death turns out to be worse than a heart attack. It’s murder. And Quincy keeps digging despite warnings to leave it alone.
This was a well-constructed mystery with an ample number of suspects, surprising relationships, and some motives that turned out to be red herrings. Quincy is an endearing character despite his flaws. I enjoyed his banter with his neighbor and emergency Betty stand-in, Mary Ticarelli, as well as his spars with his ex-wife, Brooke, and her new boyfriend, tennis pro Rob. And, in cozy fashion, there’s a dog, although he’s only present for the first half of the book.
There is also a love interest, which I can see continuing throughout the series. Quincy and Nina, the police officer in charge of the investigation, have a romantic history that might not be buried yet.
I enjoyed this fresh spin on the traditional cozy mystery. Recommended.
Sharon Marchisello is the author of the DeeLo Myer cat rescue mysteries published by Level Best Books, starting with Trap, Neuter, Die (2024). Her other mysteries were published by Sunbury Press: Going Home (2014), Secrets of the Galapagos (2019), and Murder at Leisure Dreams – Galapagos (2025). She has also written a nonfiction book (Live Well, Grow Wealth - 2018), travel articles, and short stories. She earned Master’s in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and is active in Sisters in Crime. Sharon lives in Peachtree City, GA, where she does volunteer work for the Fayette Humane Society and the Fayette County Master Gardeners.
Interview with Ang Pompano:
Ang: Thank you for having me, Lorie. I’ve always felt a special connection to Kings River Life Magazine, so it’s a pleasure to be here. Over the years, you’ve featured my stories Liverman (a Halloween story) and The Bucket List, which was brought to life on the MysteryRat’s Maze Podcast. Being here today feels like coming home to a place that has always supported my work.
KRL: Ah thanks for joining us here and and you are very welcome! How long have you been writing?
Ang: I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, from making little books as a kid to contributing to my school newspaper. My first short story was published in 1990, and I’ve continued writing ever since. Although I now write novels, I still enjoy writing short stories. Six years ago, I co-founded Crime Spell Books to revive the Best New England Crime Stories anthology, which I continue to co-edit with Susan Oleksiw, Leslie Wheeler, and Christine Bagley.
KRL: When did your first novel come out, what was it called, and would you tell us a little about it?
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| Ang Pompano |
Ang: My first novel, When It’s Time for Leaving, was released in 2019. It follows Al DeLucia, who has walked away from the police and his past but inherits a detective agency from his long-lost father, Big Al, who disappeared when Al was eight. Now struggling with dementia, Big Al expects to run the agency alongside his son. Partnered with Maxine Brophy, a sharp detective who doesn’t trust him, Al is drawn into a murder investigation that takes him through Savannah and the Okefenokee Swamp. Many scenes were inspired by incidents I witnessed with my own father during his battle with dementia.
KRL: Have you always written mysteries/suspense and if not, what else have you written?
Ang: I’ve always enjoyed writing 'soft-boiled' mysteries—stories that blend a traditional puzzle with humor, action, and suspense. Whether I'm working on a short story or a novel, I find myself exploring social issues and the complexities of human nature. My latest novel, Diet of Death, is a culinary mystery that combines those same elements with my love of food. Beyond fiction, I’ve written academic pieces on the craft of mystery and contribute regularly to the Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen blog.
KRL: What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book/series?
Ang: The premise of my Reluctant Food Columnist series is that Betty Ann Green is a beloved culinary icon who doesn’t actually exist. She’s the illusion created by two unlikely collaborators: Quincy Lazzaro, a culinarily challenged writer whose witty prose is the public face of Betty, and his octogenarian neighbor Mary Ticarelli, who creates the flawless recipes. Quincy was supposed to write Cooking With Betty temporarily while chasing a journalism job, but the column became a hit, trapping him in the role. Plus, he must keep the secret at all costs.
The first two books, Diet of Death and Simmering Secrets (coming this fall), are set in Connecticut. Westport was an easy choice. My wife and I spent a lot of time there when she was in college, so it felt natural to write into that well-to-do corner of the state. In Diet of Death, Quincy reluctantly faces the arrogant diet guru Dr. Alan Tolzer only for Tolzer to drop dead. The police call it natural causes, but Quincy knows better.
In Simmering Secrets, Quincy and Mary investigate the murder of Chef Connie Langston, who runs a cooking academy. Their sleuthing uncovers $10,000-a-plate dinners serving rare and illegal foods, pulling them into a dangerous culinary underworld.
With the third book, Vintage Vendetta, I wanted a fresh setting while keeping food central. Napa Valley was perfect with its wine and culinary identity as well as its stunning landscapes.
KRL: They sound fun! Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to experience from your work?
Ang: Both! I love to entertain, but I also try to show the world as it really is. My stories include women in nontraditional roles, like Minnie the Air Raid Warden, and diverse characters, including people with disabilities.
KRL: Do you have a schedule for your writing or just work whenever you can?
Ang: I’m a member of Sisters in Crime Connecticut, and we have a two-hour write-in every morning from 9:00 to 11:00. After that, I may return to writing a little in the afternoon if I have time. I also write again in the evening, sometimes starting as late as 11:00 p.m. and continuing until one or two in the morning. I find late night to be my most productive time.
KRL: Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what’s going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?
Ang: I don’t outline; I just know how the story ends. I write scenes as they come; something I see, hear, or think could work. Characters show up, social issues sneak in, and by the end I’ve got a pile of scenes to shuffle into order. It’s messy, a lot gets cut, but it works, and Scrivener keeps it from turning into total chaos.
KRL: Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?
Ang: I wrote short stories for years, but they weren’t quite ready, and I was juggling work and family, so I didn’t push as hard as I could have. I joined a lot of writing groups, and we gave each other advice, though most of us were figuring things out as we went.
Things really changed when I got involved in the New England writing community. I volunteered at conferences like New England Crime Bake, became a member of MWA and a Sisters in Crime New England board member. Meeting writers at every stage showed me what was possible, and the key, I’ve found, is to really see yourself as a writer. Then it starts to happen.
KRL: Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you’d like to share?
Ang: I don’t have one dramatic rejection or acceptance story, but I do have two stacks of paper that tell the tale. Early on, I saved every rejection letter I received, and there were a lot of them. That stack got so big I started to feel guilty about how many trees had to die for my lack of talent. I celebrated each rejection because it meant I was actually trying.
I saved the acceptance letters too, though that pile started out more like a pamphlet than a stack. Over time, it’s grown, which is nice, but I still have a soft spot for the rejection pile because so many editors were kind enough to add an encouraging note. Turns out those rejections were rooting for me all along.
KRL: Most interesting book signing story—in a bookstore or other venue?
Ang: I recently had a signing at Barnes & Noble with a great turnout of friends and former co-workers from all over the state. I think many of them came to see if I was actually going to show up, which was both funny and touching. The biggest surprise, though, was when a former student turned up. He had been in my middle school TV production class and had overcome incredible odds to become a television broadcaster with twenty years already under his belt. The fact that he remembered me made me feel proud. Not to mention a little old.
KRL: That's awesome! What are your future writing goals?
Ang: My goals are to focus on my new culinary series and maintain my blogging on Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, which I really enjoy because I get immediate feedback from readers. I’m also continuing to edit Best New England Crime Stories to help encourage new writers. And I’m starting a third series that my agent is very excited about: a homefront WWII series based on a short story I wrote for last year’s Best New England Crime Stories, called “Minnie the Air Raid Warden.” It’s a busy schedule, but I don’t want to slow down just yet.
KRL: Who are your writing heroes?
Ang: I’ve always enjoyed Mark Twain for his humor and his bravery in pointing out social issues, and Agatha Christie for her brilliantly complex plots. I also love F. Scott Fitzgerald and read The Great Gatsby often. But my real writing heroes are those who have had the tenacity to finish a book and see it published, whether traditionally or self-published.
KRL: What kind of research do you do?
Ang: Too much. I get carried away with research and only use a small part of what I’ve learned, but I think that’s the right way to write. I once spent hours visiting a covered bridge to learn if it used pegs or bolts, but that detail never made it into my stories. My readers prefer mystery over construction facts. Still, I believe readers can sense when you know your subject, even if you don’t spell it out on the page.
KRL: What do you like to read?
Ang: I like to read books that are humorous but not silly. I like action but not people in capes. I like murder mysteries but not gratuitous violence or gore. I like to read stories that reflect the real world, with diverse characters who have flaws but try to have morality. I try to write that way too. I hope I’m succeeding at least a little bit.
KRL: What are your favorite TV shows or movies?
Ang: I shouldn’t say this too loud because my daughter was an American TV producer for many years, but I enjoy British TV.
KRL: Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Ang: Don’t give up. You’ve got this if you really want it.
KRL: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
Ang: I’m 100% Italian, but I didn’t taste garlic until I was an adult. It’s my culinary kryptonite.
KRL: Do you have any pets?
Ang: We used to have two rescue dogs. Our Cocker mix, Dexter, recently passed away at sixteen. He’s still with us in Diet of Death and Simmering Secrets. But we still have a sweet little Westie mix, Alfie, who was found in a box on the side of a highway in Mississippi. Rescuing dogs and cats is so important. They show you they appreciate it every single day.
KRL: Where can our readers find you online?
Ang: I’m on Facebook: facebook.com/ang.pompano
My website is angpompano.com
Drop by the blog at mysteryloverskitchen.com
To enter to win an ebook copy of Diet of Death, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "diet of death,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 18, 2026. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. 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!
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