From Mangia to Murder

Sophia Mancini Mysteries #1

by Caroline Mickelson

Little Italy, 1946 – Sophia Mancini would have enjoyed the grand opening celebration of her family’s private detective agency if the volatile chef at Vincenzo’s Ristorante had actually survived the meal. But before Sophia’s chilled spoon hit the spumoni, someone plunged a knife into Vincenzo’s back and the word on everyone’s lips went from mangia to murder.


Sophia soon finds herself trailing crime boss Frankie Vidoni, chatting with his mouthy mistress Maria, and dodging henchman Mooch DiMuccio. She’s suspicious of Vincenzo’s widow, Stella, and his assistant chef, Eugene, because they don’t appear the least bit dismayed by Vincenzo’s passing. There is no conversation Sophia won’t eavesdrop on, no question she won’t ask, and no danger she won’t face to find the killer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Ebooks, Amazon, Historical, Historical Fiction

261 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2012

About the author

Caroline Mickelson loves her family and loves to write. She also loves a good adventure, among her favorites thus far were attending graduate school in a Scottish castle, riding a camel around the Pyramids in Giza, and taking a best-in-a-lifetime road trip to Graceland. Caroline lives in the American southwest with her husband and their four children, affectionately known as The Miracles.

Reviews

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable visit in time and space to Little Italy in the 1940s. Sophia is a great character, warm, funny, and strong. The author has a deft touch when it comes to capturing the speech and manners of the time. Woman's place was in the home and the kitchen, not on a murder scene. In spite of the restrictions her society tries to impose on her, Sophia manages to be her own person and find her own way. I'm glad this is the first in a series because I want to see the romance between this daughter of Italy and the Irish cop move forward. Even though her brother has put his foot down and decided that the detective agency is going to avoid murder cases in favor of low-risk background checks, I am confident that Sophia has the ability to get herself into and then out of danger, and I look forward to watching her do it. If she can find true love in the process, so much the better.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much. I found a few things out of time but it didn't detract from the story. I loved the characters and story. I'll read another of her works.

[Suselyx · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought it as audio book so I can't say anything about spelling/grammar.But I liked the narrator, it was not her fault.
The setting was wonderfull, very imaginative, beautiful descriptions with a wonderful, sometimes quirky, still mostly authentic cast of characters and a decent mystery. Everything was fine... except for the sleuth. First I thought she was just a little suicidal and needed some therapy (you know the theory by Jung that you actually get yourself into dangerous situations because you subconsciously want to commit suicide?!). But further along in the book I found she had a serious, very conscious, deathwish and I really wanted someone to put her out of her misery. If she had died because of any of the stupid situations she got herself into she surely would have deserved a Darwin Award. At the end I rooted for the killer to do her in... no such luck! Adding insult to injury there seemed to be a budding romance at the end, so she probably not only gets to live but to procreate, too! :(

[Alica McKenna-Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading Mania to Murder. Sophia is a wonderful character, and I adored getting to know her and her family. The mystery was fun, with plenty of choices as the 'who done-it', which left me guessing. The dialog made me feel as if I was in 1940's Little Italy, and if I could I would go there.
I was sad when the book ended, but my spirits were revived when I saw this is only Book One- the second one can;t come soon enough.
My only warning, this book made me hungry for really good Italian food, so prep a meal before you start reading!

[Patricia G Landers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I gave this book a five rating because it completely satisfied my desire for entertaining mystery fiction. I loved every word and I recommend this book to all mystery lovers.

[Christa Nardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Post-war, Sophia's not only dealing with her father's attitudes about a woman's place, but she needed to come up with a business plan to help her brother, an injured vet, maintain custody of his son. Maybe a murder wasn't the place to start, but when Vincenzo is killed, the detective agency she and her brother just opened has its first case. And the crime boss hired them to solve the murder. Her brother is rehabbing and the nephew is cheering Sophia on, as her father berates her for working.

Sophia is spunky, assertive, and a force to be reckoned with. She loves her brother and nephew and is determined to make the agency work. Mooch's character develops slowly, but he's a keeper. Then there's the crime boss, his girl friend, Eugene, and Stella to consider. The plot has the requisite twists and turns, and moves at a steady pace. It was a fun read with the detective showing up at odd times, sometimes cold, and sometimes? There may be a romance in the offing. Definitely a cozy historical mystery worth curling up with.

[Isabel Tomma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es una historia bastante entretenida, todo lo relacionado con la investigación del misterio es clásico, a la vieja usanza pero muy bien logrado, además que me despistó con respecto al verdadero culpable y me cogió por sorpresa. El papel de la protagonista me ha gustado mucho porque tomó las riendas de su familia y actuó siempre por amor a ella, es valiente y perspicaz para resolver el asesinato. Sin lugar a dudas la recomiendo.
http://isatommacreations.blogspot.com...

[Elaine Pettit · Rating 3 out of 5]

More detective than restaurant

Light reading Murder mystery with lots of references to typical north eastern Italian families and neighborhoods. Not a deep detective mystery and not gory murders. Stereotype Italian gangsta characters, three generations of Italian family living and caring for each other, not as much references to Foods as I’d hoped the title suggested. If you are a fan of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels, this could be the start of another favorite series.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a interesting detective story set after WWII. A sister and brother decide to start a detective agency in order to find meaningful employment. The brother was injured in the war and has short-term memory loss. The income is important to him so that he can retain custody of his young son after his wife's death. But the story is really about the sister. She is strong, sassy and fearless. She takes on a complicated, dangerous first case. I liked it!

[Shirley A · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part I enjoyed the story, but I did notice some things that needed to be researched more
i.e. a reference to the 50 states. There weren't 50 states in 1946. Sophia and her brother, who has short-term memory loss from a war injury, have started a new detective agency so he can keep custody of his son. On the day of the grand opening the owner of the restaurant is killed and they have their first client.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed From Mangia to Murder a lot. I like reading cozy mysteries once in a while and find them more entertaining and less cerebral than standard mysteries. The characters were delightful and definitely come from another time. There were enough suspects to keep you guessing until the field was narrowed down to the real murderer. (This book is part of an anthology of cozy mysteries. I'll try to read them all over time.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought back some rich memories for me. I grew up surrounded by people like these characters. The people are just as I remember them, alive, family oriented, and welcoming. A young women and her brother must prove themselves as capable of raising his young son. They manage to get into trouble trying to start a detective business. They only have one month. The suspense builds up. Will they win the right over his Grand parents to raise this delightful young boy?

[Cindy Marsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished this cozy mystery in the collection 25 Mysteries to Die For and enjoyed the diversion. I loved the flavor of the community of Little Italy but would have appreciated more post-WWII specificity. I kept catching modern phrasings that dissolved the atmospheric illusion I wanted. But it's a sweet, humorous, and sequel-promising tale that those who love this genre should enjoy.

[K B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I purchased From Mangia to Murder a Little Italy Mystery book 1 by Caroline Mickelson and this review was given freely.
A little slow in the beginning. I thought I sensed a budding romance between the Captain and Sophia but things never really progressed. Lots of twist and turns that kept me guessing. The ending was both hysterical and heartwarming.

[Barb Nifong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a glimpse of Little Italy set in the 1940.’s. I genuinely enjoyed he book and tend to overlook any spelling or grammatical errors as long as there aren’t too many. This read had many components of a very small mafia, with blackmail, murder, family interaction and a cute police officer. Good read and looking forward to reading more of this authors work.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 34%. It wasn't progessing enough for me. I need suspects & clues by this point. I want to start thinking about who I think committed the murder. I want to know more about the victim & why someone may have wanted to kill him. Instead, I was constantly reminded of Angelo's memory issues, as if I also have memory issues.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

I enjoyed reading this book. The heroine is spunky. The family is typical Italian. The custody of the nephew gave the story heart. This was an enjoyable quick read with no vulgarity.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself. I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. MA

[Wendysue Ramljak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written funny whodunnit. Keeps you guessing until the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

#1 Sophia Mancini/Little Italy mystery

I was disappointed that Sophia's brother Anthony didn't stay in the picture. I think there would have been more dimension if he had.

[Nefol_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The culprits were obvious, but the sowing was joyous and the characters were fully fleshed and fun.

[Maria Loeber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the guilty person was kind of obvios, but it was an entertaining read... liked Sophia's personality and her interaction with the captain.

[Juno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read. Likeable characters. Liked the time period chosen for this book and the back stories.

[Cate's Book Nut Hut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a debut work for this Author and the first in the Sophia Mancini Mystery series, and is a delightful cozy mystery set in the post war world of Little Italy. With this setting the novel brings to the reader a reminder of a time and social etiquette that is beginning to fade from memory.

The main protagonist is a post war female, adjusting to living in a world where women once again have to take a back seat to the whims of the males in their lives. She is written with humour, warmth and strength coming out of the pages as a woman who is determined to make her own way in the world, despite of all the restrictions imposed on her. The Author manages to instil in her characters the speech and manners of the time, and dresses them according to the fashion trends, which must have required some research on the part of the writer. The extended family is painted with all the rich texture and whimsy one would expect from an Italian family transplanted not that long ago into America, and gives them traits that can still be found in the older generations of such families today. All the Authors characters are loving created, and the reader is able to feel connected to in some way to one or more of them as they progress through the book, investing their time into seeing what the outcome will be for these people who, at times, make you feel like you are not only a part of the family but of the community as a whole.

The setting for the novel is, in itself and for me, one I had never come across before and this added to my enjoyment of the book very much. I could smell the aromas from the numerous Italian restaurants and cafes, hear the mixture of the Italian and American voices, and feel the mistrust there was for anyone they deemed to be outsiders. In her locale, the Author did an outstanding job of bringing into their writing that sense of community, where the whole neighbourhood supports and aids their fellow-man, regardless of the situation. The importance of religion in this locale is a part of the novel too, but not to a point where it became preachy, it is just there as part of the everyday life. There is a lot of dialogue, and well there should be considering the nationality of the players in this novel; it is at times quick and rapidly fired at the reader, with sprinklings of Italian and lots of humour that will make you chuckle and, at times forget that you are actually reading a murder mystery.

There is one thing that really would have made this the perfect little book for me, and that would have been the inclusion of some of the recipes to items the characters eat as they sleuth their way to the conclusion. Alas, it was not to be, so I’ll have to content myself with hoping that somewhere in the rest of this series, the Author may decide to include one or two recipes per book, to add even more flavour to her writing.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of cozy mysteries and anyone looking for a new, easy to read and enjoyable series to follow. I look forward to the next instalment.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/09/06...




This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

[Judie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 1946 in Little Italy (it could be in any large U.S. city) and life was getting back to its pre-World War II routine.

Angelo had changed from the person he was when he left to fight. Besides the death of his pregnant wife while he was gone, he had suffered a head injury that severely damaged his short-term memory which meant he could not return to police work. Meanwhile, his very wealthy, influential in-laws went to court to gain custody of his son. The court ruled he had thirty days to prove he was capable of taking care of his son both financially and personally.

In an attempt to utilize his skills and bring in an income, his sister Sophia Mancini decided they should become private investigators and began looking for clients. Soon after she received one very strange but potentially profitable offer. She decided to have a grand opening party to publicize the new venture and hired the who owned her favorite bakery to do the catering. That night, when everything was finally fell into place when she discovered the chef, Vincenzo, on the kitchen floor with a knife in his back.

There were no shortage of suspects. Everyone hated Vincenzo. Several people had been heard saying, “I’ll kill him.” Even though the police department was investigating the crime, Sophia decided that she and Angelo could also try to solve it. The rest of the story moves quickly, has interesting, realistic characters, and the actions are somewhat plausible. She discovers, as is stated early on, “People weren’t always as they seemed to be.”

On the whole, I thought the book was well written. Caroline Mickelson has a problem with pronouns. E.g., “hired my brother and I” and “Give my brother and I.” Poor grammar and dialect isn’t used regularly enough for it to be characteristic of Sophia or other people in the story.

I found some humor: While investigating the murder, Sophia learned some interesting information.: “As soon as Sophia saw [a particular character], she let the cat out of the bag.” ‘Here’s your precious Precious.’ She scooped the furry black ball out of her shopping bag and dropped the kitten into [the character’s outstretched hands.

This book was a free Amazon download.

[Kathleen Kirkwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant - This series is destined to be a Classic!

From Mangia to Murder is a delicious read (pun intended), and Mickelson's 1940's Little Italy setting is as brilliant as it is refreshing. Fun & fast paced, with its tight-knit community, cast of engaging characters, murder-most-foul, and twists and turns aplenty, this series is destined to be a classic.

Sophia Mancini, our amateur sleuth, is a vivacious and capable young woman who loves her big Italian-American family and will do anything for them, especially her brother whose war injuries and lack of job may lose him the custody of his son. Sophia steps up to the challenge, launching a detective agency with her brother. Sooner than expected, they have their first case. During the "grand opening" celebration of their agency at a local restaurant, the chef ends up with a knife in his back. Undaunted, Sophia pursues clues and witnesses, faces down a mob boss along with his hired henchmen and guard dogs, and tenaciously presses on, doing all she can to solve the murder.

And then there is the delectable and devilishly-handsome Irish policeman, Captain Tiernan McIntyre. I can hardly wait to see how their relationship continues to unfold.

Mickelson deftly and sensitively brings to life the post WWII era with the men returning from the front, forever changed visibly and invisibly, and the women being ushered back into their traditional roles but not going easily. The author beautifully captures the sense of time and place, and her characters' dialogue is spot on. I love the sprinkling in of Italian, the devotion to family, underpinnings of faith (part of the fabric of daily life), and not to be forgotten, the scrumptious food. (Sophia has a sweet tooth to which I can totally relate!)

From Mangia to Murder is a thoroughly entertaining read, filled with copious amounts of humor, red herrings and cannoli to savor -- definitely deserving of 5 stars. Brava, Ms. Mickelson, pass the biscotti!

[Melissa Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Mangia to Murder is the first book in the Sophia Mancini Mystery series by Caroline Mickelson. Set in 1946, the story takes place in Little Italy after World War II. The boys are coming home, but not in the same shape they were sent away in. Unfortunately this is true of Sophia's brother, Angelo. For Angelo and his son, Sophia will do whatever is necessary to keep their family together.


I love this book. It is well written, the characters are vibrant and interesting and it's full of action and humor. In short, it's the perfect book for me. Normally, when reading a mystery I find myself able to foresee the outcome but that never happened here.There was mystery layered throughout the story with twists I never saw coming. This is an edge of your seat read, for sure.


Sophia is my favorite kind of heroine; smart, spunky, brave, loving and loyal. You can't help but love her. In a time when women were expected to stay at home and let their menfolk take care of them, Sophia is shaking things up. She is fiercely protective of her family and friends and it's that love and protectiveness that drives her desire to solve this case before the cops can.


I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from beginning to end. I especially enjoyed Captain Tiernan McIntyre. He is a no nonsense sort of cop with little patience for civilians interfering in his work. He was a great counterpoint to Sophia and I can't wait to see how and if their relationship progresses.

[Kathleen Huben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life is not going well for Sophia Mancini. Her older brother, Angelo, returns from WWII, a new widower recovering from a head injury that interferes with his short term memory and facing custody challenges for his son from his former in-laws. The Mancini's need an incoome and decide to open a detective agency utilizing Angelo's police background, with Sophia as the front person.
They aren't anticipating their first case to be the murder of the owner of the restaurant where they have their grand opening celebration.
The book is very heavy on dialogue and, overall, the dialogue reads well. It is downright funny at times, but could have used a bit more editing. What is lacking is a sense of place and of character development. The Mancini family's backstory is hazy and there is not much depth to the family characters. There also is surprisingly little feeling of place - and one would expect anyplace called "Little Italy" to have a strong sense of local color.
I would be interested to read a second book to see how the author's style develops.

This book was received as a Goodreads First Read.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story very much. Of course, there is murder, and some people who don't appear to be very nice, but for a murder/mystery book, it was filled with some very nice people. The story is set right after WWII, and people did seem to be kinder. The best part of the story was the fact that the main character's actions were motivated by family love. Even though Sophia kept getting herself in over her head, you pulled for her every step of the way. The most tantalizing concept in the story was Sophia Mancini's interactions (while trying to solve a murder as a private investigator) with the Police Captain, Tiernan McIntyre. They seem to have a bit of a (not too welcome) attraction/affection for each other. I'm sure, if more books are to come, this will spell problems for the Italian Sophia, especially where here Italian grandfather is concerned. I'm sure the Irish Police Captain would not be grandpa's first choice for his granddaughter.

This was a sweet story, although it was dealing with murder and bad guys, but it was refreshing and I will be interested in reading any future installments in the "Sophia Mancini Little Italy Mysteries."

[Daniela Domenici · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of “knowing” virtually Caroline Mickelson for the first time less than one month ago when I happened to read her delightful modern fairy tale.
This time Caroline tries her hand at a thriller really addictive and exciting that she has set in 1946, after the Second World War, in Little Italy, the Italian-American community in New York, because she dedicates this work “with much love to the memory of his grandfather Raymond J. Minchella , son of Italian immigrants, devoted to family, proud to be an American and extremely kind. ” And all the protagonists, perfectly characterized by the use of cracking pace dialogues, except Captain McIntyre, which is responsible for the investigation and who is Irish, are Italian-American starting from the formidable Sophie Mancini, the heart of the whole story, who improvises herself as detective and succeeds in unraveling the tangled skein of the murder of Vincent, owner of a restaurant, and three attempted murders thanks to her nose but especially to her stubbornness, always surrounded by the love and the warmth of the community , which allows her to bring to justice the two culprits.