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Tuscan Mystery #4
The Road to Murder
In the latest installment of the acclaimed Tuscan Mystery series, the sole witness at a crime scene speaks only English, and ex-NYPD detective turned amateur chef Nico Doyle is summoned by the local carabinieri to help.
Though it took some time to settle into his new life in Gravigna, Italy, following the death of his wife, former NYPD detective Nico Doyle has figured out a thing or two. The locals have not only welcomed him, but are giving him rave reviews on his cooking, and his budding relationship with Nelli, a local woman, is healing old wounds.
When Nico receives a phone call before dawn, he wants to ignore it. A phone call at that time can only mean trouble. Sure enough, it’s Perillo of the local carabinieri. A woman has been found dead in her home, slumped over her piano, and the sole witness speaks only English. Nico reluctantly agrees to help Perillo with the case.
Judging by the crime scene, Perillo and Nico determine foul play, and they don’t have to look long for suspects. Following the death of her husband, the late Signora Nora had taken on a number of lovers, her two daughters weren’t on the best terms with her, and there’s a lot to be gained from the sale of her residence. Nico and Perillo have their hands full as they try to solve the murder and restore peace to the otherwise sleepy Gravigna.
Though it took some time to settle into his new life in Gravigna, Italy, following the death of his wife, former NYPD detective Nico Doyle has figured out a thing or two. The locals have not only welcomed him, but are giving him rave reviews on his cooking, and his budding relationship with Nelli, a local woman, is healing old wounds.
When Nico receives a phone call before dawn, he wants to ignore it. A phone call at that time can only mean trouble. Sure enough, it’s Perillo of the local carabinieri. A woman has been found dead in her home, slumped over her piano, and the sole witness speaks only English. Nico reluctantly agrees to help Perillo with the case.
Judging by the crime scene, Perillo and Nico determine foul play, and they don’t have to look long for suspects. Following the death of her husband, the late Signora Nora had taken on a number of lovers, her two daughters weren’t on the best terms with her, and there’s a lot to be gained from the sale of her residence. Nico and Perillo have their hands full as they try to solve the murder and restore peace to the otherwise sleepy Gravigna.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2024
151 people are currently reading
6581 people want to read
About the author
Camilla Trinchieri
24 books346 followersaka Camilla T Crespi, Trella Crespi.
Camilla Trinchieri was born in Prague to an Italian diplomat father and American mother and came to the United States at age twelve. After graduating from Barnard College, she moved to Italy. She returned to New York City in 1980 and earned an MFA in writing from Columbia University. As Trella Crespi and Camilla Crespi she has published seven mystery novels.
Camilla Trinchieri was born in Prague to an Italian diplomat father and American mother and came to the United States at age twelve. After graduating from Barnard College, she moved to Italy. She returned to New York City in 1980 and earned an MFA in writing from Columbia University. As Trella Crespi and Camilla Crespi she has published seven mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
February 12, 2024
I’m always looking for good books set in Italy, and I’ve found an enjoyable series in the Tuscan Mysteries by Camilla Trinchieri. I have an Italian friend who tells me I need to read books by actual Italians, and I think Trinchieri fits the bill. Her father was an Italian diplomat and her mother an American, and she has lived in Italy and the United States.
The Road to Murder is due out in March and is the fourth book in the series. I’ve also read the first three books. I think that each book has gotten stronger, as is often the case with long-running series. The main character, Nico Doyle, is a widower who moved to his dead wife’s hometown. He’s also an ex-detective from New York. When a murder occurs in book 1, the local maresciallo asks for his help, since they don’t have many murders in idyllic Tuscany and Nico has a lot of experience. This pattern continues in each of the books. (Nico is evidently not good luck, since murders occur with regularity now that he’s a local!)
I love the Italian setting, the Italian words, the descriptions of the Italian landscapes and the Italian food. As I’ve gotten to know each recurring character, I like them better. There is one character who quotes a lot of Dante and a cute little rescue dog who’ll be a lot of fun if this ever becomes a TV series. I do find it a little odd that an American civilian is allowed to participate so fully in solving murders in an Italian city; maybe at some point he’ll actually get a job on the force.
This series is a fun cozy police procedural. If you enjoy Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series, you might like it. I read an advance reader copy of The Road to Murder.
Note: this book wrapped up as if it could be the end of the series. I hope not.
The Road to Murder is due out in March and is the fourth book in the series. I’ve also read the first three books. I think that each book has gotten stronger, as is often the case with long-running series. The main character, Nico Doyle, is a widower who moved to his dead wife’s hometown. He’s also an ex-detective from New York. When a murder occurs in book 1, the local maresciallo asks for his help, since they don’t have many murders in idyllic Tuscany and Nico has a lot of experience. This pattern continues in each of the books. (Nico is evidently not good luck, since murders occur with regularity now that he’s a local!)
I love the Italian setting, the Italian words, the descriptions of the Italian landscapes and the Italian food. As I’ve gotten to know each recurring character, I like them better. There is one character who quotes a lot of Dante and a cute little rescue dog who’ll be a lot of fun if this ever becomes a TV series. I do find it a little odd that an American civilian is allowed to participate so fully in solving murders in an Italian city; maybe at some point he’ll actually get a job on the force.
This series is a fun cozy police procedural. If you enjoy Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series, you might like it. I read an advance reader copy of The Road to Murder.
Note: this book wrapped up as if it could be the end of the series. I hope not.
April 14, 2024
2.5 stars
Ehh, not my favourite in the series, but OK, I guess. My opinion was lukewarm at best, so not a great book for me. It's got the usual ingredients of sunny Italy and food descriptions to enjoy, but I somehow don't enjoy the characters all that much. I like them, but don't love them.
Daniele might be the most frequently blushing character I've ever come across - and then it's even pointed out that he blushes slightly less than he used to, in this book.
Like ... Geez. Poor boy.
I can't even remember how old he's supposed to be, but in this one I kept picturing a teenager, at most 17 years old, which really can't be right since he's a working policeman, after all.
Perillo's home-life and unexciting domestic issues bores me almost to tears. Nico and Nelli together is just "fine", but utterly without any type of spark. Gogol is quirky, but if he had actually died, I wouldn't even have noticed, I think.
The only one that sort of stands out is One Wag, but I do agree with the Italians about his name. (To be honest, I think it's kind of awful, but I get that it's probably a cultural thing.)
Cosy this series might be, but this instalment verged on the side of uninteresting.
Eating plain mozzarella without anything to spice it up or turn it into a dish is basically the best comparison I can make - especially considering the theme of the book.
For me, this series lacks excitement and engaging mysteries.
In this book, I didn't even care about the murder. The victim was so awful literally everyone agreed she pretty much deserved it. And that seldom turns the hunt for the killer into an intriguing journey.
I really like the voice of the narrator, Danny Deferrari, but he's not getting better at reading with any sort of feeling. The entire narration is pretty much flat - and sometimes it is impossible to tell characters apart when they just speak to each other without any sort of "he/she said" added. They all float together as the narrator drones on.
And, yes, that probably adds to me basically forgetting this book with a shrug as soon as it was over.
I suspect I might not return for a 5th book. Maybe this series isn't for me. Not even as a place to rest my brain when it needs something cosy.
Ehh, not my favourite in the series, but OK, I guess. My opinion was lukewarm at best, so not a great book for me. It's got the usual ingredients of sunny Italy and food descriptions to enjoy, but I somehow don't enjoy the characters all that much. I like them, but don't love them.
Daniele might be the most frequently blushing character I've ever come across - and then it's even pointed out that he blushes slightly less than he used to, in this book.
Like ... Geez. Poor boy.
I can't even remember how old he's supposed to be, but in this one I kept picturing a teenager, at most 17 years old, which really can't be right since he's a working policeman, after all.
Perillo's home-life and unexciting domestic issues bores me almost to tears. Nico and Nelli together is just "fine", but utterly without any type of spark. Gogol is quirky, but if he had actually died, I wouldn't even have noticed, I think.
The only one that sort of stands out is One Wag, but I do agree with the Italians about his name. (To be honest, I think it's kind of awful, but I get that it's probably a cultural thing.)
Cosy this series might be, but this instalment verged on the side of uninteresting.
Eating plain mozzarella without anything to spice it up or turn it into a dish is basically the best comparison I can make - especially considering the theme of the book.
For me, this series lacks excitement and engaging mysteries.
In this book, I didn't even care about the murder. The victim was so awful literally everyone agreed she pretty much deserved it. And that seldom turns the hunt for the killer into an intriguing journey.
I really like the voice of the narrator, Danny Deferrari, but he's not getting better at reading with any sort of feeling. The entire narration is pretty much flat - and sometimes it is impossible to tell characters apart when they just speak to each other without any sort of "he/she said" added. They all float together as the narrator drones on.
And, yes, that probably adds to me basically forgetting this book with a shrug as soon as it was over.
I suspect I might not return for a 5th book. Maybe this series isn't for me. Not even as a place to rest my brain when it needs something cosy.
January 15, 2026
The Road to Murder by Camilla Trinchieri – Review
The Road to Murder by Camilla Trinchieri follows ex‑NYPD detective turned amateur chef Nico Doyle as he is drawn into a puzzling crime in the tranquil Tuscan village of Gravigna, where he now lives and cooks after the death of his wife. When a wealthy widow is found strangled in her home and the only witness speaks only English, Nico reluctantly teams up with local carabinieri Salvatore Perillo to untangle a web of secrets involving jealous lovers, estranged daughters, and hidden motives that threaten the peace of their small community. This is the fourth installment of the Tuscan Mystery series, blending culinary charm, sun‑dappled Italian landscapes, and a layered whodunit that invites armchair detectives to savor every clue alongside its characters.
What stayed with me most as a reader was how warmly Trinchieri paints everyday life in Tuscany while still delivering a mystery with genuine stakes and surprises; I felt both comforted by the setting and intrigued by each twist in the case.
Nico’s gentle resilience and his rapport with friends old and new made me root for him to find justice not just for the victim but for the community he now calls home. The pacing sometimes leaned toward the leisurely, inviting readers to linger over descriptions of food, wine, and village life as much as clues, but I found that pleasant rather than frustrating because it deepened my connection to Gravigna and its people.
Rating: 4 out of 5 because it offered both cozy charm and satisfying sleuthing that stayed with me long after the last page.
The Road to Murder by Camilla Trinchieri follows ex‑NYPD detective turned amateur chef Nico Doyle as he is drawn into a puzzling crime in the tranquil Tuscan village of Gravigna, where he now lives and cooks after the death of his wife. When a wealthy widow is found strangled in her home and the only witness speaks only English, Nico reluctantly teams up with local carabinieri Salvatore Perillo to untangle a web of secrets involving jealous lovers, estranged daughters, and hidden motives that threaten the peace of their small community. This is the fourth installment of the Tuscan Mystery series, blending culinary charm, sun‑dappled Italian landscapes, and a layered whodunit that invites armchair detectives to savor every clue alongside its characters.
What stayed with me most as a reader was how warmly Trinchieri paints everyday life in Tuscany while still delivering a mystery with genuine stakes and surprises; I felt both comforted by the setting and intrigued by each twist in the case.
Nico’s gentle resilience and his rapport with friends old and new made me root for him to find justice not just for the victim but for the community he now calls home. The pacing sometimes leaned toward the leisurely, inviting readers to linger over descriptions of food, wine, and village life as much as clues, but I found that pleasant rather than frustrating because it deepened my connection to Gravigna and its people.
Rating: 4 out of 5 because it offered both cozy charm and satisfying sleuthing that stayed with me long after the last page.
September 28, 2025
Another enjoyable read in this delightful series. I just love the whole vibe of this series, the beautiful scenery, the incredible food, the wonderful quirky and endearing characters, and an interesting mystery. In this new case, Nico is drafted to help his Italian police officer friends as the person who finds the dead body of her friend speaks no Italian, only English. At first, everyone is stumped, who would murder this elegant lady in her lovely villa? Not her lovely daughters, her loyal domestic help, her neighbors and friends, or her English guest. It doesn't seem possible until some questioning discovers that she was a mean, cold woman who had done something nasty to everyone of the above. The peeling away of the layers of deceit make for an interesting story and a cautionary tale. Can't wait for another visit to Gravigna! #TheRoadtoMurder #ATuscanMystery #CamillaTrinchieri #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
August 10, 2025
I like this murder mystery series set in the Chianti region of Italy more with each book. Nico and rescue dog, One Wag, head up an eclectic assortment of village characters. The murders aren’t gory or too easily solved; although I had correctly solved part of this one!
September 11, 2025
I still enjoy the setting but the plot was just ridiculous. A woman in her late 50’s is able to pick up a dead woman and pose her on the piano??? No one that I didn’t guess who did it…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2024
Another excellent mystery in this series!
March 17, 2024
American ex-cop Nico Doyle has been living in his deceased wife's Italian hometown of Gravigna, and helping out his wife's family in their restaurant part time. He has also been helping out his new friend in the carabinieri, Maresciallo Perillo and adjusting to a new life with OneWag, his adopted stray dog and a burgeoning romance with a local artist Nelli. When a woman is murdered and her English houseguest who found her does not speak Italian, Perillo calls Nico for help. The murdered woman was very snobbish with many people in town not liking her and a few who claimed they did. Her two daughters and their lovers were among those who did not. Some jewelry was also stolen so that adds to the mystery. This is the fourth in the series and the author has let the relationships grow among the characters and there is always food talk and the lovely Italian landscape.
April 4, 2024
I read all four of the books in this series, and felt at home with the characters. The main character is a former NYPD detective, Nico, who has moved to a small town in Italy after his wife dies. He establishes himself among his wife's local family members and ends up advising the local criminal investigators. The cast of characters changes very little in the four novels, so the reader feels at home with them all. There is even a stray dog (One Wag) who adopts Nico and many of the other characters. The action involves day-to-day life with a local murder thrown in. I really would have liked to be versed in Italian cuisine because food items in local eating establishments are described repeatedly, and they all sound delicious! This is a warm and pleasant murder mystery series written by an author who has an Italian background.
April 27, 2024
The Road to Murder
Another in the Nico Doyle series is about an American Police Detective who is now living in Italy. Setting in his deceased ex-wife's hometown, he has become part of the town. He works in the family restaurant and helps out the police. My favorite is his dog, OneWAg... such a cute name.
The murder is good, the suspects are many and the sleuthing is great!
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Another in the Nico Doyle series is about an American Police Detective who is now living in Italy. Setting in his deceased ex-wife's hometown, he has become part of the town. He works in the family restaurant and helps out the police. My favorite is his dog, OneWAg... such a cute name.
The murder is good, the suspects are many and the sleuthing is great!
4 stars
Happy Reading!
December 31, 2024
Nico Doyle is no longer a New York homicide detective, he lives in a small Tuscan town trying to take it easy and help out at a local restaurant. The Raod to Murder by Camilla Trinchieri throws him right into another murder mystery and he can't help himself from assisting the local police while juggling his retirement, restaurant work new girlfriend and a dog. I like the pace in this series and although the food is not in my taste I still get hungry while reading. If you like small rural settings and a slower pace this is for you.
August 11, 2025
The Tuscan food is still tasty, the continuing characters pleasant, the climate idyllic… but this installment fell somewhat flat. The nasty victim is unmourned, but the crime is ultimately unraveled, and everyone can return to the pleasures of savoring the local specialties and the fine wine.
January 15, 2024
The Road to Murder is the 4th novel in the Tuscan Murder series. This Camilla Trinchieri novel is the first novel of this series that I have read. In spite of being part of a series, The Road to Murder works quite well as a stand-lone murder mystery. I had no problem following along and getting to know all of the characters. This novel is a police procedural, with multiple narrators, all of whom are connected in some way to the Carabinieri, whose job it is to solve murders. The characters are nicely described, as are the locations and the food, which sounds quite lovely. There are enough suspects to create the needed mystery.
Trinchieri's novel requires critical thinking, which is exactly what I most enjoy reading. I want to use critical thinking skills when I read, which for me is just as important as the ability to escape into a novel. The Road to Murder was an enjoyable read. Anytime a reader can escape into Italy with descriptions of great food and wine, the novel is worth reading. Thank you to the author, Soho Press, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to read and review. The comments in this review are my honest assessment of this novel. I wish I had discovered the first 3 books in this series long ago. I need to go back and read them.
Trinchieri's novel requires critical thinking, which is exactly what I most enjoy reading. I want to use critical thinking skills when I read, which for me is just as important as the ability to escape into a novel. The Road to Murder was an enjoyable read. Anytime a reader can escape into Italy with descriptions of great food and wine, the novel is worth reading. Thank you to the author, Soho Press, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to read and review. The comments in this review are my honest assessment of this novel. I wish I had discovered the first 3 books in this series long ago. I need to go back and read them.
June 4, 2024
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and the series. I enjoy learning about different foods and customs.
I really enjoyed this book and the series. I enjoy learning about different foods and customs.
September 25, 2024
Although it was a good read to pass time, I expected more out of it. The build up of the investigation made me believe there was more complexity to the murder, however it wasn’t the case. The ending was disappointing as it felt a bit cliche.
April 8, 2025
Entertaining book to listen to. I’m getting to know the characters, most are quite likeable.
There’s a recipe at the end and lots of delicious Italian meals throughout.
There’s a recipe at the end and lots of delicious Italian meals throughout.
December 27, 2023
This is another fine book in the Tuscan mystery series. This was from the ARC that I read. If anything, the stories keep getting stronger.
Nico and his friends help solve another difficult mystery as well as live a good life in their little village. I love the people in the area as well as the description of the countryside. Keep them coming.
Nico and his friends help solve another difficult mystery as well as live a good life in their little village. I love the people in the area as well as the description of the countryside. Keep them coming.
March 21, 2024
More of a 3.5 rating
Mystery not all that compelling or interesting.
Primarily I think is the vicitm is so unlikable, you don't care that she's dead or why.
Book mainly seems to have been to advance all of the personal story lines, rather that centered around
a good mystery. All the characters are good and fans of the series will appreciate it.
A come down in quality from previous books.
Mystery not all that compelling or interesting.
Primarily I think is the vicitm is so unlikable, you don't care that she's dead or why.
Book mainly seems to have been to advance all of the personal story lines, rather that centered around
a good mystery. All the characters are good and fans of the series will appreciate it.
A come down in quality from previous books.
March 4, 2024
One of the things that drew me into reading this book is definitely the setting. I’ve read a couple of murder mysteries set in Tuscany in the past year and every time I’m left with a yearning to go visit this beautiful landscape and indulge in the food and wine of the area. The Road to Murder is no exception. There are some very lovely descriptions of both the setting and the food that will transport the reader to the Italian landscape. I really felt like I was submerged in the story.
The mystery itself was engaging and smart very well-written. The pace was perfect and the story never lagged with a suitable number of suspects and motives and plot twists to keep the reader guessing. The author managed to make some of the suspects likable and you almost didn’t want them to be the guilty party.
And I definitely don’t recommend reading this book on an empty stomach. I was craving so many Italian dishes while reading this and there’s even a recipe for one of Nico’s most popular recipes included in the back that I’m going to try making soon!
I really enjoyed Nico as the main character and felt like I got to know him and several of the secondary characters very well in the span of one book. There are several relationships that are visited throughout the story, but the romantic pairings never take away from the murder mystery plot and add to the depth of the characters/
While this is already the fourth book in the Tuscan Mysteries, it’s my first time reading anything by Camilla Trinchieri. I almost always prefer starting a series from the first book, but I decided to give this one a go and I’m so glad I did. It reads perfectly fine as a standalone, although I did enjoy the characters so much that I’m going to go back and read the first three books in the series so I can see how they developed.
*** Thank you to the publisher, Soho Crime, for providing me with a copy of this book to review
The mystery itself was engaging and smart very well-written. The pace was perfect and the story never lagged with a suitable number of suspects and motives and plot twists to keep the reader guessing. The author managed to make some of the suspects likable and you almost didn’t want them to be the guilty party.
And I definitely don’t recommend reading this book on an empty stomach. I was craving so many Italian dishes while reading this and there’s even a recipe for one of Nico’s most popular recipes included in the back that I’m going to try making soon!
I really enjoyed Nico as the main character and felt like I got to know him and several of the secondary characters very well in the span of one book. There are several relationships that are visited throughout the story, but the romantic pairings never take away from the murder mystery plot and add to the depth of the characters/
While this is already the fourth book in the Tuscan Mysteries, it’s my first time reading anything by Camilla Trinchieri. I almost always prefer starting a series from the first book, but I decided to give this one a go and I’m so glad I did. It reads perfectly fine as a standalone, although I did enjoy the characters so much that I’m going to go back and read the first three books in the series so I can see how they developed.
*** Thank you to the publisher, Soho Crime, for providing me with a copy of this book to review
March 7, 2024
Nico Doyle returns in the fourth book in the Tuscan Mystery series, The Road to Murder. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Nico is still busy helping in his wife's family's restaurant, creating new dishes for them to try and sell in the restaurant, and visiting with his friends at the cafe each day. His friend, Perillo, in the carabinieri, has a new murder case: a woman found slumped over her piano and an English-speaking house guest who was present in the house during the murder but did not hear anything from her guest room. Nico is needed for translating and of course, pitching in where he can with solving the crime. The victim, Nora, has two daughters, Clara and Adriana, and a son-in-law, two of whom seem to care more about Nora's money and home than they do about her being murdered.
The Road to Murder is a welcome addition to the Tuscan Mystery series, providing that much-loved armchair travel experience to my beloved Italy. I recognize so many things described about "Gravigna" in the books as they seem familiar even though they use a town name that does not exist in Italy, at least not with that spelling. Still, the descriptions of Gravigna do exist in reality in so many towns throughout Italy. The food, people, and town are vivid, colorful, and well-described like other characters in the book. The mystery is original in how it progresses, and the new characters introduced as part of it are also well-developed. They keep their secrets well until they are forced to release them. The relationships between the repeat characters in the book grow and change and draw the reader into their stories. I am really looking forward to the next book. This review can also be read along with other reviews at Lady Techie's Book Musings http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
The Road to Murder is a welcome addition to the Tuscan Mystery series, providing that much-loved armchair travel experience to my beloved Italy. I recognize so many things described about "Gravigna" in the books as they seem familiar even though they use a town name that does not exist in Italy, at least not with that spelling. Still, the descriptions of Gravigna do exist in reality in so many towns throughout Italy. The food, people, and town are vivid, colorful, and well-described like other characters in the book. The mystery is original in how it progresses, and the new characters introduced as part of it are also well-developed. They keep their secrets well until they are forced to release them. The relationships between the repeat characters in the book grow and change and draw the reader into their stories. I am really looking forward to the next book. This review can also be read along with other reviews at Lady Techie's Book Musings http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
January 17, 2024
3.5 stars
Retired NY homicide detective Nico Doyle has moved after his wife's death to the Italian village where her family lives. He has built a good life there, working part-time as a chef in the family restaurant, making friends, adopting a dog. He helps out the local police with English translation and homicide, and is in a relationship with a local artist.
Nico is a good man and the ensemble cast is well-drawn. Salvatore Perillo, the local maresciallo appreciates both Nico's friendship and his crime-solving experience. There is a younger policeman, the restaurant staff, a few locals, and Nico's lady friend Nelli to round out the characters.
Nico gets called to the scene of a murder -- a local woman with old local history and roots has been found strangled. Her house guest, an English visitor, speaks only English. The murder victim's grown family are unspeakably awful - hateful, greedy and haughty. But it appears the dead woman herself was no prize. And some very expensive jewelry has disappeared. Was robbery the motive? What about the new will the woman had just signed? There are plenty of suspects and several motives for Nico and Perillo to try and untangle.
Meanwhile, the daily life of these characters goes on. A bit of romantic anxiety, a friend's health scare, the growing relationship between Nico and Nelli all are part of the mix. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Retired NY homicide detective Nico Doyle has moved after his wife's death to the Italian village where her family lives. He has built a good life there, working part-time as a chef in the family restaurant, making friends, adopting a dog. He helps out the local police with English translation and homicide, and is in a relationship with a local artist.
Nico is a good man and the ensemble cast is well-drawn. Salvatore Perillo, the local maresciallo appreciates both Nico's friendship and his crime-solving experience. There is a younger policeman, the restaurant staff, a few locals, and Nico's lady friend Nelli to round out the characters.
Nico gets called to the scene of a murder -- a local woman with old local history and roots has been found strangled. Her house guest, an English visitor, speaks only English. The murder victim's grown family are unspeakably awful - hateful, greedy and haughty. But it appears the dead woman herself was no prize. And some very expensive jewelry has disappeared. Was robbery the motive? What about the new will the woman had just signed? There are plenty of suspects and several motives for Nico and Perillo to try and untangle.
Meanwhile, the daily life of these characters goes on. A bit of romantic anxiety, a friend's health scare, the growing relationship between Nico and Nelli all are part of the mix. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 3, 2024
Charming and great mystery
In Camilla Trinchieri’s fourth Tuscan mystery, the landscape is enchanting, the neighborhood is filled with local eccentrics, OneWag, Nico’s dog, is as busy as ever keeping track of people and food, and murder breaks into the peaceful village of Gravigna.
Nico Doyle, former NYPD detective, is settled nicely into his new home in Gravigna, Italy, still mourning his former wife, but ready to move on in his relationship with Nelli, a local artist. His cooking is coming along well with patrons of the restaurant he works in asking for his dishes. It is, you might say, the calm before the storm.
He is called by the Perillo, of the local carbinieri, before dawn because Perillo needs help from someone who can speak English. And, of course, it is very helpful that Nico has experience with murder and that he has helped Perillo before (see the other three mysteries in the series).
As they unearth clues, trying to discover who killed Nora, and why (land? Jewelry? Some other reason?) they meet Nora’s daughters and their husbands, they get to know the guest who found her, Ms. Barron, and her secrets, and they recognize the greed that can wreck so many lives.
Camilla Trinchieri sets up the clues nicely. She understands human foibles and the great attachment between humans and dogs. She also gets that it is all right to move on with your life; that mourning the past can ease as you move forward into the future.
In Camilla Trinchieri’s fourth Tuscan mystery, the landscape is enchanting, the neighborhood is filled with local eccentrics, OneWag, Nico’s dog, is as busy as ever keeping track of people and food, and murder breaks into the peaceful village of Gravigna.
Nico Doyle, former NYPD detective, is settled nicely into his new home in Gravigna, Italy, still mourning his former wife, but ready to move on in his relationship with Nelli, a local artist. His cooking is coming along well with patrons of the restaurant he works in asking for his dishes. It is, you might say, the calm before the storm.
He is called by the Perillo, of the local carbinieri, before dawn because Perillo needs help from someone who can speak English. And, of course, it is very helpful that Nico has experience with murder and that he has helped Perillo before (see the other three mysteries in the series).
As they unearth clues, trying to discover who killed Nora, and why (land? Jewelry? Some other reason?) they meet Nora’s daughters and their husbands, they get to know the guest who found her, Ms. Barron, and her secrets, and they recognize the greed that can wreck so many lives.
Camilla Trinchieri sets up the clues nicely. She understands human foibles and the great attachment between humans and dogs. She also gets that it is all right to move on with your life; that mourning the past can ease as you move forward into the future.
March 9, 2024
Perillo needs ex-homicide cop Nico to help him with the murder of a wealthy landowner who best witness only speaks English. The victim's family is something else, but there are as many suspects as there are twists and surprises. Meanwhile, a local man who is their friend becomes ill and love is in the air for several couples.
Widowed ex-NYPD homicide detective (Nico) moves to Tuscany where he has good memories and his wife's family (and they need his help in the restaurant). Remember the adage about taking the man out of the job? He got to be friends with the local Carabinieri (Perillo and Daniele) over a murder and has made many other friends as well including a dog, OneWag/Rocco.
I requested but missed out on a free temporary EARC from via NetGalley, but preordered the audio (available 5 March 2024) to read and add to my series collection. Voice actor Danny Deferrari did a remarkable job EXCEPT that he needs to know that the item is JEWEL-ry and not an ethnic word.
#TuscanMystery Bk4 #Audio
Widowed ex-NYPD homicide detective (Nico) moves to Tuscany where he has good memories and his wife's family (and they need his help in the restaurant). Remember the adage about taking the man out of the job? He got to be friends with the local Carabinieri (Perillo and Daniele) over a murder and has made many other friends as well including a dog, OneWag/Rocco.
I requested but missed out on a free temporary EARC from via NetGalley, but preordered the audio (available 5 March 2024) to read and add to my series collection. Voice actor Danny Deferrari did a remarkable job EXCEPT that he needs to know that the item is JEWEL-ry and not an ethnic word.
#TuscanMystery Bk4 #Audio
August 6, 2024
This is a classic mystery set in the quiet village of Gravigna in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany. Nico Doyle, a former NYPD detective is the main character in this 4th mystery series set in Tuscany. A reader can start the series in any order without an issue since each mystery is independent.
A woman is found strangled to death in her home without any sign of struggle. Former detective Nico Doyle is called upon by local police to assist in the mystery since the main witness speaks English. Nico moved to Tuscany after his wife’s death and started a new live as a self taught chef struggling to build his next chapter and reawakening his love with a new local woman. Unfortunately Nico cannot escape his talent as a detective and he finds himself immersed in a new village mystery.
The investigation uncovers the murdered woman’s enemies and family hatred surfaces. Who killed this woman? Family or friends?
The reader will enjoy the basic mystery, however, the Tuscan countryside and village characters filled with local charm will capture your imagination. Enjoy!
A woman is found strangled to death in her home without any sign of struggle. Former detective Nico Doyle is called upon by local police to assist in the mystery since the main witness speaks English. Nico moved to Tuscany after his wife’s death and started a new live as a self taught chef struggling to build his next chapter and reawakening his love with a new local woman. Unfortunately Nico cannot escape his talent as a detective and he finds himself immersed in a new village mystery.
The investigation uncovers the murdered woman’s enemies and family hatred surfaces. Who killed this woman? Family or friends?
The reader will enjoy the basic mystery, however, the Tuscan countryside and village characters filled with local charm will capture your imagination. Enjoy!
March 29, 2024
For Mystery Lovers who crave a good Italian meal. I wanted more recipes, especially for the pastries!
Camilla Trinchieri writes a tense mystery set in Gravigna, Italy in the Tuscan hills. There's a murder at the estate of a wealthy widow. Her British house guest (who speaks little Italian) and the widow's two daughters are the natural suspects. Since the police don't speak English, they enlist the help of former NYC Detective Nico Doyle (who loves to cook). He's somewhat bi-lingual and a very sharp investigator.
The plot is tangled, the motives are hidden, and the police are pulling all the strings and tugging at clues to solve the fourth mystery in this series.
After reading #4, I want to go back and read them all, and everything else Trinchieri has been writing under her pseudonym Camilla Crespi.
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
Camilla Trinchieri writes a tense mystery set in Gravigna, Italy in the Tuscan hills. There's a murder at the estate of a wealthy widow. Her British house guest (who speaks little Italian) and the widow's two daughters are the natural suspects. Since the police don't speak English, they enlist the help of former NYC Detective Nico Doyle (who loves to cook). He's somewhat bi-lingual and a very sharp investigator.
The plot is tangled, the motives are hidden, and the police are pulling all the strings and tugging at clues to solve the fourth mystery in this series.
After reading #4, I want to go back and read them all, and everything else Trinchieri has been writing under her pseudonym Camilla Crespi.
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
November 4, 2024
Nico Doyle, a former NYPD detective who has moved to a small town in Italy following his wife’s death, has settled into his life in Gravigna in this fourth mystery. He is working part time as a sous-chef in his wife’s cousin’s restaurant, tapping his creative skills, assisting the local maresciallo with their murder inquiries. He has wonderful friends, a faithful dog, and a new love. All this balances the greed and immorality of the murder he is asked to solve. Depravity is always embedded in mystery novels so I’ll leave it at that; no need for more details.
The descriptions of the Italian countryside, the night sky, and the food bring the area alive to the reader. Who wouldn’t heal there? What I enjoyed even more were the thoughts and observations of the characters, so honest as they grappled with personal and professional concerns. It’s been a while since I read the last book, and I appreciated how they have evolved.
The descriptions of the Italian countryside, the night sky, and the food bring the area alive to the reader. Who wouldn’t heal there? What I enjoyed even more were the thoughts and observations of the characters, so honest as they grappled with personal and professional concerns. It’s been a while since I read the last book, and I appreciated how they have evolved.
January 7, 2024
Nico, former New York City Detective is awakened early morning by Gravigna carabinieri Perillo. A local woman has been murdered, and her American guest can't speak Italian, so Perillo needs Nico's help. Nico had moved to Gravigna, his deceased wife's former home to bury his wife there and stay. He works with his wife's family at a restaurant, and occasionally helps out the local carabinieri. He also now has a relation with Nelli and other friends in the town. Perillo soon believes the American woman, Miss Baron, is guilty of killing her hostess Nora, a wealtlhy widow with two grown daughters.
This becomes a very complicated case. Nora's jewelry has been stolen, and her two daughters appear anxious to inherit Nora's money. The older daughter's husband is definitely anxious for the inheritance, and the younger daughter has just gotten engaged and wanted her mother's engagement ring. The case is very complicated, and Nico likes Miss Baron, even though she looks guilty.
There is an exciting end! I thank Netgalley and Soho press for the DRC.
This becomes a very complicated case. Nora's jewelry has been stolen, and her two daughters appear anxious to inherit Nora's money. The older daughter's husband is definitely anxious for the inheritance, and the younger daughter has just gotten engaged and wanted her mother's engagement ring. The case is very complicated, and Nico likes Miss Baron, even though she looks guilty.
There is an exciting end! I thank Netgalley and Soho press for the DRC.
March 19, 2024
When a wealthy, unpleasant woman is found murdered, marshal Perillo suspects the Englishwoman who is visiting her--not least because Miss Barron speaks no Italian and he must ask his friend, retired New York homicide detective Nico Doyle, to translate for him. Doyle, on the other hand, is charmed by the elderly lady, although he finds parts of her story odd. In between dealing with the women in their lives , Nico's day job at the restaurant of his late wife's cousin, and his concern for his eccentric friend Gogol who needs a heart stent, the two men investigate the dead woman's two unloving daughters, and her unhappy past. The lengthy cast of characters might more usefully be placed at the beginning than the end of the book.
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