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Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency #1
Eyewitness Sketch
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26Finding love at Death's Door might destroy them both.
CHICAGO, Ill., 1931—Gabriella Salatino, an illustrative journalist for the Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency, never planned to return to her island home at the tip of Wisconsin's Door Peninsula. Nor did she plan to witness a murder. But when her life is threatened, she has no choice but to hide out under the protective care of the man she left behind.
Deputy Andri Jóhannsson has been coming to Gabby's rescue his entire life, but having her in his secluded home tests the limits of his patience. The woman has no sense of self-preservation, and he has a smuggling ring to ferret out. Except, her skill with sketchpad and pencils might be the very investigative tool he needs in order to catch the bootleggers.
With a murderer on her trail and criminals evading detection, Gabriella and Andri must set aside the past or risk its eruption. Because this time, the collateral damage might include more than losing their friendship. It might cost them the lives of those they love.
La Verità con Integrità. Truth with Integrity. The Legacy of a (Girl) Stunt Reporter.
Read the Whole Series (does not need to be read in order)
1892 – Undercover Wish
Book 1: 1931 – Eyewitness Sketch
Book 2: 1932 – Sabotage Games
Book 3: 1932 – Shrouded Trail
Book 4: 1933 – Fraudulent Progress
Book 5: 1935 – Pursuing Dust
Book 6: 1936 – Hostile Ally
CHICAGO, Ill., 1931—Gabriella Salatino, an illustrative journalist for the Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency, never planned to return to her island home at the tip of Wisconsin's Door Peninsula. Nor did she plan to witness a murder. But when her life is threatened, she has no choice but to hide out under the protective care of the man she left behind.
Deputy Andri Jóhannsson has been coming to Gabby's rescue his entire life, but having her in his secluded home tests the limits of his patience. The woman has no sense of self-preservation, and he has a smuggling ring to ferret out. Except, her skill with sketchpad and pencils might be the very investigative tool he needs in order to catch the bootleggers.
With a murderer on her trail and criminals evading detection, Gabriella and Andri must set aside the past or risk its eruption. Because this time, the collateral damage might include more than losing their friendship. It might cost them the lives of those they love.
La Verità con Integrità. Truth with Integrity. The Legacy of a (Girl) Stunt Reporter.
Read the Whole Series (does not need to be read in order)
1892 – Undercover Wish
Book 1: 1931 – Eyewitness Sketch
Book 2: 1932 – Sabotage Games
Book 3: 1932 – Shrouded Trail
Book 4: 1933 – Fraudulent Progress
Book 5: 1935 – Pursuing Dust
Book 6: 1936 – Hostile Ally
- GenresHistorical Fiction
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 10, 2026
1 person is currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Grandinetti
28 books618 followersDanielle Grandinetti writes both historical romantic suspense and contemporary sweet romance. She is an avid reader and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Find her online at daniellegrandinetti.com.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 14, 2026
4.5 stars
Set in the 1930s, in both Chicago, Illinois, and Heima Island, Wisconsin, this Christian historical romance with suspense has a variation of my favorite trope, sibling’s best friend.
Gabrielle is an artist and journalist. She left home - and her long time crush - 7 years ago and is investigating in Chicago. When there was a pushy guy at a charity event, she called Andri, her best friend’s brother, to act as a fake boyfriend over the phone. And after getting off the phone, it was clear that Andri also holds a great depth of affection for Gabby, but because she is his sister’s best friend he viewed it “his job to protect her, even from himself.” Swoon!
Andri is a police officer on Heima Island and they are having a problem with bootleggers. When Gabby comes home to stay under his protection after witnessing a murder, it’s hard to tell where the threats of danger from her end and those of the island begin. Gabby draws scenes of everything she sees, but, for the past 7 years, she hasn’t drawn the figure who murdered her mother. This small island (3 miles of coast line) has a lot of family and friends, and now danger and questions. I really enjoyed this book in the series (definitely read the prequel too!) and am interested in the next book. The romance is just kisses, intimacy level 1. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
CW: Parent Loss (Past)
I received an eARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Set in the 1930s, in both Chicago, Illinois, and Heima Island, Wisconsin, this Christian historical romance with suspense has a variation of my favorite trope, sibling’s best friend.
Gabrielle is an artist and journalist. She left home - and her long time crush - 7 years ago and is investigating in Chicago. When there was a pushy guy at a charity event, she called Andri, her best friend’s brother, to act as a fake boyfriend over the phone. And after getting off the phone, it was clear that Andri also holds a great depth of affection for Gabby, but because she is his sister’s best friend he viewed it “his job to protect her, even from himself.” Swoon!
Andri is a police officer on Heima Island and they are having a problem with bootleggers. When Gabby comes home to stay under his protection after witnessing a murder, it’s hard to tell where the threats of danger from her end and those of the island begin. Gabby draws scenes of everything she sees, but, for the past 7 years, she hasn’t drawn the figure who murdered her mother. This small island (3 miles of coast line) has a lot of family and friends, and now danger and questions. I really enjoyed this book in the series (definitely read the prequel too!) and am interested in the next book. The romance is just kisses, intimacy level 1. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
CW: Parent Loss (Past)
I received an eARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Eyewitness Sketch" is my favorite yet of Danielle Grandinetti's books. I really liked this book set in Chicago and on an island off of Door County, WI. This is a fast paced, historical romantic suspense novella length book.
Gabriella and Andri are a couple of people that have history and misunderstandings due to the death of Gabriella's mother years before. When Gabriella is threatened in Chicago, she heads back to her childhood home into Andri's protection. He is now a police officer and is in a position to keep her safe. Though as in any good suspenseful mystery, the danger follows Gabriella.
I really enjoyed reading about Gabriella's work as a sketch artist. It's intriguing to think how her work was so important at a time when cameras and film weren't as accessible as the drawings she made. The history of smuggling during prohibition was also very interesting as was some of the history of Wisconsin during this time that was highlighted briefly in this book.
I can't wait to see where this series goes next. If the rest of the books are anything like this one, Grandinetti's readers are in for some great storytelling with this series!
Thank you to Danielle for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Gabriella and Andri are a couple of people that have history and misunderstandings due to the death of Gabriella's mother years before. When Gabriella is threatened in Chicago, she heads back to her childhood home into Andri's protection. He is now a police officer and is in a position to keep her safe. Though as in any good suspenseful mystery, the danger follows Gabriella.
I really enjoyed reading about Gabriella's work as a sketch artist. It's intriguing to think how her work was so important at a time when cameras and film weren't as accessible as the drawings she made. The history of smuggling during prohibition was also very interesting as was some of the history of Wisconsin during this time that was highlighted briefly in this book.
I can't wait to see where this series goes next. If the rest of the books are anything like this one, Grandinetti's readers are in for some great storytelling with this series!
Thank you to Danielle for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
As with any story by Danielle Grandinetti, they are all excellent! I am so excited for this new series. What more could you love with a K9 in any story. Gabby, an illustrative journalist through Di STASIO Giornaliste Agency & Deputy Andri Jóhannsson. These two are children friends who drifted apart when Gabby left home after her mother’s murder. But when Gabby is an eyewitness to a murder, one of her colleague, she’s in danger. The man to protect her and help solve these crimes is none other than Andri. With all the danger and threats against her she fears she’s brought danger to his doorstep but Andri is determined he’s going to protect and keep her safe. I love these two characters and we get to see Ali from Undercover Wish, prequel novella. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book by the author and was not required to give a review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book by the author and was not required to give a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Gabriella is a sketch artist. She has started a new life in Chicago. She enjoys her job and her new friends. Andri and Gabriella have been friends since they were children. Andri is now a police officer and when he gets a call saying Gabriella is in danger and is coming back home he will do everything he can to protect her. When Gabriella gets home she is hoping to get answers to what has happened in her past and currently. There is a lot that happens In this book that will keep you turning the pages.
I was given this book by the author. All thoughts are my own.
I was given this book by the author. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've been excited for this series ever since I heard about it, and this first book did not disappoint!! Loved the plot, the adventure, the setting!!!!, the premise--but especially loved Gabriella and Andri <3 Can't wait for more!
January 30, 2026
After reading the prequel novella, I was excited to start this series and read about a journalist during prohibition.
I loved that this story was about an illustrative journalist as that was a different twist. Gabby is an artist who has witnessed her own mother’s murder. She finds her life in danger and returns to her island home and the care of a childhood friend who is now the island police officer.
I enjoyed the mystery of trying to discover the identity of the murder and the bootleggers. The rekindled romance was sweet but I have to admit that I would have enjoyed a bit more chemistry as the romance seemed a little quick and I wasn’t quite believing it at first.
4.5 stars
I loved that this story was about an illustrative journalist as that was a different twist. Gabby is an artist who has witnessed her own mother’s murder. She finds her life in danger and returns to her island home and the care of a childhood friend who is now the island police officer.
I enjoyed the mystery of trying to discover the identity of the murder and the bootleggers. The rekindled romance was sweet but I have to admit that I would have enjoyed a bit more chemistry as the romance seemed a little quick and I wasn’t quite believing it at first.
4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews