Making a Killing in Aramezzo

by Michelle Damiani

“In Umbria, pasta isn’t the only thing that’s twisted.”
When Stella traded her high-pressure career in a Michelin-starred kitchen for the tranquil hills of Umbria, she didn’t expect her life to become as tangled as her signature strangozzi pasta. But when her closest friends—owners of the beloved local café—are arrested for alleged mafia ties, Stella knows something doesn’t add up. Determined to clear their names, she dives into an investigation brimming with red herrings, cryptic clues, and her trusty one-eared cat at her side.

Things take a darker turn when a mysterious lunatic terrorizes the local roads, and a high-speed car chase brings chaos to her idyllic town. To make matters worse, one of Stella's bed-and-breakfast guests has vanished, leaving her to manage his eccentric wife.

With her sharp palate for details, a quirky crew of friends (think Italian Scooby Gang with better wine), and a knack for culinary improvisation, Stella stirs up trouble and justice in equal measure. Packed with mouthwatering recipes, twists, and turns, Making a Killing in Aramezzo will leave you hungry for the next bite.

Can Stella serve up the truth before it’s too late? Or will her cozy Italian dream unravel like overcooked spaghetti?

“As always Damiani brings Italy to life. You can smell the coffee, brush the pastry flakes from your chin, taste the pasta sauce and see the ancient stone walls. And all that in the middle of mystery, intrigue and murder. You can't ask for more. Except another one of her books!”

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2025

About the author

Michelle Damiani is a freelance writer, clinical psychologist, and food lover currently living in Charlottesville, VA. Her heart, however, is in Spello, Italy, where she and her family spent a year growing accustomed to being fish out of water, grappling with the hardships of parenting on foreign soil, and ultimately cleaving into the soul of Italian village life. Before that year abroad, Michelle wrote short fiction--one of her stories was recently awarded first place in the Hook Short Fiction contest, juried by author John Grisham. While in Italy, she used the time that her children were in Italian public schools to write a blog about their experiences. The blog, Il Bel Centro, was awarded the bronze award for best Italian blog by Expatsblog. Once back in Charlottesville, she transformed the blog into a book, Il Bel Centro: a Year in the Beautiful Center, now available in print and e-book. Missing her village, she began writing a 4 part novel series set in italy. Three of the books, "Santa Lucia", "The Silent Madonna", and "The Stillness of Swallows" have been published. In addition, Michelle accumulated the collective wisdom of traveling families into a comprehensive guide called, "The Road Taken: How to Dream, Plan, and Live Your Family Adventure Abroad." When not planning her upcoming trip around the world, you can find her at www.michelledamiani.com.

Reviews

[Bklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab a cup of coffee, actually make that a cappuccino, and settle down with Making a Killing in Aramezzo, the fourth book in Michelle Damiani’s Murder in an Italian Village Series. If you’ve read any of the previous books, you’ll feel like you’re running into old friends, well, along with a few people you might want to avoid. But if you haven’t, you’ll get to know them soon enough.
From warm and cozy to chilling and dangerous, as the story progresses, you’ll run through a full range of emotions. Despite her good intentions to not get involved, Stella ends up right in the midst of a mystery and the investigation that ensues, which isn’t surprising to anyone who knows her.
With twists and turns to match the roads leading up to this tiny village built like a wedding cake, don’t plan on figuring out the guilty party (or is it parties?) Even when all is revealed, you’ll still be left wondering… Will Stella stay in Aramezzo, even though that was never really her plan? Will there be any new installments in her love life? Don’t ask my opinion, I’m off to make a crescionda. (Recipe at the end of the book).
I was an advance reader. This is my true and honest opinion and I received no compensation.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espressi, cornetti, pasta and more intrigue in our favorite Umbrian town.

I just finished “Making a Killing in Aramezzo”. As always I was enthralled! I love Michelle’s cozy murders. This one did not disappoint! Our chef detective, Stella, again gets drawn into an investigation when her good friends Roberto and Romina get arrested for money laundering. They own the only bar in Aramezzo so it was a huge blow to the entire village when it closed. Our beloved cast of characters work together to find out who framed them to the exciting conclusion. I particularly enjoyed the sweet Cindy who was a tourist and guest in Stella’s BnB who serendipitously came into her own during the book, freed from her oppressive husband for a time. I was salivating at the descriptions of the food which Stella shared with the townsfolk as well as her BnB guests. Oh, and wait for the exciting news of a big change for Matteo at the end!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

More surprises in Aramezzo!

Loved traveling back to Aramezzo again with all the relatable characters….Stella, the villagers, the cat Ravioli and the beautiful medieval stone village. The story has as many twists and turns as the streets of Aramezzo, with many surprises along the way. Stella’s recipes add a wonderful and delicious dimension to the story line, and oh….smell the porchetta!
Thank you, Michelle, for once again transporting the reader to a wonderful part of the world! Would travel with you any time, Michelle!

Making a Killing in Aramezzo (Murder in an Italian Village Book 4)
byMichelle Damiani
5.0 out of 5 stars

[Paula Sindberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great mystery wrapped in a love letter to life in a small Italian town. As someone who has had a house in a tiny Italian village for 25 years, I can attest to the accuracy of the descriptions. As a lifelong foodie, chef, and former wine merchant, I also love the cooking descriptions. Well worth reading.

I received an arc copy of the book.

[Kelly Breen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading about Stella and and everyone in Aramezzo! Michelle writes a story that makes you feel like you are actually there seeing the beautiful scenery and tasting all the wonderful food. I always look forward to the next books she will write.