Pompeii, Paccheri, and Panic

by Traci Andrighetti

From USA Today bestselling author Traci Andrighetti comes a laugh-out-loud mystery series where luxury food tours through Italy dish up pasta, piazzas—and plenty of peril.

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A luxury food tour in Pompeii? Yes. A poisoned plate of paccheri? Not on the menu.

Giada Adair came to the ancient city for research, not for ruin. But when a graduate student drops dead after eating the dish she refused, her food-and-travel career could be up in smoke before it has even started. Suspected of poisoning and tied to the disappearance of a priceless Roman oil lamp, Giada's in deeper trouble than the buried city itself.

With help from Moira, her street-smart assistant, and a theatrical Contessa who insists that tragedy requires proper staging, Giada must unearth the truth behind the lamp, the murder, and a suspiciously sexy professor. Between poisonous pasta, a fedora-wearing stalker, and ancient brothel murals that would embarrass an art historian, Giada's on the verge of a meltdown—and this time, Mount Vesuvius isn't the only thing ready to blow.

ebook

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

Traci Andrighetti is the USA Today bestselling author of the Franki Amato mysteries and the Danger Cove Hair Salon mysteries, and she is a co-author of the Killer Foursome mysteries. Her latest release is 4 SLEUTHS & A BACHELORETTE, Franki's first co-investigation with the sleuths of Leslie Langtry, Arlene McFarlane, and Diana Orgain. Right now Traci's plotting TUACA TAN, Franki Amato 8, about the members of an all-female Mardi Gras krewe who keep dropping dead. Next off the press is Franki’s second investigation with her new “krewe,” 4 SLEUTHS & A BURLESQUE DANCER, about a washed up dolphin dancer found dead in the water. LMAO (the initials of Langtry, Andrighetti, McFarlane, and Orgain)! :D

Reviews

[Debi Paglia]

Loved this book! Good balance between funny and mysterious. The characters are a hoot! I like the idea that each book will take place in a different location. And, of course, the best part is that it centers on a food tour! It was easy to read and kept my attention. The mysteries were believable and interesting. I learned a lot about Pompeii. Looking forward to the next one!

[Mark Baker]

Giada Adair, is going through a painful divorce and has taken a job as a tour guide in Italy in an attempt to rebuild her life. She and her best friend have headed over before her first official tour to do a little research in Pompeii. But her trip takes an unexpected turn when an ancient lamp just unearth from Pompeii disappears and Giada finds herself implicated. Worse yet, a young woman dies in front of Giada, and she becomes a suspect. That is, unless she was the intended victim. Giada is going to have to channel her cousin Franki if she wants to get out of this alive.

I’ve been wanting to try this author for a while, so I decided to jump in with this novella introduction to a spin off series. I enjoyed the main characters, and I found the suspects strong. Likewise, the plot was perfect for a novella and kept me engaged until the suspenseful and logical climax. But I found the Italian and Italian accents a bit off putting. Which yes, makes me lazy since we have a glossary at the end. And it fits with a book set in Italy. I also found the (ancient) potty humor disgusting at times. Others? I was laughing. I fully own both of these issues are me issues. Others won’t have them. But, as a result, I’ll probably give the author another try with her earlier series instead of jumping into the first in this series.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Lilpep]

As a fan of the Frankie Amato mysteries, I was looking forward to this spin-off. The premise of a food tour of Italy with a side of murder sounded delicious. Giada, our new heroine, is engaging if a bit zany and assistant Moira has her hands full, reining her sometimes hairbrained ideas.  The plot has enough twists to keep the reader guessing, and the enigmatic Contessa adds another layer of mystery. I have high hopes for the upcoming Pasta and Piazza series!

[Carlin]

This is a novella, prequel to the Pasta and Piazza mystery series. I have read most of this author's Frankie Amato mysteries (New Orleans) and found them delightful.This book was a good introduction to another series set in Italy....my favorite place to visit!