Return to Umbria

Rick Montoya Italian Mystery #4

by David P. Wagner

"Wagner skillfully inserts nuggets of local culture without slowing down the narrative pace, and perhaps even more importantly, he gets Italy right. He understands the nuances of Italian manners and mentality as well as the glorious national preoccupation with food."― Publishers Weekly The most famous cathedral façade in Italy is found in Umbria―a structure of gothic spires, arches, statues, and mosaics. But as translator Rick Montoya discovers, this jewel of Umbria has a dark side When Rick Montoya traveled to his mother's Italy from his father's Santa Fe, New Mexico, to work as a freelance translator using his dual heritage, he didn't expect to be helping the Italian police. His maternal uncle, a high-level commissioner in Rome, however, sees no reason not to use the resources at hand. The trouble begins when Rick is asked by his uncle to go to Orvieto to talk some sense into his cousin Fabrizio, whose fling with an older married woman is embarrassing the family. Rick agrees to give it a try. Less than a day after arrival, his language skills draw him into the brutal murder of an American visitor. The murdered woman had studied art in Italy decades earlier―why has she returned now? And when a second murder occurs in a public park―narrowly missing Rick himself―he can't help but wonder if his family has anything to do with the case. In this addition to David P. Wagner's mystery books, a dark past casts its shadow over the picturesque city of Umbria. Is it possible to right the wrongs of the past and remain unscathed? Other books in the Rick Montoya Italian Cold Tuscan Stone Death in the Dolomites Murder Most Unfortunate Return to Umbria A Funeral in Mantova

Genres: Mystery, Italy, Audiobook, Fiction, Amateur Sleuth, Italian Literature, Crime

222 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2016

About the author

David P. Wagner is a retired foreign service officer. Among his overseas assignments were nine years in Italy where he learned to love things Italian, many of which appear on the pages of his books.

After retirement he spent several years writing tourist materials for small Italian towns before deciding he wanted to add his own stories to those fascinating places. The result was the mystery series featuring dual-national translator Rick Montoya,

The eighth book in the series, out in August, takes Rick to Assisi and confirms his belief that you can't solve a mystery on an empty stomach.

David and his wife live in Pueblo, on Colorado's front range, with their cat Mitzi.

You can find out more about both David and Rick at the website above.

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Return to Umbria by David P. Wagner is the fourth book about translator Rick Montoya and in this one we get to meet the same police officer as we did in the first book. I love the small towns we get to visit in this series and even though the story is a little sagging the culture and history makes up for it all.

[Michael Dunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

An improvement in story and plot in the 4th installment.
Rick is a likable character and I like the development of the relationship with Betta. She’s not put to any use, even though she is a cop. Still just arm Candy, strictly romantic interest only.
Still more travelogue than a good mystery, since the author takes no time to develop the main suspects.
Some good detective work wrapped up the murder mystery pretty quick and there was the usually red herring/side show that the author likes to employ. Without further enhancement of his craft, I don’t see the point in reading more from him.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Italian-American translator / interpreter Rick Montoya once again becomes involved in a police investigation. [Honestly - Have we ever known Rick to be doing the work that supports his lifestyle?]

Walker successfully combines a good mystery and many suspects with Italian culture / art / architecture / food.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very good mystery. I didn't really care about any of the characters. Read it for the scenes of Orvietto, a place I love.
Annoying habit of using Betta as a plot summary vehicle. About all she ever says is, "tell me what happen when you interviewed X" or "what is the latest news from the police?" Not much personality there.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm kind of hopscotching with this series. I read book 8 last summer thanks to PPP and NetGalley and now hopped into this one on audio. Not a problem, really, because the mystery/locations/foodie stuff was more important than relationship issues. Professional multilingual translator/interpreter Rick Montoya (who is both Italian and from New Mexico) prefers to wear cowboy boots, and his girlfriend Dottoressa Betta Innocenti (an "art cop" from the Ministry of Culture) are the ongoing characters in a mystery series that made me drool with the descriptions of the foods eaten.
Rick has frequently worked with police investigators, and of the police inspectors is not new to him. His familial task regarding a much younger cousin gets tangled up in the murder investigation he finds himself involved in and things get a bit messy. The characters are all very interesting, the plot does not detract from the travelogue (it enhances it!), and the whole is absolutely delightful. Now I'm off to read more in this series!
David Colacci is a familiar voice actor from other mysteries set in various parts of Italy and I like listening to him.

[Bruce Mendelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice addition to the series. Rick Montoya, the main character, travels from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Italy to work as a freelance translator. Initially, Rick travels to Orvieto at his uncle's request to attempt to talk his cousin out of a fling with an older, married Italian women. His skill as a translator gets him involved with attempting to solve the brutal murder of an American women. The narrative is fast paced and involves the recent history of Italy. I was drawn to the series because I recently visited the area. There is quite a bit of local culture and flavor in the text. There are great descriptions of the area, the local wines and the food. The relationship between Rick and his significant other, Betta, could have been developed more deeply. But, I enjoyed the book. I read the previous books in the series before my trip to Tuscany and they helped me get excited about my trip. Now that I have returned from a fantastic trip, I will probably not continue the series unless my wife and I decide to return to the region. But, overall of fun, quick and entertaining read.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK book but could be better

Rick Montoya continues his sleuthing as he travels to Umbria to handle a family issue but gets caught up in murder assisting the police in their investigation as a translator.

This book was a decent addition to the Rick Montoya series, but I’m not sure it adds much to the series as it develops their main character. There are a few actions that Rick and his girlfriend do that are befuddling. One so much so that I won’t disclose but I found really disappointing.

I will continue the story but hope it will get back to the quality and story development evident in the first book of the series.

[Anne Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth in Wagner's Rick Montoya mysteries, another GREAT armchair vacation in Italy.

We are introduced to more of Rick's Italian (very extended) family and generational problem-solving; focusing on the ceramics industry in Umbria (practitioners and practices); more small town civics lessons; and a repeat although in different locales with different menus, of the glories of eating in out of the way restaurants... (Wagner solved my What Cheeses to Offer for Dessert problem in a subsequent volume).

Altogether engaging day's or 2 evenings' read. The reader need not have read the previous or subsequent of the currently 8 volumes

[Philip Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third Rick Montoya book. With each book, I am enjoying my cozy mystery trip through Italy more and more. . . It is NOT a David Baldacci action by the minute book. . . Like a nice glass of Italian wine served with each delicious course of Italian food, it moves "deliciously" slow. . . but what's wrong with that, if you savor each page of the novel?

Kudos to David Wagner for letting us come along as we try (usually unsuccessfully) to figure out who is the murderer. I will soon get my passport out and return to #5 in the series.

. . . P.S. Orvieto is DEFINITLY a place that I would visit on a trip to Italy.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very enjoyable Rick Montoya mystery. Rick is vacationing in Orvietto when an American woman, who had studied in Orvietto during the 70's and has come back for a visit since she is dying of cancer, is murdered. Rick had met her and her daughter and friend and so reports to the police in town to see if he can be of assistance as a translator. An old acquaintance from a previous murder investigation in Voltara is the new head of the department in Orvietto and asks for his assistance. Interesting story. Well written. Lots for foodies also.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth in this series. Yet another travel around Italy for translator/interpreter Rick Montoya and his girlfriend. This one is also involves his cousin and his uncle, that happens to be the commissioner. His cousin Fabrizi, is involved with a married woman at the moment and his uncle wants Rick to talk some sense into him while on his trip. And then there is a murder, of course. Rick is known to help out the local police from time to time. It felt good to walk the streets with Rick. It was also a great mystery.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nice surprise for a murder mystery to take a reader on an evocative tour of Orvieto and its environs. This includes a lovely funicular ride during which translator Rick Montoya gets a glimpse of three American women, apparently on vacation. However, not much later, one of them is murdered. Rick is very intelligent and, apart from the cowboy boots, not annoying and the author finds a natural way to slip him into the plot. The story has some unexpected entanglements with a surprising hero.

[Carey Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the fourth in the Rick Montoya series. Rick and his new girlfriend head off to Orvieto for a long weekend outside of Rome. He Intends to meet a cousin to share his advise, but upon his arrival an American woman is found murdered outside her rental villa. He assists the local police and they uncover a past related to the infamous Red Brigade as they solve this murder case. What’s not to love about this series - a good mystery, Italian food and wine?!!!

[Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth episode in the Rick Montoya Italian mysteries is again an amusing read, as much for the descriptions of the places and the food and wine as for the story itself.
Brought back fond menories of the trip we made to Umbria years ago and our stay in Orvieto in the wonderfull hotel where we had a room with a view directly at the facade of the cathedral.

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to say. 4th in this series, and the first that didn’t really intrigue one. As with all Wagner’s works so far, not a lot of plot just a lot of persons and interactions and talk. OK as far that goes, but not very captivating. I’ll no doubt continue to follow the series, and hope for a better experience with the next.

[Sarka B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in Rick Montoya Italian Mysteries and it is a good read. In this book Rick helps to investigates murders in Umbria and particularly Orvieto. It is nice that we get to know here also about historical sites and local food. The book is interesting and engaging. I will continue to read this serie.

[Paula Schumm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook from the library in preparation for a trip to Italy. Fiction. Rick Montoya is an Italian-American translator living in Italy. He helps his police friends solve murder mysteries and other crimes. This one is set in Orvieta in Umbria. Recommended.

[Lisbeth Zabihi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oplæser: David Colacci. Flot oplæsning.

Det er den 2. Bog jeg læser i serien om Rick Montoya og jeg glæder mig til at læse flere. Kombinere to skønne ting: Italien og krimier. Dejligt. Bogen er let læst og mangler lidt dybde (derfor kun 3 stjerner), men jeg blev godt underholdt.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good read.

I would prefer less specifics about his meals. But the stories read well otherwise…I like learning something about other societies than my own. I suspect the series is true to what is true in Italy. I like that.

[Barbara Switzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely descriptions of Italy and typical behaviors, but the level of writing is not comparable to what I have been reading lately.

[Smkelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good summer read. Great descriptions of the local history and the food sounds very tempting. Parts of the plot were a bit of a stretch.

[Edward Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light but entertaining murder mystery set in Italy. Like the Montalbano serves up lots of local color and delicious food.

I would recommend for a good beach read or rainy afternoon

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't believe they could afford to eat and drink like they do. My experience in Italy, food is expensive, and I don't even drink wine.

[Kent Larsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy entertaining read

A nice balance of Italian history, architecture, local culture and cuisine and a crime story. Makes for an easy enjoyable read.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the Italian flavor more than the police procedural.

[Stephen E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reminders of Italy

Great and interesting characters one enjoys revisiting
Intriguing plot

Best of all the food, wine and tourism of Italy, our favorite European country

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ I couldn’t really get into the story,It wasn’t holding my attention. The book was set in Umbria Italy the description of the country were interesting.

[LadyTechie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return to Umbria is the fourth installment in the Rick Montoya series. I just love this series more and more. I received an early released copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This time, we find Rick and his new girlfriend, Betta, in Orvieto where Rick has been sent by his family to talk his cousin into coming home and stopping his current extracurricular activities. Along the way, Rick falls into a murder mystery. Three women are on the funicular that Rick and Betta take up to Orvieto. They get a first-hand look at the victim, who is not quite the nicest person anyone has met. It turns out that not only are her traveling companions possible suspects but, the victim has history in Orvieto which means there are several more possible suspects from her past.

The victim attended school in Orvieto many years ago and she appears to know several people that are still in Orvieto or the surrounding areas. Most importantly, she was involved in something that has put her life at risk once she steps foot in Orvieto. As these things go in any good Rick Montoya mystery there is another murder and Rick works with someone from his past to determine who is committing the murders before Rick becomes a victim. This is a story that looks back to multiple shady characters, one of which is from Rick and Betta's past. Rick has his hands full putting his Uncle the commisario off who wants Rick to become a police detective, investigating two murders, handling Betta's history, not to mention his original purpose in traveling to Orvieto. He still has to work on getting his cousin Fabrizio to go home. None of these tasks turns out to be easy.

The reader is treated to a wonderful armchair trip to a different part of Italy, Umbria. One of the great things about this series is that Rick moves across Italy a lot. The reader is treated to a new area of Italy in each book along with a great mystery and Return to Umbria no exception. It has the reader ready for the next book and trip to Italy. Review can also be seen at LadyTechie's Book Musings http://ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspo....

[Italo Italophiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rick Montoya is back in his fourth Italian Mystery. Half Italian and half pure New Mexican (his American wild west idea of justice at the end of the book could be considered proof of that), Rick makes a living as an interpreter and translator in Italy (if only!), when he's not helping out his friends and relatives who work in law enforcement. His cowboy boots mark him as American even if he speaks Italian like a native.

The series is clearly aimed at armchair travelers, and I enjoyed the virtual visit to beautiful Italy in Return to Umbria. The author includes lots of cultural information and many delicious Italian meals while the protagonist works to solve a mystery or two.

I like Rick more in this book than in the previous one I read, mainly because he is less a superman or action hero in this book. He's fallible and not quite the ladies man he appeared to be in the other book. Perhaps as a female reader that is more appealing? I'll leave that up to the men to decide.

There was one part of the book that had me shaking my head: the main premise. The reason Rick is in Orvieto in Umbria seems very implausible to me. His family wants him to convince a male cousin to stop having an affair with a mature married woman.

Really? In Italy?

From my experience in Italy, the male cousin would more likely have been congratulated on his luck at capturing a lucrative bit of tussle between the sheets. It seemed very Breakfast at Tiffany, to be honest, and none of Rick's business. But I suppose for the story's sake there had to be a reason for his leaving Rome and going to beautiful Orvieto.

The writing is smooth, generally, but the dialogue feels a bit stilted mainly because the author shows a reluctance to use contractions. Rick's entry into the police case feels natural, however, since he has worked with the policeman in this book in an earlier story, and he works regularly with the police as an interpreter.

There is no explicit sex and no swearing in the book, but there is some violence. Fans of the series should enjoy this one. New readers might want to start with the series at the beginning, but it's not really necessary. I received a review-copy of the book. This is my honest review.

The books in the Rick Montoya Italian Mystery Series:
- Cold Tuscan Stone
- Death in the Dolomites
- Murder Most Unfortunate
- Return to Umbria

My illustrated review is at Italophile Book Reviews:
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...

[Brace1737 · Rating 4 out of 5]

You've had a rough week. A vacation to Italy would be so nice but you have a big meeting with the boss on Monday morning. So what do you do? You visit your local public library and pull Return to Umbria off the shelf and check it out. Go home, get a cup of tea, and start reading.

David Wagner is improving as a writer. I liked his first book in this series, but this is much better. There are two murders for Rick Montoya to solve as he tours the Umbria region with his lady friend.
Go ahead and Google "Umbria" to see pictures of this wonderful region. You will learn a lot about Italian culture along the way.

Enjoy your trip. Yes it pays to be in the words of Anne Tyler an "Accidental Tourist".