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Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria #5

Smoked Gouda Murder

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Sometimes giving thanks, even during the holidays…Can be a challenge.Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and Eleanora Pacelli has more on her plate than ever. When her beloved grandmother takes a nasty spill late one night, Ellie’s plate goes from full to overflowing.The prospect of nursing her precious Nonna back to health, in addition to performing her usual tasks at the pizzeria, has Ellie feeling overwhelmed and in over her head. What she couldn’t possibly have predicted is that, when her grandmother returns from the hospital, she has a surprise that could change Ellie’s life forever.Just when it begins to seem that things can’t possibly get worse, a tragic death occurs at Papa Pacelli’s. Ellie and her best friend witness a horrific act and realize that both of their lives could be in danger.Will they find the killer before the killer finds them?Find out in this delicious Cozy Mystery!

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2016

58 people are currently reading
116 people want to read

About the author

Patti Benning

352 books219 followers
https://www.facebook.com/Patti-Bennin...

When Cozy Mystery author, Patti Benning, isn’t busy plotting the deaths of multiple fictitious characters, she loves to spend time hiking with her rescue dog, Max, who is her bestest writing buddy.

​Patti loves to cook and the food in her books has been tried and tested in her very own kitchen. She’s technologically shy, and stays away from social media a great deal, because it makes her feel more awkward and introverted than meeting someone face to face.

​Writing is the perfect job for her because in her books, she gets to explore all the topics she loves, food, animals, crafts and reading. She loves her readers dearly, and is thankful for the opportunity to share with them through her work.

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5 stars
214 (52%)
4 stars
123 (30%)
3 stars
60 (14%)
2 stars
9 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
6,726 reviews5 followers
October 3, 2024
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

This kindle novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book five of 48

Ellie is working at the pizza shop when a woman 🚺 is murdered. Then tires are being slashed on cars. What is going on? Ellie ends up in the middle of the conclusion.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic family and friends relationships mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024 👒😤
Profile Image for Doward Wilson.
752 reviews18 followers
December 22, 2016
Eleanora Pacelli is busy decorating her family's pizzeria for Thanksgiving. Working to expand her menu offerings and keep the business growing takes up most of her time but she is also watching over her Grandmother Ann's well being after an accident puts her in the hospital. Working in the kitchen while her best friend, Shannon, waits at the front counter for a pizza, they are horrified to have a wounded woman rush into the pizzeria with her assailant close behind. Recognizing that the woman was a delivery customer, Ellie works to find a home address for the police. Knowing that Shannon was seen by the killer, spurs them to solve the murder. This series and its warmhearted characters make this pizza themed series an entertaining read. It will also leave you craving pizza!
Profile Image for Sandy Bartles.
1,395 reviews38 followers
November 30, 2016
It is just before Thanksgiving and Ellie is busy decorating her grandmother's home and the pizzeria. Her grandmother takes a spill late one night and poor Ellie is getting more and more worried about her and her ability to be left alone. Just when things are looking better, a young woman is killed in Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria. I loved the story and I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Bonnie Dale Keck.
4,677 reviews58 followers
March 25, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, used to cozies, and then to cut them slack, BUT...

in the blurb it says temporary move yet in the story it said more or less permanent one, says she is too upset to clean the one day yet she does the next {and the police never really check the pizza place for any evidence either}, then later the day after she talks about the murder while eating pizza one assumes heartbrokenly yeah whatever, one does not send out a neon sign for repairs not when it's just low neon it's just refilled on site and rarely moved because the tubes are fragile, one does not use 'harsh chemicals' to clean in an eating establishment as most of them are toxic if they get in to the food and/or leave too strong of a smell, and why would you have a manager/assistant manager whatever he was there as well as a delivery driver only yet on other days you had at least 2 other people scheduled {wait staff or whatever}, and you're so upset that someone would steal from 'your' family restaurant the one ran by your grandparents that you hadn't bothered to visit or call in years, and how would motion detectors and floodlights stop someone from breaking a window just the same as the time in the story, and with only 1 delivery driver plus grand reopening you would not repeat not have delivery that day only takeout, and never did answer the question of why it was taking hours to deliver pizza in that small of a town and it being cold by that time. By the way, coming up on someone who has been attacked/murdered then going for help and staying there while the helper goes to use a working cellphone while the murderer could still be around is beyond stupid. That's just the WRONG STUPID in the first book, no use detailing the 8 stupids in detail. They're all as bad, and will do with review what the 'writer' did with the books, copy/paste cookie cutter.

Each of these books are beyond stupid, as in stupid plots stupid situations stupid obvious solutions/killers, and no idea about how a food place works {hint, it's called research the book background}.Never could understand how a 'small town' seems to have unlimited number of residents, some thieves some murderers etcetera and people that all grew up together yet no one every suspected uh yeah. Also even for trying for standalone books in a series no one needs that much information about someone, over and over.

Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria Series
Pall Bearers and Pepperoni - Book 1 - Bacon Cheddar Murder: Book 2 - Very Veggie Murder: Book 3 - Italian Wedding Murder: Book 4 - Smoked Gouda Murder: Book 5 - Gourmet Holiday Murder: Book 6 - Four Cheese Murder: Book 7 - Hand Tossed Murder Book 8
Profile Image for SANDYE.
458 reviews4 followers
January 6, 2021
Suspenseful. Entertaining.

Book number 5 in this series is just as good as the first 4!! A love triangle, jealousy, a family divided, a family securing their legacy, a strong-willed young woman fulfilling her grandmother's request, the same woman unable to leave a mystery to unsolved no matter how much the Sheriff gets her to not get involved. Suspense. Love. Awkward romance. Murder. Friendship. And even hints of a Thanksgiving holiday that's approaching soon. Another great story in a continuing series!
1,733 reviews8 followers
June 10, 2022
fast paced murder mystery

Ellie is getting the store ready for thanksgiving and getting ready to close up. Her friend calls in a late order and is coming to pick it up.when she gets there and they are getting ready to go a women walks in and her friend goes out to say they are closed but the woman is stabbed and the assailant runs off. The action picks up from there with a surprise ending.
59 reviews4 followers
May 6, 2017
Will she ever learn?

Ellie Pacelli, what can I say? I wish she would mind her own business! She has pazazz and spunk. She has no fear and solve a murder, it goodness, she scares me.

Nonna is such a sweet lady, I am beginning to worry about her. Russell is a doll face with the patience of Job! Murders and Ellie will be the death of him!
23 reviews
May 2, 2021
Great Series..but!!

Great series but can Ellie PLEASE STOP Being sooo DANG TRUSTING, of usually the wrong person aka the Killer!!! I completely love Noona & all the Pizzeria employees..love Shannon & James..I know Russ likes her..Can’t wait to keep reading..Happy Reading Everyone!!!
Profile Image for Artist_carrie .
708 reviews11 followers
July 4, 2020
It's Thanksgiving and Ellie wants to decorate, her and her best friend witness a Murder in the pizzeria they need to find the killer before their next. I really enjoy this series as I'm trying slowly to read the books I haven't read as I am now on the ARC team and get the new releases.
Profile Image for Georgene Doyle.
57 reviews
May 18, 2021
And there off

I really am enjoying this series. The murder happens early on and it doesn't take half of a long drawn out set up. And the crime is solvable for threader. It isn't someone who was mentioned in one sentence in the beginning of the book. Thoroughly enjoyable.
703 reviews3 followers
October 29, 2024
Fast paced fun

I like the fact that the stories/mysteries are quick reads. The food is right up a foodies alley with the delicious recipes. I would recommend to anyone wanting a fast mystery read and enjoys a series.
Profile Image for Sara Carver.
55 reviews2 followers
May 20, 2017
Awesome!

I have read the first five books the last two days. They are awesome short reads, good characters. Looking forward to reading the next book!
Profile Image for Anita Burkett.
Author 5 books70 followers
March 14, 2018
Interesting

Another good clean interesting story. Ellie needs to listen and not be gullible lol. A lot of action for a short book.
Profile Image for Laurie.
321 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2019
These are nice short reads for times you’re just waiting around. The mystery isn’t very challenging...just kind of basic.
431 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2020
😆😆

And the fun continues....... I hope if you are reading my reviews that you do yourself a favor and start with book 1 and just binge read.
Profile Image for Laura.
55 reviews
June 16, 2025
This was my least favorite in the series so far.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
1,445 reviews22 followers
November 12, 2019
Fabulous

This book is as good as all the others in this series. Quick, fun read. I would recommend this book, and plan to read the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Shannon Binegar-Foster.
2,819 reviews20 followers
March 10, 2017
Intense

This one really kept me on the edge of my seat. I am looking forward to seeing what adventure is next.
Profile Image for Karen Wright.
605 reviews4 followers
December 6, 2016
Anothe delicious pizza mystery!

As Thanksgiving is quickly aproaching, Ellie finds herself worrying about her Nonna's failing health. One of the wonderful traits that Ellie has since the beginning of this series. She is devoted to her grandmother and wants to make her absence up to her. She has really put a lot into bringing her grandfather's business back to life after his sudden passing. But the quiet little town on the coast of Maine is not so quiet as murder and mayhem strike again and Ellie and Shannon find themselves in the middle of it. Papa Pacelli's isn't spared either as it's the scene of the latest murder. The story is wonderful and things are never dull. The characters are fun and as usual, I am really looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Julie Fetcho.
131 reviews7 followers
April 26, 2025
Another great installment of Ellie, Noona and friends. With a special surprise.

Ellie is ready to close the pizzeria when she gets a last mnute order from Shannon. Shannon and Ellie are in back waiting for their pizzas. The bell above the door goes off and Shannon goes checks on it. Next there is a scream and Ellie comes running. A woman has been stabbed.

Tires are being slashed. Even the sheriff's car.

Both Noona and Ellie take a fall in this episode.

The sheriff and Ellie are on a date when the sheriff is called away in regards to the tire slasher and Ellie finds herself in the thick of things.
Profile Image for Dawn.
570 reviews12 followers
December 11, 2016
Ellie is preparing for Thanksgiving. She decorated the house and the pizzeria. However, Nonna is acting strange and it has her worried. Before she can find out what's happening Nonna takes a fall down the basement stairs. Thanks to Bunny, Ellie finds her quickly and gets her aid.
The pizzeria is surprisingly busy leading up to the holiday which helps Ellie stay occupied with Nonna is in the hospital. And then, there's a murder.
Of course, despite Russell's warning, Ellie and Shannon start putting all the clues together.
I love this series. The characters are well developed and I want to know them in real life. Patti keeps the story moving along at a good pace, too.
What's next?
Profile Image for Anne G. Kasaba.
1,923 reviews9 followers
December 3, 2016
I can't get enough of this series!!!

Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria is doing better than ever under Ellie's management. The shop is closed but no one has flipped the sign. Shannon, Ellie's friend goes up front just in time to see a woman stabbed. And once again Ellie is in the middle of another murder investigation. I couldn't figure out who the murderer was until the very end. Lots of surprises in this book but I won't do any spoilers.

I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book and voluntarily wrote this review.
382 reviews102 followers
January 30, 2017
For the most part, the first 4 books were great. I was invested in the series. This installment made me second guess my choice. Patti Benning has been pretty good about quality plots and mysteries that made sense. Not only did this mystery not make sense, but then Nonna's fall was thrown in.
Mostly the book was scattered, lacking it's series' usual appeal. Hopefully, in the next installment, Ellie will get her groove back along with her author. I have to give this one two stars and a huge sigh of disappointment.
816 reviews4 followers
November 30, 2016
It's almost time for Thanksgiving and all Eleanora wants to do is decorate, have an amazing Thanksgiving and go on a real date with Russell. Instead she has a woman murdered in her restaurant and the chase starts to find the killer. I love that she and Russell are starting to work today. I worry about Nonna like she is my own grandmother and hope she sticks around a long time to watch Eleanora flourish.
Profile Image for Carol.
1,093 reviews11 followers
December 5, 2016
Great book

This is a great book in a really great series. Once again Ellie and her best friend Shannon are involved in murder. A customer is killed in the pizzeria and Ellie jumps right in to investigate. Along with taking care of her Nonna who has fallen...Ellie has her hands full! This is a quick read with a great plot and characters.
51 reviews
December 18, 2016
Not one Of the better ones…

I didn't care for this book as much as some of the others previous, and could we not have the main character act so stupid ? I understand the author wants to create suspense in the story, but having characters do such stupid things investigating murders when you're not an official detective just becomes tiresome.
363 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2016
I wasn't as impressed by this one. Part of it was just me - the whole Nonna falling down the stars bit was a little too much for me. The other part is that it pretty much followed the exact formula for the whodunit as the previous book, so it was way too easy to figure the murderer out. Other than that it was an enjoyable book. I guess I'd classify it as "good as a book, but not as a mystery."
Profile Image for Teri.
661 reviews5 followers
December 2, 2016
Wow another great one

When someone stabs a customer at Papa Pacelli's in front of Shannon and Ellie she is determined to find the killer and keep herself and Shannon safe. Really good series and can't wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Amary Chapman.
1,665 reviews27 followers
December 2, 2016
Great clean cozy

Ellie and Shannon watched as the ski masked murderer ran out the pizzeria door leaving his or her victim dying on the floor. Who and why? Read this installment of Papa Pacelli's and find out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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