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An Italian Village Mystery #3
A Mystery Before Christmas
A haunting Christmas song from a faraway land. A child with striking green eyes. A man with no past.
When elderly widow Mrs De Blasi catches sight of eight-year-old Betta Giordano, all she can see is the face of her son, Marco. But how can this be? Marco died tragically young, many years before Betta was born.
Travel writer Giò Brando can’t help but be intrigued by the string of coincidences connecting Betta to the De Blasi family. Why does the child bear such a strong resemblance to a long-dead man? How does she know an ancient tune from the remotest parts of Britain? And why does the carillon that Mrs De Blasi gifts to Betta play that very same tune?
Embracing her natural sleuthing skills, Giò faces a desperate race against both time and the worsening weather. Will she be able to ensure it’s a happy Christmas for everyone in Maratea?
Fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and M C Beaton will love this heart-warming festive story, the third in the An Italian Village Mystery series. Delve into the pages of A Mystery Before Christmas and breathe in the delicious scents and flavours of a Mediterranean December.
When elderly widow Mrs De Blasi catches sight of eight-year-old Betta Giordano, all she can see is the face of her son, Marco. But how can this be? Marco died tragically young, many years before Betta was born.
Travel writer Giò Brando can’t help but be intrigued by the string of coincidences connecting Betta to the De Blasi family. Why does the child bear such a strong resemblance to a long-dead man? How does she know an ancient tune from the remotest parts of Britain? And why does the carillon that Mrs De Blasi gifts to Betta play that very same tune?
Embracing her natural sleuthing skills, Giò faces a desperate race against both time and the worsening weather. Will she be able to ensure it’s a happy Christmas for everyone in Maratea?
Fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and M C Beaton will love this heart-warming festive story, the third in the An Italian Village Mystery series. Delve into the pages of A Mystery Before Christmas and breathe in the delicious scents and flavours of a Mediterranean December.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2019
About the author
Adriana Licio
31 books113 followersAdriana lives somewhere stuck on the Apennine mountains in southern Italy not far from Maratea, the Mediterranean setting for her cozy series "An Italian Village Mystery".
Get a taste of Adriana's world reading "And Then There Were Bones" the prequel to her series, exclusive to subscribers on her mailing list - https://adrianalicio.com/murderclub
She loves loads of things: traveling, reading, walking, savouring good food, exploring small villages, and home swapping. She runs her family perfumery shop, and between a dark patchouli and a musky rose, she reads and writes cozy mysteries.
She resisted writing as long as she could; fearing it might open doors to her already galloping imagination. But one day she found an alluring blank page and the words flowed in that weird English she'd learned in Glasgow...
Adriana finds peace for her restless, enthusiastic soul when she walks in nature, with her adventurous dog Frodo and her hubby Giovanni.
Get a taste of Adriana's world reading "And Then There Were Bones" the prequel to her series, exclusive to subscribers on her mailing list - https://adrianalicio.com/murderclub
She loves loads of things: traveling, reading, walking, savouring good food, exploring small villages, and home swapping. She runs her family perfumery shop, and between a dark patchouli and a musky rose, she reads and writes cozy mysteries.
She resisted writing as long as she could; fearing it might open doors to her already galloping imagination. But one day she found an alluring blank page and the words flowed in that weird English she'd learned in Glasgow...
Adriana finds peace for her restless, enthusiastic soul when she walks in nature, with her adventurous dog Frodo and her hubby Giovanni.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
November 15, 2019
A Mystery Before Christmas by Adriana Licio is the third story in An Italian Village Mystery series. This charming novella has realistic characters who live in a charming Italian village. Gio Brando is busy finishing up her Scottish travel guide before the holidays. She is not feeling the Christmas spirit since there are no decorations up in town yet. The town has a tradition and Gio must wait until the night of the tree lighting. Gio is kept busy when newcomer Betta Giordano bears a close resemblance to Mrs. De Blasi’s deceased son. There are a couple of other coincidences that send Gio into sleuthing mode. Paolo, with the local carabinieri, is dealing with a rash of jewel thefts. The thieves are clever leaving Paolo with few clues. When Gio goes looking for a book at the library, it is missing. The librarian states this has been happening for a month. They decide to do a stake out to catch the book thief. With family coming to town for the holidays, Gio wants to wrap up these mysteries before the bickering begins. I thought A Mystery Before Christmas was well-written and it moved along at merry pace. The mysteries were well-crafted and intriguing. They are the type that play out and I could not wait to see how everything turned out in the end. I liked the message that the best way to repay kindness is to pay it forward. I loved the author’s vivid word imagery that brought the town, Christmas market, the holiday decorations as well as the characters to life for me. A Mystery Before Christmas can be read as a standalone if you have not had the opportunity to read Murder on the Road and A Fair Time for Death. A Mystery Before Christmas is an appealing cozy mystery with jewel thefts right and left, illicit library loans, kindly citizens, wrangling relatives, and a magical Christmas market.
February 27, 2020
I have been enjoying this series a lot. However, this installment is very different from the previous books. It's not a murder mystery. The "mystery" regarding someone's identity is pretty obvious from almost the beginning. There's also a small side plot of some robberies, but those are just kind of background noise. There is a lot of information on Christmas traditions in Italy. While interesting, it's not what I expected.
June 1, 2020
4.2 stars
The story has parallel tracks and one of them gets a better ending than the other. While the concept of Roma has been handled well, the conclusion about the thefts seemed a bit bland. Maybe if there was a bit of action, I'd have loved it more.
But the settings and descriptions, as always, are beautiful.
The story has parallel tracks and one of them gets a better ending than the other. While the concept of Roma has been handled well, the conclusion about the thefts seemed a bit bland. Maybe if there was a bit of action, I'd have loved it more.
But the settings and descriptions, as always, are beautiful.
March 23, 2020
Great mysteries with a hint of romance equal “I love this story!”.
Gio is settling back into her hometown, a small village in Italy, after living in London for 15 years. After finding her fiancé of 10 years was nothing more than a cheating fop, she is rebuilding her life. Her granny and great-auntie are well-meaning matchmakers, but she isn’t falling for their matchmaking schemes. Does she have time for romance? She is too busy working to meet her editor’s deadline for her new travel guide, working part-time at her sister’s perfumery during the holiday rush, and trying to solve three mysteries before Christmas! While juggling all these responsibilities, will she still find time to solve three mysteries at once? 1) Who is behind the rash of robberies that are sweeping through the wealthiest homes in her hometown? 2) Why does it seem that fate has stranded a destitute widow and her young daughter in her small village? Did she hear a robin speak to her? 3) Why are books missing and then reappearing days later at the library? Once again, Gio reaches out to Paolo for assistance. Once again, Paolo is eager to help Gio. Do I detect a blossoming romance? I hope so!
Adriana Licio expertly weaves a tale of multiple mysteries and just a bit of romance in this fun read. I highly recommend this book as well as the other books in this series.
Gio is settling back into her hometown, a small village in Italy, after living in London for 15 years. After finding her fiancé of 10 years was nothing more than a cheating fop, she is rebuilding her life. Her granny and great-auntie are well-meaning matchmakers, but she isn’t falling for their matchmaking schemes. Does she have time for romance? She is too busy working to meet her editor’s deadline for her new travel guide, working part-time at her sister’s perfumery during the holiday rush, and trying to solve three mysteries before Christmas! While juggling all these responsibilities, will she still find time to solve three mysteries at once? 1) Who is behind the rash of robberies that are sweeping through the wealthiest homes in her hometown? 2) Why does it seem that fate has stranded a destitute widow and her young daughter in her small village? Did she hear a robin speak to her? 3) Why are books missing and then reappearing days later at the library? Once again, Gio reaches out to Paolo for assistance. Once again, Paolo is eager to help Gio. Do I detect a blossoming romance? I hope so!
Adriana Licio expertly weaves a tale of multiple mysteries and just a bit of romance in this fun read. I highly recommend this book as well as the other books in this series.
November 18, 2019
Anna and her daughter, Betta, have car trouble when they are ready to leave Maratea and will have to stay until they can get a mechanic to fix the car. Gio and her family jump in and help them out. An elderly widow gets a shock when she sees Betta as the girl looks just like her deceased son who passed away before the girl was even born. Gio decides to investigate. In the wealthier section of town people are missing jewelry and other items. Brigadiere Paolo Rossi must get this solved as some people are thinking of taking matters into their own hands. And someone has been taking books from the library but they do bring them back. Who is doing this? The librarian decides she is going to find out. People are getting ready for Christmas with shopping, baking, cooking, decorating and family coming home. This is a delightful story with people working together, helping each other and paying it forward. Granny seems to know just what to do in more than one instance. Get a copy of this book and find out how these mysteries get solved. This can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinion is entirely my own
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinion is entirely my own
December 13, 2022
A Mystery Before Christmas
This story, set in a small town in Italy, is a nice family oriented mystery, with more than one mystery! A young widow, Anna, & her small daughter Betta, stop here in Matemea, while on their way to Naples to set down new roots. As they get ready to get back on the road, the car won't start! A woman from the market they had visited, came to check on them & offered them a place to stay until the car is fixed. Anna takes a Christmas rush job & she & Betta are all but adopted by the store owner & her entire family. In fact much of the town become like family! Another family is at the edge of town, a family of Roma. When jewels & silver, & other treasures come up missing, most of the townspeople blame the Roma, even though they were cleared by the police. There is so much happening that I'm afraid I'll give out Spoilers, so I'll hush & let you read it for yourself! I liked that this story is very family oriented, there is no profanity, sex, or violence, except one bullying event. It has a happy ending for everyone, &...it's Christmas!! Their Christmas Market scenes brought back happy memories of the KristKindle Markts in Germany! This book will make you feel as if you are in Italy & taking part in their Christmas traditions!
This story, set in a small town in Italy, is a nice family oriented mystery, with more than one mystery! A young widow, Anna, & her small daughter Betta, stop here in Matemea, while on their way to Naples to set down new roots. As they get ready to get back on the road, the car won't start! A woman from the market they had visited, came to check on them & offered them a place to stay until the car is fixed. Anna takes a Christmas rush job & she & Betta are all but adopted by the store owner & her entire family. In fact much of the town become like family! Another family is at the edge of town, a family of Roma. When jewels & silver, & other treasures come up missing, most of the townspeople blame the Roma, even though they were cleared by the police. There is so much happening that I'm afraid I'll give out Spoilers, so I'll hush & let you read it for yourself! I liked that this story is very family oriented, there is no profanity, sex, or violence, except one bullying event. It has a happy ending for everyone, &...it's Christmas!! Their Christmas Market scenes brought back happy memories of the KristKindle Markts in Germany! This book will make you feel as if you are in Italy & taking part in their Christmas traditions!
April 5, 2022
Great addition to the Italian Village mystery series and there wasn't even a murder to solve! Gió has much to investigate, however, and successfully solves a mystery involving a young woman and her daughter who have arrived in Maratea before the Christmas revelries begin (traditionally no Christmas decorating can start prior to December 8th...is this really an Italian tradition or just in Maratea?*). I love the family connections elucidated in this series. Gió, her sister Agnese, brother in law Nando, niece and nephew Lilia and Luca, and especially Granny and her sister Adelina! I highly recommend this series. Each installment can be enjoyed as a standalone, but it has been so satisfying reading them in order.
*I googled it and discovered a facinating article in The Local entitled: "Six quirky Italian Christmas traditions you should know about." December 8th is known as the Immaculate Conception of Mary who was absolved of original sin by God while she was still in the womb. It's worth reading the whole article! Thank you to Adriana Licio whose Italian mysteries have taught me so much about Italy's culture and traditions!
*I googled it and discovered a facinating article in The Local entitled: "Six quirky Italian Christmas traditions you should know about." December 8th is known as the Immaculate Conception of Mary who was absolved of original sin by God while she was still in the womb. It's worth reading the whole article! Thank you to Adriana Licio whose Italian mysteries have taught me so much about Italy's culture and traditions!
November 19, 2019
Who spoke? Did I dream it? Giò wondered. Carillon–it was ages since she’d last heard that word, used in Italy to refer to any sort of musical box. Time to go home. Never mind Christmas lights, it looks like I’m getting Christmas hallucinations.
Gio Brando, travel writer, living in the small town of Maratea In Italy where she and her family help out a stranded woman and her daughter in this, the third book of the series. A seemingly unconnected series of mysteries are tied in with losses all over Maratea and it seems Gio needs to solve them before Christmas so the traditions can move forward. Will Gio do it? Will kindness win?
I am quite familiar with European Christmas traditions like the Market; however, Italian Christmas is fairly unknown to me so I loved the word pictures Adriana Licio writes and learning the traditions almost overshadowed a crowded Christmas mystery. A different type of puzzle for Christmas. Recommended.4/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]
Gio Brando, travel writer, living in the small town of Maratea In Italy where she and her family help out a stranded woman and her daughter in this, the third book of the series. A seemingly unconnected series of mysteries are tied in with losses all over Maratea and it seems Gio needs to solve them before Christmas so the traditions can move forward. Will Gio do it? Will kindness win?
I am quite familiar with European Christmas traditions like the Market; however, Italian Christmas is fairly unknown to me so I loved the word pictures Adriana Licio writes and learning the traditions almost overshadowed a crowded Christmas mystery. A different type of puzzle for Christmas. Recommended.4/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]
July 14, 2020
Maratea is getting ready for the christmas season. Anna and her daughter Betta arrive in Maratea on their way to Naples. Car breaks down, Betta has a fever. A kind lady Nennella offers them a place to live and Anna must stay until her daughter is better. Nennella introduces her to Gio, Granny and Agnese. Soon Anna is working in Agnese's perfumery.
Mrs De Blasi lost her son 13yrs ago. She meets Anna and her daughter, she can't believe the resemblance the little girl has to her son Marco. Can she be her granddaughter? How does Betta know the christmas scottish tune that her son Marco learned from his Scottish Grandmother?
Thieves has been hitting the Maratea's wealthiest homes. People blame the Roma Camp for the crimes. The librarian tries to help one of the roma children named Jonas.
Christmas season, Thieves, Scottish Tunes . Gio sets out to investigate all. Will she succeed?
Another great mystery. A must Read!!!
Mrs De Blasi lost her son 13yrs ago. She meets Anna and her daughter, she can't believe the resemblance the little girl has to her son Marco. Can she be her granddaughter? How does Betta know the christmas scottish tune that her son Marco learned from his Scottish Grandmother?
Thieves has been hitting the Maratea's wealthiest homes. People blame the Roma Camp for the crimes. The librarian tries to help one of the roma children named Jonas.
Christmas season, Thieves, Scottish Tunes . Gio sets out to investigate all. Will she succeed?
Another great mystery. A must Read!!!
November 6, 2022
Set in Italy
This is not your typical cozy mystery. First of all, it’s set in Italy with locals, not Americans visiting or living there. So you get all the fun that goes with sometimes stereotypical Italian families. And it is fun - the family arguments along with the closeness, especially at Christmas.
There are two mysteries here - but no dead bodies. The one has a satisfying and happy conclusion, the other…not so much. I can only assume that it will be solved in a later book, but it left me slightly unhappy that it was not settled.
Still, there are great characters and interesting settings. I will note that I had a little trouble getting into the story at first, but my attention was quickly caught up and I finished it in a single day.
Recommended for those looking for something different in their cozy mysteries.
This is not your typical cozy mystery. First of all, it’s set in Italy with locals, not Americans visiting or living there. So you get all the fun that goes with sometimes stereotypical Italian families. And it is fun - the family arguments along with the closeness, especially at Christmas.
There are two mysteries here - but no dead bodies. The one has a satisfying and happy conclusion, the other…not so much. I can only assume that it will be solved in a later book, but it left me slightly unhappy that it was not settled.
Still, there are great characters and interesting settings. I will note that I had a little trouble getting into the story at first, but my attention was quickly caught up and I finished it in a single day.
Recommended for those looking for something different in their cozy mysteries.
March 15, 2020
A short, but extremely entertaining read!
"If Paolo were to hear of our plans, he would be mad at me, but I’m not going to get involved in his investigation into the jewellery thefts. That’s for the carabinieri to solve, but I won’t leave Laura to visit the Roma by herself." Famous last words?
As usual, Gió cannot resist a mystery and before long is deep into solving all the things that don't seen to make sense this Christmas season.
A short, entertaining read, Mystery Before Christmas has no dead bodies, but is nonetheless intriguing with its robberies and unexplained events. Join Gió and Paolo as they resolve everything just in time for the happiest of Christmases! And there's a very happy reader here knowing that Book Four is coming soon!
"If Paolo were to hear of our plans, he would be mad at me, but I’m not going to get involved in his investigation into the jewellery thefts. That’s for the carabinieri to solve, but I won’t leave Laura to visit the Roma by herself." Famous last words?
As usual, Gió cannot resist a mystery and before long is deep into solving all the things that don't seen to make sense this Christmas season.
A short, entertaining read, Mystery Before Christmas has no dead bodies, but is nonetheless intriguing with its robberies and unexplained events. Join Gió and Paolo as they resolve everything just in time for the happiest of Christmases! And there's a very happy reader here knowing that Book Four is coming soon!
November 13, 2019
A real page turner by Adriana Licio! A very engaging story about a young girl, Betta, and her mother who are stranded while visiting Gio's hometown. Mrs. Di Blasio, who we have met in prior books, is stunned when she first sees Betta. This young girl is the image of her son who was killed in a fire - years before Becca was born! Another very detailed and engaging story that keeps you turning the pages. As with her other books, the author has created great characters to take you on this journey with her.
I received an ARC copy of this book. This is my voluntary, honest and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING
I received an ARC copy of this book. This is my voluntary, honest and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING
November 20, 2019
An interesting time for a mystery
As usual Ms. Licio hasn't chosen the ordinary, she has selected the Christmas holidays as the time for her murder mystery. As always there is a lot going on that will take the reader in different directions, but she always brings us back to the solving of the mystery. Delightful characters abound, i.e. the little gypsy boy in the library, that provide further color and humanity to the story. I especially enjoy how she paints pictures of what we would be seeing if we were lucky enough to be there.
I’m looking forward to her next work!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
As usual Ms. Licio hasn't chosen the ordinary, she has selected the Christmas holidays as the time for her murder mystery. As always there is a lot going on that will take the reader in different directions, but she always brings us back to the solving of the mystery. Delightful characters abound, i.e. the little gypsy boy in the library, that provide further color and humanity to the story. I especially enjoy how she paints pictures of what we would be seeing if we were lucky enough to be there.
I’m looking forward to her next work!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
November 23, 2019
Again Adriana Licio writes a book with wonderful characters, interesting plot lines, and – especially for the Christmas season – tenderness and wonder.
A widow and daughter arrive in Maratea, just passing through, and have to stay longer because of car trouble. She finds a part-time job with Gio's sister Agnese; some burglaries of well-off people take place; books go missing from the library; and a number of connections start to appear. A customer is startled by the daughter's looks, and Gio wonders why she sing a Scottish Christmas tune…You might think you can see the ending coming but there are still a few surprises in store as the chapters cover each day in December until the 25th.
A widow and daughter arrive in Maratea, just passing through, and have to stay longer because of car trouble. She finds a part-time job with Gio's sister Agnese; some burglaries of well-off people take place; books go missing from the library; and a number of connections start to appear. A customer is startled by the daughter's looks, and Gio wonders why she sing a Scottish Christmas tune…You might think you can see the ending coming but there are still a few surprises in store as the chapters cover each day in December until the 25th.
November 23, 2019
Surprises await Anna and Betta for the Christmas holiday. The village of Maratea provides a wonderful holiday home during this festive time of the year. Anna and Betta are hoping to find a new life in the nearby “big” city of Naples, but that will have to wait after they have car trouble. You can feel the hustle and bustle of the village getting ready for the holidays. Gio’s inquisitive mind keeps her going forward to discover why she has that “feeling”. With all the other suspicious activities happening in the village, read to discover the real mystery. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author.
November 23, 2019
Really have enjoyed this mystery.
Loved this book. Loved that this mystery ended in a happy ending for Anna and Elizabetta. I do get the feeling that maybe in the next book or two something may change in the relationship between Paola and Gio. I really like their characters. I wonder if Gio will continue to write travel books. To me she doesn't seem to have her heart in it. Will she change to a mystery writer? Only the author knows... or will she become a carabenier and work with Paola? That idea I really dont think so. Love your books so far. Have read each one in chronological order. Looking forward to your new one in the spring.
Loved this book. Loved that this mystery ended in a happy ending for Anna and Elizabetta. I do get the feeling that maybe in the next book or two something may change in the relationship between Paola and Gio. I really like their characters. I wonder if Gio will continue to write travel books. To me she doesn't seem to have her heart in it. Will she change to a mystery writer? Only the author knows... or will she become a carabenier and work with Paola? That idea I really dont think so. Love your books so far. Have read each one in chronological order. Looking forward to your new one in the spring.
August 25, 2023
A refreshing story highlighting characters with good hearts and right minds
The reader is lead through two separate mysteries in the same village as Christmas approaches. The village is beset with increasing thefts and a nearby Roma encampment is sure to be blamed by some, but a local woman shows compassion and reaches out to a young boy, and with the help of other locals identifies the culprits. A parallel mystery evolves as a young mother and her daughter have made their way to the village as part of their journey to start a new life.
A feel good story without being sappy or overly sentimental!
The reader is lead through two separate mysteries in the same village as Christmas approaches. The village is beset with increasing thefts and a nearby Roma encampment is sure to be blamed by some, but a local woman shows compassion and reaches out to a young boy, and with the help of other locals identifies the culprits. A parallel mystery evolves as a young mother and her daughter have made their way to the village as part of their journey to start a new life.
A feel good story without being sappy or overly sentimental!
November 14, 2019
Each new mystery by Adriana Licio has been better than the last and this mystery is no exception the caracters that come alive through each of thier storeys filled with pation, intreage, mystery and at times enlightenment of the season to make your reading even more enjoyable. I was gifted a copy and I am more than happy that I was because it seemed I just began reading this fabulous cozey mystery than I had come to the end so emerged in the storey. I couldn't put this book down until I'd finished reading it. Now it's your turn to aquier and enjoy "A Mystery before Christmas. 🙄🤔🙄😏😊 Kat
November 18, 2019
This series about a travel writer (Gio) and the town she lives in (Maratea) is proving to be absolutely captivating, there are so many things to love, such as the way the author depicts life in a small Italian village, her depictions of family life in the village and of course the mysteries. In this book there is more than one mystery, books disappearing from the library, thefts from affluent houses and a mysterious likeness.
This is a wonderful, heart-warming book spiced up with a little excitement, and ideal for the run up to Christmas.
This is a wonderful, heart-warming book spiced up with a little excitement, and ideal for the run up to Christmas.
January 9, 2020
Wonderful Christmas story!
I have read the other books in this series and they just keep getting better. The location is beautiful, the characters interesting, and the story keeps me interested until the very end. Several different mysteries going on at the same time. How can a child look like another women's dead son when the son passed away before the child was born? Who is taking books from the library, only to return them later? And who is breaking into houses? Everything was wrapped up with a neat bow by the end!
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
I have read the other books in this series and they just keep getting better. The location is beautiful, the characters interesting, and the story keeps me interested until the very end. Several different mysteries going on at the same time. How can a child look like another women's dead son when the son passed away before the child was born? Who is taking books from the library, only to return them later? And who is breaking into houses? Everything was wrapped up with a neat bow by the end!
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
December 9, 2021
This story would make a nice Hallmark Christmas movie. Sweet characters, and a syrupy story line.
Anna and her young daughter Beta love the small town of Maratea, a stop on their way to Naples. They would love to stay, although Anna feels she must go to the big city to find a job. Car trouble leaves them stranded in Marshes over the weekend, and the story unfolds. I enjoyed it, although I knew the ending fairly early on. It you love happens endings, feel good, old fashioned family stories, especially about Christmas, this will be your cup of tea.
Anna and her young daughter Beta love the small town of Maratea, a stop on their way to Naples. They would love to stay, although Anna feels she must go to the big city to find a job. Car trouble leaves them stranded in Marshes over the weekend, and the story unfolds. I enjoyed it, although I knew the ending fairly early on. It you love happens endings, feel good, old fashioned family stories, especially about Christmas, this will be your cup of tea.
November 24, 2019
Faith, Family and Love
What a sweet Christmas mystery. I figured everything out fairly early but the mystery part, in my opinion, wasn't the highlight of the story. Friendship, helping a fellow human being, faith, family and love was the mainstay of the story. If your looking for a story that gives you hope about a fellow man or woman, this is the book to read.
I volunteered an honest review in exchange for an ARC copy of this book.
What a sweet Christmas mystery. I figured everything out fairly early but the mystery part, in my opinion, wasn't the highlight of the story. Friendship, helping a fellow human being, faith, family and love was the mainstay of the story. If your looking for a story that gives you hope about a fellow man or woman, this is the book to read.
I volunteered an honest review in exchange for an ARC copy of this book.
December 4, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved learning about Italian and Scottish Christmas traditions, and of course the characters are like friends by now. I also like Adriana Licio's writing style and her descriptions which put me right in the middle of the action. I found myself cheering Gio on as she searched for a Christmas miracle.
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving my honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving my honest review.
November 23, 2019
A wonderful cozy without a murder! Perfect for Christmas reading. The interactions between various characters is lively and fun. There are two main mysteries and two minor ones to get solved before Christmas. As a side note, I can understand Gio’s having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit in a more tempid climate. Having lived in Florida, it takes getting use to.
December 28, 2019
This is a delightful Christmas mystery. This story has so much to offer: friendship and help to a stranger, love, and a mystery with lots of twists and turns. I also adore the scenic descriptions! The author makes you feel like you are there. This book will not disappoint!
I received an advance copy of this book and I voluntarily wrote an honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book and I voluntarily wrote an honest review.
November 21, 2021
Great fun to get ready for Christmas with this town full of wonderful people!
Joyous book. Generous, caring people. Lovely town on the water. The author even added some snow to get us in the Christmas mood. Now I must read all the rest of Adriana Licio's other books in this series.
Joyous book. Generous, caring people. Lovely town on the water. The author even added some snow to get us in the Christmas mood. Now I must read all the rest of Adriana Licio's other books in this series.
November 15, 2022
Enjoyed this book, which can be read anytime of the year. However, it was fun to read just when the Christmas season is about to start for me. Lots of activity leading up to the 25th. You will find three mysteries to be solved by Gio. Made me want to visit this charming seaside town called Maratea. Looking forward to more adventures with Gio.
December 29, 2022
Christmas in Italy
During the first quarter of the book I was going to stop reading because it was so slow. But I kept reading & then I wanted the answers to the mysteries. Licio's writing voice is different than any other I've read before. Intriguing mysteries kept me reading, but the setting was lovely, and the characters were interesting. Recommend for a Christmas read.
During the first quarter of the book I was going to stop reading because it was so slow. But I kept reading & then I wanted the answers to the mysteries. Licio's writing voice is different than any other I've read before. Intriguing mysteries kept me reading, but the setting was lovely, and the characters were interesting. Recommend for a Christmas read.
November 21, 2023
Molto bene!
Maybe because it is the holiday season, and I’m Italian, but I loved this quick little book! I could see my relatives, I know that part of Italy, and I am now on a hunt for the pastry they were making (Cartellate). I appreciate this little Christmas gift to me from the author. Grazie!
Maybe because it is the holiday season, and I’m Italian, but I loved this quick little book! I could see my relatives, I know that part of Italy, and I am now on a hunt for the pastry they were making (Cartellate). I appreciate this little Christmas gift to me from the author. Grazie!
June 11, 2025
Yes, fairly predictable outcome, but I don’t care. This is a relaxed, comfortable read, with a cast of characters I mostly want to win ( or occasionally get their comeuppance). The mysteries are solved, the community directs money where it’s needed, evil is unmasked, tolerance prevails and the Christmas lights come on. I don’t ask much more on a winter morning.
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