Galliano Gold

Franki Amato Mysteries #5

by Traci Andrighetti

It’s Mardi Gras season in New Orleans, but PI Franki Amato has too many problems to celebrate. A proven Sicilian lemon tradition hasn’t landed her a proposal, so her nonna has amped up the meddling to get her married, and pronto. Franki’s also under pressure to solve the strange murder of a family friend’s nephew, Nick Pescatore, who was found on a Mississippi River steamboat rumored to be haunted. When the sinister old boat sets sail on an overnight gambling cruise, Franki goes undercover with a motley crew, including a Mark Twainophile captain with a murderous past and a slimy galley chef with a mobster brother, not to mention an ex-stripper landlady with a newfound career as a memoir writer and all-too public speaker. Franki has to figure out what missing Civil War gold, a playing card, and a mysterious woman on roller skates have to do with Nick’s death. If she doesn’t, it’s anchors aweigh for Franki—down to Davy Jones’ locker.

Galliano Gold is book 5 in the Franki Amato Mysteries, but it can be read as a standalone. If you like zany characters and laugh-out-loud humor with a splash of suspense, then you’ll drink up this fun series by USA Today Bestselling Author Traci Andrighetti. Cheers!

FRANKI AMATO MYSTERIES:
Limoncello Yellow (book 1)
Prugnolino Purple (spring short story 1.5)
Prosecco Pink (book 2)
Rosolio Red (holiday short story 2.5)
Amaretto Amber (book 3)
Fragolino Fuchsia (Rome short story 3.5)
Campari Crimson (book 4)
Cannellino Caramel (holiday short story 4.5)
Galliano Gold (book 5)
Cremoncello Cream (Sicily short story 5.5)
Marsala Maroon (book 6)
Mirto Magenta (Sardinia short story 6.5)

"Andrighetti’s dialogue is genuine yet uproarious, and her glowing characters animatedly leap off the page. Her sparkling wit keeps the hijinks brimming with merriment."
—Long Island Book Reviews

"Traci Andrighetti's Franki Amato Mysteries have me tickled pink! Her smart, sassy heroine, wacky cast of characters, and vividly original settings had me glued to the page. I can’t wait to read more from this author!"
—Gemma Halliday, New York Times bestselling author

"Traci's writing is sharp and funny; the world she paints leaps off the page and makes the reader laugh out loud…. A thoroughly enjoyable voice in fiction!"
—Kristin Harmel, Internationally bestselling novelist (The Sweetness of Forgetting)

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary

340 pages, Paperback

Published September 22, 2019

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

[Gary Sundell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun entry into one of my favorite series.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franki Amato. just days before her 31st birthday, is still waiting for the Lemon tradition to kick in and result in a proposal from boyfriend Bradley. However her Nonna has a boyfriend, and he has hired her to find out what happened to his nephew, and solve his murder. When Franki discovers a connection to a river boat named Galliano Gold and the no longer missing nephew, she gets hired on to the river boat to solve the mysteries. (Well she was hired by the steamboat to be a galley worker, but she also has a murder to solve, and later a kidnapping victim to find,,,)

Much laughing and adventures as Franki deals with the Nonnas, a murder, a kidnapping, Bradley getting jailed for a murder he didn't commit, police detective Wesley Sullivan, of course Glinda, and may others. I loved seeing Franki go undercover on the steamboat as a kitchen worker. I can just imagine her sitting on an overturned bucket trying to clean mounds of shrimp, and having those slippery devils shoot out of her hands and fly across the galley, all the while avoiding the other kitchen help and the chef!

If you have read all the Franki books, you are going to especially love this one with great characters, hidden gold treasure, and hints of romance all around. If you have never read a book in the series, *gasp!* you need to start with the very first book asap and get ready for Galliano Gold! Such fun! Don't miss this book!

[Jayne Southern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 October 2019
Consistently creative and entertaining, a much-needed pick-me-up - a tonic which I have just read again - and what a tonic. There are those who might label this 'chicklit' - but I contend that it is 'chic lit' - classy writing, classy humour, 3D characters and a gloriously crazy storyline filled with laugh-aloud events. Perfect for that feel-good factor!
Traci Andrighetti is born storyteller with a gift for dialogue and characters who breathe life and laughter into these stories. This is the third title I have read - and was delighted to have the opportunity to read 'Galliano Gold' in return for an honest review. I cannot be more honest than to confess I so enjoy the time out that these perfectly crafted tales provide. No errors, great writing which seems effortless but isn't, dialogue which is not contrived, no author convenience and healthy doses of feel-good factor guaranteed. Five star delectation.

[Tara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

**This review is for the audiobook on Audible.**

It just keeps getting better!! Galliano Gold by Traci Andrighetti, narrated by Madeline Mrozek is Book 5 in the Franki Amato mystery series, and oh, what a series it is! I'll let you read the plot synopsis on your own, so I don't give anything away...just know that it's filled with laugh-out-loud moments from start to finish. You are really missing out if you haven't yet listened to one of Andrighetti's books. From the first page, fans of cozy mysteries are sure to fall in love with Franki and the crew. While this could easily be read/listened to as a stand-alone mystery, I recommend you start at the beginning because once you get to know the characters, you will want to spend as much time with them as possible! They are such a hoot!!

We all know that audiobooks are only as good as the narration they provide. I've learned that sometimes even the best-written books don't always come across as such on audio, while others (that we may or may not be interested in reading), end up sounding like music to our ears. Why? The narrator, of course! Lucky for us, we get the best of both worlds in this series!! The performance by Madeline Mrozek is brilliant. I mean it...she is amazing! I'm 100% convinced she could read anything, and listeners would stay engaged from start to finish. Add an already well-written book to the mix, and you have a masterpiece! The hilarious voices she uses for each of the characters are the BEST, but even more impressive is her ability to switch between them in a smooth and effortless manner. She brings the characters and story to life in ways you can't even imagine, unless you experience it yourself. Narrators like Mrozek keep us coming back for more; as long as she continues to narrate, I'll continue to listen.

Without hesitation, Galliano Gold: Franki Amato Mysteries, Book 5 by Traci Andrighetti, narrated by Madeline Mrozek deserves 5 out of 5 stars across the board. The engaging storyline keeps you guessing, the New Orleans setting provides culture and local flavor, and the characters provide endless entertainment. Andrighetti and Mrozek are a force to be reckoned with! This dynamic duo is everything you could ask for...an audiobook lover's dream!

**Sidenote: Make sure to listen all the way to the end. The blooper reel is priceless!!

Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. Happy listening! :-)

[K Huskić · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun new Franki read! This time she's tasked with finding Nick, the missing nephew of her nonna's friend, Luigi. This turns into much more than just a missing persons case, with Franki needing to take a job on The Galliano, a steamboat hosting a gambling cruise, to solve all the parts of this mystery.

We see a new side to Franki's mother in this book, and the nonne are back as well, taking over Franki's apartment building. Glenda reveals more about herself (I know - it didn't seem possible!) as she's writing her memoirs. 

The first line of this book cracked me up. Franki's nonna's obsession with getting her married is such a hilarious part of this series. This was a great read! 

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Like the others, it's a total laugh riot and while there's a series, it stands alone easily. There really is a mystery plot centered around a murder and it's a good one full of twists and red herrings, but all the family and friends madness is what has me laughing out loud!
I love the way Madeline Mrozek brings the whole atmosphere as well as the characters' emotions into the work!

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy a bit of craziness on the side of your murder mysteries Galliano Gold, the newest in the Franki Amata series by Tracy Anrighetti, is the perfect place to look. PI Franki Amata mostly plays straight-man to the senior hubbub and her friends sit back and enjoy the show as they work in all seriousness to discover who murdered Luigi's nephew.
Between her old world Sicilian grandmother whose total focus is on getting Franki married off, her sixty-something, larger-than-life, ex-stripper landlady, not to mention a house full of nonnas, Franki's daily life would be enough of a challenge for anyone, but now her mother is on the push for marriage, too, marriage of her live-in mother-in-law. Fortunately Luigi, Nonna's potential bridegroom, is a great guy and is very well-off. Unfortunately they spend their time together sitting on a couch and not talking, which leave Franki's mother with a lot of not very subtle work before she can see any progress in their relationship.
Franki's job in the kitchen of the steamboat Galliano offers us not just an intriguing murder mstery but a great taste of the culture of the area. This newest trip to New Orleans is pack with fun and genuine New Aw'len's spirit.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh well, what happens during Mardi Gras stays at Mardi Gras right???? and omg so much happened we are talking murder, kidnapping, mafia, robbery!!!! the list just piles on...

A steamboat with a ghost story and hidden rooms, A body in a freezer... Frankie is on the case but at what cost and let's add relationship drama with the lemon deadline hovering, will Frankie get her engagement or will Bradley forget the deadline or will other annoying police detective forces prevent Frankie getting her HEA????

I can say I seriously loved Galliano Gold talk about hilariously entertaining which I've come to expect from a Frankie Amato book but I have to say this one was jam-packed with twists and turns I loved it.

[Sandy Bartles · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is Mardi Gras time in New Orleans and Franki and her family are waiting (or hoping for) a “Lemon-tradition” marriage proposal from her boyfriend. In the meantime, Franki boards a “haunted” ship hoping to solve her latest case. I got a lot of laughs out of this book, which as anyone who knows me knows this is my favorite type of book. It certainly kept me on my toes, trying to solve the case before Franki. I can’t wait for the next Franki Amato book!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put this one down! Best one in the series yet! Lots of twists and turns! Lots of laughs - gotta love those Italian mamas & grandmamas! Great descriptions of the New Orleans location, Mardi Gras and the river boat cruise. Loved the ending! If you like strong female protagonists, good mystery, laughs per crazy family drama, then you need to read this series.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riverboat

Franki investigates the riverboat Galliano, part of the missing gold shipment from the civil war. Bradley helped Rex buy the riverboat, he's a real Mark Twain fan, wants to be like Twain a and pilot a riverboat on the Mississippi River. Franki finds the body of Nick, Luigi's cousin in the freezer on the boat. Glenda tells Franki that Luigi is rich, very rich. Franki's Nonna is dating Luigi. Franki's mother upset about Nonna and Luigi until Franki tells her who he is. Franki's mother comes to NOLO to help Nonna's romance. A comedy of errors happens when Franki tries to solve the mystery.

[Richard Cowart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continued excellent reading Franki an otherwise accomplished young lady o keeps sabotaging her relationship with Bradley. Her PI firm has been hired to find a local grocer's nephew who is missing and last reported aboard a steamboat. During the investigation she manages to get Bradley arrested as a drug smuggler. Trying to investigate 2 cases and deal with the Sicilian American tradition oi stealing the lemon from the alter to be engaged before the year expires makes for interesting and humorous reading thanks

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mississippi Crusin

Love the French Quarter setting which is perfect for the quirky characters. A famous local stripper, a physic, several Italian nonne (grandmothers) a 30 year old unmarried granddaughter. Need I say more. Well the granddaughter and her best friend are private detectives. Put all of that together with a cruise down the Mississippi River and you have another great book in the Frankie Amato series,

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are fun silly books. There are a couple of characters I don’t like at all. One of them was KARNEVAL who was not in this book so that made me feel better. I don’t like that it seems like everybody gangs up on Frankie and then somehow at the very end she’s never the one who saves everybody even though she did solve the case. But for the most part I just really enjoy these books

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read in this series! I love Franki's circle of eccentric friends (and frenemies). Can't wait for Marsala Maroon to come out.

[Matthew Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Another winner and I can't wait for your next book your characters,humor and the story line are excellent and I love the mystery.

[Brandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished the 6th book so I better rate this one. These books are interesting and informative. Sometimes hilarious.

[Marci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franki and her crazy family could keep me entertained until the end of time! This adventure takes place on a river steamboat called the Galliano, and I have to admit, it made me want to book an adventure of my own. Yes, there's murder and mayhem, but she makes it so much fun that I want in on the action. Ghosts, murderers, secret rooms, gold treasure all aboard the steamboat? You'll have to join Franki and the gang to find out, because I swore I'd never tell and I would never want to go up against her nonna. Well-written and funny to boot. As always the narration is spot on!

[Elena Alvarez Dosil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally published at: https://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookr...

In the middle of the Mardi Gras season, Franki finds Nick Pescatore dead aboard an old haunted steamboat called the Galliano. Nick is a nephew of her nonna’s boyfriend, so this almost feels personal to Franki, who is dealing at the same time with her nonna’s obsession with Franki’s spinsterhood.

This was a rollercoaster of emotions, adventure, and never-ending humor! We are dealing with a very serious case here, as there is already a murder to investigate, but the side stories made the book more enjoyable, as they added humor and depth to the main story. This book can be read as a standalone, but it would be much more enjoyed if read in the right order in the series, as there are a couple of backstories regarding Franki’s love life her nemesis Sullivan worth knowing. Also, after four books, the characters are already quite familiar and reading about them is like revisiting old friends.

As with previous books, there are several twists and turns that I did not see coming, keeping my attention until the end. The plot was well-paced, incorporating some action scenes and lots of witty comments. I had a lot of fun listening to this audiobook!

But the best part of this audiobook was Madeline Mrozek’s narration. Madeline has a great talent to bring the characters to life, providing each one with a distinctive voice and style. The dialogs sounded natural and were easy to follow, and she had me laughing more than once at how matter of fact some sentences sounded. This was a good book, but Madeline’s narration definitely made it terrific!

There are some outtakes added by Madeline at the end of the audiobook that absolutely cracked me up. I would like to see more of this in other audiobooks. It is a fun detail and also shows how much work goes into an audio production.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The mystery is good but it is the characters that bring the book to life and make you want more, they make it so much fun and a brilliant read. I have read everyone in this series and own them on audio too, they are that good and this book is no exception.
Franki's Nonna's very close friends Luigi (is there finally wedding bells in Franl's mum future) nephew is missing and rather than have the Nonnas come looking for him Franki agrees to investigate. However this doesn't work when Franki finds his body on a haunted steam boat, the Nonnas descend on Franki and her unsuspecting landlord ex stripper and take over. Things get worse for Franki when Luigi is kidnapped in front of her and it is a race against time to find him before the mob put and end to a family feud. Franki and a surprising team of myfits must go under cover on the steam boat and fight ghosts , mob guys, grump chiefs and cops with grudges all before the boat leaves the dock. Oh and not to mention Franki only has a couple of days to get a proposal or the lemon tradition will be broken and she will bring shame to her family, something her Nonna will not stand for as she hires Franki's co workers to find out why she doesn't have a ring yet. but with Bradley being arrested it looks like she might be looking for a new boyfriend and not a wedding dress.
Will definitely be getting the audio book when it come out and highly recommend you do too.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Franki Amato mystery! Franki Amato is a PI in New Orleans. Her cases are never easy and this one does not disappoint. This case gets Frankie entwined with the Italian Mafia on one of the paddleboats New Orleans is known for. Franki has to take a job undercover on the boat to see who killed Nick Pescatore, nephew of Nonna’s beau. Bradley somehow gets arrested for the murder, so Franki is determined to free her boyfriend. We see many of the fun characters from previous stories, such as Detective Sullivan, Ruth, Nona, Luigis, and Glenda. As usual, Franki’s mom and Nonna are trying to get Franki married off before her 31st birthday. This time, they take it to the next level, hiring the other PIs from Franki’s firm to investigate Franki herself.

Traci incorporates so much New Orleans history and traditions into such a great story. So many twists and turns PLUS all the laugh out loud moments Franki and friends get herself in the middle of. I got curious looks from my husband while reading, as I was hysterically cracking up. Can’t wait to see where Franki’s next case takes her.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series of mysteries featuring Italain American Frankie Amato, it is a very clever mixture of traditional private investigator mystery with great humour.
I love the characters who are affectionate caricatures of the usual Italian family, such as the Nonnas (complete with deadly bible laden handbags), the overbearing mother who is desperate to get Franki married off, the aged mafia boss and his gang and of course the priest. I also really enjoyed the dialogue, which is very clever, and of course very funny.
For me though the best aspect of this book is the descriptive language which really brought the scenes to life in my mind.
The plot is very complex, and made more so by the Italian customs which pervade all aspects of the story, as they do all aspects of the characters' lives, but suffice it to say that it has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested.
Overall a really fun read, great for a few hours of escapism.
I received an advance copy of the book, but have voluntarily written this honest review.

[Mave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author, every book of hers is a pleasant discovery, a perfect mix of laughter, romance and mystery.

Franki Amato must find out what happened to the nephew of a family friend, he is mysteriously missing . To do this she must work undercover on a haunted ship. Meanwhile, she is waiting for the much-desired marriage proposal

The characters are really colorful and bizarre, adorable. Franki and her crazy Italian family are the must of fun, especially Nonna.

It is the first book in this series that I read, I had no difficulty but I am very curious to read Franki's previous adventures.

The plot is very engaging that once started it is really hard to put it down, there are many twists, lots of romance but above all lots of laughs

For those who love cozy funny mysteries it is a must read.

[Rose Mcclarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything goes crazy when Nonna's friend Luigi is kidnapped at his nephew's funeral and Luigi hires Franki to find the murderer, things get complicated when Detective Sullivan falsely accuses Bradley of murder and running drugs and arrests him, Sullivan makes it clear to Franki that he's coming after her too. When he volunteers to be security on the Galliano where everything is going on Franki knows she's in real trouble. Between the invasion of the Nonne, Bradley being in jail, her mother acting crazy trying to find Nonna's friend who she hopes will marry Nonna and get her out of the house there are more surprises that a room full of jacks in a box. And when it looks like Sullivan is wrapped up in this well the hits just keep coming until the very unexpected ending with finding the murderer. Great Read.

[Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, this is a humorous mystery with a delightful cast of quirky characters. A crazy chain of events is triggered when Franki is hired to find Luigi’s missing nephew, leading her to go undercover as a kitchen hand on the “haunted” Galliano Gold. Franki’s adventures may not be realistic but they are definitely entertaining. And I loved the touch of Italian flavor – complete with a meddling grandmother – determined to see Franki married off despite her tendency to fly in the face of old-world Italian traditions.
My first time reading anything by this author. I just might go back and read the earlier books in the series.
FTC Disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher. This has not affected the content of this review.

[Rita Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adore Franki and I adore her more after every book. All the usual characters are here. Nonna is still pushing her diminutive self around and has a boyfriend to boot! When the boyfriend's nephew goes missing who gets called? Franki of course. What ensues is a madcap romp on a, possibly haunted, riverboat. With the danger and her mother's finagling to get both Franki and Nonna married off, Franki finds herself dodging disaster from all sides. I really enjoyed this installment and look forward to the further adventures of Franki! I definitely recommend this book! I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my unbiased review.

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Franki Amato and "Galliano Gold" is my favorite in this endearing series with a colorful cast of characters and a great mystery so well written I was completely involved in all that was happening and turning the pages as fast as possible because I had to know what was going to happen. Ms. Andrighetti knocked me out of the water (Mississippi River) with this fun mystery an I can hardly wait to find out what's going to happen next with Franki and the gang in New Orleans. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my unbiased review. I enjoyed it so much, I purchased a copy.

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 5 in the Franki Amato Mysteries, and despite not having read the previous books I felt right at home with this instalment. Galliano Gold was a hoot to read filled with a cast of wonderful characters, and Franki's madcap adventures reminded of another cozy series I love to read. I found myself laughing at the Italian banter between Franki, her family and her Nonna (Italian for grandmother) and they murder mystery had me guessing right to the end.

Despite being book 5 this is easily read as a stand alone, and its a great clean cozy mystery and a series that I am going to be keeping an eye on and go back and start from the beginning.

5 stars

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franki is hired to find Luigi’s missing nephew and once she finds him it opens up even more mysteries. She goes undercover on the Galliano , a haunted ship and is joined by Det Sullivan, momma, her mother, Glenda , Bruno and Bradley’s former assistant Ruth. They discover Ruth long lost twin Mariam who is way more aggressive than Ruth if that is possible. The ragtag army set out to solve all the crimes they’ve discovered. This was the best book yet. It had tons of action and drama. I love nonna and the fun she brings to the stories! I highly recommend this book and this series!

[Lyn Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will the TWAIN ever meet?

So much gold and all of it fake or delicious. Frankie tries helping her nonnas' friend with the disappearance of his nephew, which leads her to an old river paddle boat and mobsters. If you have had the sense and good fortune to have read the previous Frankie Amato books then you will already know that the investigation does not go off with anything less than high jinx and hilarity. Once again Traci Andrighetti has turned my love of alcohol into an utterly delightful messterpiece.