A Villa in Sicily: Figs and a Cadaver

A Cats and Dogs Cozy Mystery #2

by Fiona Grace

A VILLA IN SICILY: FIGS AND A CADAVER is book #2 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews!

Audrey Smart, 34, has made a major life change, walking away from her life as a vet (and from a string of failed romance) and moving to Sicily to buy a $1 home—and embark on a mandatory renovation she knows nothing about.

Audrey is busy working to open the town’s new shelter, while also renovating her own problematic home—and dating again. With the help of friends, she begins taking in sick strays. But not everyone in town is grateful for her services, and she soon makes unexpected enemies.

When Audrey gets a tip about an injured dog near the coast and goes to find him—she finds the dead body of a powerful local instead.

Can Audrey, now a suspect, solve the crime and clear her name?

Or will her Sicilian dream fall apart?

A laugh-out-loud cozy packed with mystery, intrigue, renovation, animals, food, wine—and of course, love—A VILLA IN SICILY will capture your heart and keep you glued to the very last page.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Italy, Audiobook, Animals

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2020

About the author

Debut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Lise · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of Mussomeli's latest businesses is the creation of Dr Audrey Smart - a veterinary clinic combined with a no-kill shelter for the town's stray animals. Unfortunately, the new enterprise has brought Audrey under the scrutiny of a hyper-critical councilwoman. The councillor's abrasive personality finally rubs someone the wrong way, and Audrey finds the body while on the hunt for an injured dog. To clear her name, Audrey begins a search for the real murderer.

I gave the first book in the series a pass (and a 4-star rating) because introductory stories have so many elements to them (brand new characters, situations, settings) that it's difficult to please an audience. However, this is book two, and the things that gave me pause in the first book are magnified here.

Because most of my thoughts will reveal plot points, the rest of the review will be under the cover of a spoiler tag.

These are the things that irked me:
With the first book, and even more so with this one, Audrey's age feels off. Audrey doesn't act like a responsible adult in her thirties. She certainly doesn't act like someone who spent at least six years in post-secondary education and then several years as a practising veterinarian. Without being told, I would have thought her to be twenty-two years old at the most, and more likely to be a teenager, if truth be told.

Both Audrey and her married sister are superficial. They both crush on Mason because he's handsome and fit. They treat him like a piece of meat. Audrey spends a good deal of time staring at various parts of his body. On the other hand, Mason has few redeeming characteristics. He refers to Audrey (a fully grown adult with a DVM degree) as girl and finds every way he can to irritate and belittle her.

Audrey believes she will have plenty of time to have children - her age fluctuates (blurb and book disagree slightly), but even if we take the lower age of thirty-two, she has just three years before she'll be classed as a geriatric mother. That's leaving it a bit late - she's not even in a dating situation, let alone a committed relationship.

Audrey is a doormat. She lets everyone treat her as a worthless human being. Her neighbour slanders her relentlessly. The councilwoman was ridiculous in her demands. Mason (as mentioned before) is constantly running her down with his disparaging comments. Even her pet fox ignores her wishes.

Audrey is no detective. She muddles about until she gets a theory and then shouts "J'accuse"! Worse still, she gets the police involved and has her suspects taken into custody. Guilty until proven innocent.


Normally, I like a Fiona Grace series but this one felt as though it was going off the rails in book 1.

[Letitia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character is a jerk. Maybe sarcastic and mean flirting isn’t my thing because I just don’t get how these guys like her.
Once again the book spends most of the time world building and hardly any time on the murder mystery. The culprit is predictable, just like in the first book. The only thing that wasn’t predictable was why the victim died/was murdered. And what’s with the “it was an accident” excuse? Two books in a row. Kinda lazy writing.
The best part of these books is Mason. Otherwise, I’m not sure they’d be worth reading even as a time filler.
The author often leaves gaps in the storyline that never get filled, even in later chapters or books.

[Bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, predictable cozy mystery. Enjoyable characters and good narrator. But Miss Smart is not very smart and she’s no Miss Marple. She really needs to stick to her day job as a Vet.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading several heavy books, I was ready for some light reading so I stared exploring the series by Fiona Grace. They all feature women starting over on a whim living abroad. The main character in this one is a vet who has bought a house for a dollar in Sicily and is now starting a vet practice in a small town with the support of the local council. Although there is one council member who is not so supportive, and when she turns up dead, our heroine comes under suspicion, so of course she decides to investigate herself. I enjoyed the descriptions of being a newcomer in small town Sicily, and there are some fun characters. The mystery itself is rather light weight, but I was interested enough to download others by this author.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many similarities to the other series I read/listen from this author. Stray animal sidekick, beginning a new business in a new place, absent father (leaving family when protagonist is young), multiple potential love interests and murder.

Very formulaic, but easily to listen to.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Imo Greenwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

got the job done as a free beach read. in any other setting, the rating would be far lower i’m sure.

[Barbara Blindauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the series. Dr. Audrey Smart is setting up her veterinary clinic and trying to work on renovations to her house. In addition with her practice she has been tasked by the town to set up a shelter for all the stray animals. She soon learns that not everyone is happy with the shelter. When Audre finds her most vocal opponent dead she again sets out to find out how it happened. She is also learning more about fellow American Mason as he helps her with all the renovations.

[Marguerite Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

An American in Sicily. Will her new vet adventure pass the council vote? Perhaps she'll be accused of another murder. Book 2- very entertaining.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audrey Smart is not a very intelligent veterinarian. Who moves to a country where you don’t know the language and opens a practice while not remembering to hire someone to help run your clinic.
Pretty pathetic detective too.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t understand how this woman is smart enough to be a doctor. Also why is she always the center of a murder investigation and always accusing the wrong ppl lmao the police should just ignore her

[Loretta TheMoodyRedhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet book. I am getting to know the players better. It’s obvious Mason like likes Audrey, but she’s too down on herself to realize that such a hottie would harbor any romantic feelings towards her.

Another “murder” occurred and, of course, Audrey was a suspect again. And, of course, Nessa the Big Bad Wolf made sure she was very vocal about Audrey being the culprit. It irritates me that Audrey won’t stand up to her. Audrey allows Nessa to figuratively spit on her because I guess she feels she deserves it. I do hope Audrey matures in future reads and also that Audrey “picks a lane” by making it official between her and either Mason or G. A heartbreak is on the horizon.

Next book is A Villa in Sicily: Vino and Death (A Cats and Dogs Cozy Mystery—Book 3). Why do I feel Book 3 will have a murder and Audrey will be the suspect AGAIN? Why can’t she stumble upon a body with someone else being the suspect?!

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the continuing story of Audrey, the vet who buys a one Euro villa in Italy, moves from Boston and becomes the town vet. Not everyone is happy about all the American's buying up property when the original plan was instituted in hopes of bringing native Sicilian's back home to revitalize the area, but Audrey's skills are badly needed.
A town councilwoman makes Audrey's life and the lives of others miserable with constant threats and mischief. She is soon found dead on the beach by Audrey and Mason (another American who bought into the $1.00 plan) and thus begins another murder adventure for Audrey.
Audrey doesn't giggle as much is this story, thank heavens, and there is some progress in her relationship with Mason (the hunk).
I don't know why the title is "Figs and a Cadaver" since there is no mention of figs in the story.
Not a bad read, but not spectacular either. There were several editing mistakes that should have been corrected but they don't spoil the story.

[Susan Olson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the 3rd series by Fiona Grace. I will not purchase any more of her books. Each series has the same old story line: a very rude main character in a different location, who was jilted in some way or another and looks for a fresh new start, an absent father (is there a father fixation going on here?)
and every book the main character finds a murder victim and she sets out to solve it to save her
reputation. Give me a break.

Fiona, get a new story line. This is so not creative.

[Suzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book in a series. They could really use a great editor.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ikm having trouble taking this series seriously even as escapism reads.

[Pandora · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just ok. Won’t read the next one can already tell she keeps finding dead bodies. No real person is going to run into this many problems.

[Miriam J Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first 2 books in the series and I won't read anymore.How many times is Audrey going to accused of murder. Is the Sicily police that dumb? And at the end all is well.

[Karen Trenorden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m out.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a title I picked up free from Amazon. I haven't read the first book in the series. You can read this as a stand alone. You might pick up some helpful background information if you read the series in order though.

I would put this in wish-fulfillment novels for the following reasons: the main character, a veterinarian, apparently ran off from Boston to Sicily and was able to buy a house for $1 in a small town through a program that was hoped to entice Sicilians who'd left to return and is instead bringing in "outsiders".

In this book, she opens her veterinary practice and is also supposed to be helping with the stray animal population in the city.

It is a cozy mystery in the sense that the veterinarian does help to solve a murder but it's more of a meandering cozy mystery. The victim doesn't appear as a corpse until quite a ways into the story and as such, the wrap up of it seems hurried.

As for the figs in the title--I don't remember figs being a big part of the story. The cadaver obviously refers to the dead councilwoman.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being an ex pat in a small town in Sicily where you bought the house for $1.00 sight unseen and are attempting to set up your veterinary practice is not as easy as it sounds. There is a council woman who is trying her darndest to get her to leave town, a next door neighbor who is absolutely the worst. Of course there is a restaurant owner trying to get her to go with him and a gorgeous ex pat who is trying to help her.

The council woman is found dead and Audrey being a newcomer and known to have trouble with this woman--well. It was actually a very large well behaved dog who showed them the body. Since he had no collar except for the one he dug up--Audrey took him back to her vet office.

It is the dog who ultimately solved the case.

This is the second book in this series and is a clean cozy which everyone will enjoy in my opinion. Be sure to read this series in order as there is a continuation from the 1st to the second. Yes, I read and reviewed the 1st one before this one--will wonders never cease.

[Jeanne Chepko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sicilian dreams or murderous nightmares

Once again Fiona Grace has given us a wonderful story with inviting descriptions of the surrounding Italian scenery. Makes you feel like you are in the middle of it all!
Dr Audrey Smart, a Veterinarian is setting up a new clinic while trying to renovate her € 1 home, it’s all quite an overwhelming challenge. With handsome locals and fellow expats vying for her time Audrey finds herself questioning her move. Being attacked by a crazy councilwoman who wants her gone, dealing with an annoying Internet sensation neighbor, handling all the stray animals including a huge mastiff and discovering a body on the beach have her wondering if she can have her Sicilian dreams and solve the crime or have it all fall apart?
Great characters, witty banter and who done it uncertainty keep the pages turning.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own.

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things seem to be going from bad to worse for Audrey when she opens her vet clinic. This was mainly due to a pushy council woman who has it out for her and the animals. Despite everything she is determined to make it a success that is until she finds herself embroiled in another murder.

This is the second edition of the Cat and Dog Cozy Mystery series and I think it is even better than the first. Set in a scenic small town in Sicily, the engaging characters and interesting mystery make for a great read. The characters interact well and the dialogue is charming. The focus on furry friends adds another dimension to the already eclectic array of characters. The murder mystery is filled with numerous suspects, subtle clues and surprises. I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more from this author.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as much description of Audrey's new $1 home in #2 but still loved this one. Here we see the miracle she performs in setting up a new clinic/shelter in a few days.

A witch of a councilwoman is trying to set up a new tax on collecting strays. When she is killed, some of her supporters still want to impose the new tax in her memory.

Audrey is becoming very comfortable with her new friend, carpenter Mason, but G the restaurant owner is still very interested. Audrey is still acting like a teenager around both of them.

Audrey becomes very attached to a huge stray mastiff she finds wandering around the lake after the death of the councilwoman and even supposed animal hating Mason ends up walking and even playing with him.

The mysterious visitor Mason is expecting turns out to be his mother!

How is it that Mason, with his "Southern aristocracy" background, speaks such poor English?

[Claudia]

DNF
I read the first in this series and enjoyed it. However, I quickly decided this one is not for me. The main character is starting her vet business in Sicily and is faced with an overly nasty council woman who begins to harass her about here pet fox and her duty to euthanize stray animals. The character is so overwhelmingly mean, I could not waste my time reading about this. Maybe it has a happy ending and Dr. Audrey brings her around and saves all the strays in Sicily, but I was too turned off to find out. More likely, this is the person who is murdered. Can't blame whoever dunnit.
I generally don't rate books I DNF, but this was was so off-putting, I would only be able to give it one star.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

free ebook

i read the first in the series, she is from boston and got a house in sicily for $1.00. it was a lot to fix up, shes doing it little by little.

in this book, she opened a veterinary office in town. she had a few days to fix it up and got so many people and animals in. she doesnt speak the language. she also needs help in there, too busy!

a council woman wanted to tax her for the strays, but she found her dead body after a phone call. she also found a big dog she rescued.

she found out the dogs owner is the one who killed the councilwoman.

her friend adopted the dog

i would read more of this series

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey is a veterinarian along with being a very curious amateur mystery solver. Seems her new home in Sicily in the past three months has had two murders. Audrey always seems to be the one who finds the body and reports it to the police. Plus, Audrey never has an alibi and becomes the prime suspect. She can't afford to end up in jail and have to abandon the strays in her kennels with no one to care for them. So Audrey has to try and figure out who the actual murderer might be; so she can clear her name. Very cute book to listen to on Hoopla.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable entry in the series

Audrey opens her veterinary clinic, but soon encounters opposition from a by-the-book councilwoman who abhors stray animals of any kind. Audrey has her hands full with the clinic, continuing renovations on her own home, and trying to solve the problem with stray and abandoned animals around town. Add to that a suspicious death that once again puts Audrey in the middle of a police investigation. This is a quick read for those who like quick cozy mysteries with a cast of colorful characters.

[moxieBK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Villa in Sicily: Figs and a Cadaver (A Cats and Dogs Mystery #2) — Fiona Grace/Narrator: Sarah Kempton (27 chapters + Epilogue) Feb. 10, 2024

Audry cannot stop having the feels for animals. So when someone calls about an injured dog close to the coast, she goes straightaway…. only to find a dead guy. Suddenly, she is the prime suspect because there is no dog to be seen, and the dead guy is a powerful local.

She must solve this case fast or else she will be thrown in jail — or worse — thrown from the country she loves.

Narrator review: Decent English-accented narrator.

Four stars.

[William Roushey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these cozy mysteries. I got this one for a bargain on Chirp. Check out the app to download audio versions of books. We like to listen while traveling.

This is the second book in a series. A single woman (veterinarian) leaves everything behind in Boston to purchase a villa in Sicily for $1.00. She seems to have a knack for discovering dead bodies, which makes her a suspect. I enjoyed the voices used in the audio version as well as the thick accents used by some of the characters. No bad language or graphic violence.