Penne Dreadful
Italian Chef Mystery, Book #1
Catherine Bruns
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Tomato sauce isn't the only thing that runs red...

Local chef Tessa Esposito is struggling to get back on her feet following her husband's fatal accident. And when the police knock on Tessa's door, things just get worse. They've discovered Dylan's death wasn't an accident after all, and they need Tessa to start filling in the blanks. Who would want her beloved husband dead, and why?

With the investigation running cold, Tessa decides it's time to save her sanity by reconnecting with her first love-cooking. And maybe the best way back into the kitchen is to infiltrate Dylan's favorite local pizza parlor, which also happens to be the last place he was seen before he died. But the anchovies aren't the only thing that stink inside the small family business, and with suspects around every corner, Tessa finds that her husband's many secrets might land her in hot water. (G00dreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed getting to meet Tessa and her cousins, Gabby and Gino. You can tell they are a close knit family and they would do anything for each other. When Tessa loses her husband, her cousins have to help her get over it, somehow. When Tessa finds out that her husband’s death may not have been an accident, she knows she has to find the person responsible before she can move on.

The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. I also think the author is very capable of portraying an Italian family and how much family means. This made for a very emotional ride but there is also humor. I think that must be very hard for an author to do.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This author always delivers in her books.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Cozy Mystery - Thriller
This is a wonderful Cozy-Thriller. This could be a blockbuster movie for sure! The heroine is a little too impulsive for my liking, but that is what makes the 'thriller' suspense work so well. This is a compelling story that I hated to put down. It did haunt my dreams a little. Italian cooking plays a large part in this story and the author includes some great recipes. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

This is a first in a new series. Tessa tries to figure out who killed her husband and tampered with his car. She didn't find out until 2 weeks after it happened. Tessa's cousin who is a detective told her. He also suggests she get a job to help her heal. Only it made it worse for her since he was going into the restaurant every day. if you want to hear more read the book

Tessa Esposito is still in a fog since her husband Dylan died in a fatal car crash. Then her police detective cousin Gino drops a bombshell: Dylan's death wasn't an accident after all. Who would want to kill Dylan? Tessa returns to her first love of cooking Italian food by infiltrating Slice, Dylan's favorite local pizza parlor, which also happens to be the last place he was seen before he died. But Tessa soon finds a lot of odd activity and behavior inside the small family restaurant. She also learns that Dylan had been keeping a lot of secrets from her: he had been fired from his accounting job at We Care a month before his murder. So what had Dylan been up to when he left the house every morning to go to "work"? And why was Dylan seeing a cardiac doctor?

Tessa's snoops with the help of her cousin Gabby who is also Gino's younger sister. Their amateur sleuthing almost turns deadly for them both. Then another surprise visitor at Tessa's house reveals the killer's motives.

This was a fun, quick read and a promising entry in this debut mystery series.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Sourcebooks with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Tessa Esposito is still grieving over the death of husband, Dylan, after a tragic car accident. However, when her cousin Gino, a detective, informs her that it might not have been such an accident after all, she vows to do anything to help the investigation. So she ties on an apron and nabs a job at Slice, a pizza parlor and the last place Dylan was seen alive. Soon she’s embroiled in a family business where everyone has something to hide. But the real trouble starts when her own husband’s secrets start to overboil.

Don’t be distracted by mouth-watering prose devoted to cheese-stacked pizza, sauce-laden pasta, and aromatic garlic bread. Along with plenty of rich descriptions of Italian favorites, Catherine Bruns has cooked up a delicious mystery.

A lot of this success relies on Tessa. Stuck at an incredibly low point only weeks after the death of her husband, she struggles pulling herself into a new, functional normal. And yet, when called into action to uncover the truth, she does so. Bruns expertly navigates her complex emotions as Tessa figures out how to conduct an investigation— whether she’s questioning suspects or using cooking as a distraction. The result is that Tessa feels real. Strong, funny, and focused on justice, she compellingly holds the story together.

She’s also backed up by a quirky yet realistic cast of secondary characters. Her cousin Gabby serves as her investigative partner of sorts and provides some refreshing relief when things get complicated. Gino proves an effective connection to the police department, doling out information while taking Tessa to task for getting too involved. And then there’s Slice, where everyone has their guard up while proving the ultimate foil to Tessa’s prying. Together, they form a fully realized community that’s easy to slip into.

All of this focus on complex characters is not to suggest that Bruns skimps on the mystery. Rather, she dishes out extra helpings. Tessa has a credible reason for getting involved as a sleuth— how can she not find justice for her husband? And from that comes a puzzle that bucks and weaves, twisting into a well-constructed mess. Just when everything seems to click into place, Bruns tosses out an extra piece. And yet, through all that chaos comes an ending that makes sense while offering a surprise or two.

A compelling sleuth. A difficult mystery. It’s like five-star dining with a bit of murder.

Penne Dreadful
(Italian Chef Mysteries #1)
by Catherine Bruns

Paperback, 416 pages
Expected publication: July 30th 2019 by Poisoned Pen Press



Goodreads synopsis:
Tomato sauce isn't the only thing that runs red...

Local chef Tessa Esposito is struggling to get back on her feet following her husband's fatal accident. And when the police knock on Tessa's door, things just get worse. They've discovered Dylan's death wasn't an accident after all, and they need Tessa to start filling in the blanks. Who would want her beloved husband dead, and why?

With the investigation running cold, Tessa decides it's time to save her sanity by reconnecting with her first love-cooking. And maybe the best way back into the kitchen is to infiltrate Dylan's favorite local pizza parlor, which also happens to be the last place he was seen before he died. But the anchovies aren't the only thing that stink inside the small family business, and with suspects around every corner, Tessa finds that her husband's many secrets might land her in hot water.

***

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Italian Chef Mysteries series by Catherine Bruns. She also has a popular series called the Cookies & Chance Mysteries.

Tessa Esposito is still in a daze after her husband of six years died in a car accident. Then her cousin, Gino tells her that it might not have been an accident at all. It was murder. So Tessa goes into sleuth-mode searching out the killer.

I thought this was a great book. I only wish there had been more scenes with her hubby’s best friend, Justin, the fire fighter. He really needed a bigger part to play in this, in my opinion. I know she was still reeling from her husband’s death. I found it odd that not one but two different guys who weren’t her husband were also so in love with her they longed after her. Matt the shady mechanic was married but still didn’t want any other man with Tessa and Justin had pined for her since the day he met her.

Tessa applies for a job at Slice, pretty much a order to-go family owned pizza joint. But there was so much more going on behind the scenes. Here is where she meets Anthony and Vince. Vince dislikes her from the start and Anthony, who thought of her hubby like a son only wanted access to Tessa’s award-winning tomato sauce recipe to use for his own pocketbook.

I am kind of sad that Tessa’s husband wasn’t the great and upstanding guy she thought he was. And here is this guy Justin behind the scenes who is everything she deserves. The husband, Dylan does get redeemed a bit in the end but still I feel for her circumstances.

The mystery was great and some of the characters really had me fooled. I look forward to knowing more about Vince in future books and maybe seeing a Vince/Tessa/Justin triangle forming. Maybe even a Vince/Tessa restaurant partnership. Good beginning to a series of fun mysteries. I am excited.

Great read. Check it out.

Highly recommended.

Cozy fans looking for a new series might start here. Tessa's husband was killed in an accident - or was he? Her cousin Gino, a policeman, tells her it wasn't- that he was murdered- and suggests she get a job at the pizzeria where he was last seen in order to work "under cover" and find out what really happened. This would never happen in real life. Nope. However, in the interest of the story, Tessa takes the job and discovers her husband had secrets. Lots of secrets. There are three potential future love interests (!) Matt, Vince, and Justin. It's a set up book so you'll have to go with the flow a bit. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Oh - and there are recipes!

Series: Italian Chef Mysteries - Book 1
Author: Catherine Bruns
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Page Count: 416

Publishing Date: July 30, 2019

From Poisoned Pen Press comes the first in a new cozy series “Italian Chef Mysteries” from author Catherine Burns, titled Penne Dreadful. Tessa is a recent widow who finds out that her husbands’ fatal accident was murder. Still grieving, she agrees to help the police find his killer.

Tessa is a talented chef who was idyllically in love with her husband, but when he is killed, she finds out that he has been keeping secrets from her. She begins to wonder if she knew him at all. These thoughts would be reasonable for anyone who finds out that their loved one had a secret life.

Throughout the book, Tessa keeps uncovering more of his secrets. She is torn between deep grief for the man she married, anger and sadness for the man she never knew. Tessa’s conflicted emotions and thoughts make an interesting character with depth, but there needs to be less action that would in the real world have gotten Tessa killed quickly. Having the widow of a murdered man infiltrate the place where the police think her husband met his doom, would be a sure-fire way to tip off the bad guy{s} that the cops were on to them and would in all likelihood get the heroine eliminated.

Other characters such as Tessa’s cousins Gabby and Gino are very likable, entertaining and add a bit of humor to what would otherwise be an unhappy tale. Growth for characters in any series is essential. Ms. Burns has left ample room for character development. The setting in this cozy series has not been overtly detailed, which leaves room to expand the town and surroundings in future volumes.

The killer’s motive for murder, although plausible in today’s day and age, were not as well written as I would expect. There are twists and turns throughout the book, yet I felt it lacked valid leads and any legitimate police investigation. Penne Dreadful is not fast-paced, but it also does not crawl along to the point a reader will put it down and never finish reading it. This book holds enough intrigue to keep you coming back. There is potential for this cozy series to become well-liked and anticipated by readers with future additions.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Tessa Esposito is having a rough time. Her husband has recently died. It’s been a few weeks and her cousin, Detective Gino Mancusi, tells her it may not have been an accident. Dylan, her deceased husband, had some secrets. Find out what they were, why he did what he did, and what’s next.

She and her family and friends want to determine what happened to Dylan. Ms. Bruns shows us how tough Tessa can be.
What a wonderfully written novel. It had it all, suspense, love & caring, and a small-town feel. I especially appreciated the police were not treated as imbeciles.

Thank-you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read & review. I am not obligated to leave a positive review.

Tess is devastated when her husband of 6 years is killed in an automobile accident. But she starts to see tomato sauce red when her cop cousin tells her it wasn’t an accident. Prime suspects seem to all be at the local pizza place where her husband did the taxes and it just so happens they need a cook. Tess is renowned in her small upstate New York town for her cooking skills. She easily lands the job and on the side starts playing Nancy Drew with her other cousin Gabby as her side kick. But the more she starts poking around, the more the suspects grow…and not just at the pizza place. Tess thought she knew her husband, but it seems he may have had more than a few secrets. Can she handle the truth and figure out who killed her husband?

If you made Angela Landsbury 30 years old, and instead of starring in musicals at that age plunked her in upstate New York in a heavily Italian community and gave her cooking skills, you might get something a bit like this. Though Ms Murder-She-Wrote was usually a bit smarter than Tess, who is pretty realistically bumbling for an amateur sleuth. It’s a small town where just about everyone knows everyone else and is filled with a good mix of normal people and memorable characters. There are suspects galore, some evidence, some red herrings, and readers may have theories but there’s no solid proof as to who did it until the very end. It was an entertaining read. Definitely on the cozier side of mysteries, focused more on the character development than forensicees or anything else, but that isn’t a bad thing. Hand this to cozy mystery fans, and mystery fans who like to get to know the characters they are reading about (and Italian food lovers…there’s lots of cooking in here and even some recipes in the back).

Notes on content [based on ARC]: Occasional mild swearing. Two instances of strong swearing. No sexual content beyond a kiss. Violence is threatened, one fatal shooting and one fatal car accident, just a teensy bit of blood described. Some alcohol consumption (those who drink to excess regret it). Drug use is mentioned (only by people not painted in a good light).

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Usually, the heroine of cozy mysteries had a husband or boyfriend who cheated on her, and after the separation, she begins a new life somewhere. This time, I was hit hard that the murder which the heroine of Penne Dreadful, Tessa Esposito, was involved in was her own husband's. And she had to go undercover as a cook at the pizza place her husband went to before his death.

There are some details which lent to a longer exposition, but it only distracted me a little. I was more surprised that the book had a more serious tone. Because of that tone, I feel like this is more of the regular mystery thriller than a cozy mystery. Without spoiling the whole story, the murder had a more sinister story behind it. Even the suspects have darker and more suspicious backgrounds and motives.

For those who are fans of a no-nonsense mystery, you might like to try this book out. Personally, I'm looking forward to Tessa and her future venture with her work/career and her blossoming romance. She deserves it, after everything she had been through.

*** I got a copy of this book from NetGalley. These are all my own opinions. Official publication date is July 30, 2019.

Penne Dreadful, a new mystery series by Catherine Bruns, is a full-bodied novel with a spicy finish that leaves you excited for more. In this emotional opener, the reader meets Theresa Esposito, Tess or Tessa for short — just like yours truly. Her husband recently passed away in a car accident, and Tessa is determined to find out who killed him no matter the cost. The answers aren’t always what she expects, but it all comes together into a story that is as satisfying to the reader as the right wine is to an Italian meal.

What I liked:

There is an emotional journey story that exists over and above the who-done-it tale. I loved that the reader can experience Tessa in such a vulnerable place. She is a woman recently widowed and going through a mixed bag of emotions while trying to process the death of her husband and get to a place where she can move forward. In cozy mysteries, it is typical for the characters, including the main character, to be rather 2-dimensional. The characters don’t experience deep emotions. When you read Penne Dreadful, you go on that turbulent roller coaster of emotions that only grief can cause and get to know Tessa on a much deeper level.

Tessa Esposito has a lot of moxie. Even through the grief, the reader can tell that Tessa is spunky and that she has the potential to turn into a fun amateur detective. I look forward to book after book as she moves away from her grief and shows her full personality.

The recipes and Tessa’s cooking only play a minor role and does not take over the book as I have seen in other series. Tessa is a chef, and she makes a prize-winning tomato sauce, so the reader expects there to be cooking, and if we are lucky —recipes —though this never takes over the story and that is appreciated. I loved this story and would have been disappointed if my attention had been split between the story and cookbook qualities.


What I wish:

I would love to see the series continue and develop the other characters as profoundly as Tessa’s character is. Gabby, Gino, and Justin have stories that need sharing, and I am looking forward to seeing their stories play out as the series continues.

I would also love to see a character introduced in future books that adds a touch of humor to the stories. Gabby has the potential of being that comic relief, but she needs more development. The comedy wouldn’t have fit into this story since grief plays such a central role, but I look forward to it as the series progresses.

To Read or Not to Read:

Penne Dreadful is a must-read, no matter what genres you prefer! There is something in it for all readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Penne Dreadful is definitely a five-star cozy! Tessa Esposito thought she had the perfect life, until her husband was suddenly killed in a tragic car accident. Feeling despondent, she turns to the one thing that comforts her the best. Making batches and batches of her “Tantalizing Tomato Sauce”, a family favorite. When cousin Gino, shows up at her door to notify her that her husband’s death wasn’t an accident, and gives further information, Tessa begins to question all she knew about her husband. The more she learns, the more her questions spiral out of control like a bag of Angel Hair pasta. When Gino offers to have her be an informant for a local pizza place, Tess jumps in with both feet! With her cousin, Abby as a sidekick, encouraging her on her quest to find the truth, Tessa finds herself in more than one sticky situation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy. Tessa was easily likeable, her emotions heartfelt. The family dynamics played out well, as I thought back to my Italian family members and friends. The plot was not slow, and the surprises plentiful. I felt Tessa’s distress and she uncovers on thing after another about her husband. I was also pleased to see her determination to uncover the truth. Recipes at the end were a plus – especially after the references to Italian food.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to #NetGalley. I was happy to leave a review of my thoughts.

This was a pretty standard cozy mystery but not too bad for first in a series - I liked Tessa immediately and I am interested to see where her character goes as the series develops. This first book focuses on her husband's death . . . there were definitely a few surprises but there is a lot of places this series can go! I typically like cozy mysteries involving cooking and this one will hopefully prove to be no exception.

Penne Dreadful comes out later this month on July 30, 2019 and you can purchase HERE. I will definitely continue reading this cozy mystery series!

Defeated, I allowed myself tears one final time. As they rolled down my cheeks and onto his headstone, the wind began to pick up speed and a glorious array of yellow, red, and orange leaves whirled around me. Dylan knew how much I enjoyed the leaves in autumn, and how I could stare at them falling from their branches for hours on end. We'd done that one autumn when we'd visited the Poconos in October. Dylan and I had spent an entire day sitting on the porch of our rented cabin, holding hands and sipping hot apple cider while watching the leaves. A lump formed in my throat at the memory.

There is nothing dreadful about Penne Dreadful; in fact, reading it was a delight. Penne Dreadful is the first in a new series by Catherine Bruns, who takes a unique and refreshing approach to the cozy mystery format.

Tessa Esposito is barely coping following the death of her husband, Dylan. The police had presumed it was an automobile accident, but was it? Tessa’s inquiring mind needs to know. Her investigation soon reveals that Dylan’s life – and his death – were not what she thought them to be. Seeking further answers, Tessa uses her formidable skill with pasta sauce to get a job at a local pizza parlor that just might hold the key to her husband’s death.

There is no doubt that Penne Dreadful is a wonderfully written novel, full of the requisite twists and turns, viable suspects, red herrings, and an intrepid heroine. And while the culprit was ultimately revealed, there were several surprises – not all of them good – for Tessa along the way. Where this book shines, however, is its emotional impact. Tessa’s grief is so strong and her desperation so palpable that it brought tears to my eyes. Kudos to Catherine Bruns for crafting such a heartfelt mystery. I am very much looking forward to the next installment.

Note: I received an ARC of Penne Dreadful from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. The above is my honest review.

This was such a wonderfully compelling mystery from start to finish. Even though the plot-line wasn't particularly new or original, the author, Catherine Bruns, had executed the story with such a fresh take that it was nothing short of hugely enjoyable. An engaging cast of characters and a fantastically well-thought-out mystery resulted in a novel chock full of, love, loss, deceit and betrayal that I was desperate to continue reading until the fulfilling conclusion.

I am already looking forward to the next instalment in this series! Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This was a great little book. I really enjoyed the food and cooking and would love to try making the recipes added at the end.

Tessa is thrown for a loop when she find out her husbands car accident wasnt an accident. As a talented cook she gets a job at a local pizza place where he husband did the taxes and was last seen before his accident. Is it connected? Are there secrets to be found? You better believe Tessa is going to snoop around and find out.

I could relate to Tessa's need to find out what really happened to her husband but man did she find out some whammys. After all the crazy that has been thrown at Tessa she handled a lot better than I probably would have. She may have been pretty reckless a few times but in the end she is able to put the piece together with the help of her family.

I really did enjoy this book and will look forward to more in this series.

Penne Dreadful by Catherine Bruns is the first in her new series, Italian Cooks cozy mysteries. The protagonist, Tessa, is recently widowed and just trying to get her life back together. When her cousin Gino, a police detective, breaks the news her accountant husband's car accident wasn't an accident she is out to find out who would want her husband dead. She takes Gino's advice and gets a job at the local pizza parlor where her husband had been going the books.Then during her investigation she finds out her husband may not have been the honest man she married and why does the shop owner want her to keep making her grandmother's special tomato sauce when the freezer is full. This opens the door to many twists and turns that have you guessing until the end.
There is mystery, family bonds, great characters and setting, and recipes. I am looking forward to see where Tessa's life goes from here.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It held my interest and only took a couple days to read. I would recommend it to others.

This was a fun, mystery read. I requested it on a whim from Netgalley simply because of the title, being part-Italian and loving to eat penne. It was a little difficult to keep track of all the characters throughout the book. My biggest complaint is a silly one...this book made me SO hungry reading it. I've been craving nothing but pizza, pasta, and my Nana's homemade sauce while I read this.