It Cannoli Be Murder

by Catherine Bruns

Isn’t this book’s title just too punny? I have to smile when I read it! Let me introduce its two main characters. Tess loves to cook. Food is her love language; she loves to see people enjoying the food she made. When It Cannoli Be Murder opens, Tess is in the restaurant she and her deceased husband dreamed of opening. She is cooking up fresh, from scratch foods. She enjoys making her own pasta. Can’t you just smell the aromas in her kitchen? Opening day is in two weeks, but she has no reservations booked so far. Will it be a flop before it even opens?

Gabby is Tess’ best friend and the owner of a new bookstore. Gabby has her own business crisis to deal with, but the two ladies try to help each other. Gabby is depending on a book signing to perk up her failing shop. She is in a “make or break” situation when Preston, the famous author, enters her bookstore with his entourage. They all treat Gabby as a servant, but there is clearly conflict among his helpers. When a murder occurs in the bookshop, Gabby and Tess are both implicated, and Gabby’s detective brother is not allowed to investigate the case because of their relationship.

Gabby and Tess predictably, for a cozy mystery, take it upon themselves to find the real murderer. They are warned off by the police because their actions are dangerous; they also receive warnings from an anonymous person who may have been involved in the crime. I enjoyed their antics and relationship, but they really did go over the line into illegality several times. There are any number of people who might want to kill the victim as she was a “mean girl” in high school (especially to Gabby and Tess) and hasn’t mended her ways as she grew older. Generally self-centered and narcissistic, she does have a good side which Tess discovers in the process of interviewing those who knew the victim. The murderer and the motive are a surprise, but the ending is satisfying.

You will certainly want to see Gabby and Tess succeed in their business ventures. There is a tad bit of romance along the way, but Tess’ husband died only 6 months prior to this story, so she is not ready to have a new relationship. Her priority is her restaurant. I enjoyed this cozy mystery and would love to have Tess, a trained chef with an Italian family background, cook some of her delicious Italian dishes for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #3 in the Italian Chef Mystery Series but can be read as a standalone as the author backfills information as needed. I had read #1, but not #2. Except for one event that I had forgotten from the first book in the series, there were no story gaps for me.
2. This book contains some delicious sounding recipes that Tess makes. Only one of them would be in the easy category, but they are all satisfying to read if you love food.

Publication: July 28, 2020—Poisoned Pen Press

Memorable Lines:

A wave of anxiety passed over me. Sure, police weren’t supposed to be fuzzy and warm, but this guy’s demeanor was colder than a New York icicle in January.

The room was so quiet that you could have heard a chocolate chip drop.

“I’m an only child, and I wasn’t sheltered,” I reminded her. “You don’t count,” Gabby said. “In Italian families, it doesn’t matter whether there’s one kid or ten. Everyone gets suffocated equally.”

Another well-planned cozy in the Italian Chef Mystery series! I loved tagging along with Tessa and her cousin as they get into trouble trying to solve a murder! So many twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The author had me stumped this time! Great recipes included. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Tessa is finally making her dream come true by opening her own Italian restaurant. To promote it she helps her best friend and cousin, Gina, by catering the deserts for an author signing at Gina’s bookstore. Everything seemed to be going great with the cannoli and biscotti being devoured when it’s discovered that the author’s publicist is none other than Gina’s high school bully. There is an argument and the author intends to pretty much slander Gina’s store. She is beside herself so Tessa takes her home and Gina drinks her worries away. The next morning Tessa realizes she left her cell phone at the bookstore and heads down to pick it up. Following a trail of strange cannoli she finds the bully dead. Now she and her cousin are the prime suspects. In order to save their fledgling businesses they Nancy Drew their way through an investigation to uncover the real murderer.

It cannoli be murder by Catherine Bruns is a cozy mystery series. I didn't at first catch that this novel is actually the second book. Lol I think it works alright as a stand alone though.

This is an easy read and follow along mystery. I enjoyed the novel and the characters. It has the right amount of intrigue and who done it mystery. We have a amateur detective and a Italian restaurant! Come on, don't wanna miss this C:

Lastly, I want to thank the author, the publishers and Netgalley for giving me this opportunity to read this novel. I have agreed to receive a free arc inexchange for a review.

Fun cozy mystery, I quite enjoyed the characters and their overall development but the plot could have been a little more exciting and mysterious.

Unfortunately this is book 2 in the series. I am still interested in reading this but not enough to read book one currently. The premise sounds fun and I feel like it will be right up my alley. When I finally get around to reading the first book and come back to this I will come back to edit my review.

This is a cozy mystery, and this is the 2nd book in the Italian Chef Mysteries series. The characters where developed, and I enjoyed the characters. I did not love the mystery part because I guess the ending way before it was revealed. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Poisoned Pen Press) or author (Catherine Bruns) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This title is published by the wonderful Poisoned Pen Press. PPP is affiliated with the superb Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Arizona. Both are worth exploring. I note that the store publishes a fantastic monthly newsletter.

As can be seen by the cover, this book is in the cozy genre. It is the second in the author’s series and can be read as a standalone. There are many elements to like within; there are a bookstore, food and likeable characters. And…of course, murder and an amateur detective. Fans of the genre should definitely consider this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

It 'cannoli' be a thoroughly convivial caper! This is an easy comfort read, containing just the right amount of mystery and intrigue to keep the pages turning, without making you jump out of your skin too much. Add just a hint of romance, for the perfect touch of spice.
On a sweeter note, it's been ages since I read this book, but the thought of the sweet, creamy dessert it's named after still has my mouth watering. Expertly evocative stuff.

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters!

This is the 2nd book in the Italian Chef Mysteries and it's a winner. Tessa is an interesting protagonist... she's widowed and getting ready to open her own Italian restaurant, which was she and her husband's dream. The story moves at a steady pace and it's well written. The characters are likable and I can't wait to see them develop more. Luscious food and an interesting mystery make for a fun read.

This is the second novel in the Italian Chef Mysteries. I did not read the first novel but was easily able to keep up with the storyline. This was a great cozy mystery with a nice twist that was centered around food and a bookstore so it was a great combination!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted e-book.

I'm in "book love" with Tessa Esposito and her family and friends! In the second book of the series, Tessa is ready to open her restaurant, "Anything's Pastable" - her and her late husband's dream come true. Her cousin Gabby has her own dreams realized when a best-selling author books a signing at her bookstore. When a "mean girl" from Gabby's past is murdered, Tessa must work to solve the mystery and save both their dreams before becoming the next victim!

The mystery kept me up, reading long into the night! There were twists and turns to the story that I enjoyed. I loved the descriptions of Tessa's restaurant and the food. Tessa does not "run into danger" and I enjoyed the friendship between her and Gabby. The book can be read as a standalone and was easy to catch up on past events.

I'll definitely be reading book #3!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

First off, the food mentioned in this book will have your mouth watering. When the publicist of an author doing a signing at Gabby’s bookstore winds up dead in the bookstore, Tessa and Gabby play sleuths once again to find the killer. This was a very fun read full of delicious sounding food. Looking forward to the next in the series!

It Cannoli Be Murder by Catherine Burns

Tessie Esposito is hoping to drum up reservations for her restaurant’s grand opening A book signing with best selling author, Preston Rigotta, should help.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. Great characters. Tess & Gabby made a great team even though their investigating was over the top at times. Don’t read this book when you are hungry. The food and cooking was so well described I could smell them food. I recommend this book.

So I have to tell you all, cannoli is my absolute FAVORITE dessert ever & I am not even a sweets girl, but I'd kill for a cannoli, anytime, anywhere lol Obviously, that made this one a must read for me, and it did NOT disappoint.

A perfectly cheesy cozy that had a storyline I really enjoyed, with fun characters who kept the story going. & any story with recipes along with it is just a pleasure!

Princess Fuzzypants here: There were a lot of things I like about this book. While I had vague suspicion about the killer, I had been convinced it was going to be someone else. It came as a total surprise as did the motive. I enjoy when a book can take me in one direction and then double back to keep up the suspense. It also had a cracking good finish.

The story itself was interesting. The publicist of an exasperating famous author dies by cannoli in the book shop of the person she bullied through school. Since their dislike for each other was well known, and Tess, her cousin, supplied cannolis for the book signing, both of them are prime suspects. The book shop and the restaurant Tess is slated to open in a few days look doomed if the real villain is not uncovered. The cop assigned to the case seems unwilling to look any further so Tess decides she should investigate herself since it went so well for her the last time she got involved in a murder.

Up to this point, I am willing to suspend disbelief and go along with the tale. But she does some things that strain credulity beyond belief and mark her as a candidate for the Darwin Award. It bothers me when a heroine does something so dumb that the reader has to question the sanity of the character. Tess does a couple of these bone headed moves so when she does get into some genuine danger, it doesn’t have the same impact. Which is a shame.

She has so much promise as a widow opening an Italian restaurant that was the dream of her and her late husband. She has a cousin who is a cop who keeps warning her off even at the risk to his own career but she goes from one head shaking moment to another. It is one of those things that detracts from my enjoyment.

Four purrs and one paw up.

FANTASTIC BOOK!

This is a series I’m definitely going to keep buying as soon as new books are released.

Catherine Bruns wrote another page turner of a mystery that brings us back to
Harvest Park for another mystery. Tessa is realizing her dream of opening up a restaurant while also helping out her best friend’s book signing. When someone turns up dead with cannoli nearby, suspicion is directed towards Tessa since hers were served at the signing event.

With wonderful characters and a riveting story, I couldn’t stop reading this book once I started. Who needs sleep, right?

If you’re looking for a great new series, I highly recommend picking this one. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in return for leaving an honest review.

In this second book of the series Tessa's dream of opening her own restaurant is coming true. She's getting ready for her grand opening and stressing about having enough reservations on said day. Even though she's busy she agrees to cater her cousin's bookstore event where famous author Preston Ricotta will be doing a signing. Things are going well until his publicist makes an appearance, it's none other than a rival from high school who made her cousin's life miserable. What was suppose to be a huge night for her cousins bookstore turns into a horrible evening with an author who leaves angry. When Tessa finds the body of the publicist the next day while retrieving her phone from the bookstore it doesn't look good. There is cannoli by the dead woman and the cops suspect it is what killed her. Tessa knows someone is trying to make her look guilty and decides to do her own investigation. She knows she must do everything thing she can To clear her name especially before the upcoming opening of her restaurant. Follow along as she looks for clues, finds out secrets, and figures out just who had it in for the woman!

Installment two in the Italian Chef series is out and it is a sweet read like the cannolis in the story.

Tessa Esposito returns in book two with a grand opening for her new restaurant looming. Even with the pressure of a restaurant launch, Tessa agrees to provide the sweets for her cousin Gabby's bookstore. Gabby needs the famous author, Preston Rigotta, to draw a crowd and help boost sales or her bookstore may be forced to close its door. Despite the turn out, things turn sour when Preston's publicist, Daphne, appears and is a high school rival of Gabby and Tessa's. Unfortunately, the petty rivalry of youth has not been buried.

Despite the clashing of personalities at the event, Tessa's cannolis are a big hit. She hopes their popularity will translate into future reservations for her restaurant. Gabby's pleased with the sales from her bookstore's event and sees a brighter future for her business. This hope is quickly dashed the next morning when Preston's publicist and their high school rival is found dead in the middle of the bookstore with a cannoli nearby.

Now, Tessa and Gabby are prime suspects and there's a new detective in town who isn't so eager to clear their name. It's up to Tessa to get to the bottom of the crime and find out who wanted Daphne to die.

There is some subtle love interest in this series that might heat up in future installments. Long time friend, Justin, has been a rock to Tessa since her husband died. However, I'm in Camp Vince because A. in my mind, Vince is hotter, and B. Justin seems more in the friend zone.

Regardless of my votes for the love interest, I definitely vote for you to go read this second installment in Catherine's new series. It's a fun read with some delicious recipes in the back that bring out the Italian chef in all of us.