It Cannoli be Murder by Catherine Bruns is the second in the Italian Chef Mystery series. It took only the first couple of pages to know that this would be an upper echelon cozy mystery. The genre has really hit its stride in the last few years with new authors popping up every day. It's hard to say what makes a book better than the rest. They all have all the necessary requisites: a pet, a boyfriend, a tenuous relationship with the police, an amateur sleuth with an interesting profession, but this book is definitely a cut above many of the rest. Tessa Esposito is opening her Italian restaurant in just a few days. Her cousin, Gabby, opened her bookstore in the past few months. Life is looking good. Tessa is recovering from the murder of her husband, Dylan, and is following their dream by opening Anything's Pastable and it is helping with the grief. Gabby has scheduled a book signing with a best-selling author that will put her on the map, and in the black. Tessa is making cannoli for the book-signing. Things are looking good. Then the worst happens: murder. And Tessa and Gabby are both suspects.

Tessa is a fabulous character: she is definitely three-dimensional wearing her emotions on her sleeve. Her husband's death, as well as his lies, are still fresh for her. She has trouble sleeping and is often moved to tears by it all. She is a talented, hard-working chef with many friendships, both professional and personal. She is a terrific leading lady. Her sidekick, her cousin Gabby, is a bit of a whiner, but likable all the same. Gabby's brother, Gino is the town's only police detective in the beginning of the story, although that quickly changes with the addition of the difficult Paddy McDermott, a big city cop from Brooklyn who is full of attitude and derision for the small town her has ended up in. The moms of both women promise entertainment in the future. All in all, Bruns has constructed a cast of characters that will age well and serve in the long run. The plot was a good one, with plenty of suspects and red herrings; lots of people to hate. It Cannoli be Murder was a good read. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of It Cannoli be Murder by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #itcannolibemurder

This is the second in the "Italian Chef " cozy mystery series by author Catherine Bruns. I have. read the first in series and found it a delightful fun cozy series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

In "It Cannoli Be Murder" Tessa is trying to open her Italian restaurant just a few months after her husbands death. She has arranged to cater a signing event with a popular author put on by her cousin at her bookstore to gain attention for her own restaurant opening. When dissension occurs at the event and a shocking murder is committed Tessa must work to clear her cousin's name and help her cousin save her business while working to open her own business.

I enjoyed this next in series and the food descriptions are divine. The charcters all add to the story and are likable . The sleuth was well crafted and I look forward to the next in series. A very enjoyable cozy mystery series .

Tessa is just days away from having her dream come true. Her very own restaurant Anything's Pastable will open. It's been a hard year for her since the murder of her husband and this will start a new chapter for her. It will the only Italian restaurant in town and she is already famous for her pasta sauce. Her cousin, Gabby has also seen her dream come true in the form of her own book store. To help celebrate it's opening and to give Tessa some advertising, Gabby asks her to make cannoli for an author event. There is a famous local author coming to read and sign books but her shows up with family and his publicist. Problems explode when the publicist turns out to be Gabby's high school emesis and old friction is reignited - in a very public way. The following day the publicist is found dead inside the locked book store and cannolis are present. Double whammy for Gabby and Tessa - the police put them at the top of their list of suspects and Tessa knows her future as a restaurant owner and Gabby's as a book store owner are numbered it they can't find the real killer.
Tessa and Gabby make a great investigating team. I enjoyed spending time with them in the first book and even more in this one. The scrumptious food descriptions made me so hungry, I was ready to fall off the diet wagon and dive head first into a big bowl of pasta. The mystery was satisfying with a great conclusion and I'm adding the next book to my TBR list, sight unseen. The series is that good.
My thanks to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

It Cannoli Be Murder by Catherine Bruns is the second in the Italian Chef Cozy Mystery series. I have been looking forward to this since I enjoyed the first in the series. I was not disappointed.
Tessa is getting ready for the opening of her restaurant but can't tell her cousin no when asked to make her cannolis for a book signing. When the author is found dead the morning after the signing, in the closed book store with a cannoli by him Tessa knows this can't be good. Will a cannoli also be to blame for her restaurant's demise. She is determined to find the killer and open up her restaurant and nothing and no one is going to stop her.
This easy to read Cozy has it all, a great setting, likeable characters, humor, family and friendship, and a hint of romance. The plot twists are numerous and have you guessing until the end.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

It's been six month since the death of Tess' husband, a murder she was able to successfully solve. With the opening of her Italian restaurant, cleverly named Nothing's Impastable right around the corner, Tess is within arm's reach of achieving her life long goal of opening her very own restaurant. However things take a sinister turn when a blast from Tess' past is found murdered inside her cousin Gabby's bookstore following a book signing. Given Gabby's tumultuous relationship with the victim, and the murder weapon, a cannoli, Tess and Gabby immediately fall under suspicion. Much to Gabby's brother Gino's disdain, the pair decide to team up to find the true culprit and save their businesses before it's too late.
It Cannoli Be Murder is a fast paced who-dunnit with plenty of mouth watering descriptions of Italian delicacies. Tessa is a fierce yet lovable sleuth and what she lacks in knowledge, she makes up for in gumption. Suspects abound and the mystery sucks you in immediately and leaves you guessing throughout, culminating in a surprise reveal you won't see coming. Together Tessa and Gabby make a delightful duo and their strong, loving relationship keeps growing with each addition to the series, I highly recommend It Cannoli Be Murder for those looking for a tightly plotted, satisfying cozy read. Just be sure to eat first as the mouth watering food sprinkled throughout will have you running to the kitchen for a late night pasta snack.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and author Catherine Bruns for the review copy of It Cannoli Be Murder. This is the second book in Bruns’ Italian Chef Mystery series.

After solving the murder of her husband, Tessa Esposito is on another murder case. On the night of a book signing at her cousin Gabby’s book shop, Tessa makes cannolis to try and promote her restaurant’s grand opening. Things turn sour when the author’s publicist (and former nemesis of Gabby) is found dead at the bookshop the next day surrounded by cannolis. Tessa and Gabby are racing the clock to clear their names and keep both of their businesses afloat.

I have been a fan of Catherine Bruns for a long time. This series is top notch. This book is full of heart and focuses on the importance of family.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy mysteries. The recipes included at the end will make your mouth water. Enjoy!

Tessa Esposito is busy and stressed about the opening of her Italian restaurant, Anything Pastable. Tessa also makes time to make Italian sweets for the book signing of big time thriller writer Preston Rigotta at her cousin Gabby's bookstore. But the event goes awry when Preston's new publicist turns out to be Daphne Daniels, the mean girl who tormented Gabby during high school. Daphne continues her nasty ways by antagonizing Gabby, as well as Preston's TV chef wife Sylvia. When Tessa realizes that she left her phone in Gabby's store, she returns the next morning and finds Daphne dead, with several cannolis left nearby. These cannoli are NOT the ones made by Tessa but it seems the killer was trying to frame her and Gabby for the murder.

Since Gabby is the prime suspect, her cop brother Gino and boyfriend Lou cannot be part of the investigation. Instead, former NYPD detective Paddy McDermott is in charge and seems determined to find them guilty.

Tessa and Gabby are determined to clear their name and do their own sleuthing.

This was another delightfully tasty and fun cozy read in the Italian Chef mystery series. The recipes at the end of the book are a mouthwatering bonus.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press/SOURCEBOOKS with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book including the recipes. It has everything that you want in a book including romance, mystery, danger and most importantly a living family. Oh and a cat.

This review was a fair and honest review.

It Cannoli Be Murder by Catherine Bruns is the 2nd book in the Italian Chef Mystery series, and it is another great addition. Tessa Esposito is still mourning the death of her husband, who was murdered six months prior. Tessa is getting ready to open her new restaurant, and agrees to provide Italian desserts for her cousin/best friend, Gabby, bookstore event. When the author's business manager is found dead in the bookstore the following morning, all signs point to Tessa and Gabby as the prime suspects. I found this book to be exciting and fast-paced with a well developed plot and characters. I can not wait to read the next book in this series. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys mysteries, especially cozy ones.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5 stars

This is the second book in the Italian Chef mystery series by Catherine Bruns.

The last book dealt with the mystery around the death of Tessa’s husband, Dylan. This one surrounds the death of a publicist of a famous author. Tessa is catering the author’s event which is at her cousin, Gabby’s bookstore. The bookstore is where the dead body is found and the murder weapon of choice was a chocolate cannoli. Now Gabby and Tessa are both persons of interest and Geno can’t be involved in the investigation since he is too close to both women. A new man in town with a grudge and a chip on his shoulder takes the lead on the case making Tessa very nervous.

This book really keeps your interest and makes you want to learn more. I liked the addition of the new detective which I am sure will come out more in future books. I wish they would have used him as a foil more often. He just felt like a background character here.

Definitely a series I want to continue with. Loved the connection between Tessa, Gabby and Geno.

If you want to read a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

It Cannoli Be Murder
Italian Chef Mysteries, Book #2
Catherine Bruns
5 Stars

Synopsis:

It's time to serve some just desserts...

Six months after her husband's death, Tessa Esposito is hoping to drum up reservations for her restaurant's grand opening. And since a signing with bestselling author, Preston Rigotta, is sure to draw a crowd, Tessa agrees to cater her cousin's bookstore event--whipping up some of her famous Italian desserts. But the event soon takes a sour turn when Preston's publicist, an old high school rival, arrives and begins to whisk up their old grudges.

That night, a fight breaks out in front of the crowd, and it becomes clear there's bad blood in Harvest Park. And when the publicist is found dead on the bookstore floor the next morning, a stray cannolo at her side, Tessa knows who will be framed as the prime suspect.

To clear both her cousin's and her own name, Tessa must investigate the murder. But Preston's publicist has many secrets to hide, and in the end, the truth is bittersweet...

The second book in the Italian Chef Cozy Mystery series!

Review:


The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author’s descriptions let me picture the restaurant, the food and the smells very vividly and left me hungry. The mystery was well plotted and very intriguing and I found myself caught up in it. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through. Throw in some red herrings and it was not easily solved.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Tessa and Gabby are cousins, but they could not be any closer. You can tell how much they care about each other and they will do anything to help each other. This causes some funny adventures that they have and also some dangerous ones. When they are considered suspects in a publicist murder, they will pull out all the stops to find out who did it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. With fantastic characters, a inviting setting, a top notch mystery and food galore, who could ask for more?

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

Tessa's restaurant- Anything's Pastable- is up and running and she's doing pretty well after finding the person who killed her husband. She's got her cousins Gabby and Gin0, for one thing. So, it's only natural that she would cater when Gabby hosts an event at her bookstore. AND that she would help when Daphne, who was awful to Gabby when they were younger, turns up first as the author's publicist, and then, dead! Gabby, Gina, and Tessa make a all for one trio who root out the truth abut Daphne (you know she's got more than one enemy). The charm of this cozy is in the people- how they relate to each other and help one another. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I just fell in love with this cozy little mystery. It has wonderful characters and the story is very engaging. This is definitely a book for foodies. The author even provide some very yummy recipes at the end of the book and great Italian cuisine is discussed throughout the story. The author definitely draws you in from the beginning. This is a very quick and easy read and I highly recommend it.

Loved it. Tessa and her cousins are in the thick of a murder. Sure, one is a detective, but he not suppose to be investigating. The story kept me guessing. I look forward to read more of their adventures. A hint of romance. I am on team Vin, but want Justin to be her good friend.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of IT CANNOLI BE MURDER (Book 2 of the Italian Chef Mysteries) by Catherine Bruns in exchange for an honest review. Tessa Esposito is on the cusp of realizing the dream she and her six-months deceased husband shared. Tessa’s about to open her very own Italian restaurant! Tessa’s under pressure because her not-yet-open business is plagued with unexpected expenses, vendor problems, and a lack of reservations. Tessa’s cousin Gabby has her own difficulties; her bookstore is on the verge of going bust. However, Gabby’s got a Hail Mary plan to save her book boutique; she’s engaged the local bestselling author, Preston Rigotta, to host a book signing for his newest release. Tessa supports Gabby and hopes to stir interest in her own business by donating cannoli and biscotti to the event. The event starts out hopefully but ends dreadfully. Preston Rigotta thought it would be a fine idea to bring both his wife and his mistress/publicist, Daphne Daniels, to the party. Daphne, also a local, has a nasty personality that has left a lasting impression on many, including Gabby. After hours of Daphne bullying, belittling, and insulting her host, Gabby retaliates, which causes a scene and ill will with the author. The next morning, Tessa follows a trail of cannoli from the front door of the bookstore and discovers Daphne dead at the end of the trail. Tessa and Gabby become the prime suspects in the case. In order to save herself and her cousin, Tessa must, once again, search out a killer.

I liked this book and the previous one. I recommend this book and this series to fans of Catherine Bruns and to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, cooking, small business, small towns, extended families, and Italian cooking.

This is the second book in the Italian Chef Mystery series. I really enjoyed this book. The characters are fantastic, I love Tessa and her no nonsense attitude! This is a fantastic series and I look forward to book 3!

Tessa Esposito is hoping to drum up reservations for her restaurant's grand opening. And since a signing with bestselling author, Preston Rigotta, is sure to draw a crowd, Tessa agrees to cater her cousin's bookstore event—whipping up some of her famous Italian desserts. But the event soon takes a sour turn when Preston's publicist, an old high school rival, arrives and begins to whisk up their old grudges.

That night, a fight breaks out in front of the crowd, and it becomes clear there's bad blood in Harvest Park. And when the publicist is found dead on the bookstore floor the next morning, a stray cannolo at her side, Tessa knows who will be framed as the prime suspect.

To clear both her cousin's and her own name, Tessa must investigate the murder. But Preston's publicist has many secrets to hide, and in the end, the truth is bittersweet...

Excellent progression in this series. This is the second installment of the Italian Chef Cozy Mystery series.
Tess is planning her opening of Anything’s Pastable, prepping snacks for Gabby’s book signing event, and trying to hire staff. Enter Preston and Daphne at the book signing. Preston and Daphne are outrageously rude and condescending. Preston is the obnoxious author and Daphne is his marketing genius (lol).

All does not go well at the book signing and the next morning Tessa finds a body in the bookstore.
There are plenty of suspects but the new detective, Paddy only wants to key in on Gabby.

See what happens and how it is resolved. Lots of twists and turns.
I highly recommend this book. Looking forward to the next one, it’s a shame I’ll have to wait awhile.

I was given an advanced reader’s copy. I am not required to leave a positive review.

I didn't read the first installment of this series, and the hints back at it do intrigue me. As a standalone title, this mystery is okay for me. I like the set-up. Restaurants and bookshops are two of my very favorite places, so Tessa and her cousin dealing with small business concerns as well as a murder is right up my alley. I found the dialog of the various family conversations a little too over-the-top and histrionic for my taste. And the way Tess and Gabby keep going to Preston's home and various things...their sleuthing just feels too bumbling and obvious. I know cozies aren't known for their realism, but this felt a little distant for me, like I was watching a play acted out on community television. Okay, that makes it sound worse than it was. It was a fairly enjoyable read, just a little heavy-handed.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book by Catherine Bruns in the Italian Chef Mystey series, Penne Dreadful, and It Cannoli be Murder was another winner… which is not always the case with the second book in a cozy mystery series, so I was very happy!

As with the first book Bruns does a fantastic job with the scene descriptions, character development, and the mouth watering scenes with food. We got to know the characters very well in the first book, so in It Cannoli be Murder not only do we get some new insights into the main characters, but the new characters receive just as much detail. Tessa and her cousin, Gabby, have a fantastic relationship. Although they are cousins, it’s more like they are sisters and both of them are people I would love to have as friends. There’s a new detective in town that is a jerk so I’m interested to see if there will be a heartwarming story in future books that sheds a light on why he’s so mean, or to find out if that’s just the way he acts all the time.

Tessa’s landlord, Vince, is looking awful good to me and I hope something starts to happen with them in the romance department. I would jump on… ummm… I meant, at, a chance to be with him. Tall, dark, handsome, romantic, and owns a winery, Yes, Please. Then there’s her long time friend, Justin… while he’s attractive too and has been very sweet to Tessa, I’m still rooting for Vince.

There were lots of suspects as to who the killer could be and plenty of red herrings to keep one guessing. I thought I had figured out whodunnit, but I was wrong, which I always enjoy in a cozy mystery. Some of the suspects were vile people so it goes to show that Bruns can write a variety of characters very well.

Another great addition to the Italian Chef Mysteries and I am excited to see where book three leads. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you should definitely give this series a try!

This book and I were not off to a good start. There was too much exposition in the first chapter for my taste. Even though I haven’t read the first book in the series, I don’t have to be brought up to speed immediately.

It’s very hard for a book to pull me back in after an initial dislike. But I’m always willing to give books a chance. This book completely lost the opportunity for any nice comments from me when Gabby - while putting cannoli on a serving dish - suddenly wonders where her keys are. That’s kind of lamp posting that a missing key is going to be a big deal. Later that night Gabby manages to lock up her shop (no mention of the keys is made) and the next morning notices the key to her shop is missing. How did she lock up and why is this not a pivotal part of the investigation when a dead body is found in Gabby’s shop?

Gabby and her cousin Tessa find themselves looked at as suspects in a murder. The reason for this is flimsy at best: Daphne died at Gabby’s shop and Tessa made cannoli for an event at the bookshop and Daphne died eating someone else’s cannoli. Tessa and Gabby decide to nonetheless do their own investigation to find the murderer and clear their names. They do this by getting access to someone’s house under false pretences, tampering with possible evidence and stealing someone’s mail.

All the while Tessa is wondering why no one has made any reservations for the opening night of her restaurant. Quite possibly because she’s never around to pick up the phone when someone calls.

The book was written well enough but it had too many characters behaving stupidly for my taste.