Rick (Riccardo) Montoya travels with his girlfriend Betta to attend the donation of a recently retrieved Piero della Francesca drawing to the Municipal Museum of Sansepolcro. After having lunch in Anghiari and traveling to Sansepolcro Betta is contacted by her office (the Italian Art squad) and is send to Urbino because the Spanish art collector that is supposed to donate the drawing is found dead in the Orto Botanico in that same city.

This is the beginning of their joint inquiry with an old acquaintance, detective diMaio.

Their inquiries into the murder and the search for the missing artwork bring them to a couple of interesting places, like Urbino (Le Marche), Sansepolcro and Monterchi (Tuscany). Like all the Rick Montaya books this is an interesting mix of tour-guide, food-guide and detective.

I love the descriptions of the meals they are eating and the wines that accompany them and was very pleased with the recommendations the author makes in the afterword.
I particularly like this part of Italy and, being a great lover of Piero della Francesca artwork, immensely enjoyed the book. Only two years ago we revisited this area and the museums mentioned in the book (except for Urbino).
I can recommend the book to everyone who loves art, good food and Italy. If you want to visit the area and are looking for a good guidebook for the area in relation to the Piero della Francesca artworks I can recommend John Pope Hennesey's The Piero Della Francesca Trail, even though you have to check opening times and places where the artworks are kept, because there have been some changes in the last 5-10 years or so.

I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm struggling to find different words for expressing the same concept: I love this series
I already wrote this and it applies to this book too
I love this series and this is an excellent addition.
I love the realistic descriptions of Italy, the well thought and likable characters, the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Readers who enjoy art, architecture, gardens, twisting streets, Italian food and red wine will want to read this mystery. It is part of a series although the novels can be read out of order. This was the first book that I have read by Mr. Wagner and I look forward to reading all of the others.

Rick Montoya works as a multi-lingual translator while his significant other, Betta, is employed by an art crime squad in the Italian cultural ministry. The two are in the Urbino area where a wealthy Spanish collector has donated a Piero Della Francesca drawing to a small, local museum. Unfortunately he is murdered and the drawing is missing. Solving the case is the focus of this story with intervals for food and drink.

There are many suspects. These include directors of other museums, a collector who was unable to secure the drawing himself, the victim’s second wife and his daughter, his assistant and more. Readers will get to know each of them as they try to solve the case.

Those who enjoy mysteries by Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri will want to read this. There is even a character who continuously pays homage to the latter’s series detective, Inspector Montalbano.

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

When I think of Italy, I think of great food, beautiful art and stunning scenery. David Wagner incorporates all of this as well as a solid mystery in his Rick Montoya series. Montoya is an American living in Rome who works as a translator. When Manuel Somonte, a Spanish businessman, decides to donate a piece of art to a museum in Sansepolcro, Montoya’s girlfriend, Dr. Betta Innocenti, is sent to observe the transfer. Betta is an art cop with the Ministry of Culture and accompanying her would allow them time together.. What would have been a lovely time away with Betta is transformed into an investigation when Somonte is murdered and the art is stolen.

In nearby Urbino the case is being handled by Inspector Alfredo Di Maio, who had worked with Montoya on a previous case. Montoya’s language skills are welcome in dealing with Somonte’s widow while Betta and Montoya also interview suspects in the art theft. Somonte purchased his art from Bruzzoni, a dealer, and was in competition with Morelli, another collector for that one particular piece. Somonte’s body was found in the botanical garden managed by Professor Florio, who is now using the tragedy to bolster attendance at the gardens. Under pressure from the Spanish consulate and the family, Di Maio is making little progress on the case. Betta’s investigation has also stalled and she is being called back to Rome when a chance comment starts to bring everything together.

Wagner’s story is a lesson in Italian art and cooking as Betta and Montoya sample the food and tour museums. It is also a tribute to the late Italian mystery writer Andrea Camilleri. Florio is a huge fan and looks to the plots of some of Camilleri’s mysteries to suggest solutions to the murder. As a fan of Camilleri, I was happy to see this and amused by Florio’s enthusiasm. At a time when travel is limited, Wagner’s To Die in Tuscany is the next best thing to a trip to Italy. I would like to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for my review.

Rick Montoya is a translator who lives and works in Rome. He and his girlfriend, Betta, an art fraud investigator for the Italian Culture Ministry, have planned a weekend getaway in Urbino in Tuscany. There Betta will be attending an event at a local museum, where a wealthy Spaniard is donating a piece of art. However, Senor Somoto is found murdered and the priceless art has disappeared. As Rick attempts to help the police investigate the murder, Betta is charged with finding the missing artwork.

To Die in Tuscany is a treat in every sense of the word. The mystery is well-done, the characters are interesting and varied, and the setting is…well…it’s Italy, with its food, wine, scenery, architecture, and art. There is something for everyone, including some background on Renaissance art. I so enjoyed learning more about Italy and David Wagner makes me feel immersed in all things Italian. All in all it is a delightful read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Manuel Somoto was scheduled to donate a priceless drawing to a museum but then...he's murdered and the drawing disappears. Rick Montoya, a translator who seems to get into a lot of trouble, and his girlfriend Betta Innocenti, an art fraud investigator with the Ministry of Culture, find themselves (happily) drawn into the case. Rick works with the police in Urbino and Betta is after the drawing. The charm of these novels (and I'm a fan) lies in the atmospherics as much as the mystery, which is pretty darn good too. There are wonderful descriptions of food and I learned a bit about Renaissance art. Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier books- this will be fine as a standalone. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read that made me long for the chance to travel again.

This story just uses wonderful Italian food and art in the village of Urbino to lead you through this picturesque setting. Rick Montoya is a translator and Betta is with the art fraud Ministry. A wealthy Spanish art collector is going to donate his latest purchase of a Piero drawing to the Museo Civico of Sansepolcro. Before this can happen Manuel Somonte is murdered and the drawing disappears. There are plenty of suspects namely the wife who hated coming to Italy. The estranged daughter. The local art community who dealt with the finding and selling of the drawing all are worthy suspects. This story just put front and centre all that is wonderful about Italy.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.