Murder in the Piazza is a murder mystery set in Italy. I could not complete this book because the murder happened too early in the book before I knew all the characters. As a result, I did not care about who murdered the Lord and did not read it.

This book is a mystery set in Rome with an American lady, Maggie, as the main character.. This is a very enjoyable book. The setting is great, the characters are well flushed and the plot well done. I recommend this book.

Fabulous book, loved the setting and location as well as the wonderful mystery.
Hard to not enjoy a book set in Italy but this was so so much more than just that.

Murder In The Piazza by Jen Collins Moore was a fun adventure, with a little murder thrown in, that kept me guessing. If you enjoy art and travel, with a bit of history thrown in, and are looking for an easy read, set in wonderful Rome, with a colorful cast of characters--both victims and perpetrators--look no further.

Maggie is a pretty likeable main character. The way the author writes, you pretty much are seeing the story unfold through her. There were times she was wrong. There were times she was right. I found her annoying at times and wished she would just get on with things and at other times, I just wanted to give her a hug and tell her "great job!". Once or twice I felt Maggie's thoughts weren't anywhere in the vicinity of the story, making me wonder if the editor had an off day, but those were brief and actually made you think.

I loved how each chapter started with quotes from out of the fictional tour guide about Rome and various aspects of living and visiting there and they tied in with the happenings in the chapter.

Overall I feel the book was well thought out, with lots of twists and turns and it was a very enjoyable read.

I received an eARC from Independent Book Publishers Association through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

Murder in the Piazza is a fantasy of Roman reality

Posted on March 25, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator, book reviews with a twist

Author Jen Collins Moore mixes a tour of the ancient city of Rome with the always intriguing subject of murder, when it is a cozy-style plotline of course, in Murder in the Piazza, Moore’s first book in the Maggie White Mystery series.
Like so many other cozy mystery female protagonists, Maggie White is a rather, well, nosy amateur sleuth dead set on the idea that she needs to solve the murder of a distasteful English aristocrat she found laying around in a penthouse.
It’s a darn good thing Maggie is a fine art aficionado since she needs her deep knowledge of the heavily-layered ancient expression of life to dig into the mystery laying before her. Otherwise, she might end up in jail. And we all know that prison is no place for a nice girl like Maggie White, a former executive who is stuck in the European mecca with her husband and is looking for a little adventure and peace.
This protagonist’s snooping device – she teaches art to wealthy students – is just what she needs to bring this untimely human obliteration to fruition.
As with all the 300-plus cozy mystery series books I’ve devoured through the years, Murder in the Piazza holds its own among the impossible-to-match cozy masters we all admire.
Someday, Jen, I will share my new series of cozy-mystery books set in this constantly-proliferating pretend world where the very ugliest representatives of human nature are so intensely mentally ill that they feel the need to confess while experiencing an emotional breakdown.
But is that what happens here? Hmm. I’m not telling.

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Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2

I enjoyed this read, as it was simple and easy to move through. The author's depictions and descriptions of Rome were colourful and true to life. I did, however, struggle to connect with some of the plot at times, finding some of the points a little convoluted. I did enjoy it, though.

This was a great start to this series! The setting was fun, and I loved the mystery. I will definitely be continuing with the series.

Twists, interesting characters, smart, a relatable amateur sleuth, and set in Rome. This is the author’s first book and I found it quite enjoyable. I would put it firmly in the category of a cozy mystery series that I will enjoy reading for some time.

This was such a delightfully written mystery novel! I loved every moment of reading Murder in the Piazza, and I'll definitely keep recommending this book to my bookfam. 💖

The cover is gorgeous, and so is the story. I loved reading about Maggie, our main character. She had a very cheerful attitude, which made reading Murder in the Piazza very enjoyable. The setting of Rome was a lovely touch to the entire book. The ambience, atmospheric vibe to the mystery kept me engrossed through and through. I couldn't predict the twists and turns at all, and that made me more captivated as the plot kept revealing different secrets.

In one word, Murder in the Piazza was "Unputdownable" <3 Reading this book was such a thrilling ride!

I really loved that Maggie was older than most heroines in books. At 55 she is a little closer to my own age which made understanding her a little better. She was downsized from her job so she accompanied her husband to live in Rome for two years. Now, unhappy with playing bridge and cocktail parties she accepts a job with Lord Philip Walpole.

Lord Philip does small group art tours out of his home which sounds so exciting but when he is found dead Maggie and everyone else there becomes prime suspects. After all there are plenty who thought of killing off Lord Philip. He was a rather nasty character that you love to hate and honestly figure he's going to be the victim right away.

Maggie sets out to figure out what happened and who the killer is. Her investigating takes us to all sorts of places that many will recognize at least the name of. I loved how the twists and turns of this book took me in a different direction than I thought it was heading. While this is a cozy mystery it could easily be just a straight mystery that fans of old world mystery writers will adore.

As a debut novel, I must say I really loved the character portrayal and development. The storytelling is fantastic. The mystery was well-maintained throughout the book. I am looking forward to reading more of Ms Moore's books.
4.5/5

I found the lead character relatable and kind of fun. The plot itself was a bit simple as I like more complicated mysteries which keep you guessing. But the author paints a wonderful picture and it is overall an enjoyable book.

Not your typical mystery, definitely!

First of all, I fell for the cover and because I love the mystery genre reinvented or set in an unexpected setting. This book lived up to its expectations on both parts.

Maggie White, the main character is a great character, and I have no doubt that you are going to like her.

What really captures you is the mood that is created. The atmosphere itself is unique and it completely takes you over.

It's packed with twists, and you're kept on your toes. It's just absolutely thrilling!

I would recommend it to anyone who loves a mystery, books set in Rome!

Não gostei tanto assim do desenvolvimento da história, mesmo tendo uma premissa que me deixou bastante atenta, faltou emoção para melhorar a leitura.
Diferente de outros romances policiais que li, nesse não fiquei apreensiva e achei que a autora se perdeu um pouco nas descrições, tornando a leitura um pouco cansativa, nada fluida e deixando os acontecimentos um tanto previsíveis e sem muita graça.
É um enredo que tem tudo pra ser muito bom, mas infelizmente a narrativa não rolou pra mim.

“Murder in the Piazza” by Jen Collins Moore

Maggie White and her husband Burt have temporarily relocated to Rome, Italy, for Burt’s job. The timing is great for Maggie, she was recently “downsized” from her own corporate job and is still licking her wounds. After spending time in the company of several other women in Rome’s expat community, Maggie is bored stiff. So she takes a job as assistant to Lord Philip Walpole, the aristocratic founder of Masterpiece Tours, which offers exclusive painting holidays to small groups of wealthy Americans. It only takes a few days for Maggie to realize that, despite the fact that the company is housed in Lord Philip’s 19th century palace on the Piazza Navona and she’s becoming immersed in the charms of the Eternal City, Lord Philip is the worst boss she’s ever had. She wants to quit, but since her husband was against her taking the job in the first place, she decides she has to stick it out.
The current tour group is on the terrace at the palazzo, enjoying fireworks bursting over the Colosseum in honor of “Natale di Roma,” Rome’s birthday, when Maggie realizes Lord Philip isn’t with them. Puzzled by her boss’s absence, she searches for him and discovers he has been shot dead in his office. She calls the police, and when Inspector Orsini arrives, he’s already decided that Lord Philip was killed as part of a robbery. Maggie knows that she’s innocent, but she’s not so sure about the others, especially since several of them disappeared from the terrace for short periods of time during the fireworks.
Maggie decides to snoop around and discovers several clues about the murder. But when she brings the information to Orsini, he tells her he’s been ordered to close the case. Immediately.
“Murder in the Piazza” combines a well-constructed plot with a likeable protagonist and captures the flavor and history of the Eternal City. It’s a delightful visit to Rome without a passport!

Reviewed by Susan Santangelo, author of “Politics Can be Murder,” published by Suspense Publishing, an imprint of Suspense Magazine

Maggie White, a middle aged American woman moves to Rome with her husband after being fired from her administrative job. This book has interesting characters and a terrific setting. However, I found the mystery uninspired. This book was alright but not the best I ever read. Thank you Netgalley for giving me this book and welcoming my opinion

I really enoyed reading this mystery. I liked the main character Maggie and the cast of characters. I loved the Rome guidebook included with the chapters.


I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

I don't really know why I read all the way to the end, this was a pretty facile tale and not particularly well written, but it did have a certain charm and a very easy read.

Maggie White is in Rome with her husband while he takes a job for two years. Maggie goes to work for a tour company for something to do. Her boss is killed and Maggie thinks she can solve the crime. After several wrong turns with her theory and another murder she is finally on the right track.

Looking to make herself useful while her husband is off at work, Maggie takes on a new position with a boutique tour company, run by a British (ex-pat) nobleman. When her boss is murdered, no one seems to really care. He wasn’t a very nice man and not even the police seem inclined to find the culprit. But Maggie just won’t let it go. She pushes and prods the detective in charge until she ends up the prime suspect. And so she takes on the role of amateur sleuth and launches her own investigation while continuing to take care of the participants in the already running tour. Maggie’s list of potential suspects is long, however she does eventually solve the mystery.

This was pleasant cozy mystery that allows you to travel without moving your feet. The descriptions of Rome, its historic sites and art, are vivid and give the reader a great feel for the city. The quotes from the travel brochure at the start of each chapter were a great touch. And kudos to the graphic designer – that cover is simply gorgeous.