I'm happy to be doing the Christmas Reads in July theme. This really gives me a chance to catch up on my older Christmas books and to also pretend I can feel the coolness of the snow I'm reading about.
The Italian themed cozy mystery was enjoyable. A missing person for six months and his girlfriend is the suspect. So who's to blame when he turns up but she turns up dead. Family estrangement, misunderstandings round out the cozy.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I really, really struggled with the one. I felt like there was just too much going on - the Italian stuff and so many characters. I found myself going back repeatedly to try to keep everyone straight. A good book should not be a struggle.

This is book 6 in the Ferrara Family Mystery series. It's a good Christmas cozy and all the family is back. This includes Alberta's estranged daughter Lisa Marie. She is back in New Jersey for the Holidays and when her son, Sergio is accused of murder she wants to help find the real murderer. All the family is back for this Christmas cozy. I love this series that is set in the Italian Jersey family. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Alberta Scaglione hasn’t seen her adult daughter in years. After the way they ended things, Alberta hasn’t tried to reach out. Of course, Lisa Marie hasn’t either. At least Alberta’s granddaughter, Jinx, is staying with her in Tranquility.

When an unsigned Christmas card arrives with a message, ‘I need you’, Alberta is sure it’s from Lisa Marie. There’s no way to reach the family until, surprise, they turn up in Tranquility, too. Lisa Marie’s son, Sergio, hasn’t been seen for six months. He fell in love with Natalie and given a choice between home and true love, he chose love. Last anyone heard, he and Natalie were headed for New York City. The irony of the situation is not lost on Alberta and Lisa Marie. True love is the reason Lisa Marie left town years ago.

It looks like Lisa Marie’s choice was much better than Sergio’s. Natalie seems to be involved with unsavory people. Sergio is sighted, sneaks away to rejoin Natalie, and the hunt is on. Again.

It is Christmas so the family attends a fundraiser for the hospital to take their minds off Sergio’s drama for one night at least. It doesn’t work out that way. As the festivities begin, one of the snowman decorations begins to list to one side. Before anyone can stop it, it falls to the floor and splits open, spilling out is one very dead Natalie. Standing over Frosty and Natalie is Sergio and he’s got a bloody knife in hand. The good news is he’s been found. The bad news is, he’s the prime suspect for murder.

This is book six in the series. Alberta thought life in her later years would be calm, if not boring. Then she inherited a house from her aunt, had her granddaughter move in, found a few dead bodies, totally by accident, and well, the next thing you know, she’s solving crimes. Her family drives her crazy, but what are you going to do? Familia!

Being Italian, of course, Alberta will share recipes – calamari stuffed with crabmeat, gluten-free struffoli (honey balls), marinated anchovies, and chocolate panforte, full of candied fruits and chocolate.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was my second Italian family themed cozy in a row, and I ain't complaining! This was an interesting cozy for me to read. First, the murder didn't actually take place until halfway through the book. Which isn't the usual MO for these genera of books. Second, I found this overall to be a darker, heavier, I dunno...more serious in subject matter (?) than (again) what I am used to. Neither of which I found to be negative, just noticeable differences.

Murder at the Mistletoe Ball was my first taste of this series, and I can say it held up well as a standalone. It was well written. The plot was engaging and kept me guessing. It was suitably festive. The characters were likable and plentiful. And to top it off, we get a few yummy sounding recipes to try out. What more can a reader ask for? 😉

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Princess Fuzzypants here: This has been a lovely series with the main protagonist an older woman who lived her life in the shadows and who, after being widowed and given an inheritance is making up for lost time. Alberta is a wonder. She is smart, she is kind, and she is a very good sleuth. Along with her sister Helen, sister-in-law Joyce and granddaughter Jinx, the “Ferraro family detective agency” and Vinny, the cop, who shares information and works with them, they have an enviable track record.

Bur before turning her life around, Alberta made many mistakes including some that has led to a 14 year estrangement with her daughter, Lisa Marie. So when her daughter reaches out for help, she is scared, delighted and very curious. Alberta’s grandson is in trouble. He is head over heels in love with a “bad” girl and no amount of persuading can break her hold on him. He does not realize until it is too late how precarious his situation is and how dangerous this liaison will be.

I love these three feisty older ladies and one feisty younger one. They bicker and they prod but they are there for each other as are the men in their lives. They all have fascinating backstories, especially Helen and Joyce. They are proof that there is nothing more powerful than a functioning family. Lisa Marie is about to discover that while she has changed over the years, her mother’s transformation is nothing short of miraculous.

These are great stories with lots of noise and tons of heart and some very good, sometimes subtle, messages. An excellent read for the Holiday Season. Five purrs and two paws up.

I liked this book as something to read to relax, but I had no trouble putting it down when I had to do something else. I wouldn't say it's a bad book, but it didn't grab me like other books.

I love the ways in which this series has gone deeper into the psyches and relationships of the Ferrara Family it’s named for as it progresses, culminating in this excellent examination of mothers and daughters, and what siblings owe one another, all with a murder mystery woven throughout. Murder At The Mistletoe Ball is almost as much family fiction as it is culinary cozy, and quite frankly excels on both counts.

Alberta Scaglione has long had a strained relationship with her only daughter Lisa Marie, who moved away from New Jersey to Florida as a young married woman after a childhood and adolescence of squabbling with her mother. Lisa Marie’s daughter Jinx has since moved back to Tranquility, New Jersey and founded the unofficial Ferrara Family Detective Agency with Alberta, Alberta’s sister Helene and their sister-in-law Joyce, though Lisa Marie and Alberta themselves have yet to reconcile. However, a card addressed to Alberta in Lisa Marie’s familiar handwriting, asking for help, gives the older woman hope that this state of affairs might be about to change, even as it raises questions as to what kind of help Lisa Marie needs.

Turns out that Jinx’s brother Sergio has gone missing after chasing his girlfriend Natalie from Florida up to New York City. He’s stopped responding to his parents’ messages, causing them enough anxiety to follow him north, and inadvertently causing agita in Alberta and Jinx’s lives when Lisa Marie and her husband in turn neglect to return their concerned relatives’ texts and calls. The eventual family reunion, coinciding with the Mistletoe Ball that Joyce has worked so hard to organize, is less than joyous. Things go from awkward to awful when Natalie’s dead body falls out of a snowwoman decoration at the ball, and Sergio comes forward holding a bloody knife.

Sergio is swiftly arrested for murder, even though he swears he would never hurt his beloved. The family rallies round to get him a good lawyer and start investigating the case themselves, but Alberta can’t help but wonder. Sergio has a violent temper, and is no longer the sweet boy she once knew. Has her estrangement from her family allowed them to change, and for the worse, since last they were all together?

This was a really great novel about family secrets, revenge and reconciliation. I especially appreciated how J. D. Griffo even-handedly apportioned responsibility for estranged parent-child relationships to both parties instead of falling into the trap of blaming only the side readers aren’t already familiar with. Series fans know and love Alberta, so seeing her parenting flaws brought to the forefront, and seeing how that created and continued to perpetuate a negative feedback loop with Lisa Marie, gives us a fresh, humanizing perspective of our beloved protagonist. The murder mystery, too, is well-constructed, rendering this sixth installment the best so far of the Ferrara Family mystery series.

There were four delectable recipes included, and I absolutely had to try this seafood pasta served for the Italian feast of the fishes:

QUOTE
Alberta’s Stuffed Calamari

12 calamari tubes
2 green onions, finely chopped
8 cloves of garlic, minced and divided
½ pound chopped cooked shrimp
½ pound cooked crabmeat, diced
1 tbs lemon juice
¾ cup butter
12 oz. cream cheese, cut into cubes
3 cups milk
10 oz. grated Parmesan and ¾ cup grated Romano
1 pinch black pepper
1 (8 0z.) package linguine
24 large toothpicks

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Rinse the calamari tubes and pat dry

In large bowl, stir onions, 6 cloves garlic, shrimp, crabmeat, and lemon juice.

Spoon some of the mixture into each calamarube--<i>Don’t overstuff!</i>

Seal the ends of the tubes by sewing with large toothpicks--<i>Some tubes only have one open end</i>

Arrange in a single layer in a 9x13-inch baking dish

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in cream cheese and 2 cloves garlic

Gradually whisk in the milk and cook until heated

Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan and pepper

Pour over all of the calamari tubes

Sprinkle 2 tbs. of Romano over each one

Bake uncovered for 20 minutes

While calamari is baking, boil lightly salted water and cook linguine until al dente, approximately 8 minutes

Place linguine on plate, top with stuffed calamari, and pour the sauce over everything
END QUOTE

Next time I make this, I definitely need to buy larger calamari tubes. The ones I had were medium-sized so took forever to stuff. Fortunately, there were far more than the six I thought there would be in each packet, so I did manage to use up almost all of the filling (the rest I sprinkled with the calamari tentacles over the tubes before adding the sauce.) On the plus side, the smaller size of the tubes meant I didn’t have to use the toothpicks after all. The filling stayed in perfectly, though I wonder if packing the tubes less densely would have allowed for the rich sauce to seep in, further integrating the flavors. This was so deliciously cheesy regardless, and made for a lot of delectable pasta and sauce. It stores perhaps surprisingly nicely and reheats quite well too.

Next week, we head north on the east coast to make another savoury seafood dish while investigating the murder of a woman with a complicated past. Do join me!

I hadn't read any of the previous books in the Ferrara Family Mystery series but it's easy to jump into the kitchen with this boisterous Italian NJ family and start solving crimes. It's fantastic that Alberta and her granddaughter Jinx teamed together to be amateur detectives. I'm tempted to read book 1 to see how it all started. This book deals with a lot of family drama that I suspect has been an undercurrent in the previous books.

I especially loved trying to figure out the meaning of the Italian phrases that accompany each chapter (dusting off that high school Spanish and Latin to make some not-so educated guesses!)

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

Murder at the Mistletoe Ball by J. D. Griffo is the 6th book in Ferrara Family Mystery series, and another great addition. It's Christmas time and Alberta hear from her estranged daughter Lisa Marie, that her son, Sergio is missing. Alberta, her granddaughter Jinx,  and Lisa Marie search for Sergio, but no luck. The family attend the Mistletoe Ball, a fund raiser, and find a dead body along with Sergio, who becomes the prime suspect. This book had so many twists and turns, I couldn't put it down. I found this book very interesting, and full of colorful characters. Not only is there a good mystery, the plot and characters are well developed. I strongly recommend this book, and am looking forward to reading their next adventure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Alberta has always had a rocky relationship with Lisa Marie, but her relationship with her granddaughter Jinx has always been excellent. When Lisa Marie comes to town before Christmas, it seems like a miracle to Alberta. When Lisa Marie has the heartbreak of Sergio going missing, she knows who she must go to for help, even if it has been years in the making. Lisa Marie, Alberta, and Jinx all come together to solve the missing persons, but not without many twists, turns, and forgiveness along the way.

I absolutely love the Ferrara family! When her estranged daughter, Lisa Marie, reaches out to her for assistance, Alberta is caught off guard, but willing to do anything to help - after all, it's family first. And when her grandson, Sergio, is arrested for murdering his girlfriend at the Mistletoe Ball, the unofficial Ferrara Family Detective Agency is on the case! Murder at the Mistletoe Ball is J.D. Griffo's heartwarming 6th installment in the Ferrara Family Mystery Series, and it may be my fave to date. Do yourself a favor and read this wonderful cozy mystery - perfect at the holidays or anytime (I read it on Halloween, lol!)!!! A+++ and 5 stars!

I'm a fan of Alberta and her family as they're quirky, relatable and fleshed out characters.
This is another compelling and highly entertaining story that made me laugh and kept me hooked.
There a bit twist as we get to know Alberta's estranged daughter and there's a solid mystery that will be solved with the usual cleverness and a high dose of humour.
The author is a good storyteller and did a good job in developing the plot and the characters.
The Italian is always a bit on the creative side but it always made me laugh.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I enjoyed the story. I was glad the daughter came for a visit and that Alberta and she can reconnect in a believable manner. It was good to visit with the characters again and the town.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the sixth book in the 'Ferrara Family Detective Agency' series featuring a multi-generational Italian-American sleuthing duo Alberta Scaglione and her twenty-odd-year-old reporter granddaughter, Jinx, and it was really enjoyable! Also part of the family is Helen and Joyce. Helen is Alberta's ex-nun sister, and Joyce is their ex-sister-in-law and a former Wall Street executive. Together they are nobody's fool. The characters are all well crafted by the author J D Griffo with each one being very individual and having their own distinctive personalities and flaws.

It's Christmastime in Tranquility, New Jersey, and Lisa Marie, Alberta's elusive daughter is in town. Sergio, Alberta's twenty-one-year-old grandson is missing, not seen for six months, so Alberta and Jinx set about looking for him. Attending a hospital fundraiser, the Mistletoe Ball in Tranquility turns into a memorable event when a body is uncovered from a giant snowman decoration. The victim's identity results in the finger being firmly pointed at Sergio as the primary suspect...

There are several good clues as to the identity of the perpetrator, but also some great red herrings to throw the reader off the scent. The plot is well thought-out and the author's style continues to impress me. With scores of laugh-out-loud moments and superb interaction between the Ferrara family, I would definitely recommend Murder at the Mistletoe Ball to other cozy readers. This was a five-star read for me!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I always enjoy spending some time with the Ferrara family. Alberta is a force to be reckoned with at the best of times but when her estranged daughter, Lisa Marie, shows up Alberta will do all she can to protect her family. Turns out her grandson, Sergio has been missing for six months and may have been with his girlfriend, Natalie. Plus it's Christmas and there are lots of festivities to be enjoyed. Too bad a killer is joining them. Natalie is the victim and Sergio is the prime suspect.
Natalie had a lot of enemies so which one wanted her dead? Alberta and Lisa Marie team up to clear Sergio's name and along the way get to know each other better. Add Christmas with family and Alberta has a lot to deal with but she is up to the challenge.
The setting of Tranquility, NJ is perfect and the mystery well written with richly drawn characters and a satisfying ending - as are all of the books in this delightful series.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really struggled with this book. The Italian felt forced and some of it was difficult to understand, especially the chapter intro phrases. The book had too many characters and I lost track of who was who and actually who the protagonist was supposed to be. I have not read the other books in this series and I suspect that would be helpful in understanding the characters and the storyline better but honestly this preview did not make me want to seek out other books in this series. Just not for me.

It's been a long 14 years since Alberta and her daughter Lisa Marie spent time (or talked, really) with one another but now Lisa Marie needs Alberta's help to find her son Sergio. Unfortunately, Sergio is found all too soon when his girlfriend, the dreadful Natalie is murdered and her corpse stuffed into a decoration at the Mistletoe Ball. Cozy readers know that she had lots of enemies and that there will be red herrings before the true villain is found. This series (and this will be fine as a standalone) is fun for the characters- the "mature" Alberta, Jinx her granddaughter, and Helen, the ex-nun- as well as for the setting in Tranquility, New Jersey. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good cozy read.

Alberta's estranged daughter Lisa-Marie returns to Tranquility looking for her help to find her son Sergio, who hasn't been seen in six months. Just who is Natalie and what does she have to do with Sergio's disappearance? Can Alberta and Jinx solve the mystery and ensure a Merry Christmas for everyone?

This one was slow to get into and I was not engaged until at least midway through the book. A solid cozy mystery but not one of my favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.