*3.5 stars rounded up. This is a very charming cozy mystery series featuring beloved Nonna Maria, an elderly woman who has lived on the island Ischia, Italy her entire life. Everyone knows her and comes to her for advice and help--even the carabinieri captain, Paolo Murino. As Nonna Maria says, 'I always help my friends. Always.'

In this story, a woman's dead body is found dumped by the side of the road. Her identity is unknown. Why was she on the island and at whose hands did she meet her death? A young man nervously approaches Nonna Maria with his worries...

And at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, a hotel guest accuses Loretta, a member of the cleaning crew, of stealing her priceless heirloom neckless. Loretta is Nonna Maria's goddaughter--she knows the young woman would never do such a thing. How can she prove her innocence and find the real thief?

Who wouldn't want to have someone like Nonna Maria looking out for them? She is wise and intuitive and always has a pot of strong espresso and some homemade cookies ready for visitors. Sit down and enjoy a fun read.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Nonna Maria knows her goddaughter did not steal a necklace from a guest at the hotel on Ischia where she works as a maid. And she knows she can figure out who killed a woman who recently returned to the island. After all, she might be quirky (she's pretty quirky) but she knows everyone on Ischia as well as their secrets. And thus we have a new cozy heroine- and one who works well with the police. It's a fun read with a good character and lovely setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A welcome addition to the genre that's fine as a standalone.

Nonna Maria has never left her island, never stayed in a hotel, only eats food she cooks and doesn't drink water, but she is a force to be reckoned with. When a dead body is found on the side of the road in Ischia, Nonna Maria is determined to discover the woman's identity. Another case in which she is involved revolves around her goddaughter, a housekeeper at a five-star hotel. A guest has accused Loretta of stealing her valuable necklace - a necklace no guest nor any staff member has seen Arianna Conte wear. Nonna Maria knows Loretta loves her job and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it. Along with her friend Captain Paolo Murino from the carabinieri, they solve both mysteries. Rich in local flavor and grandmother wisdom, Nonna Maria is worth your time.

This is the second in a series about an older Italian woman who lives on an island in the Gulf of Naples. Nonna Maria's character was well-drawn and I did not feel I had missed anything by not having read the first in the series. One of the strengths of the story is the author's ability to transport the reader to the island of Ischia. I felt the rhythm of the life on the island and the connections among its residents. Nonna Maria uses those connections to solve two mysteries. One is the case mentioned in the title, but the other involves a more serious crime. I enjoyed Nonna Maria's habit of drinking multiple cups of espresso and her generosity in helping others. This is a great cozy mystery with a character who doesn't have flaky friends or take unnecessary risks. The cliff-hanger at the end made me want to read the third book, but before that, I'll go back and catch up on the first in the series.

Nonna Maria is friends with most of the locals on the island of Ischia. And since she is always willing to help a friend, she often finds herself assisting the police with their inquiries. So when a woman is found murdered, and a young maid is accused of stealing a pricey necklace, it's Nonna Maria to the rescue! A delightful tale.

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace is a delightful light mystery that keeps you guessing right up to the very end. As the title indicates, one of the central plots revolves around a reputed stolen necklace. But that's not the only mystery. There is also the case of a woman's body found on a curved road near Barano. Enter Nonna Maria. She uses her knowledge of Ischia and her friends to sleuth through both mysteries. And of course, she can't forget delectable Italian meals.

I have only one regret. I understand this is Book 2 in a series about Nonna Maria. Now I have to go and find Book 1! You will fall in love with Nonna Maria and Ischia, and you won't want to put this book down!

This turned out to be the second story set on the island of Ischia, as Nonna Maria, in her seventies, works with police Captain Murino to solve not one but two mysteries, one a stolen necklace, and one a murder. But I didn't feel I had missed anything not having read the first.

The author weaves the past as well as the present through snippets from various POVs, with Nonna Maria at the center, helping her friends to solve both crimes. We mostly see Nonna Maria from the outside, her decided likes and dislikes, as the book progresses. Everyone talks to her, is the key to her mystery solving. That, and her ability to see past surfaces, and to make connections between what might seem like coincidence.

I enjoyed the friendship between Nonna Maria and police Captain Murino. Both had respect for each other, and they listened to each other, which was a refreshing change from mysteries that depict old women as fussy and interfering. The reader knows fairly swiftly what's going on with the necklace; the murder takes more time, but while that unravels there are delicious descriptions of food, and a beautifully conveyed sense of life on a Mediterranean island.

The second book in the series (didn’t at the time, but have since read the 1st “Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride”
So Nonna Maria, a 70+ yr old widow who still mourns her husband who died a quarter of a century earlier, lives on the Italian island of Ischia (where btw the author’s family is from) and is the local Miss Marple. She has many friends from different walks of life, including both the local carabinieri as well as an ex-gangster. Nonna Maria, like the English sleuth mentioned, has an astute eye for coincidence or inaccuracies. It is quite fun to travel with her around the island visiting friends or acquaintances always bringing food and wine as she pieces together what actually happened re a crime and making sure the perpetrators are apprehended..
Lots of detailed food and wine descriptions that will make you salivate – but it’s in Italy so probably a requirement. I did have a bit of a “this is weird” feeling as we keep hearing that Nonna Maria drinks coffee only from her coffee pot, feels water is for plants so prefers ice cold white wine, eats only from her kitchen, does not have a phone of any kind, has never been seen to read papers or books, has no idea who Sherlock Holmes is, AND has never been to the beach. Ya weird. I feel the author overdid the stereotype, but the crimes and their solving will keep you turning the pages.

Good for anyone who enjoys Murder She Wrote or Matlock episodes. Nice cozy with a great detective character, nice change of pace to have the armchair detective, Nonna Maria, working with police instead of meddling in police business. Worked well as a stand alone since this is the first one I read.

This is the second book in this series but it can be read as a standalone. Carcaterra did a great job of bringing Ischia and its residents to life. I enjoyed getting to know Nona Maria and going along with her as she proved her granddaughter was innocent of the crime she was accused of. Nona was also involved in another mystery, a woman was found dead by the side of the road. Nona gets an inkling of who she could be and sets off to get the evidence she needs to prove it.

While this is classified as a cozy mystery, and it does give off cozy vibes, and there are a couple of mysteries to be solved, I would say this is more of a story of Nona Maria and the people she helps. We aren't really a part of solving the mystery or really given clues to help, Nona Maria is already 10 steps ahead of everyone and we find everything out as she reveals it. I really loved all the characters especially Il Presidente.. gotta love a big scary dude who is taking care of an elderly lady.

I will definitely be reading the first book, and keeping up with the series. I can't wait to see what kind of mystery Nona Maria will be solving next.

Book two in the Nonna Maria cozy mystery series is easily read as a standalone. A necklace goes missing from an upscale hotel and Nonna Maria's niece has been named as the only suspect in its theft. Nonna is certain of her niece's innocence and sets out to prove it.
Nonna is certainly an eccentric elderly woman. Living alone as a widow, she nonetheless has a large amount of family, friends, and contacts everywhere in Italy that she reaches out to when necessary to solve a crime. In this outing not only is a necklace missing, but seemingly unrelated, a body of a middle aged woman is found. Nonna proves neither doddering in her old age or overly saccharine which is refreshing. Though completely uneducated by school standards, her quick wit and thorough understanding of human nature are sufficient enough for most of the town to include the local police, to count of Nonna to help with all the cases that come to the sweet vacation island of Ischia.

Thank you to Ballatine/Bantam Books for an early e-copy. All opinions are my own.

On the island of Ischia, a woman’s body is found on the side of the road, and a woman’s necklace goes missing from a hotel. Nonna Maria has personal ties to people involved with both crimes and thus sets off to investigate. An old woman with a long history on the island, with a large family and a wide circle of friends, Nonna Maria has her own unique way of helping the people she cares about and will find that she needs their help sometimes, too.

This is the second book in a series but works well on its own. I had not read the first one and didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I enjoyed seeing a glimpse of life in Ischia. Indeed, Carcaterra made the island and its inhabitants feel real, rather than just a list of things someone would learn during a brief visit to the area. He has created an entire community, rich with detail and packed with characters. The only detraction for me was the extra “cozy” writing. The way everyone spoke to each other was just so “nice,” to the point where it seemed unrealistic. I loved the way the action picked up toward the end, and the ending left me wanting more Nonna Maria! 3.5 stars.

This is the second Nonna Marie story, but the first I have read. Lorenzo Carcaterra does a great job of making the reader feel that they are on the island and the strong characterizations also shine through. It felt like Mrs. Marple as a strong Italian grandmother! I struggled with the mystery portion as it felt like more of a story that involved a mystery. There was not much intrigue and clues for the reader, but I still enjoyed the ride!

This is a fun read if you're into easy to solve cases. Nonna Maria is entertaining as always. The description of the setting makes you want to hop on a flight right away. Highly recommend this if you're looking for transportation to a beautiful place with a little intrigue.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

It’s the month of July and tourism season is thriving on the island of Ischia, eighteen miles off the coast of Naples. But two separate crimes create a stir in the community and local law enforcement will have their hands full. . Arianna Conte, one of the guests at The Grand Hotel Excelsior, accuses one of the cleaning staff, a local girl, of stealing a valuable necklace. In addition to the case of the the missing necklace, the discovery of the body of the unidentified woman of the side of the curved road in Barano has the carabinieri scrambling to find out who and/or what caused her death.

A lifelong islander in her seventies with a penchant for solving crimes in order to assist those who require her help, Nonna Maria is known for her wisdom, her knowledge of the island and her network of personal contacts. Paolo Murino, the Carabinieri captain trusts and respects her and they often collaborate, Nonna Maria assisting the investigation in an unofficial capacity, of course. Nonna Maria has a personal interest in both cases case because the girl accused of theft is Loretta, her goddaughter and a young man, a friend of Nonna Maria, believes he might be responsible for the accident that caused the death of the unidentified woman. Nonna Maria also suspects that the dead woman might be someone with a personal connection to the island.

With its charming setting, fluid narrative and interesting cast of characters, “Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace” is an engaging read and a worthy addition to Lorenzo Carcaterra’s Nonna Maria series. Nonna Maria is an endearing character. I had so much fun following her as she went about unraveling the two mysteries on hand. This septuagenarian is smart, perceptive and resourceful and manages to glean more information between sips of wine and cups of strong coffee (that recipe for her special brew is tempting!) faster than the local carabinieri on the job. Her vast network of children, grandchildren, friends and allies from all walks of life is beyond impressive and once again does not fail her as she endeavors she endeavors to get to the truth behind both incidents that have shocked her community. The mysteries in this series might not strike you as particularly complex (they lean toward the cozy mystery genre) but what draws you in is not just the mystery but the settings and the characters. The vivid imagery and captivating descriptions of the island and the lives of the islanders and their community and the history, traditions and culture truly enrich the narrative and transport you to the island of Ischia. I can't wait for the next installment in this series. I was intrigued by the lead-in for the next story in the final chapter of the book. Though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone novel but I would recommend reading the first book too if you enjoy this one.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released on May 2, 2023.

"He cares for you, your nephew," Pepe the Painter said. "He wants you to stay hydrated." "Whatever that means, I'm pretty sure I can get it from drinking coffee and wine," Nonna Maria said.

In this epitome of a cozy mystery, the reader follows amateur sleuth Nonna Maria as she becomes entangled in not one but two separate mysterious crimes that've taken place on the beautiful Italian island of Ischia. The novel opens with several carabinieri officers investigating a dead body on the side of the road. This body has no identification and no one seems to know who she is or why she's on the island - a rarity considering all of the locals know each other and all of the tourists would have a check-in record at a hotel. Who is she, who killed her, and why? In an unrelated mystery (or is it?) a wealthy guest of a five star hotel claims her priceless heirloom necklace has been stolen by a member of the cleaning crew - who happens to be Nonna Maria's goddaughter. Nonna doesn't believe for a hot second that Loretta would've commit such a crime, but can she prove it? And if Loretta didn't take the jewelry, who did?

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace had me fall in love with three things: the island of Ischia, Nonna Maria's cooking, and Nonna Maria herself. I've currently got a tab (or two) open on my phone about flights to Naples and the best tourist attractions on Ischia - Carcaterra describes it as such an idyllic paradise I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not wanting to go there for a vacation. And oh man was my mouth watering as I read the descriptions of everything Nonna cooked up - from grilled fresh fish to marinated artichokes to freshly baked focaccia bread. But what I found to be the be the highlight of this book was the character of Nonna Maria. She's the kind, meddling grandmotherly type that you can picture living in any small town. And since she has a plethora of friends and relatives about that'll have her back no matter what, you know you're in trouble if you ever get on her bad side.

There were a few things I didn't care so much for with respect to this book. The first is the simplicity of both cases. I get that this is a cozy mystery, meaning it's not supposed to have a bunch of twists and turns, but man, the conclusion to both mysteries was extremely lackluster. My other gripe is after both mysteries were wrapped up in their neat little bows, the final chapter is essentially what I'm assuming is the start to Nonna Maria book #3. Why not just end it with the core mysteries being wrapped up and subsequently offer the reader a "bonus" first chapter to the next installment? That would've felt more satisfying.

This is the second book in the Nonna Maria series, but it easily reads like a standalone. Nonna Maria is like a grandmother to all the residents of the island of Ischia off the coast of Naples. If you have a problem to solve, she is your go-to person.

This book was a quick read with two well-plotted mysteries - who killed a woman and left her on the side of the road and who stole a necklace from an upscale hotel room. The story never lagged, and I flew through the short chapters. The descriptions of the island and the food brought back pleasant memories of my trips to Italy.

Thank you, Bantam and Net Galley for the ARC. I look forward to more of Nonna Maria's adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

This book was fine. I personally found it irritating the the main character was constantly referred to by her full name "Nonna Maria". Everyone says her name A LOT throughout this book so that got old really quickly.

There were actually two parallel mysteries going on at the same time, only one of which concerned the necklace, so I'm not really sure why the other was included. It could have been it's own separate book. It was certainly interesting enough.

The style is very reminiscent of Miss Marple books, so anyone who likes those might be enamored by this series. Think of Miss Marple (complete with overbearing nephew constantly looking over her shoulder) perpetually set on a small Italian island. It was cute for a one time read. I don't image I'll read anymore in the series.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
I really like the Nonna Maria series! I have read both stories, and they are both very engaging. In this story, there is two mysteries for Nonna Maria to help solve. A rich woman, who is a guest at the hotel, claims a very valuable necklace has been stolen from her room. Nonna Maria's goddaughter is the number one suspect in this case. The other crime involves a dead womans body found on the side of the road in the borough of Barano. I like these stories because they are not your typical crime/detective stories. Nonna Maria uses her powers of observation and her many friendships to solve the crimes. I hope the author keeps writing stories in this series!.

A captivating setting and a fun protagonist
I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of Nonna Maria and the Stolen Necklace. The island of Ischia, eighteen miles off the cost of Naples, is a prime vacation destination for tourists, who enjoy the island’s restaurants, beaches, and thermal spas. The fulltime residents of Ischia are a closeknit Italian community full of caring and warmth, while the influx of tourists mixes things up, bringing action to the town and nice fodder for a mystery series. Also adding some flavor is a bit of the Italian criminal element, past and present. This element is most prominently represented by Il Presidente, a former member of that criminal class who is now Nonna Maria’s boarder.
And then there is Nonna Maria, a widow who still feels closeness to her beloved husband. She is known as and serves as “Nonna”(Italian for “grandmother”) to everyone in the town, most often with delicious food but also with whatever other problems arise. As the book opens, the body of a woman is found on a road, and Nonna Maria is determined to help the carabinieri identify her. Then a woman guest at one of the island’s luxury hotels reports that a priceless family heirloom necklace is missing from her room and accuses Nonna Maria’s goddaughter, a maid at the hotel, of stealing it. Of course, Nonna Maria leaps to prove her goddaughter innocent.
Nonna Maria is a delight but perhaps too much of a good thing. The sheer volume and diversity of the food she unsolicitedly bestows on the island residents strains credulity, as does her performance in solving the two mysteries. Her leap of insight that leads to the solution of the dead woman is too unlikely, and the plot she conceives to clear her goddaughter is overly elaborate and has some elements that would be difficult to carry out.
If you enjoy the kind of atmosphere that is presented in this book and are not too demanding about a tightly plotted mystery, there is a lot to like. Also, there is no problem if you have not read the first in the series.