Nonna Maria is an interesting and fascinating character created by Lorenzo Carcaterra. Everything she says and does is a life lesson. She is also a great amateur sleuth and in this novel she helps solve two cases. Nonna Maria lives on the beautiful Italian island of Ischia. She has staunchly loyal to her many friends and her huge family. This huge network is at her disposal for any help she needs and she repays their favors with food and friendship. Nonna Maria must protect her dear friend Captain Murino. Murino heads the local police force and someone from his past is trying to kill him. Maria is also busy trying to help a granddaughter find the hidden treasure that her grandfather told her about on his deathbed. This is Carcaterra"s third novel dedicated to Nonna Maria and I look forward to reading many more.

Nonna Maria returns with an intertwining tale of two mysteries. A search for a possible stash of stolen jewels in the caves and a group of assassins after the head carabiniere of Ischia. Nonna Maria is an older sleuth who doesn’t solve mysteries, she just helps her friends. Another charming tale.

Nonna Maria is back along with a cast of friends and neighbors who feel like family. This time she is helping a friend find a treasure hinted at by her grandfather and protecting the carbineri captain, Paulo, as someone is out to get him. These two stories don’t mix except for locations but they are both intriguing in their own way. Everytime I read a book in the series I’m enticed into wanting to move to a small island where everyone becomes family.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This is the third book in this series and I haven’t had the chance to read the other two but I think this could definitely be a standalone book.
Nonna Maria is a super sleuth and she is always willing to help anyone. When her long time friend Captain Marino has an assassin out to get him he asks Maria to help him out. She definitely knows no strangers. I loved how she made sure no one went hungry definitely has grandma traits. And, how can you go wrong when the setting is in Italy.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ultimately, I think this book was just too cozy for me personally, but I can see an audience for it. The highlight of the book is Nonna Maria and her quirks as well as the small town feel of the island. In terms of the actual mysteries, I just found myself not invested in the outcomes. It is nice that there is more than one mystery to solve. I could see how this would be a great beach or cruise read for those that don’t read romance, even if it wasn’t the ideal read for me.

An Italian Grandmother that evryone wishes were on their team. Nona Maria soaks up the wisdom....and clues....while she serves her customers some excellent food and drink, then uses her skills to solve crimes. A great read that everyone I know has loved so far.

I have really enjoyed this series and especially this third book.

Nonna Maria, a widowed grandmother living on the Italian island of Ischia, lives to help her friends. And she has many friends. In this book, Captain Marino of the Caribineri realized that men from the north, assassins, are headed to the island to kill him. In his earlier life, he was in the force in Naples, and broke up a ring of mobsters. When he put the head of the crime syndicate away in prison for life, he was warned that there would be revenge, and it appears that the time has come.

At the same time, Nonna Maria is asked to help the granddaughter, Rita, of another good friend, who on his deathbed has given Rita a map, and a clue that there is treasure for her. He died before he could share any more details.

Despite being warned by her children, Captain Marino, and several other friends that she should not be getting involved with such dangerous men, Nonna Marie can’t stay away. When additional friends get involved to help keep the Captain safe, and to try and find the treasure, there are a lot of moving parts to this plot. The author does a wonderful job of keeping all those parts moving, and the characters all in the right place at the right time. It’s a testament to his skill that I was able to keep a large cast all straight in my head, to be able to follow along as the multiple plot lines came together.

I really like Nonna Maria as a character, and the descriptions of the places, the food and the activities are all delightful. I felt as I was there in the heat of the night as the story reached its conclusion.

I hope there are many more Nonna Maria books to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Unfortunately I just can not get into this book. I feel like this is a very different kind of story compared to the first Nonna Maria. The first was a Miss Marple-esque type story set in Italy, which I very much enjoyed. This book is an Italian mob story filled with hitmen and vendettas. And I have yet to hear about any treasure so I'm not sure how that even figures into the story of old mob grudges against the Italian police, even after getting the backstory. Nonna Maria seems to be a peripheral character with seemingly inconsequential ties to the mobsters and the cop they want to murder. I don't like it and I don't plan on finishing it. I probably won't read anymore of this series either.

Nonna María and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra

Ischia, a quiet little island off the coast of Italy, is where Nonna Maria is well known for her delicious meals and hospitality. As the elderly widow cannot pass up a chance to help a friend or two, Nonna is once again in the center of a complex situation.

There are chase scenes and threats, good guys and bad guys, food and drink. Nonna calls in some favors when Rita wants to find a hidden treasure left to her by her grandfather. Going on at the same time, police detective Paolo Murino is in danger.

Not as engaging as the last Nonna Maria tale I read, this is still a charming story starring everyone’s bestie on this small island. Can Nonna Maria keep up? Will she get lost in the secret tunnels of this island? Can she help find the secret treasure and save her friend? All will be revealed by the end of this four star story published by Random House.

I am a sucker for cozy mysteries that feature armchair travel or senior sleuths. This book has both! Nonna Maria is a very well-connected woman who has lived on the Italian island of Ischia her whole life and has an extensive network of family, friends, and acquaintances. Little do the bad guys know what they are up against! There are two crimes in this story. An assassin is out to settle a score, and then a rumored treasure may be found at long last.

The setting and world-building are excellent. I haven't visited Ischia yet, but these books make me want to pack my bags. In addition to the vividly depicted sun-drenched beauty of the island, Carcaterra delves into the history, traditions, food, and culture of the place, from medieval castles to smugglers' caves to pizza, wine, and coffee. Ischia comes alive in these pages and is a beloved character in itself.

Nonna Maria is a well-developed, warm, and wonderful character. She has quirks and quick wits, will only eat/drink in her own kitchen, and she's always a few steps ahead of the bad guys. There are a number of people who would do anything for her, and the depths of Nonna Maria's connections are fun to find out about, as they are occasionally surprising and often charming. Her techniques are different from the typical cozy mystery sleuth, and she is clever and fun to spend time with. Carcaterra's writing has a unique style and cadence, but this is a quick read, a bit edgy, and rather delightful. The Dedication and Author's Note are as heartwarming as the story, and this works as a standalone. If you're looking for a fresh take on the cozy mystery genre, you'll want to check out this series!


Thank you to Random House Publishing Ballentine for the free book!

Entertaining and easy read. I loved the Nonna Maria character and her role in the story. There are two separate story lines going with her involved which I thought would connect but didn’t. Great message at the end even though this is a mystery.

The third in this mystery series is a little predictable but still makes for a good story. This can be a standalone but readers will probably want to read more about the island of Ischia and Nonna. New characters with evil intent are introduced but nothing gets by Nonna.

I had never heard of this author , the island of Ischia, or about this series before I received an advanced copy from the publisher and Netgalley. I now, of course must read the first two.
There are 2 simultaneous stories, both involving Nonna Maria (who is based on the authors grandmother and stories he was told).
Nonna Maria is quite the character with more quirks than your usual amateur sleuth. She doesn't drink water, only 14 espressos with chocolate and liquor during the day, and wine at night. She only eats her own food, and the descriptions of the food she cooks for her large family and friends are mouthwatering.
One of the stories is about an assassin who plans to murder the local police captain, and the other is a treasure hunt. There is a Pirate who only wears a red speedo, a shirt and a bandana at all times, IL Presidente, a retired assassin, other mafia characters, and many more quirky people. This is really a fun story.
This is my honest review, and I recommend starting with the first book,Nonna Maria and the missing bride.

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra is an engaging cozy mystery!
I enjoyed this mystery with its cozy vibes and descriptions.
This series is extremely well written. The characters are very well developed and the plots are well thought out.
This enchanting story is without a doubt, a new favorite of mine and I eagerly look forward to reading more in this series.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Nonna Marie and The Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra is the third book in a series, but my first by this author.
Nonna Marie is one of those "wise, grandmother that most people are intimidated by" characters. She's the matriarch of an Italian island. My expectation for this book was some interesting characters solve a puzzle. There are some characters. But the book bogs down with all of the back stories and side stories. There's a chapter on Nonna Marie making pizza with the grandchildren. Doesn't add anything meaningful to the narrative. This seems to be the year of wandering prose.
Best part of this book is the setting - the island of Ischia.
I expected more from this one.

Another great read by Lorenzo Carcaterra! So well written that I actually felt like I was a part of the story. A rich cast of characters that work well together and kept the story flowing. This author creates a perfect setting and I daydream of visiting such a beautiful place.
Thank you NetGalley, Lorenzo Carcaterra and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I thought this was another well written book in this series. I like Nonna Maria and all her friends who help her. Her cooking sounds amazing and made me hungry just reading what she made. Definitely looking forward to her next adventure.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This is a cute cozy mystery. Nonna Maria is the heart of Ishia, she has tendrils that run far and wide and seems to know everything that's going on with everyone. And when one of her friends is in danger she does what she can to help him. This part of the story gave us a deeper look into Il Presidente which I really enjoyed.
The mystery part of the story has a young woman asking Nonna to help find a treasure left behind by her grandfather. Pirate and the Magician were fun to go along with as they were all hunting for the treasure. I enjoy what a close-knit community the residents of Ishia are. Nonna is a friend and confidant to all and if you are in trouble or need any kind of help Nonna with help in any way she can.

The story was cute and easy to read, but I think cozy-mystery is not for me. The two mystery plots were kind of meh. It was super obvious, especially when that overly helpful character popped up—you just knew there was more to him. Honestly, it was just okay for me.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group -Bantam for an advance copy ♥️♥️♥️♥️


Wow,I just finished the latest Nonna Maria mystery and I'm still grinning from ear to ear. Lorenzo Carcaterra has done it again, crafting a story that's equal parts charming, thrilling, and utterly captivating. Nonna Maria is, without a doubt, one of my favorite amateur sleuths - her sharp wit, quick thinking, and generous heart make her a true delight. And this time around, she's faced with not one but two pulse-pounding mysteries to solve!

I loved every minute of this book - from the moment I started reading, I was hooked. The pace is fast-moving, the characters are richly drawn, and the plot twists are expertly woven. I found myself cheering Nonna Maria on as she dodged assassins, uncovered hidden treasure, and explored the secret caverns of Ischia. And the way Carcaterra weaves together the two mysteries, revealing the surprising connections between them, is pure genius.

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a dash of adventure, or just looking for a great story to get lost in, this one's a must-read. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! And if you're new to the series, don't worry - this one stands alone beautifully. Just be prepared to fall in love with Nonna Maria and her island world, and to stay up way too late turning those pages.