The Witless Protection Program is the fifth book in Maria DiRico's A Catering Hall Mystery series. As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and that holds true for this delightful series. In this installment, Mia discovers that her supposedly dead husband isn’t as deceased as everyone believed. He reappears, wanting to rekindle their relationship. However, before Mia can even consult a divorce lawyer, he meets his end—this time, for good. Characters from previous books return to help Mia solve the mystery and ensure she makes it to the church on time. There’s more I’d like to share, but as Doctor Who’s River Song would say, "Spoilers, darling."

Mia is a strong, compelling character, and DiRico masterfully sets a cozy mystery against the vibrant backdrop of New York City. While the ending may be over the top, a subdue ending like the one in her Cajun Country Mystery series wouldn’t suit The Catering Hall Mystery. This series will be missed.

I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mia’s heart’s desire is about to come true. She and Shane are getting married. They’ll invite a few friends, family, and it will be a beautiful day. Except….

At a bridal fair, she sees a familiar balding head and when that head turns around, she’s shocked speechless to see it’s her “dead” husband with another woman. Mia had been under suspicion when he disappeared and was presumed dead. In fact, her whole family (Family) had been suspects, due to the organized crime aspects of their varied businesses. Now, at a bridal fair, here he is.

After she lost him in the crowd, Mia tried to convince herself it had all been a mistake. That delusion didn’t last long. The next sighting was proof he was still alive. The third sighting proved he hadn’t changed a bit—he was still a scumbag. This time the scumbag swore he loved her still and wanted to reconcile.

The fourth sighting laid to rest all his declarations of love. In fact, it laid him to rest as well since his body was found in a most inconvenient place at a most inconvenient time.

Of course, Mia has learned to live with the fact that nothing in her life goes smoothly. From her wedding gown choices, to Cammie handling party favors, invitations, the food, and more (Clydesdales were mentioned but vetoed), nothing is going to be simple. It’s more a case of “whatever could go wrong, did go wrong, and at the worst possible time.”

This is the fifth and final book in the series. I’m sorry to hear it wasn’t continued. Combined, Mia’s family have more quirks than Nonna has colorful tracksuits. Each character is so finely described, readers will feel like they are family (Family?) too. The first four books were reviewed in KRL. Get all five and immerse yourself into Italian family (Family) affairs.

As a parting gift for readers, Mia and Belle View graciously shared recipes for Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina, ricotta sugar cookies, breakfast pasta, Italian wedding cake, and its frosting. Just reading about them will make you drool.

Never fear, Ellen Byron has been hard at work at the keyboard. Counting Witless, three books release in 2024, and while one series ends, two begin. You’ll see their reviews in coming months.

A great addition to an incredible series! Wonderful characters in an incredible setting. This book will keep you guessing until the end.

Fun book and a great one to end the series with. Returning characters help create the wedding of the century and keep the laughs coming. An unexpected murder that makes everyone a suspect, along with creative wedding planning, keeps this story exciting & hilarious. The whole series is great. A highly recommended binge read (or listen to) the whole series. The narrator hired for the audible version is excellent. Doesn't matter how you read the series. Just that you read it!

It is said that cozy mysteries are defined by their stylistic perimeters. They are light-hearted in tone, featuring an amateur sleuth, and are character driven. Byron moves the markers from light-hearted to outright funny. The characters conversations mirror that of a 5 star situation comedy. Even if the mystery were mundane -- which is definitely is not --this reader would say "read this for the laughs.".

DiRico (aka Ellen Byron) stands the trope of a romantic triangle on it's head by introducing Adam, Mia's presumed dead husband into the picture. It is not long before Adam, a true sleaze, is found dead; in an alley; in the dark. The entire cast of characters along with most readers will applaud.
Which brings up a problem. Is it possible to have too many suspects?

The other issue is Mia's wedding. She and Shane plan a simple wedding, thinking it can be held in five weeks. DiRico provides an insider's view of how a wedding could be planned and executed. Tension from planning the wedding rivals Mia's tension over dead Adam. Once again, she feels compelled to step in and investigate. DiRico's commitment to authenticity includes showing a working relationship with Pete, the detective, rather than Pete the fall guy.

Who would think a reclusive comic book creator would fit into this storyline? DiRico did and by adding another thread she provides a banquet of twists and turns heightened by loving characters living the dream.
Recommended for all lovers of cozy mysteries blended with romance.

This is book 4 in the Catering Hall series. Mia Carina has steered her Italian-American family’s Astoria, Queens, catering hall, Belle View Banquet Manor, into becoming the borough’s premiere party site, and nothing could make her happier—except her boyfriend proposing. There’s just one presumed-dead obstacle in the way . . . When Shane and she finally decide to marry, someone isn't happy and flood the ball room and shred her gown. With her honorary uncle retiring and looking for someone to keep the family on their path to legal business and away from their roots, there are many suspects. I've read most of the books in this series and it's fun too see everyone evolving.

I love the clever title of this book and it was an excellent ending of the series. I am so sad that it has ended but I really enjoyed this last installment. I love Mia and all of the characters and their sleuthing to solve Adam’s murder.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The characters in the Catering Hall series have me entertained from the first page through the last page of the books. Mia and the rest of the characters are well developed and I have loved getting to know them. Add in the Carina and Gambino mafia aspects and you are in for a treat. I would definitely go back and read the first book in the series so that you can see the characters grow and the relationships develop. I hate that this is the last one in the series. You will definitely find yourself chuckling as you flip through the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

This is the (sniff sniff) last book of the Catering Hall mysteries and it is the spiciest one yet and includes a baseball game proposal, a live louse/dead rate, a family/Family with no alibi, and house that is a circus…man. Mia gets the proposal she has been obsessing about but it is overshadowed by the appearance of Adam Grosso (yep the name fits the character), her lying cheating missing husband who was presumed dead. Before the Family (that’s right family with a capital “F” as in mob family) can find Grosso so she can get a divorce, Grosso’s body is found in the back alley near the house she shares with her Nonna. Detective Pete has a LOT of possible suspects since no one truly has a verifiable alibi for the time period of the hit and drag murder. Mia also has a list of suspects and a very strict timeline. She is not going to let anything get in her way on the way down the aisle. I do not think a single page was turned without a laugh out loud laugh or at the very least, a chuckle. Mia and Shane fly from one coast to another in a weekend to try and get to the bottom while the family/Family is doing their best to locate people to question. Many people would agree that the guy had it coming and even more would wonder what in the heck was Mia thinking. Thankfully they are smart enough to keep their pizza pie holes shut. The crazy becomes cray-cray when Nonna, who has learned to be a successful day trader (is there anything Nonna can’t do, besides eat Vietnamese food), purchases the house across the street that belonged to a recently deceased and famed comic book creator, better known as Circus-Man. The fans are crazy, like flying monkey crazy which gives an all new meaning to the phrase “not my monkey not my circus,” but since Mia and Shane are the new owners, it is their circus house. The fan club members want the house to be a museum so there is a bit of a jam, literally, a traffic jam on Mia’s street. Can Mia’s life get anymore over the top? This story is served up with a side of sassiness and some really good Italian food so be sure to check out the recipes at the back of the book, like the Ricotta Cookies or the Breakfast Pasta. I will miss the Catering Hall gang; it was fun getting to know each and every character, and I place special emphasis on the word character. I give this one all the stars plus one more.

Book Review: The Witless Protection Program by Maria DiRico

Rating: 5 Stars

I recently had the pleasure of diving into Maria DiRico's delightful mystery novel, "The Witless Protection Program," and it did not disappoint. From the moment I set eyes on the charming cover, I knew I was in for a treat.

The story follows Mia Carina, a strong and independent woman who runs her family's catering hall in Astoria, Queens. Set against the backdrop of the bustling borough, Mia finds herself in a whirlwind of events when her presumed-dead ex-husband, Adam, resurfaces, throwing her life into chaos.

The impeccable blend of humor, intrigue, and heartwarming moments in this book is what elevates it to a 5-star read for me, keeping me in stitches one moment and at the edge of my seat the next. The writing is top-notch, and the book read well as a standalone. Making it accessible to new readers while still satisfying long-time fans of the series. The pacing was spot on, with a well-crafted mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.

The characters in the book are a true highlight - likable, funny, and wonderfully fleshed out. I found myself rooting for Mia and empathizing with her journey as she navigated the unexpected twists and turns of her past coming back to haunt her. And let's not forget about the setting - DiRico expertly brings Astoria to life, immersing readers in its vibrant culture and community. As a cherry on top, the inclusion of bonus recipes at the end was a delightful touch that added an extra layer of charm to the book.

While it saddens me to hear that this may be the end of the series, I am eager to explore the other books and dive deeper into Mia's world.

In conclusion, "The Witless Protection Program" is a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating mystery with a generous dose of humor and heart. Maria DiRico has crafted a gem of a novel that will leave you wanting more.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

The Witless Protection Program is another outstanding entry in Maria DiRico’s Catering Hall mystery series. This fifth and (unfortunately) final installment is a wickedly madcap wrap-up that neatly and humorously brings the series to a close.

In what she considers a cruel bit of irony, Mia Carina is working a bridal expo on behalf of Belle View Banquet Manor but is bemoaning the fact that her boyfriend Shane has not yet proposed. While there, she catches a glimpse of a man across the room who looks like her presumed-dead husband, Adam Grosso. When she spots the same man again at a Mets game, she calls an emergency meeting of the Baldano (mob) “Family” to find him. Until she can obtain a divorce, marrying Shane is out of the question. Mia’s worst suspicions are confirmed when Adam makes a late-night appearance. Before he disappears again, he claims to have been in the witness protection program living under an assumed name all along and, more importantly, that he has no intention of giving her a divorce. It’s up to Mia, her family, and her ”Family” to find him once again and convince him to grant her a divorce.

This novel, in fact the entire series, is a whole lot of fun. This time, however, the mystery is personal. Mia’s future depends on locating (and divorcing) Adam so she can marry Shane. Mia once again proves herself strong, smart, and resourceful, while her family and the expanded crime family that runs Belle View as a legit business prove their loyalty in a most entertaining manner. Her father, Ravello, is a larger-than-life character whose antics in trying to have a healthier lifestyle provide humor and heart. Mia’s Nonna Elisabetta is her usual, quirky self, mystified no end by Ravello’s girlfriend Lin’s Vietnamese cooking. And her brother Posi – one of my favorite characters – has been granted early release from prison and is living at a halfway house. Mia’s story has come full circle, as it was revealed in the first book that Adam was presumed to have died in a boating accident. As his body was never found, I suspected that it wasn’t the last we heard about Adam Grosso. It took four additional books, but eventually here we are – and this story is fantastic.

I was lucky enough to both obtain an ARC of the book and listen to the audio recording. As is typical of this series, the narration was terrific, really drawing you into the story. As an added bonus, the book also contains a series of recipes at the end that sound yummy (especially the gnocchi).

If you’ve read the first four books in the story, you’re in for a treat in The Witless Protection Program. If you haven’t, why not? Hats off to Maria DiRico (Ellen Byron) for creating this bold, often over-the-top, but always humorous, series. It is one of my favorites.

Note: I received an ARC of The Witless Protection Program from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.

While Mia Carina is proud of how she’s turned the Belle View Banquet Hall into Queens’ premier catering hall and party venue, her attention has been swayed of late by her intensifying relationship with her boyfriend Shane Gambrazzo. She’s convinced he’s going to ask her to marry him soon, which would be beyond thrilling for her. Far less thrilling is the sudden and extremely unexpected reappearance of the man Mia thought had left her a widow via a freak boating accident down in Miami several years prior.

At first, Mia isn’t even one hundred percent certain that the man she sees at a bridal expo where she’s tabling is her allegedly dead ex, Adam Grosso. When she sees him again at a Mets game, however, she has the crushing realization that she’s not the widow that she’s long thought she was. More importantly, she recognizes that her no-good, cheating criminal of an ex needs to give her a divorce so that she can marry the actual man of her dreams.

She isn’t the only person in Queens to be royally ticked off with Adam, though: both her birth family and her Italian Mafia Family are pretty mad at him for all he’s done. She thus has to make it very clear to her mob connections that she only wants their help in finding him and serving him with divorce papers, as opposed to making her an actual widow. But Adam is full of surprises, at least one of which threatens to ruin all of Mia’s hopes for matrimonial bliss for good…

The Catering Hall mysteries are one of my favorite culinary cozy mystery series, in large part due to the comedic hijinks of Mia, her family and friends. It’s nice to see the usually straitlaced Mia come slightly undone in the face of all the romantic setbacks that come her way in this novel. It’s even more satisfying, though, to see her focus not only her own talents but also the abilities of those around her in accomplishing their common goals. I was especially delighted by the change in her brother Posi’s fortunes, even if I wholly sympathized with Mia’s squeamishness at some of the steps that brought him there.

There were four recipes included here, all of dishes delectably described in the story. I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina

garlic cloves
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 28 oz. can cherry tomatoes in sauce (Pomodorini)
1 lb. gnocchi
½ lb. whole milk mozzarella, divided by half cut into cubes and half into slices
A handful of fresh basil, torn into smallish pieces
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
A pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mash the garlic with the back of a knife. In a large oven-safe skillet or pot (I use a cast-iron skillet), heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook until it’s fragrant.

Add the can of tomatoes to the garlic, along with the salt. Simmer the sauce for ten minutes, using the back of a heavy spoon to stir and break open at least some of the tomatoes.

While the sauce simmers, cook the gnocchi in a large pot of water according to its instructions. The gnocchi will be done when it floats to the water’s surface.

Remove the gnocchi from the water with a slotted spoon and add it to the sauce. Add the basil and cubed mozzarella and stir gently to combine.

Place the mozzarella slices on top of the gnocchi-sauce mixture and sprinkle the Parmesan-Reggiano over the whole dish.

Bake for ten to fifteen minutes, or until the mozzarella is bubbly and golden.

Serves approximately 4-6.
END QUOTE

I genuinely do not know how such simple ingredients turn into something so eminently craveable! I’m a little obsessed with this dish now, which had such a perfect balance of flavors that I keep thinking about it even days later. I imagine the deliciousness starts with the base of garlic-infused olive oil. Pro tip: smash the garlic with the side of your knife, and make sure to use enough olive oil so that you can generously bathe the smashed garlic with it in the skillet.

While shopping for this dish, I could only find regular peeled tomatoes, which were so delicious that I can only imagine how much more spectacular this dish would be with actual pomodorini. That said, I wasn’t brave enough to try making this in cast iron, so merely combined all the ingredients in a regular saute pan before pouring it into a baking dish for the oven. I would say to add as much Parmesan-Reggiano as your heart desires: I just kept grating till I was moved to stop. I also found that this took much longer to bake in my oven than the recipe expects. I had to bake the gnocchi for about twenty-five minutes to get the mozzarella bubbly and golden, but it was totally worth the extra wait.

Next week, we head to the Midwest to bake up a sweet treat while our intrepid investigator races against time to prove a suspected murderer’s innocence. Do join me!

“The Witless Protection Program” by Maria DiRico, the fifth and final book in the series, promised a blend of humor and mystery; unfortunately, that was not delivered. The dead body of an ex-husband, wedding planning, and a strange recluse living across the street should have rounded out the book, but by the midway point, I could not care about anyone or the escapades they found themselves in.

Just as Mia Carina gets her life back in order and a shiny new engagement ring on her finger, her supposedly deceased ex-husband, Adam Grosso, makes a sudden reappearance. No one liked Adam and what he did to Mia, and since she has ties to the Family, she is considered a suspect when Adam’s corpse is found in the alley near her home.

This book reads as though Maria DiRico seems to have gotten bored and turned her characters into cardboard characters so she could get to the end. Not much has changed about them since the first book in the Catering Hall Mysteries. While the subplots promise some interest, they often lead to redundant dead ends. Since this is the last book in the series, DiRico went overboard in tying up all the characters in an overused style.

The premise of this series drew me in; the final book, “The Witless Protection Program,” started with an engaging plot that fizzled out quickly with an absurd ending. It’s a disappointment for those who have invested in this five-book series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: The Catering Hall mysteries have always delivered some good mysteries with lots of snark and humour. We have watched Mia take over the Belle View and turn it into a going concern. We have watched her relationship with Shane develop. And we have watched how her influence has permeated through the Family business as well as the family business. Mia and Shane are finally going to get married.

That is if her jerk of a husband, whom everyone has assumed is swimming with the fishes, doesn’t gum things up. His return coincides with the news that the house her grandmother bought for them might be very valuable. A grifter to the end, he has left a wake of broken hearts and broken bank accounts. So when he is murdered, the suspects would line up around the block. Naturally Mia and her family and friends rate high on the list but there are too many others who want a piece of him. A second murder puts a new spin on things. How do the two murders connect and did the same person commit them both.

Plus Mia has someone with a major grudge against her who is doing some serious destruction of property including some that might derail the wedding. Never fear, there are people who jump in to save the day although things do not run according to plan for the nuptials. The book has got one of the wildest weddings ever. All good fun and a good read. Five purrs and two paws up.

The Witless Protection Program is the 5th book in the Catering Hall Mystery series, and possibly the final one. Mia has been waiting for Shane to propose and he finally does but things don't work out the way she planned. It seems that Adam, her first husband, who everyone thought was dead, is alive and back. Now she can't marry Shane until her and Adam get a divorce. Meanwhile plans have gone ahead and her grandmother bought a house for her and Shane. It seems the house was owned by a famous cartoonist, and now his fans are hanging around the house trying to get in. They are sure there is memorabilia that can be sold. Adam wants Mia back and tries his best to convince her to give him another chance. Her family are not happy and think someone can probably "off him" but Mia convinces them that he needs to be kept alive, so she can divorce him. Shortly after this meeting, Adam is found dead in the alley in Mia's neighbourhood and Shane is the main suspect. Can Mia and her family and friends clear his name, so they can get married?

I enjoyed this story as many of the continuing storylines are tied up. I love Mia's character. She has worked hard to keep her family and The Belleview Banquet Hall on the straight and narrow. She and Shane have finally sorted out all their issues and this wedding needs to go forward, but there is more than one problem. There is a funny story dealing with Mia's wedding dress, concerns with her attendants and someone is stalking her and causing major issues. As all this is going on, she is trying to solve the crime of Adam's death. There is a lot of humour, some twists, well developed characters and some great conclusions to the various storylines. I am sorry to say goodbye to these characters. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a humorous cozy mystery series.

Mia Carina has worked to make Belle View Banquet Manor a premier venue for weddings and events. Sadly, though, so far she's had no cause to plan her own wedding. So when her boyfriend Shane finally pops the question, her answer is an enthusiastic "yes!" And let the party planning commence! But her former husband, Adam Grosso, is back from the presumed dead, back in town, and talking about winning her back. That simply will not do.

Mia tells her family (and the Family) that she needs to be a divorcée posthaste, and she needs their help tracking Adam down so she can once and for all secure that divorce. But when Adam turns up dead and Mia and Shane are among the (many) suspects, the wedding may be put on hold indefinitely.

Y'all, this book is a riot! I can imagine the challenges in trying to run a business that has any connection at all to the Family and keeping it strictly on the up and up. But Mia walks that line and does it with style. She keeps her nose clean, even if some of the people in her life just can't.

DiRico populates her book with marvelous characters. Mia is a delight - smart and savvy, and she's a cat person (that gets her bonus points in my book). Her grandmother, Elisabetta, oh my goodness, everybody needs a Nonna like Elisabetta! She tackles issues head-on, whether by offering up her wedding dress for Mia or baking cookies to sell to a horde of fans descending on the house she bought for Mia and Shane next door to hers that just happened to belong to a famous cartoonist. She dispenses love, advice, and sarcasm, and I think she may be my favorite. Mia's best friend Cammie is a treat, too, with the way she's determined to keep spending her ex-husband's money in order to get him to marry her again (cheaper to keep her, you know) and with her over-the-top wedding plans that Mia has to constantly rein in.

As it happens, Cammie's ex is Pete Dianopoulis, NYPD detective (and author of the Steve Stianopoulis books, which draw heavily on real life). He's charged with investigating Adam's death, and with all the mob connections in Mia's life, he's got PLENTY to investigate. But he doesn't focus just on the Family. There's also Adam's new sweetie, Annarita; Mia's former friends Ruth and Rose, who were more than just friendly with Adam; and a host of people Adam ripped off and scammed along the way. DiRico tempts us to follow red herrings and then yanks them away gleefully, taking us right back to square one. The only thing we're sure of is that Mia didn't kill him! I especially love how Pete doesn't actively discourage Mia's own inquiries into Adam's death. As the story says, "the detective and the mobster-adjacent event planner had developed a mutual respect for each other," and it works.

The mystery is engaging. The characters are ones you can cheer for or jeer at, as you wish. There are several story threads in play, and DiRico ties them all together in a neat bow to bring the story to an incredibly satisfying conclusion. And bonus, bonus, bonus, there are recipes, too! I see Nonna's ricotta sugar cookies in my future. This was a five-star read for me, and I highly recommend it!

Another great adventure where it turns out that Mia's life is not really as she thinks. Someone unexpected comes up in her life that throws a kink in her upcoming plans. Soon she and the rest of the family have their hands full as that person gets murdered and they have to find out who and why so that her next set of plans can take place. Really eventful and I hope there is another one.

The Witless Protection Program starts strong with an excellent title. This is the fifth in the Catering Hall Mystery series by Maria DiRico. I definitely think you should have read at least a couple of the previous entries in this series before reading this one. Will Shane pop the question? What is Mia to do when she sees her DEAD husband still alive? This series is set in Queens with an over the top Italian American family at the center. Maria DiRico is the pen name for Ellen Byron. She has several credits to her name as a screenwriter. At times her plot points are reminiscent of TV shows, but this is all for the best. She makes me laugh while still wondering whodunnit.

There is a lot to enjoy here with Mia’s family, problems happening in the neighborhood, and wedding planning problems. I wish sometimes that we had illustrations because I would have loved to see the various wedding dresses described here!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review. I gave this book 4.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Throughout this series Mia’s missing, presumed dead, husband has lurked in the background. Is he really dead? Mia’s failed marriage has also played a role in her ability to move on and find happiness in a new relationship. Just when she’s hoping for a proposal from Shane, her cheating, missing husband rises from the dead to complicate her life! We continue to have the family, friends and Family shenanigans, drama and hilarity that has been a hallmark of previous books as Mia and Shane seek their happily ever after. This book provides a thoroughly enjoyable fitting end to this entertaining series!

Event planner Mia Carina isn’t prone to imagining things so she is more than a bit concerned when her “dead” husband pops up in New York at the worst possible time – when she is planning to marry Shane. When Mia enlists her closeknit family and the Family (she is Italian after all) to find her ex, things get complicated, and it is up to Mia to solve the mystery surrounding his appearance and death, for real this time. An endearing cast of characters, humorous situations, and plot twists abound as she pursues the truth making for a very enjoyable read.