April 1, 2022
A widower living in his wife's hometown in Tuscany, former NYPD homicide detective Nico Doyle is dismayed by the disappearance of 80-year-old Cesare Costanzi, a beloved local bartender. Then he goes to rescue caf� co-owner Jimmy, who's runs out of gas, and his dog, OneWag, finds Cesare's dead body in Jimmy's trunk. How did he end up there? Third in a well-received new series.
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Starred review from June 13, 2022
Trinchieri’s excellent third Tuscan mystery (after 2021’s The Bitter Taste of Murder) finds former NYPD detective Nico Doyle enjoying breakfast one Sunday morning at his rented farmhouse with his friends from the local carabineri station, maresciallo Salvatore Perillo and brigadiere Daniele Donato. A distress call brings the policemen back to the station, where hotel manager Laura Benati reports that her 80-year-old bartender, Cesare Rinaldi, has been missing for three days. The next morning, Nico goes to the assistance of Jimmy Lando, co-owner of the Bar All’Angolo in Gravigna, after Jimmy runs out of gas on the road from Florence. Nico, with the help of his dog OneWag, discovers Cesare’s body in the trunk of Jimmy’s car. Nico, Perillo, and Donato try to figure out the links between Cesare’s murder, the dead man’s missing 1972 Ducati 750GTs, and the sale of prime vineyard properties. Rabelaisian feasts (“Fried polenta with sautéed porcini mushrooms, garlic and parsley”) provide seasoning as the action builds to a festive, celebratory bar gala. Trinchieri makes crime solving adventuresome, fun, and flavorful. This is the best in the series so far. Bring on number four.
July 1, 2022
When murder is on the menu, it's best to have a seasoned detective on hand to serve just deserts to the killer. Retired New York City detective Nico Doyle has settled into a quiet, idyllic life in the charming Tuscan village of Gravigna with his faithful canine companion and sleuthing sidekick, OneWag. His reputation has made Nico the go-to for locals in distress. So naturally his friend Perillo, Gravigna's "maresciallo" (civilian police chief), comes to him when Cesare Rinaldi, the faithful, elderly bartender at the Hotel Bella Vista, has been missing for three days. Hotel owner Laura Benati is understandably distraught. Nico, of course, agrees to help. Trinchieri, who in the course of her series has expanded and deepened her portrait of Gravigna, points out in a prefatory note that Perillo and his impulsive assistant, Daniele, are the backbone of the series along with Nico. They're on hand every step of the way, more Abbott and Costello than Holmes and Watson. Jimmy, the co-owner of Bar All'Angolo, Nico's hangout and de facto office, calls Nico for help when his car breaks down on a trip home from Florence. After OneWag smells something odd in the trunk, the men find the body of Cesare, wrapped in plastic. This expands the circle of amateur sleuths to the cafe staff, leading to a probe that is lively if often discursive. Laura emerges as a prime suspect. Could she possibly be guilty, or is she hiding something else? A lengthy list of characters is provided to help readers keep it all straight. A clever, colorful cozy with a decidedly Italian flavor.
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September 15, 2022
Trinchieri's Tuscan Mystery series continues with this third installment, following The Bitter Taste of Murder (2021). In the small town of Gravigna, Italy, Cesare Rinaldi, the longtime bartender at the Hotel Bella Vista, is murdered. Who would want to kill a kindly, 80-year-old man? A second murder follows, and series lead Nico Doyle, a retired New York City police officer now living in Gravigna, joins forces with Salvatore Perillo, maresciallo of the local carabinieri, to interview suspects and explore various possible motives--homophobia, jealousy, and revenge among them. Along with the mystery itself, the primary appeal here comes from a blend of the picturesque setting, the endearing cast (including the Dante-quoting sage Gogol and Nico's adorable dog, OneWag), and, of course, the delicious meals (there's seemingly one served after every suspect is interviewed). Fans of food-forward international mysteries, including Martin Walker's Bruno Courr�gges series set in the Dordogne region of France, will find much to enjoy here.
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August 5, 2022
Trinchieri's third "Tuscan Mystery," featuring Nico Doyle, a former NYPD detective who moved to his late wife's hometown in Tuscany after her death. In the heart of Tuscan wine country, Nico has formed routines, has made friends, and occasionally helps Maresciallo (or "marshal") Salvatore Perillo and the other Carabinieri (the gendarmerie of Italy) to investigate local murders. While having breakfast with Perillo in Gravigna, Nico learns that 80-year-old bartender Cesare Rinaldi went missing three days ago. Later, when Nico brings a canister of gasoline to his stranded friend Jimmy (the owner of the Gravigna caf� that Nico frequents), he's shocked to find Cesare's dead body in the trunk of Jimmy's car. Nico knows that Jimmy isn't a killer, but Maresciallo Perillo's small team has only a few suspects in Cesare's murder, and Jimmy is one of them--even more so when another murder suspect, the prime suspect, dies. The complicated investigation of Cesare's death soon leads to the cold case of a seemingly accidental death and the discovery of an unrepentant killer. VERDICT Fans of David P. Wagner's Italian mysteries will appreciate the lush descriptions of food and wine in Trinchieri's third atmospheric "Tuscan Mystery" (following The Bitter Taste of Murder). The complicated personal relationships (helpfully elucidated in the book's list of characters) add to the enjoyment.--Lesa Holstine
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