Praise for NONNA MARIA AND THE CASE OF THE STOLEN NECKLACE!
Nonna Maria, one of the matriarchs of the island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples, assists Paolo Murino, the captain of the local carabinieri, with two cases. They’ve developed mutual respect and trust, which is necessary when a guest at Grand Hotel Excelsior claims a valuable family necklace was stolen from her room. She blames a maid, but that maid is Nonna Maria’s goddaughter. No one ever saw the missing necklace, and Murino and Nonna Maria doubt that it exists. Nonna Maria has a plan to expose the con, though. She also gets involved in the investigation of the death of an unidentified woman when a young local man tells her he’s afraid he might have hit the body. Although that’s easily proven false, the woman’s story points at the past and the cruel separation of a mother and child. The clever solutions to the crimes derive from Nonna Maria’s knowledge of the people of Ischia.

VERDICT: A streetwise Italian Miss Marple is a shrewd amateur sleuth in this atmospheric series installment (following Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride) that leaves a hint of more Nonna Maria mysteries to come.

Thinking this for a pull-quote: “A streetwise Italian Miss Marple is a shrewd amateur sleuth in this atmospheric series installment.”
—Library Journal

Nonna Maria, who has spent the entirety of her 70-odd years living on the Italian island of Ischia, can be counted on to help her family and friends. When her goddaughter Loretta is accused of stealing a valuable necklace at the hotel where she works as a maid, Nonna Maria investigates. Meanwhile, she also looks into the murder of an unknown woman who was found on the side of the road after being thrown from a car. In both cases, she uses her wide circle of loyal friends and contacts on and off the island, including a captain in the Carabinieri, to help her gather information, along with her knowledge of human nature and gentle questioning technique, much in the manner of Miss Marple. Nonna Maria is beautifully brought to life in this cozy mystery framed by the lovingly described, sun-soaked Ischia setting and enlivened by the quirky characters who make up Nonna Maria’s network. The ending nicely sets up her next adventure.
—Booklist

Netgalley: THE READERS SPEAK OUT!

“Shades of White Lotus.......Italian style with murder and mayhem… This novel reads beautifully as a standalone, but treat yourself to the first book in this series as well. Lorenzo Carcaterra has a unique way of bringing his characters to life on the page with snappy dialogue and with the ring of Nonna Maria's deep analytical skills. There is humor strategically placed here and there as well as the sharp tug of human frailty..”

“You don’t need to read the first to enjoy this new mystery featuring a wise native resident of a picturesque Italian island. The author’s familiarity with the area gave me wanderlust… The story is easy to follow, atmospheric utopia, and Nonna is a character I instantly connected with. I just knew she could help uncover all the secrets, lies and evil resulting in the loss of life. I can hardly wait to see what she does and who she’ll help next!”

“Nonna Maria stole my heart in Lorenzo Carcaterra's Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride, and after reading the latest installment in this new series, I'm even more enamored with her than I was before… I love that this story ended with the promise of another case on Nonna Maria's plate because I'm already anticipating her next adventure.”

“Author Lorenza Carcaterra is adept at the poetic prose that portrays the island of Ischia, its history, culture and inhabitants so well. Open a travel site to Ischia, and be captivated by its beauty. Hope for a cup of Nonna Maria’s special coffee.”

“I love this series about a 70-something widow on the island of Ischia, Italy. Although the second in the series, it’s easily read as a stand-alone. The plot is well-written, and the characters are well-formed and interesting. I wish I was as wise as Nonna Maria. The setting is beautiful. I hope Mr. Carcaterra continues writing about Nonna Maria, her extended family, and Ischia for a long time to come.”

“The streetwise Italian Miss Marple is a shrewd amateur sleuth in this second atmospheric mystery that leaves a hint of mysteries to come.”

“Lorenzo Carcaterra has a great writing style for the mystery genre. The characters were great and I'm so glad I got to get back to their world as I really enjoyed the first book in the series. I hope this series continues as I've enjoyed the first book and this one.”
 

Praise for Lorenzo Carcaterra NOVELS

“Terrifying and heartbreaking . . . a brilliant, troubling, important book.”
—Jonathan Kellerman, on Sleepers

“Crackles with action . . . a riveting and ingenious read that will keep you turning the pages.”
—Douglas Preston, on Midnight Angels

“A powerful read . . . with plenty of action and dialogue as authentic as the streets of New York.”
—St. Petersburg Times, on Paradise City

“A brilliant, multilayered novel that breathes and bleeds on every page. This book transcends the genre of crime fiction. It is a full-blooded novel and an epic read.”
—Robert Crais, on Gangster