The Rita Calabrese Italian-American Cozy Mystery Series: Gently Humorous Murder Mystery Series with Quirky Small-Town Charm and Scrumptious Italian Recipes
About The Rita Calabrese Italian-American Cozy Mystery Series: Gently Humorous Murder Mystery Series with Quirky Small-Town Charm and Scrumptious Italian Recipes
DO YOU LOVE CLASSIC WHODUNITS FILLED WITH TWISTS AND TURNS? QUIRKY CHARACTERS AND BUCOLIC SMALL TOWNS? DROOL-WORTHY RECIPES? Then you'll love this gently humorous series celebrating food, family, and heritage. FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR MAUREEN KLOVERS, YOU GET FOUR BOOKS--AND OVER 20 AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RECIPES--IN THIS BOX SET!
Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Louise Penny, M. C. Beaton, or Alexander McCall Smith, the series follows the journey of Rita Calabrese, Acorn Hollow's most formidable matriarch, proudest Italophile, and best home cook, as she embarks on her second act as a small-town reporter...and get much more than she bargained for!____________________WHAT READERS AND CRITICS ARE SAYING:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A funny mystery with depth wrapped in an Italian flag. Food, Family, and Fun could be the motto for this series. Food can reflect emotions, family can drive you batty while also providing support, and life, even when dealing with murder, should be fun. - Cozy Up with Kathy Mystery Blog⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "If you love small town settings, strong female characters, and a close sense of community, these are the mysteries for you. - Autumn Trapani⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A big Italian family, an intelligent woman, well developed characters, and a plot that just keeps unfolding followed by some superb recipes. A hit on all fronts!" - Andrea A.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A competent, vibrant woman of a 'certain age' is the heroine of the story. The twists and turns along with the final reveal left me stunned." - Kim Davis, Author of the Cupcake Catering Cozy Mystery Series⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I'm dreaming about that sweet potato gnocchi with short rib ragu!
If you love Italian food and culture you'll really enjoy this series." - Libby Klein, Author of the Poppy McAllister Cozy Mystery Series____________________IN THIS FOUR-BOOK BOX SET:BOOK 1: THE SECRET POISON GARDENOn the eve of her sixty-sixth birthday, Rita’s looking for a meaningful second act—and finds as a reporter for the local paper. Her profiles of Acorn Hollow’s eccentric citizens, including the soft-spoken biology teacher with a secret poison garden, soon make her the toast of the town. But when the beloved football coach is murdered and Rita’s investigation uncovers not only a messy love triangle, but also rumors of her ne’er-do-well son Vinnie’s involvement, she finds her newfound journalistic zeal on a collision course with her fierce maternal instinct. BOOK 2: A SECRET IN THYMEDuring Acorn Hollow's 300th birthday celebration, the town’s time capsule is flung open to reveal a toothless skeleton. But if identifying the victim proves difficult, managing the men in Rita's life becomes nearly impossible. A cagey ex-flame and boorish, cigar-smoking houseguest are enough to deal with, but it's another thing entirely when her husband, normally so skeptical of Rita’s nose for crime, begins insisting his recently deceased grappa-swilling, red-meat-loving septuagenarian friends did not die of heart attacks, but were murdered. BOOK 3: MURDER IN THE MOONSHINERita's catering a Jazz Age-themed party in an abandoned former speakeasy, and an ex-con is her sous chef. What could go wrong? BOOK 4: OF MASQUES AND MURDERit’s Carnevale, and the townspeople are reveling in masked balls and lively processions—and overindulging in meaty lasagnas and rich desserts like sanguinaccio and bomboloni. Rita tries to adhere to her Lenten resolution to stop meddling, but fate has other plans. When a friend’s wine is poisoned at a masquerade ball and a local vintner’s glamorous fiancée is murdered, Rita bows to the inevitable and dives into an investigation rife with suspects and riven by romantic entanglements and family drama