Thursday, November 18, 2021

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder

Title: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder
Author: Maria DiRico
Published: October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 304 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Catering Hall Mystery #3

First Sentence: “How can you type with those nails?” Mia wondered. The nails in question belonged to her Belle View Banquet Manor coworker, Cammie Dianopolis.

Synopsis: Mia's busy with a full schedule of events at the family business--among them an over-the-top Nativity-themed first birthday party and a Sweet Sixteen for a teen drama queen. But her personal life is even more challenging. Her estranged mother has returned--and her lifelong friend Jamie has discovered a shocking secret about his past. He's so angry that he starts hanging out with Lorenzo, who claims to be his long-lost brother--even after it becomes clear that Lorenzo's story is as fake as a plastic Christmas tree.

Then a body turns up among the elves in a Santa's-workshop lawn display, and amateur sleuth Mia has a buffet of suspects to choose from. Amid the holiday celebrations, she intends to find out who's the guilty party. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: Between the family’s interactions and grandma’s slightly unfiltered mouth, the translation feature on my Kindle had a good workout. It wasn’t always essential since all grandmothers tend to give universal responses when people irritate them -- yet it was good to have for those interactions that could have gone either way.

I enjoyed all the characters the author brought to the table, which isn’t something you would expect when dealing with mafia families from Astoria, Queens. Granted, we shouldn’t judge, and most are good people just looking out for their businesses and the people they care for. Just an odd thing to think when laughing along with the antics of the Carina clan.

Do be prepared with the practice of bringing food, cookies, or pastries everywhere they go. This book will make you hungry. Not just a little hungry, I am talking google searching where you can pick up a cookie tray from an Italian Bakery, kind of hungry.

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