Sometimes a little mystery is welcome in my reading. Add in Rome as a location and well…. I thank TLC Book Tours for sending me a copy of Murder in the Piazza by Jen Collins Moore at no charge for my honest review.
About Murder in the Piazza:
Maggie White, a downsized American executive stuck in Rome on her husband’s expat assignment, is finding the dolce vita isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. She’s taken a job offering painting instruction to well-heeled travelers and her boss-a rather unpleasant English lord-has turned up dead in his penthouse. Maggie’s left with a palazzo full of suspicious guests, a valuable painting her boss might have stolen, and a policeman who’s decided she’s the prime suspect. Now Maggie must keep the tour up and running while she tracks the killer and works to clear her name.
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About the Author:
Jen Collins Moore is the author of the Maggie White Mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mystery Weekly, and she is the editor of the Mystery Writers of America Midwest newsletter. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, as well an established marketer and entrepreneur. A transplanted New Englander, she lives in Chicago with her husband and two boys.
Connect with Jen
Website | Facebook | Instagram
My Opinion:
If you follow my book reviews you know I don’t read a lot of murder mysteries; I have found that they tend to interfere with my sleep patterns. I found that I couldn’t resist this one though due to the location and the fact that it’s a “cozy” mystery which means it’s not going to be full of blood and gore. I love Rome and really enjoyed my trip there and reading this book was almost like a trip back to that wonderful city. I probably should have made myself a big bowl of pasta to eat while reading to recreate my vacation.
This is the author’s first book but I strongly suspect it’s not going to be her last as this one was so well written. The mystery itself is well designed and there are little hints dropped but I still didn’t know whodunit at the end. That’s the best kind of mystery novel if you ask me.
Maggie is a delightful character and she is surrounded by a well rounded group of individuals – well, except for the murderer of course – they don’t remain stagnent but change and grow through the course of the novel. I will look forward to any further adventures of Ms. White as I am sure there will be more to come. Perhaps Paris next?
Rating:
4.5
The Giveaway:
One lucky US reader will win a copy of Murder at the Piazza. Just enter as many ways as you would like on the Gleam widget below. Full rules are on the widget. Good luck everyone.
