J. D. Griffo

New Jersey, Sicilian, situational-humor, family, family-dynamics, friendship, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, small-business, small-town, cozy-mystery, verbal-humor, discord, murder, murder-investigation, secrets*****

The Ferrara lady sleuths are very Sicilian Catholic. Older widow Alberta (who has turned into a very savvy sleuth!) and her granddaughter Jinx (a reporter for the local paper), Alberta's ex-nun sister Helen, and former sister in law (and former Wall Street executive) Joyce. They are also helped by
their friend, the local police chief, in their small town in New Jersey. This series just goes to show that not all of the fun/quirky Sicilian women live in Sicily, New Orleans, or NYC!
This time the madness is really a family affair. Alberta's estranged daughter (Jinx's mother) asks for help and comes from her home in Florida back to New Jersey to find her absconded son who appears to be in a mess with a woman (who is NOT Sicilian). But it's at the fundraiser for the local hospital and Breast Cancer research that things really get hairy and the sleuths get into high gear.
Great sleuthing with zany characters, Red Herrings, plot twists, and lots of humor!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (mais)

New Jersey, Sicilian, family-dynamics, friendship, fan-atic, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, cozy-mystery, law-enforcement, small-business, small-town, situational-humor, verbal-humor*****

The Ferrara lady sleuths are very Sicilian Catholic older widow Alberta and her granddaughter Jinx (a reporter for the local paper), Alberta's ex-nun sister Helen, and former sister in law (and former Wall Street executive) Joyce. They're also known as “Senior Scooby Gang” by their friend, the local police chief in their small town in New Jersey. This series just goes to show that not all of the fun/quirky Sicilian women live in Sicily, New Orleans, or NYC! The local theater group has been accepted by a former child star to play the lead in their latest production, but is found dead in her dressing room. Let the sleuthing begin! Great sleuthing with zany characters, Red Herrings, plot twists, and lots of humor!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (mais)

When Alberta Scaglione's spinster aunt dies, she leaves her niece her lake house and money in Tranquility, NJ. Alberta is a widow now and her children are grown, so she's happy to start a new phase of her life. Her peaceful prospects are interrupted, however, when the dead body of her childhood nemesis, Lucy Agostino, is found floating in the lake. Alberta teams up with her granddaughter, Gina -- known as Jinx -- to investigate who killed Lucy.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery with its Italian flavor. Alberta and Jinx bicker with each other as well as other characters, as Italian families and friends will do while loving each other unconditionally. Alberta is intelligent and feisty. And Jinx is a capable reporter and amateur sleuth. The mystery was interesting with plenty of suspects and some twists. There are some yummy recipes (two kinds of cookies and meatballs & gravy!) at the end of the book too! That is always a plus!

This is a nice start to a new cozy series, the Ferrara Family Mysteries. A second book in the series, Murder in Tranquility Park will come out in March 2019. I will definitely keep reading this series. It has a nice mix of humor and mystery!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**… (mais)

family-dynamics, women-sleuths, small-business, small-town, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement*****

The Ferrara lady sleuths are very Sicilian Catholic older widow Alberta and her granddaughter Jinx (a reporter for the local paper), Alberta's ex-nun sister Helen, and former sister in law (and former Wall Street executive) Joyce. They're also known as “Senior Scooby Gang” by their friend, the local police chief in their small town in New Jersey. The first body is that of the best waitress at the local diner who dies in front of everyone with a butcher knife in her back and no apparent suspects. They first look for some answers to Veronica, who owns the diner only to first suspect, then know that she is lying about a number of things. Great sleuthing with Red Herrings, plot twists, and lots of humor!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (mais)