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jacquelynjoan's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I loved this! A perfect cozy mystery. My family is from Campania and I love reading about it. Made me want to drink red wine and black coffee. Can't wait to read the next one.
bookwoman1967's review
3.0
About a third of the way through this book I started to think of it as a grown up version of
Strega Nona with a magic coffee pot replacing the magic pasta pot.
I did enjoy the book, it was just the omniscient narration and Nonna Maria's unflappable command of every situation made the comparison unavoidable.
According to the author, Nonna Maria is based upon his memories of his grandmother, and who wouldn't want to make their grandmother into a fictional righter-of-all-wrongs?
The author's love for the island of Ischia shines through the entire story. If you are looking for a relaxing escape, then this is a good read.
Strega Nona with a magic coffee pot replacing the magic pasta pot.
I did enjoy the book, it was just the omniscient narration and Nonna Maria's unflappable command of every situation made the comparison unavoidable.
According to the author, Nonna Maria is based upon his memories of his grandmother, and who wouldn't want to make their grandmother into a fictional righter-of-all-wrongs?
The author's love for the island of Ischia shines through the entire story. If you are looking for a relaxing escape, then this is a good read.
lynguy1's review
4.0
The author’s endeavor to cast a main character as a mother, grandmother, aunt, and great-grandmother to many in a cozy mystery worked for me. While others say she is a sleuth, she says she doesn’t solve crimes, but helps friends and family when they’re in trouble. The locals on the Italian island of Ischia are more likely to turn to Maria for help than to the local police.
Anna, a recently engaged woman tells Maria that she is afraid of her finance. She doesn’t remember much of the last few weeks and wonders if something is wrong. Maria helps her disappear for a while. Is Andrea Bartoli truly in love with Anna or is there something more sinister happening? Maria talks with the local police captain Murino, but he’s also involved with investigating the death of a tour boat captain who drowned. Was it an accident or murder? Between the two of them, they work to find answers to both cases.
Maria is smart, listens to all sides of an argument, and doesn’t rush to judgment. She has intuitive instincts and is nurturing and caring for those she knows and loves. Her character has depth, but the supporting characters don’t have a lot of depth except from Captain Murino.
This is a book to be savored. It is not a fast-paced book, but it brilliantly portrays the city, the local people, the sites, and the customs on the island, bringing them to life. The author managed to provide fantastic insight into the characters’ thoughts, behaviors, and actions toward others. The writing flows well and is very descriptive. Weaving love, survival, family, friendship, family dynamics, death, marriage, folk beliefs, food, and much more into the story kept this reader turning the pages.
Overall, this was a moving, charming, and memorable novel with some pivotal stressful and emotional moments. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Lorenzo Carcaterra provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 3, 2022.
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Review will be posted approximately two weeks prior to publication per publisher guidelines.
Anna, a recently engaged woman tells Maria that she is afraid of her finance. She doesn’t remember much of the last few weeks and wonders if something is wrong. Maria helps her disappear for a while. Is Andrea Bartoli truly in love with Anna or is there something more sinister happening? Maria talks with the local police captain Murino, but he’s also involved with investigating the death of a tour boat captain who drowned. Was it an accident or murder? Between the two of them, they work to find answers to both cases.
Maria is smart, listens to all sides of an argument, and doesn’t rush to judgment. She has intuitive instincts and is nurturing and caring for those she knows and loves. Her character has depth, but the supporting characters don’t have a lot of depth except from Captain Murino.
This is a book to be savored. It is not a fast-paced book, but it brilliantly portrays the city, the local people, the sites, and the customs on the island, bringing them to life. The author managed to provide fantastic insight into the characters’ thoughts, behaviors, and actions toward others. The writing flows well and is very descriptive. Weaving love, survival, family, friendship, family dynamics, death, marriage, folk beliefs, food, and much more into the story kept this reader turning the pages.
Overall, this was a moving, charming, and memorable novel with some pivotal stressful and emotional moments. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Lorenzo Carcaterra provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 3, 2022.
---------------------
Review will be posted approximately two weeks prior to publication per publisher guidelines.
libbyuniss's review against another edition
nothing wrong with it, i just never actually reach for it
kraley's review
3.0
This was a cozy mystery that set out to be one. It was just ok. Some of it was just too ridiculous, and this lady is one fit 70year old. I’m not sure if I would read another. Agatha Christie is just so much better written.
rmarcin's review
4.0
This is the first book in the Nonna Maria series and it was very well done! I enjoyed reading about this elderly woman in town, who seems to know everyone, and even is friends with some dangerous characters.
Anna comes to Nonna Maria scared. She is now engaged to a man that she thought she loved, but realizes he is very dangerous, and may wish to harm her once they are married. Nonna Maria encourages Anna to disappear while she investigates what is happening.
Nonna relies on her wits and her friendships to save Anna.
Very enjoyable. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Anna comes to Nonna Maria scared. She is now engaged to a man that she thought she loved, but realizes he is very dangerous, and may wish to harm her once they are married. Nonna Maria encourages Anna to disappear while she investigates what is happening.
Nonna relies on her wits and her friendships to save Anna.
Very enjoyable. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
carolpk's review
The Hook - Way back when. It just occurred to me that it really was longer ago than I thought. My Dad, joined me in fandom of Carcaterra when I introduced him to Sleepers . We went on to read Apache and Gangsters together and had interesting discussions about these. Then, in 2005 my father left me to read this author on my own but I could never pick up one of Carcaterra's books without memories of my Dad and how we enjoyed these reads together. Recently Lorenzo Carcaterra is one of my adopted authors at my public library.
When Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride was due to be published I received an email from our library asking if I wanted to sponsor this title as it seemed very different than those that came before. I thought about it and quickly answered yes as it's interesting to see authors go in different directions and write what's in their hearts.
The Line(s) - ”This was her island, her home. And these were her people.”
The Sinker - Immediately I felt the commonality of the characters and locale of Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride. I grew up living with my own Nonna Maria, a widow, who had the spunk and spirit of this book's main character until the day she died (94). No, my Nonna didn't solve mysteries but there were other similarities, most of all love of family, protecting those around her, sage advice, years of wisdom and the making of good food, and wine. Don't tell Carcaterra that my family came from that Northern part of Italy an area that his Nonna lacks a fondness for, but other than this one wander, my Italian roots were tickled as I read this heart-warming story. Closer to my Tito ancestor's origins, Ischia, Nonna Maria's home, manages to be a character in itself. I'd love to visit after reading the book, and then viewing pictures and reading more about this island.
Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride is not a thriller, nor fast based book but sometimes you just need to slow it down a bit, stop to enjoy something out of the ordinary. I'd call it a cozy, notched up just a bit. Nonna Maria is a solid addition to senior sleuths, one to give some British oldsters a run for their money.
Now I think it's time to read [b:Three Dreamers: A Memoir of Family|54895709|Three Dreamers A Memoir of Family|Lorenzo Carcaterra|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616477899l/54895709._SY75_.jpg|85663055], which Carcatera wrote in honor of his Grandmother, Nonna Maria and was the inspiration for this fictional character. I'm certain I'll find the true essence of Nonna Maria in those pages.
When Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride was due to be published I received an email from our library asking if I wanted to sponsor this title as it seemed very different than those that came before. I thought about it and quickly answered yes as it's interesting to see authors go in different directions and write what's in their hearts.
The Line(s) - ”This was her island, her home. And these were her people.”
The Sinker - Immediately I felt the commonality of the characters and locale of Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride. I grew up living with my own Nonna Maria, a widow, who had the spunk and spirit of this book's main character until the day she died (94). No, my Nonna didn't solve mysteries but there were other similarities, most of all love of family, protecting those around her, sage advice, years of wisdom and the making of good food, and wine. Don't tell Carcaterra that my family came from that Northern part of Italy an area that his Nonna lacks a fondness for, but other than this one wander, my Italian roots were tickled as I read this heart-warming story. Closer to my Tito ancestor's origins, Ischia, Nonna Maria's home, manages to be a character in itself. I'd love to visit after reading the book, and then viewing pictures and reading more about this island.
Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride is not a thriller, nor fast based book but sometimes you just need to slow it down a bit, stop to enjoy something out of the ordinary. I'd call it a cozy, notched up just a bit. Nonna Maria is a solid addition to senior sleuths, one to give some British oldsters a run for their money.
Now I think it's time to read [b:Three Dreamers: A Memoir of Family|54895709|Three Dreamers A Memoir of Family|Lorenzo Carcaterra|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616477899l/54895709._SY75_.jpg|85663055], which Carcatera wrote in honor of his Grandmother, Nonna Maria and was the inspiration for this fictional character. I'm certain I'll find the true essence of Nonna Maria in those pages.
muffreads42's review
5.0
Nonna Maria and The Case of the Missing Bride was phenomenal read. Loved the characters and the way the island of Ischia (Italy) was described sounds like a beautiful place to visit. I loved Nonna Maria character!! She's the one the people on the island go to when there's a problem to be solved. Not the local carabinieri, she's also a fabulous cook. This is a mystery that I recommend you read. I loved the story!! And this is my first book by Lorenzo Carcaterra. I can't wait to read more of this series. I received a ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine for my honest opinion.
jennie_cole's review
4.0
Nonna Maria is a great-grandmother who has spent her entire life on Ischia. Everyone on the island knows to go to Maria if they have a problem. One day a young woman appears at Maria's door about to marry a man that she does not remember knowing. This is not the first time Maria has heard this story but it is the first time before the wedding has occurred so Maria is going to help this young woman. With the help of the local carabinieri, even though the other locals will not go to him, the neighborhood priest, and several locals of dubious backgrounds, Maria will stop this wedding, capture the young man trying to force the marriage, as well as solve some other happenings going on.
This is a fun novel that intertwines local culture with a great cozy mystery. It made me want to take a trip to Ischia and become one of the tourists described in the book that sustains the island during the summer months. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out.
This is a fun novel that intertwines local culture with a great cozy mystery. It made me want to take a trip to Ischia and become one of the tourists described in the book that sustains the island during the summer months. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out.