The Bitter Taste of Murder

Tuscan Mysteries, Book 2

By: Camilla Trinchieri

Narrated by: Alex Pineda

The follow-up to Murder in Chianti finds ex-NYPD detective Nico Doyle recruited by Italian authorities to investigate the murder of a prominent wine critic.

One year after moving to his late wife’s Tuscan hometown of Gravigna, Nico Doyle has fully settled into life there, seeing friends in the course of daily errands and helping to serve and test recipes at his in-laws’ restaurant.

But the town is shaken by the arrival of wine critic Michele Mantelli in his flashy Jaguar. Mantelli holds his influential culinary magazine and blog over Gravigna’s vintners and restaurateurs (and, to Maresciallo Perillo’s dismay, the traffic laws). He has either impressed or ticked off most of ravigna’s residents - but most of all Nico’s landlord, Aldo Ferri, whose vineyard Mantelli seems intent on ruining.

Mantelli’s lavish, larger-than-life, and often vindictive personality has made him many enemies, and when he is poisoned, Perillo has a headache of a high-profile murder on his hands - and once again turns to Nico for help.

©2021 Camilla Trinchieri (P)2021 Recorded Books

Loved it!

Jun 19, 2021

it was amazing
bookshelves: law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, Italy, family, family-dynamics, friendship, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, muted-humor, small-business, small-town, restaurant, dog, cultural-exploration, procedural*****

A widowed ex-NYPD homicide detective (Nico) moves to Tuscany where he has good memories and his wife's family (and they need his help in the restaurant). Remember the adage about taking the man out of the job? He got to be friends with the local Carabinieri (Perillo and Daniele) last year over a murder and has made many other friends as well (and a dog, OneWag).
The wine critic was a real rotter. When he was found dead in a car wreck it looked like an accident until the ME had a good look. There was no lack of suspects and the locals and friend expected to work it out. THEN they were told that a detective from another branch of law enforcement was to have the case. Not a happy thought. Expect plot twists, beautiful countrysides, red herrings, and mouth watering menus. EXCELLENT read! Proof that books in series get better as they go along.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Soho Press/Soho Crime via NetGalley. Thank you!
12/26/2022 And now I have the audio to keep!

Good story, not so good narration.

The narrator spoke in an odd monotone, speeding up and dropping his voice at the end of sentences almost dismissively. He did Italian pronunciation well, but it was often hard to know who was speaking - they all sounded the same. The book deserved better.

Interesting characters

The narrator fades into whispers that makes it difficult to hear in those spots. I like the main character, but find his thoughts redundant and wordy. Plot is better than first book.

Wonderful characters in a magical setting .

If you have been to Tuscany you will love the book. If you have not been, you will love the book and understand why you should go as fast as you can. The characters are engaging, sympathetic and warm, and they bring you into their lives and the story. The setting evokes all the magic of Tuscany, its landscape,wine and food. The story is well plotted and keeps you involved. I can think of no better way to keep one's mind off the tedium of driving or to provide an escape from whatever is humdrum or bothersome. A well written and most enjoyable book..

Bizarre choice of a narrator

Why choose someone who doesn’t know how to pronounce Italian words reliably to narrate a book that requires such a skill?? The narrator was ok, though generally lackluster and quite lacking in inflection/emotion/character voice differences. The bizarre thing was that he clearly does have some of the basics of Italian pronunciation down, but mispronounced some words so badly it makes one wonder. How many times was “maresciallo” mispronounced in this book?? Not to mention the author’s own last name!!! And yet, he said some words perfectly. Very puzzling, but whoever chose this narrator did a very poor job.