It Cannoli Be Murder (Italian Chef Mysteries #2) by Catherine Bruns

It Cannoli Be Murder

(Italian Chef Mysteries #2)

by Catherine Bruns 

Paperback, 400 pages

Expected publication: July 28th 2020 by Poisoned Pen Press

Goodreads synopsis: 

It's time to serve some just desserts...

Six months after her husband's death, Tessa Esposito is hoping to drum up reservations for her restaurant's grand opening. And since a signing with bestselling author, Preston Rigotta, is sure to draw a crowd, Tessa agrees to cater her cousin's bookstore event--whipping up some of her famous Italian desserts. But the event soon takes a sour turn when Preston's publicist, an old high school rival, arrives and begins to whisk up their old grudges.

That night, a fight breaks out in front of the crowd, and it becomes clear there's bad blood in Harvest Park. And when the publicist is found dead on the bookstore floor the next morning, a stray cannoli at her side, Tessa knows who will be framed as the prime suspect.

To clear both her cousin's and her own name, Tessa must investigate the murder. But Preston's publicist has many secrets to hide, and in the end, the truth is bittersweet...

***

4.5 stars

This is the second book in the Italian Chef mystery series by Catherine Bruns.

The last book dealt with the mystery around the death of Tessa’s husband, Dylan. This one surrounds the death of a publicist of a famous author. Tessa is catering the author’s event which is at her cousin, Gabby’s bookstore. The bookstore is where the dead body is found and the murder weapon of choice was a chocolate cannoli. Now Gabby and Tessa are both persons of interest and Geno can’t be involved in the investigation since he is too close to both women. A new man in town with a grudge and a chip on his shoulder takes the lead on the case making Tessa very nervous.

This book really keeps your interest and makes you want to learn more. I liked the addition of the new detective which I am sure will come out more in future books. I wish they would have used him as a foil more often. He just felt like a background character here.

Definitely a series I want to continue with. Loved the connection between Tessa, Gabby and Geno. 

If you want to read a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.