Book Review: Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace by Lorenzo Carcaterra (Nonna Maria#2)

My Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s the month of July and tourism season is thriving on the island of Ischia, eighteen miles off the coast of Naples. But two separate crimes create a stir in the community and local law enforcement will have their hands full. . Arianna Conte, one of the guests at The Grand Hotel Excelsior accuses one of the cleaning staff, a local girl, of stealing a valuable necklace. In addition to the case of the the missing necklace, the discovery of the body of the unidentified woman of the side of the curved road in Barano has the carabinieri scrambling to find out who and/or what caused her death.

A lifelong islander in her seventies with a penchant for solving crimes to assist those who require her help (she knows everyone on the island and keeps a tab on what is happening around her through her vast network of personal contacts),Nonna Maria is known for her wisdom and her network of personal contacts. Paolo Murino, the Carabinieri captain trusts and respects her and they often collaborate, Nonna Maria assisting the investigation in an unofficial capacity, of course. Nonna Maria has a personal interest in both cases case because the girl accused of theft is Loretta, her goddaughter and a young man, a friend of Nonna Maria, believes he might be responsible for the accident that caused the death of the unidentified woman. Nonna Maria also suspects that the dead woman might be someone with a personal connection to the island.

With its charming setting, fluid narrative and interesting cast of characters, Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace is an engaging read and a worthy addition to Lorenzo Carcaterra’s Nonna Maria series. Nonna Maria is an endearing character I had so much fun following her as she went about unraveling the two mysteries on hand. This septuagenarian is smart, perceptive and resourceful and manages to glean more information between sips of wine and cups of strong coffee (that recipe for her special brew is tempting!) faster than the local carabinieri on the job. Her vast network of children, grandchildren, friends and allies from all walks of life is beyond impressive and once again does not fail her as she endeavors she endeavors to get to the truth behind both incidents that have shocked her community. The mysteries in this series might not strike you as particularly complex (they lean toward the cozy mystery genre) but what draws you in is not just the mystery but the settings and the characters. The vivid imagery and captivating descriptions of the island and the lives of the islanders and their community and the history, traditions and culture truly enrich the narrative and transport you to island of Ischia. I can't wait for the next installment in this series. I was intrigued by the lead-in for the next story in the final chapter of the book. Though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone novel but I would recommend reading the first book too if you enjoy this one.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released on May 2, 2023.