I’m a nice Italian girl. I kiss all my relatives, I listen to my mother, and I only kill people in print. I’m a mystery writer for the Agatha Press, with a series featuring a detective named Bernardo Vitali. (You may have heard of my books—Molto Murder? How about Ciao, My Darling?) Not long ago, I decided to take a break from the mysteries and write a historical novel based on my Italian family. But to do that I had to go back to our family restaurant, the Casa Lido. It’s in a small beach town at the Jersey shore—the perfect setting to work on my new novel. Or so I thought.
My first challenge was dealing with Nonna, my very formidable grandmother. When I got there, she wasn’t even speaking to me. Apparently I don’t visit enough. Then my mom and dad got me involved in a town protest against a reality show that wanted to film in our town. Unfortunately, the producer of that show ended up dead in our tomato garden, which wasn’t very good for business. That’s when Nonna started speaking to me again, because she insisted I find out how said producer met his end.
That’s also when my sister-in-law Sofia got into the act, appointing herself as my assistant, only she’s a whole lot smarter than Dr. Watson. After that, I got locked in a pantry with my former boyfriend Tim, faced down a drunken suspect, and ran afoul of a preppie thug named Fredo. Just to complicate things further, there’s a very attractive guy named Cal who’s restoring our antique bar; he’s from New Orleans and has an accent like sugar syrup. Or does he? Cal’s one mystery I haven’t solved yet, but I think I’ll probably have fun trying.
All I wanted to do when I came home was to learn how to cook Italian and write my new book, but instead I stumbled into a murder. When it was all over, I warned Sofia that I’d never get involved in anything that crazy again. In fact, right now I’m busy making meatballs for our famous Wedding Soup, specially requested by friends of ours for their daughter’s wedding. So things are nice and quiet now, and once I’m done making a thousand meatballs, I can get back to my writing.
Because I can’t imagine anyone getting murdered at a wedding reception. Can you?
You can read more about Victoria in Murder and Marinara, the first book in the new “Italian Kitchen” mystery series, published by Obsidian.
Thanks to Penguin, I have one (1) copy of MURDER AND MARINARA to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends October 2; US entries only per publisher’s request.
Meet the author
A Jersey girl born and bred, Rosie Genova left her heart at the shore, which serves as the setting for much of her 
work. Her new series, the Italian Kitchen Mysteries, is informed by her deep appreciation for good food, her pride in her heritage, and her love of classic mysteries from Nancy Drew to Miss Marple. An English teacher by day and novelist by night, Rosie also writes women’s fiction as Rosemary DiBattista. She lives in central New Jersey with her husband, two of her three Jersey boys, and an ill-behaved fox terrier.
Visit Rosie at her website or on Facebook.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Can’t wait to read this book! Thanks for offering the chance to win.
This sounds like it has a fun cast of characters! I’m looking forward to reading it!
Sounds like fun…count me in please.
Love tye typical Italian restaurant cover – looking forward to reading it. Thanks.
I think this would be a fun book, thank you for the chance to win it.
Would love to read this one – looks great!
Sounds tasty and fun! Thanks for the opportunity!
This book is on my wish list, so it would be awesome to win! Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like a great series!
THis looks wonderful! I love your title and the first line of the blog post!!! Can’t wait to read it!
What a great sounding book Would love to win/read it
Thanks, everyone, for commenting, and thanks, Dru for having Victoria and me here today!
I’m a nice Italian girl, too, and I would love to read this book! Thank you for the giveaway!
This new series is right up my alley with it being a mystery AND about food. What more could I ask? 🙂 I am so anxious to get started with this new series, and would love to be the recipient of this book. The blog post is so cute and funny and I am sure the book will be absolutely great. We can all use humor in our day, and if it comes from a book that is a wonderful thing to me. Thanks for the cute and informative interview, Dru. Good luck with all of your writing, Rosie.
Sounds like a really good book!
This sounds like a different mystery. I think the Italian is very interesting and always have. I am really interested in the Mob !!! I am sure this will be a Big hit.
Si, prego I’d like to be entered into this lovely giveaway. I grew up in the Italian part of East NY Brooklyn back in the 50’s The smells of the nonas making sauce would perfume the whole block.
I am Italian and this book would be a real blessing to win!
What a cast of characters! I would love to read this.
I have been waiting for this book release! I can’t wait to read it!
Thanks for being part of this tour!!
Count me in, I’m interested in how an adult woman with an established life returns to her hometown to deal with a cranky grandmother, even without the cultural influence.
Sounds like a good book
Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!
This book sounds like such fun, I wish I had written it myself. Just the family trip was fun to read about including nonna. I’m Italian and come from New Jersey and I’m a writer and even though I’m a vegan it could still be Murder Marinara because, guess what, marinara is vegan!
I am not Italian, but I have a killer sauce recipe. This book sounds terrific.
Story sounds like a lot of fun! I love Italian food!!
You had me at “marinara” and I’m half-Italian. We have both Mafia and a judge among occupations in our genealogy 🙂 Add me to the drawing, please. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
Definitely want to read this cozy with an Italian slant! Thank you so much for the chance to win this one. Putting this one on my wish list!
I so like to start a new series–and this one sounds like fun–the Jersey Shore as a setting is different. Of course, I’ll want to eat while reading because Italian food is my fave.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Is it just me, or does this sound as spicy as arrabbiata?
I so love the “cozy” mysteries–can never have enough of them. Would love to win a copy.
Sounds like a great series. Please enter my name. Thanks.
Yum! I am ready to read and eat Italian.
I’m getting hungry just looking at the cover! Sounds like it’ll be great.
catbooks72@gmail.com
Thanks Rosie and Victoria for your love of Italian cooking.
Sounds like an awesome book. Looking forward to reading it.
Whoot and hurray, Rosie. I heard a rumor that your books will give away the family recipes 🙂
contest is closed.