Evil Under the Tuscan Sun - A Review

 Review

EVIL UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN by Stephanie Cole
The Third Tuscan Cooking School Mystery

With a boyfriend basking in the glow of his recent stint as a cover model, a chef desperate for attention of his own, and a decamped sous chef, Nell Valenti is left to wrangle the Villa Orlandini Cooking School’s Ziti Variations for its latest students. Philanthropist Philip Copeland has booked the school to celebrate his mother’s eightieth birthday and the trio, Philip, his mother, and her friend, are relaxed and happy guests. There’s also another new person in town, a woman who appears to cause fear and loathing amongst her companion and townsfolk alike. A woman with an agenda who appears to be up to no good. When Nell stumbles across her dead body she learns that lots of people had reasons to kill her, but her boyfriend may have had the greatest motive of all. With her world crumbling in on her, will Nell be able to save her boyfriend, the school, and her life?  

The third Tuscan Cooking School Mystery could also be titled EVIL UNDER THE TUSCAN SON. Peter making a name for himself, and the villa, unwittingly brings danger and murder. Is he trying to get out from the shadow of his famous father? Philip is the second son, perhaps the second best son, trying to do his best for his mother. Or does he have an ulterior motive? Then there are the daughters. Nell, trying to make a successful life without her parent's interference, and "la strega" daughter of the famous singer bent on wreaking havoc in Tuscany. Finding your identity apart from your family is a theme here, a concept taken on even by Annamaria.

I enjoyed the story, although I think Nell and Pete have some serious communication issues to overcome. I liked learning about the Abbey's past and the subplot of the Villa during World War II and I hope we get to see more of Sister Ippolita. I also love the friendship between Muffy and Mimi. As in the previous entries in the series there are lots of suspects with great motives, so it was fascinating to watch Nell whittle them down.

Secrets of the past and present collide in EVIL UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN creating an engrossing mystery.

 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Evil Under the Tuscan Sun by Stephanie Cole. This book is the third in the Tuscan Cooking School Mystery series.

With a boyfriend basking in the glow of his recent stint as a cover model, a chef desperate for attention of his own, and a decamped sous chef, Nell Valenti is left to wrangle the Villa Orlandini Cooking School’s Ziti Variations for its latest students. Philanthropist Philip Copeland has booked the school to celebrate his mother’s eightieth birthday and the trio, Philip, his mother, and her friend, are relaxed and happy guests. There’s also another new person in town, a woman who appears to cause fear and loathing amongst her companion and townsfolk alike. A woman with an agenda who appears to be up to no good. When Nell stumbles across her dead body she learns that lots of people had reasons to kill her, but her boyfriend may have had the greatest motive of all. With her world crumbling in on her, will Nell be able to save her boyfriend, the school, and her life?

Crime of the Ancient Marinara - A Review

Review

CRIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINARA by Stephanie Cole
The Second Tuscan Cooking School Mystery

Nell Valenti has whipped a ramshackle Tuscan estate into shape and the newly minted Villa Orlandini Cooking School is ready to host its first students. Five intrepid Americans are eager to learn Chef Orlandini's marinara tricks, including the secret prima marinara recipe that made him famous. Despite minor issues and personality clashes, field trips to a vineyard, a hunt for truffles, and a lesson on mushroom foraging keep the workshop on track. Until someone decides to commit murder. Will Nell be able to piece together the solution? Or will this murder signal the end of the Villa Orlandini Cooking School for good?

CRIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINARA is a coming of age story set against a backdrop of murder. Nell is growing up and coming into her own in the second Tuscan Cooking School Mystery. It's not easy. There's a lot of angst. And it wasn't coming from the murder, rather the burgeoning relationships, Nell's role, and the whole Villa dynamic.

I enjoyed the mystery. There was a major clue early on and I said, "Aha! This is important." The author proceeded to lead me on several merry chases making me forget. There were plenty of surprises, going back to that angst as well as the murder, and I was well entertained. I was also shocked and upset on Nell's behalf.

CRIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINARA provides a tasty mystery flavored with humor, some feels, and multiple twists and turns, along with lots of marinara sauce!

Al Dente's Inferno - A Review

 Review

AL DENTE'S INFERNO by Stephanie Cole
The First Tuscan Cooking School Mystery

 

After successfully setting up a cooking school in the Berkshires and ending a regrettable relationship, Nell Valenti is thrilled to start her next venture, starting a farm to table cooking school in Tuscany at the home of her culinary hero. She arrives to discover a dilapidated villa with a derelict chef who seems more interested in bocce than braciole! Not only that, the villa's residents a have invited local dignitaries to a special dinner the following night to garner interest in the future school that will be filmed as part of a documentary. Worse, the director happens to be the best forgotten ex she left in the Berkshires! Surprisingly, the evening in question unfolds beautifully...until a chef goes missing and a dead body is found. Now it's up to Nell to find a killer and save the future school - and herself!

 

Cooking in Tuscany? What's not to love? The concept of creating a cooking school in such a wonderful locale is a great one, but making it a dilapidated villa with eccentric characters is brilliant! Nuns who love Billy Joel!?! A moss filled common room? I love how Nell begins to find herself as she whips the villa into shape. 

 

The first Tuscan Cooking School Mystery provides a complex mystery, made more intriguing by the varied relationships between the characters.

 

AL DENTE'S INFERNO is a wonderful escape into Tuscany. Eccentric characters, wonderful food, and a good dose of humor make a delightful start to a new series.

 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Crime of the Ancient Marinara by Stephanie Cole. This book is the second in the Tuscan Cooking School Mystery series.

Nell Valenti has whipped a ramshackle Tuscan estate into shape and the newly minted Villa Orlandini Cooking School is ready to host its first students. Five intrepid Americans are eager to learn Chef Orlandini's marinara tricks, including the secret prima marinara recipe that made him famous. Despite minor issues and personality clashes, field trips to a vineyard, a hunt for truffles, and a lesson on mushroom foraging keep the workshop on track. Until someone decides to commit murder. Will Nell be able to piece together the solution? Or will this murder signal the end of the Villa Orlandini Cooking School for good?

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Al Dente's Inferno by Stephanie Cole. This book is the first in the Tuscan Cooking School Mystery series.

After successfully setting up a cooking school in the Berkshires and ending a regrettable relationship, Nell Valenti is thrilled to start her next venture, starting a farm to table cooking school in Tuscany at the home of her culinary hero. She arrives to discover a dilapidated villa with a derelict chef who seems more interested in bocce than braciole! Not only that, the villa's residents a have invited local dignitaries to a special dinner the following night to garner interest in the future school that will be filmed as part of a documentary. Worse, the director happens to be the best forgotten ex she left in the Berkshires! Surprisingly, the evening in question unfolds beautifully...until a chef goes missing and a dead body is found. Now it's up to Nell to find a killer and save the future school - and herself!