Penne Dreadful

Penne Dreadful is the first in the Italian Chef Mysteries by Catherine Bruns. This was also the first of Bruns' books that I've read. I will definitely be back for more!

Tessa Esposito is a wonderful chef. She's also now a widow, reeling from the death of her husband Dylan. He died in what she thought was a car accident, but now she's learned that it was no accident. Gino Mancusi, her cousin, is a police officer working on the investigation, and he gives Tessa the heads up. He also encourages her to apply for a job at a restaurant Dylan used to frequent, where she might have a chance to do a little investigating of her own. (Not police approved, of course.) Gabby, Gino's sister and Tessa's best friend, is happy to help root out information. As the story progresses, Tessa learns some things that make her question not only who might have wanted Dylan dead, but how well she really knew him.

This book is a joy to read. There are twists and turns and intrigue, and hints of romance yet to come in the series. I cheered for Tessa and wanted to bop her over the head sometimes, putting herself in situations that had me on the edge of my seat. The characters are believable and engaging (sometimes you love them, sometimes you don't, and that's how books should be), and the story doesn't drag. I look forward to more books in this series.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.