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 in order to assist those who require her help, Nonna Maria is known for her wisdom, her knowledge of the island 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 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 the 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.

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I have been putting off this review for days and well all I really have to say is - it was a cute little not so very mysterious cozy kind of we know who did it book. There is a terrific setting, lots of food to go with every situation, a self-proclaimed elderly detective who knows everything and everyone on her patch and multiple crimes that need to be solved. It was a serene little turn around the island of Ischia as logic, experience and local knowledge is employed by our Nonna Maria to crack the cases and right the wrongs.

Thanks to Random House/Bantam Books and NetGalley for a copy. ( )

In this second book in a series, Nonna Maria assists with solving two mysteries: a "stolen" necklace and the death of an unidentified woman. When a necklace belonging to a client at the Hotel Excelsior disappears, Nonna Maria's goddaughter comes under suspicion, since she serves as a chambermaid there. Nonna Maria works with the carabinieri to set a clever trap to catch two criminals involved in the missing necklace. She is also involved in helping to identify the body of a woman who has been murdered, and in the process some past secrets are revealed and wrongs are righted.

Set on a beautiful island off the coast of Italy, this mystery novel shows readers that the elderly are a force to be reckoned with! Nonna Maria commands the respect and cooperation of a network of friends, as she gathers information to help Captain Murino solve two very different mysteries.

The descriptions of the island, its inhabitants, and its foods and settings make this book a joy to read. The character of Nonna Maria takes center stage along with the Captain, while other characters play some cameo roles. While there are many twists and turns throughout the story, all is resolved in the end. Readers who enjoy mystery novels and interesting characters will find this a welcome addition to the mystery genre. Although it is second in a series, the book can be read as a standalone. The intriguing novel lacks descriptive violence, intimacy, and strong language. I am looking forward to more novels about Nonna Maria.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

This was more complicated than book 1 in my opinion, as it followed not only a case of the stolen necklace, but a long ago wrong that was done to one of Nonna Maria's friends.
When a necklace is allegedly stolen from a hotel room, and one of Nonna Maria's relatives is accused, Nonna steps in to help the police. Nonna questions whether a necklace ever existed. Additionally, a body is found in the roadway, but it isn't a car crash that killed the woman, but something worse. Nonna investigates this, as well, and uncovers some ugly secrets that the powerful in the town sought to conceal.
I hope there is a book 3, because the ending is a bit of a teaser! ( )

island-life, senior-citizens, septuagenarian, widow, thriller, cozy-mystery, Italy, law-enforcement, theft, friends, friendship, family-drama, family-dynamics, murder-investigation, murder, food, fast-pace, secrets, lies, unputdownable, unpleasant-guests, series, hospitality-industry, dishonest-people*****

Nonna Maria is like everyone's favorite grandmother on the beautiful island of Ischia, and she has more common sense than most as well as a logical mind (I think it's the coffee). The publisher's blurb is an excellent hook and gives hints as to the sleuthing inside so no need to repeat that stuff. The story is interesting and believable (small towns are very similar regardless of country). Each of the characters are made very real, there are many surprises that kept me totally attentive. Loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )