This is a wonderful read! Very descriptive filled with interesting and complex characters, I love Nonna Maria and look forward to reading more about her! . Made me want to visit the island of Ischia! Mystery and intrigue, murder and unpredictable twists and turns make this a real page turner and a must read.This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time!

I think I loved book 2 more than I loved book 1; this visit I already know a lot of the characters and feel like I’m part of Ischia observing daily life. One of the mysteries isn’t hard to figure out, but it’s nice to see how it all comes together. Or rather, apart. As for the other, it was a sad tale, but gripping all the same.

4 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining and fast-paced

Nonna Maria has to deal with not one but two cases in this book. First, her goddaughter is accused of stealing an expensive necklace by a guest in the hotel she works. Second, the dead body of an unknown woman is found in the corner of a road.
Since Nonna Maria’s young friend thinks he killed her by mistake, she is set to find out who the woman was and what she was doing in Ischia. Though the little island is overflowing with tourists, this woman sure isn’t one of them.
It’s up to Nonna Maria to solve both cases and help the local carabinieri, Captain Paolo Murino.
The story comes in the third person POV.

My Thoughts:
I’m always happy to try a cozy mystery, and this one turned out to be quite satisfying (despite a few minor issues).
Though this is the second book in the series, I didn’t feel as if I missed much. It works very well as a standalone.
The writing is simple and easy to read. I could finish the book in 1.5 days (which is always a plus). The plot has two threads, and both move at a good pace.
Nonna Maria is the Italian and sterner version of Miss Marple. She is quick-witted, independent, and has a fixed approach to things. She is very matter-of-fact in her dealings but is also a loving woman who helps others however she can.
The cases, as such, are a little too easily solved. Some of it seems to stretch things a bit. This can be an issue for some readers. I know it would bother me, too, but I feel it fits the setting.
I love the island and its old-world charm. Despite the changing times, the island seems to have not completely adapted. This applies to the good and bad things. My favorite parts are about the thought process of the islanders (which isn’t that different from the rest of the world), the hypocrisy and gender bias, and yet the affection they have for each other.
Another plus point is that Captain Muniro respects Nonna Maria. He follows the rules of his job but also works with the old lady to solve the cases. No unwanted animosity here.
Since the book is set in Italy (my second cozy series from the country!), it has to have mentions of delicious food. I’m tempted to try Nonna Maria’s coffee recipe (though I’ll have to exclude one ingredient, lol). All those episodes of David Rocco’s Dolce Vita made it easier to know the dishes.
Our septuagenarian sleuth seems almost invincible at times. I don’t know how she gets so much cooking done (I love to cook but not as much as she does) and has the energy to solve cases. But yeah, they don’t make people like that anymore, so it kinda feels realistic too.
The book ends with a lead to the next book, and I am totally excited to read it. Book three sounds like it will up the danger levels. What else does a reader want? ;)

To summarize, Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace is a delightful cozy mystery with a beautiful setting and intriguing characters. Pick it up when you want something light and breezy but with some food for thought.
Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Bantam, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

An intriguing mystery with great characters on a resort island. Nonna Maria has lived in Ischia her entire life and is a friend to everyone, often called upon to solve problems or offer advice. Two puzzles are before her, one involving the theft of a necklace, the other involving a body discovered on a roadside.

I wasn't expecting to be drawn in like I was. Nonna Maria is a delightful character. I love her connection to her home and the people who live there. The island and its inhabitants come to life. The mysteries are engrossing, and the writer swaps seamlessly between them. Her sense of tradition, loyalty, and trust are striking. I enjoyed this a lot and look forward to more from Nonna Maria.

Another winner by Lorenzo, Nonna Maria is just such a fabulous woman, you can't help but love her! Another mystery, another friend/family member is in trouble, and she is always there to help out! This time it's a false accusation against her niece, who is accused of stealing a valuable necklace. Nonna is to the rescue, with the usual cast of characters and wonderful descriptions of life in her beautiful world. I wish I knew her - I would love her as my friend! Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace by Lorenzo Carcaterra. Thank you to Lorenzo, the publisher, and Net Galley for my copy of this book.

This book takes cozy to a whole new level, with an octagenarian sleuth who just lets everything flow around her as she taps into all the skills and knowledge of the people her life of caring for and helping others has connected her to. Nonna Maria lives in a little island town that is a world unto itself, calm and contained even as the throngs of tourists descend on it during the summer months.
This volume has two completely unrelated cases for Nonna Maria to work on that have very different things at stake. One is a robbery that sees her goddaughter accused of a theft she did not commit, and the other is the murder of a woman no one seems to want to recognize. The very different cases make the jumps between scenes that deal with each a bit hard to keep up with, but both cases make for some fascinating reading.
My one nitpick would be that Nona Maria's peculiarities are interesting when mentioned once, but almost every person she talks to brings them up and that gets tiresome. It's like Carcaterra is constantly pointing out how peculiar and special her character is and is worried readers might miss that very obvious fact. Not a make-or-break element, but one I would have liked to see less of.
Overall, it's a slow-moving mystery that matches the pace and feel of the small island it's set in.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for the cozy read!

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace by Lorenzo Carcaterra is a wonderfully amusing cozy mystery which takes place on a small island in Italy. The protagonist is a little old lady in black, a widow, who doesn’t appear to eat, just drinks coffee and wine, and only at her own house. Her downstairs neighbor was previously an enforcer, now retired, and watches out for her. She cooks for him, and everyone else she runs into. It is one of the ways she secures their friendship and their assistance. She is common sense personified. She doesn’t investigate, she just speaks with her friends. In this case a woman has accused her god daughter, who works in a hotel, of the theft of an expensive necklace. Of course, she is innocent, and Nonna Maria makes her rounds and speaks with her friends. Then another tragedy: a woman no one recognizes ends up dead by the side of the road, apparently having been thrown there. She is buried in a pauper’s grave with no name on the stone. Nonna Maria knows who she is and sets out to gather the information she will need to right this wrong.

Nonna Maria is clever and experienced. She has lived through a long life and so she knows things. Not supernatural things, just things. This is the most charming series ever. She proves that experience and family are everything and she does it time and time again. She could never be called sweet, of all things, but she has the respect of everyone. She is no gossip, heaven forbid, she just knows things. What a great character. The book ended in a frightening cliff-hanger, but one would need to read it to know. Thanks, Lorenzo!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #LorenzoCarcaterra #NonnaMariaAndTheCaseOfTheStolenNecklace

A great sophomore entry to the Nonna Maria mystery series. The mystery is good but it is the characters who really sparkle. I love Nonna Maria. Smart, down-to-earth and it makes sense that she is involved in during the amateur sleuth job because of how society works on this island. People rely on each other and tend not to go to the police. But Nonna Maria is able to work with the police and it doesn't seem artificial.

Very enjoyable. I look forward to more of Nonna Maria and hope the series continues for a long time.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Nonna Maria is a memorable character and I was happy to go on a second adventure with her. Allegedly a valuable necklace is stolen from a hotel guest. The guest accuses a hotel maid and that maid happens to be Nonna Maria's goddaughter. Nonna Maria must prove her innocence. Another mystery needs Nonna Maria's attention;there is an unidentified female body on the roadside. Can Nonna Maria identify the victim? Although Nonna Maria is a woman of advanced age, she has unlimited energy and skills for crime solving. She is almost universally loved, but some of her neighbors don't appreciate her meddling. This novel is an enjoyable read for all mystery lovers.

This is 2nd in series and my first to read, but it was somewhat easy to follow.

Nonna Maria is an octogenarian living on her beloved island of Ischia near Naples. She is a local legend, a friend to all and helps solve the occasional crime.

There are actually two crimes/mysteries here. Her goddaughter, a hotel maid, is accused of stealing a guest’s valuable necklace, and a native woman returns to the island decades later following a scandal and ends up murdered.

I liked this one to a point but did have some frustration with it. Nonna Maria is almost too perfect and appears to solve cases effortlessly with the help of her legions of friends and family. I felt she needed a little more “sauciness” to make things more interesting/humorous. And how she has time to cook elaborate 4-course meals most every day for others (since I don’t think she eats much at all…I’m serious) is a mystery in itself. While I enjoyed the island descriptions and the close camaraderie of its natives, it was a bit hard to keep the names of her friends/family straight, and as far as the mysteries, nothing earth shattering there. The writing felt too simplistic, and the exchanges between characters too formal. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t that compelling to me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This is a lovely warm bath of a novel, a trip to Ischia to visit a woman whose family has lived on the Italian island for generations. Nonna ("Grandmother") Maria is a simple but wise old woman with an extraordinary range of friends in far-flung places. She calls on them to help her solve the two cases in this book. The stolen necklace is one; the other is a murder.

Yes, this is a "cozy" mystery, but there is nothing coy or cutesy about it. The author obviously knows Ischia very well from the inside—this is no touristy vacation book. And Nonna Maria is not just a sweet old lady: she has her tough side, and Carcaterra is not afraid to reveal some intolerance (she refuses to accept the fact that Michelangelo was gay). As with many amateur detectives, she is a friend and ally of a police detective who has tremendous respect for her, and they work hand-in-hand to solve cases. Somehow it rings truer here than in other mystery series, perhaps because the cop is not native to Ischia and Nonna Maria's world is presented so vividly and convincingly.

The puzzle aspect of the book isn't much, although I admired how our heroine unmasked the villain of the missing necklace affair. There is one plot point that doesn't work for me: <spoiler hidden> However, the main reason to read this book is to luxuriate in a trip to Italy, taking in all the details of life there, especially the food, which is described in loving detail.

An unidentified woman’s body by the side of the road and accusations of theft against her goddaughter Loretta send Nonna Maria into action to find a murderer and clear a loved ones name. Arianna Conte, a guest at a local hotel, claims that her valuable necklace was stolen. Loretta was a part of the staff that cleaned Conte’s room, entering several times a day. Loretta never saw the necklace in the room and Conte was never seen wearing it, making Nonna Maria question its’ existence. Conte is up against the best amateur sleuth on the island of Ischia and Captain Murino welcomes her help.

The captain currently has his hands full trying to solve the murder of a woman who was found with no identification. No one recognizes her, but Nonna Maria feels that she should know her. The woman was from Ischia and Nonna Maria realizes that she knew her when they were both much younger. Her affair with a married man led to her pregnancy and banishment from the island by her family. Nonna Maria regrets not offering her help in the past. Now she is determined to find out why she returned and who murdered her.

As Nonna Maria travels through Ischia dressed in black and with her ever present bag slung over her shoulder, she is a familiar figure to all of the locals. She knows all of their families and all of their favorite foods, which she is happy to prepare for them. While she has no fear of putting herself in danger to find justice, she is watched over by family and Il Presidente, a former criminal who has a room in her house. One of her friends refers to her as a treasure. Once you meet Nonna Maria you can see why. Fans of Miss Marple will easily fall in love with this Italian sleuth. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House / Ballantine for providing this book for my review.

I'm kind of 'meh' about this one. I did not like Nonna Maria at all. She has the warmth of an ice pack. Perhaps the first book (which I haven't read) gives you more insight to the aged sleuth and all around protector of her beloved island, but I didn't take to her at all. She never eats or sleeps and apparently has enough time and money to keep all the residents of Ischia well fed.
The story was decent enough. Solid little mystery that you follow through the island. There are delicious descriptions of the area and I'd rather like to visit, but the story itself was kind of blocky.

Nonna Maria is a grandmother on a small island who helps the police solve difficult cases.
There are two cases that happen in a small time period that Nonna believes are related.
It was fascinating to get into her mind as she spoke with everyone and put all the clues together.
It was a little slow paced, but enjoyable read.
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.

It's Summer and the height of the tourist season on the beautiful island of Ischia. The hotels are full and Nonna Maria's god-daughter is enjoying her job as a maid in one of the many 5-star hotels. It all falls apart when a guest who claims to be very rich also claims that Loretta has stolen her necklace. She also claims that the item has been in her family for generations, is priceless, etc. Why did she accuse Loretta when there was a cleaning team assigned to her room with orders to be in the room three times a day? None of the women had ever seen the necklace but, no matter. The charge has been leveled and the hotel manager calls the police and fire Loretta.
At the same time the body of an u unidentified young woman is found dead by the side of a road. These two incidents draw the attention of not only the police but of Nonna Maria, a very insightful, curious and talented sleuth. The police turn to her for help because she knows everybody, has contacts far and wide and has a talent for finding answers. Some of the questions she asks seem so obvious like why did the woman even travel with such a valuable item of jewelry? Why wasn't it in the hotel safe? Why did no one ever see her wearing it to dinner? It's wasn't something to be worn with a bathing suit or wandering around town seeing the sights. Nonna is one both cases with the full blessing of the police.
The major enjoyment of this series is Nonna Maria and how she lives within the community. She is a widow of twenty years, still wears black, by her own admission she has never been to a movie theater, doesn't read books, newspapers or magazines. She has contacts in Rome but has never been there. She has a large family, has lived in her house for fifty years but has never set foot on the local beach just blocks from her home. She is a fascinating character and I love her approach to life and its puzzles.
This mystery has a smooth pace that invites the reader to walk alongside Nonna Maria as she asks questions, visits and observes. The sights, smells, sunshine and oh my, the descriptions of food and wine....the best reading escape for this reader. The kind of read that says "just one more chapter".
My thanks to the publisher Bantam and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Nonna Maria lives in Ischia, Naples. She will only eat food and drink coffee that she prepares herself. She is definitely “Old School”. Nonna is devoted to her family. She is called upon to help her family and neighbors solve mysteries that occur on the island.
This is the second book in the series. You can read it as a stand alone novel. I’m looking forward to the next book! Many thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I'm a long fan of Carcaterra, although this is a kinder gentler version of his normal books! Nona (Italian grandma) solves a mystery on the island of Ischia. Lots of local color. A bit predictable but a nice easy read

NONNA MARIA AND THE CASE OF THE STOLEN NECKLACE by Lorenzo Carcaterra
Publication: May2,2023
By: Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine / Bantam
Page Count: 288


Meet everyone’s favorite grandmother .. Nonna Maria …the most endearing and sage amateur sleuth you’ll ever meet. She’s lived on the island of Ischia her whole life and has an amazing array of friends and relatives …. and connections extending far and wide. Although in her seventies, she’s vibrant, never rides when she can walk. She seems to always have a cup of either espresso or wine in her hand. Everyone on the island calls for her if in trouble. She is known for her wisdom and penchant for solving crimes or mysteries. Often, even Captain Paolo Murino, asks for her wisdom and help in solving mysteries… although strictly in an unofficial basis she has helped in many of his investigations. He certainly trusts and respects Nonna Maria. Ischia lays in the Gulf of Naples, eighteen miles away, and has a vibrant tourist season due to its hot springs and “healing” thermal waters, as well as its five star hotels and restaurants. Like every other summer the, island seems overrun with tourists.
An apparently wealthy woman, Arianna Conte, staying at the five star, Grand Hotel Excelsior,
claims the maid, Loretta (who happens to be Nonna Maria’s goddaughter) has stolen her necklace. A priceless piece that has been in her family for decades. However, no one in the hotel, neighboring restaurants, or streets recall seeing this gem. In part of Loretta’s normal duties on the job, she actually goes into “her rooms’ at least three times a day. Loretta tearfully denies the charges and proclaims her innocence Her boss says he has no choice … until the mystery is solved.. and investigated fully by the carabinieri…. She is not to come back to work!
Even before the dust settles, early in the morning a body of a unidentified woman is found on the side of the road, discarded like a bag of garbage. No purse and no papers of identification. Nonna suspects the woman must have a personal connection to the island. One of her many friends on the island, Alberto, admits that he was working late at the beach and overheard two locals arguing. The sounds do carry quite a bit on a deserted beach. It was like a soap opera! He was so sorry.. and she said he abandoned her and stole her baby. She wanted him to bring the girl and her baby to Naples.
Nonna Maria finds herself deeply involved in both investigations. She will use her far-reaching network of friends and connections to aid in her unassuming investigation into both matters. Who exactly was that woman… why was she on the island … and who killed her and why? Was the necklace actually stolen? It’s a thing go beauty to see Nonna Maria in action, as she digs for answers. Lorenzo Carcaterra weaves an endearing cozy mystery, steeped in the culture and culinary cuisines and traditions of Italy. Nonna is always cooking on her stove … delicious favorite of all. She can’t help herself … always cooking and giving away her delicious foods to extremely thankful recipients. The reader is not only drawn into the mysteries, but also. Becomes enthralled with the settings and the mutli layered characters. This is the second in the series, but can certainly be enjoyed and devoured as a standalone. But now I must go back and read the first, and hope there are more to follow.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

Reading “Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace” is like climbing into a hot bath at the end of a hard day. Carcaterra has created a world that is both lovely and highly believable. It makes you want to pack a suitcase and travel to Ischia just to sit down and share a strong espresso with Nonna Maria while listening to the tales she tells. In this novel, Nonna Maria actually solves two mysteries. One involves a necklace that her goddaughter Loretta is falsely excused of stealing at the hotel where she works. The second involves the mystery of a woman found dead on the side of the road. Who is she and how did she die?

This novel is unique in that the reader really plays no part in solving the mysteries because we don’t have access to the information necessary to do so. Only Nonna Maria has the knowledge of the island, including who has lived there, what they may know, and what special skills someone may have that will contribute to the ultimate solution of the case. But I found I did not really care; it was just as enjoyable to spend time on an island in Italy with a woman who is beloved and trusted by all. Moreover, the solutions to the crimes involved are instructive and involve the mores of Italy and Ischia. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advanced reader’s copy of the book.

Once again Nonna Maria is on the case in this cozy mystery set in an exotic location. A murder and claims of theft are both taking place on Ischia in the heights of tourist season. The author with his unique characters deliver an entertaining story. The story moves at the pace of the ocean waves doling out information in increments. It is a story that will be totally enjoyed.