The third in this mystery series is a little predictable but still makes for a good story. This can be a standalone but readers will probably want to read more about the island of Ischia and Nonna. New characters with evil intent are introduced but nothing gets by Nonna.

I had never heard of this author , the island of Ischia, or about this series before I received an advanced copy from the publisher and Netgalley. I now, of course must read the first two.
There are 2 simultaneous stories, both involving Nonna Maria (who is based on the authors grandmother and stories he was told).
Nonna Maria is quite the character with more quirks than your usual amateur sleuth. She doesn't drink water, only 14 espressos with chocolate and liquor during the day, and wine at night. She only eats her own food, and the descriptions of the food she cooks for her large family and friends are mouthwatering.
One of the stories is about an assassin who plans to murder the local police captain, and the other is a treasure hunt. There is a Pirate who only wears a red speedo, a shirt and a bandana at all times, IL Presidente, a retired assassin, other mafia characters, and many more quirky people. This is really a fun story.
This is my honest review, and I recommend starting with the first book,Nonna Maria and the missing bride.

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra is an engaging cozy mystery!
I enjoyed this mystery with its cozy vibes and descriptions.
This series is extremely well written. The characters are very well developed and the plots are well thought out.
This enchanting story is without a doubt, a new favorite of mine and I eagerly look forward to reading more in this series.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Nonna Marie and The Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra is the third book in a series, but my first by this author.
Nonna Marie is one of those "wise, grandmother that most people are intimidated by" characters. She's the matriarch of an Italian island. My expectation for this book was some interesting characters solve a puzzle. There are some characters. But the book bogs down with all of the back stories and side stories. There's a chapter on Nonna Marie making pizza with the grandchildren. Doesn't add anything meaningful to the narrative. This seems to be the year of wandering prose.
Best part of this book is the setting - the island of Ischia.
I expected more from this one.

Another great read by Lorenzo Carcaterra! So well written that I actually felt like I was a part of the story. A rich cast of characters that work well together and kept the story flowing. This author creates a perfect setting and I daydream of visiting such a beautiful place.
Thank you NetGalley, Lorenzo Carcaterra and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I thought this was another well written book in this series. I like Nonna Maria and all her friends who help her. Her cooking sounds amazing and made me hungry just reading what she made. Definitely looking forward to her next adventure.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This is a cute cozy mystery. Nonna Maria is the heart of Ishia, she has tendrils that run far and wide and seems to know everything that's going on with everyone. And when one of her friends is in danger she does what she can to help him. This part of the story gave us a deeper look into Il Presidente which I really enjoyed.
The mystery part of the story has a young woman asking Nonna to help find a treasure left behind by her grandfather. Pirate and the Magician were fun to go along with as they were all hunting for the treasure. I enjoy what a close-knit community the residents of Ishia are. Nonna is a friend and confidant to all and if you are in trouble or need any kind of help Nonna with help in any way she can.

The story was cute and easy to read, but I think cozy-mystery is not for me. The two mystery plots were kind of meh. It was super obvious, especially when that overly helpful character popped up—you just knew there was more to him. Honestly, it was just okay for me.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group -Bantam for an advance copy ♥️♥️♥️♥️


Wow,I just finished the latest Nonna Maria mystery and I'm still grinning from ear to ear. Lorenzo Carcaterra has done it again, crafting a story that's equal parts charming, thrilling, and utterly captivating. Nonna Maria is, without a doubt, one of my favorite amateur sleuths - her sharp wit, quick thinking, and generous heart make her a true delight. And this time around, she's faced with not one but two pulse-pounding mysteries to solve!

I loved every minute of this book - from the moment I started reading, I was hooked. The pace is fast-moving, the characters are richly drawn, and the plot twists are expertly woven. I found myself cheering Nonna Maria on as she dodged assassins, uncovered hidden treasure, and explored the secret caverns of Ischia. And the way Carcaterra weaves together the two mysteries, revealing the surprising connections between them, is pure genius.

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a dash of adventure, or just looking for a great story to get lost in, this one's a must-read. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! And if you're new to the series, don't worry - this one stands alone beautifully. Just be prepared to fall in love with Nonna Maria and her island world, and to stay up way too late turning those pages.

This is a lovely cozy mystery that is a quick read. Perfect for your summer light reading. This is the third book in the series and I highly suggest reading the first two books before reading this one. I had not so there was a couple areas of confusion that I am sure could have been avoided if I had read the other two books. There are two mysteries playing out within this book. They are laid out in a way that is easy to follow and tie together nicely.
Thank you to Random House Publishing-Ballentine, Bantam, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I loved the setting, a Greek island. The characters were great especially Nonna Maria. Who doesn't love a treasure hunt?

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra is a suspenseful tale that intricately weaves together history, traditions, and colorful characters. Join Nonna Maria as she embarks on a thrilling adventure to uncover a lost treasure while immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of Italian culture. This captivating story will keep me on the edge of my seat as I follow Nonna Maria's journey through mystery and intrigue.

A cute cozy mystery with 2 mysteries going on. The chapters were short and quick. This was easy to read as a standalone, but I think I’d like to go back and read the first two.

This is a lovely series, with entertaining characters, not least the titular Nonna Maria...who is apparently fearless! Everyone else worries for Nonna, but her concerns are all for others, and she will help anyone she possibly can. She's a gem, and her friends The Pirate. Il Presidente, and the Magician were great fun as well.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine; Bantam. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Thriller
Language: I don't remember it having swearing
Readability: Easy to read without having read previous books

This is the first *Nonna Maria* novel that I've read. The world on this island embraces the reader and made me feel like I was among all the people in this small town. I loved how Nonna Maria took care of those she considered family. She is also quirky and fun. She's the type of grandmother I would love to have in my neighborhood.

There are really several stories going on:
1. The Nonna Maria world of being part of her circle
2. A Thriller where we know someone is trying to kill the police captain
3. A second thriller where there is a lost treasure

In ways, I wish we had one of the thrillers instead of two because I didn't feel like they interwove enough. The book is only about 288 pages long. I also didn't love how two of the characters were only known as the "Pirate" and the "Magician." I wish they'd had a name instead of a nickname. Some of the dialogue felt unrealistic to me—but maybe that's part of the sense that this book is taking place in Italy.

Because I love Nonna Maria, I would try another novel.

Happy reading!

In this third book of the series the author takes us back to Nonna Maria's island home and her special circle of friends. Nonna is known throughout the island for her loving and caring ways. Even though she never eats outside of her own kitchen she is always taking meals to others packed in her huge black tote. She is a devoted friend and everyone knows that if you have a problem she is the one to go to for help.

In this book we have two mysteries going on, and Nonna is right in the middle of both of them. One friend has someone attempting to kill him. Another friend is searching for some lost treasure that a relative left to them. And of course, Nonna Maria is helping in every way that she can.. No matter the danger Nonna Maria is not going to give up. She has friends all over the island that will help her. The strong spirits and dedicated friendship that they share helps them to overcome and succeed in the adventures.

This book is a cozy mystery that holds the reader captive. The devoted friendships, family love, strong beliefs and moral strengths make this a very touching story. The descriptions of the island culture, foods and traditions that Nonna Maria shares with her family and grandchildren are an added bonus. You feels as though you are in her kitchen and can hear Nonna Maria as she tells the stories.

Even though this book is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

This is a story that can be read in on big delightful gulp. Trouble comes to Ischia once again and Nonna Maria and her friends get to work to stop the criminals. The characters in the story are very interesting. The author writes a great plot which is what keeps the readers coming back for more of this series. This story has all the elements of drama and intrigue. Readers should definitely not miss this one.

This series is amazing and I've loved each book. Nonna Maria is a modern day Agatha Christie but with more panache. She sounds like a wonderful person who loves her country and friends.

Captain Murino is being threatened and Nonna Maria will not stand for it. Along with all her contacts and friends on the island she is determined to protect the Captain whether he wants her help or not. These are always such delightful reads and who doesn't love Nonna Maria. A must read!

Lorenzo Carcaterra returns with the third book in this cozy mystery series. The author’s endeavor to cast Maria, the main character, as a friend, mother, grandmother, aunt, and great-grandmother to many continues to work for me. While others say she is a sleuth, she says she doesn’t solve crimes, but helps friends and family when they’re in trouble.

Once again, two cases are intertwined in the plot. Rita, the granddaughter of an old friend comes to Nonna Maria seeking help. Her grandfather left her a map to treasure hidden in one of Ischia’s caverns. The caverns are full of pits, traps, and other hazards. However, he died before he could give her more specifics. The other case involves Captain Paolo Murino, the lead federal law enforcement officer assigned to the island of Ischia, Italy. Paolo created a powerful enemy years ago in Naples. An assassin has come to the island seeking revenge.

Maria is charming, patient, a friend to many, and has a web of connections. She has intuitive instincts and is nurturing and caring for those she knows and loves. Her character has significant depth. Captain Murino has grown over the series. He relies not only on himself and his skill, but on Maria and her circle of contacts. The other characters have a variety of depths and many of them are memorable. Which ones will show up in future books?

I was immediately drawn into the story and the main characters were likeable and relatable. This is a book to be savored. It is not a fast-paced book, but it brilliantly portrays the island, the local people, the sites, and the customs on the island, bringing them to life. The writing flows well and is very descriptive, but the mysteries were a little predictable. The atmosphere and world-building are excellent. The author managed to provide fantastic insight into the characters’ thoughts, behaviors, and actions toward others. There are also interesting insights into local food, how news is spread on the island, and how children learn life lessons from their elders. Weaving love, survival, family, friendship, family dynamics, found family, revenge, death, marriage, and much more into the story, the author keeps me reader turning the pages.

Overall, this is a moving, charming and enjoyable cozy mystery with great characterization as well as some pivotal stressful and emotional moments. It is also a celebration of friendship and community. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author’s writing style is easy to connect with and draws me into his stories. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine – Bantam and Lorenzo Carcaterra provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be May 07, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.