Auntie Poldi mysteries are always entertaining and fun to read.
This is not the best in the series but I enjoyed it.
Poldi is larger than life as usual and the plot flows keeping me entertained.
The mystery was a bit weird but it worked.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Mario Giordano’s Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna is an overwritten, over-the-top, and implausible mystery. I wanted to like this book but the purple prose and absurd plot made this a struggling one-time read. Although this is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

Flamboyant senior sleuth Auntie Poldi finds herself in the middle of a huge mystery involving an exorcism, a dead nun, and a missing artifact stolen from the Pope himself.

The mystery plot seemed interesting with several intriguing suspects and red herrings. I was really fascinated by the exorcism as well as the church’s involvement. However, the mystery quickly loses momentum and begins to drag. Moreover, the book takes some truly ridiculous plot twists that are straight out of a soap opera. The major plot twist at the centre of the mystery is unbelievable and silly while Poldi’s friendship with Death misses the magical realism mark and just settles into absurdity. Furthermore, while the separate storylines do come together in the end, some of the plot points feel shoehorned in.

Giordano’s writing is verbose, sometimes bordering on purple prose. He also takes many unnecessary detours and there is a lot of information dumping. The book could have been at least fifty pages shorter. There are a few moving and funny moments but, for the most part, the crude and repetitive humour often misses the mark. This book lacks the charm and wit of a cosy mystery while also missing the thrill and suspense of a more traditional mystery.

Although Poldi is definitely the star, the book is written from the first-person perspective of her nephew (who isn’t very interesting to begin with). Giordano switches between the nephew’s perspective and the story that Poldi tells him. This is sometimes difficult to follow.

I did enjoy the small village setting of Torre Archirafi as well as the glimpses into Italian life and culture.

Auntie Poldi is an interesting and eccentric character. Although I do like her brashness and determination and her antics are amusing, she often comes across quite stereotypically. I like the sweet and unconventional relationship between her and her boyfriend, Detective Vito Montano. It’s nice to see senior characters with such prominent roles. Poldi’s long-suffering nephew is fairly sympathetic and always there to support his beloved aunt. However, his romantic drama and writing problems are predictable and stale and make him ultimately forgettable.

Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna is the first book that I’ve read in the series and it will definitely be my last. Although I did like the characters, they could have been better written and the mystery could have been more interesting.




🍷 out of 5 wine glasses

All I received or could open was the brief prelude. Was there supposed to be more?
The setting was intense and vividly described. I was intrigued by the premise.
I can't give a decent rating based on what I was allowed to see.
I would love to read more.

DNF for me. I was out off in the first chapter when the nephew described his aunt and used the word “saucily” and “decollete”. It was weird and I could not continue.

Thank you for the opportunity to review.

amateur-sleuth, cultural-exploration, international-crime-and-mystery, laugh-out-loud, law-enforcement, farce, Sicily, situational-humor, verbal-humor*****
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books via NetGalley.
I couldn't listen to AI reader in the format sent, but I have absolutely loved the earlier ones. So I guess that I will have to wait until it is published in audio so I can give a current review, but I expect it to be just as much fun!
That was in December, 2020, and now it's May, 2021 and I have bought and listened to the audio format! This one is even more hilarious than each of the others! The beleaguered nephew is definitely about to lose his mind over her antics, Poldi has bargaining sessions with Death, and she even admits to personally knowing the Pope while breaking into the Vatican! Laugh your sox off!
Many thanks to John Brownjohn for his fun translation and to Matt Addis for his delightful voice artistry with the narration.

Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt & NetGalley for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was the first Auntie Poldi mystery I tried, and what a disappointment. Reading all the positive reviews of the earlier books in the series including this newest one, I was surprised to find I just couldn’t read this book. I made a sincere effort, but after the intro and first chapter, I knew I was wasting my time with the combination of silly characters and crude humor. While I couldn’t connect with Auntie Poldi (though I sympathized with her nephew), what really repulsed me was the author’s characterization of Auntie Poldi. He created a parody of a sixty-year-old single woman that was insulting and sexist. The character and the humor were reminiscent of the Pink Panther film series from the 1960s. Perhaps part of the problem is that this is written by a German man and translated by a British man. If you’re looking for bawdy humor and a silly mystery with an outrageous senior female sleuth that takes place in Italy, this could be for you. But I can’t recommend it. #AuntiePoldiandtheLostMadonna #NetGalley

I discovered the Aunti Poldi series in 2019 when I picked up book 1 Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions on the discount rack. I read it in the pool that summer and was intrigued by it being a foreign language cozy mystery. I have read a few translated thrillers but most of what I come across is literary fiction. You know I love cozy mysteries and I was excited to see another culture's take on the genre. The book was a bit different and I had some trouble getting into it. For most of the book, I couldn't quite figure out if I liked it or not. But by the end, I had really come to like Auntie Poldi. So I was excited to see Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna at Netgalley.

Somehow I missed books 2 and 3 in the series, but that didn't affect my enjoyment of this book. Only a year has passed since book 1 plus like any good cozy mystery, it is written as a stand-alone.

Poldi is a widow who moves to Sicily from Germany in book 1. She plans to drink herself to death while enjoying the beautiful sea view. But she puts that goal aside when she gets involved with a mystery. By book 4 she has solved a few more mysteries and has made a name for herself. She also has a boyfriend and a few neighborhood friends. She feels at home and now she's re-thinking her plans.

Perhaps because I was more prepared for the writing style, but I was immediately drawn into this story. I couldn't wait to see the trouble Aunti Poldi got herself into. And she does get herself in quite the doozy of trouble.

The writing style is a bit different than other mysteries I read. Poldi is relaying the story to her nephew and he, in turn, is telling it to us. This makes following a timeline somewhat difficult so my advice is don't try to. Each chapter begins with a summary of notes:

"Tells of graffiti, start-ups, chakras, pirates, learning the sitar, uniforms, envy, and death. Sicilian summers bring out the abs and pecs, Poldi embarks on a spiritual journey, and her nephew is once more devoid of a plan. On the plus side, Poldi has taken in a new in-home helper with a cock-and-bull backstory. When Montana gets serious, she first develops cold feet and then received some nocturnal visitors." (chp 1)

Sometimes they are confusing and sometimes they are amusing.

This is truly an international book. Giordano was born in German to Italian immigrants and now resides in France. The series is originally published in German. Yet, it is set in Italy. I have read a few books recently set in Italy and I think that I have a better understanding of the culture than I did when I read the first book so maybe that is why I enjoyed this one even more.

I really liked the characters more, too. Auntie Poldi and Montana are great. I was glad to see their relationship has progressed as they were just getting to know one another in book 1. If you are looking for a fun book with older main characters then this is the book to read. Poldi definitely makes 60 look like the new 40.

The mystery is interesting and so convoluted that I don't think it can be solved by the reader. This is largely due to the fact that Poldi is telling the details to her nephew so we don't always get the whole story as interruptions occur. Also, I think I'm sort of on the nephew's side with thinking that Poldi embellishes her stories. She is as colorful as the book's cover. I'm just not sure how reliable she is - I mean she sees and talks to Death.

The whole time I was reading this book I got the feeling that things were wrapping up - that maybe this was the last book in the series. So I was really happy to see that there is book 5 that was published last year in German. I will have to keep an eye out for the English version.

If you wish you were going on an international vacation but you are just taking a trip to the community pool this summer, take this book (or the whole series) with you for a great mental vacation. t is among the best escape reading that I've read recently.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday, May 18 at 11:30 am ET - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/05/auntie-poldi-and-lost-madonna-by-mario.html

I very much wanted to read this but it wasn't offered for Kindle. This was not apparent when I requested it. Sorry but no review from me. Thanks though.

Auntie Poldi finds herself involved in another murder investigation in her newest adventure and she is as unpredictable as ever. Rosario Ferrari was subjected to an exorcism in Rome. At one point she spoke out in German in Poldi’s voice. Shortly after the session she disappeared and a young nun who was in attendance fell from the roof of the Apostolic Palace. In Sicily, Poldi is interviewed by Padre Stefano from the Vatican and a commissario who want to know her connection to Ferrari. While she denies knowing her or the nun, her curiosity is piqued and she is determined to find answers. What follows is a startling encounter with the Pope, a chase through Rome and another murder with Poldi as the prime suspect.

Poldi summons her nephew back from Paris, where he was unsuccessfully pursuing his love interest. He arrives to find threatening graffiti painted on her door and Ravi, her new helper, playing a sitar in the yard. Her nephew is an aspiring writer and she puts him to work transcribing the events leading up to her arrest and her search for a lost Madonna. Throughout her narrative, Poldi spouts words of wisdom that have guided her life and shows a determination to do things her way. This sometimes puts a strain on her relationship with Commissario Montana, who is always there to help her and hopes to eventually marry her.

With death threats scrawled on her door and the neighbors avoiding her, Poldi lives in a village filled with secrets and lies. She is also being stalked by twins who provide a constant threat. Mario Giordano’s story is filled with unexpected thrills and humor that have you rooting for Poldi and often laughing out loud. Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna is pure enjoyment. I would like to thank NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing this book for my review.

Auntie Poldi is back sleuthing when she learns that a woman being exorcised has disappeared. Because Auntie Poldi has participated in the exorcism, she is a suspect! As Auntie Poldi investigates the case in order to prove her own innocence as well as find the real killer, she keeps running into a strange set of twins. Who are they and why are they pursuing her?

Auntie Poldi offers readers a mystery and an absorbing story. Her quirks are on full display in this fourth novel. There are death threats, friends avoiding her, and more. For those looking for a light read, Auntie Poldi is a good character to know. The story is fast-paced.

Auntie Poldi is at it again in this 4th installment of the series that will be published later this month. Somehow I missed a book in there and never heard of the third one, but it’s the same shtick, different murder. Poldi is a fun character; I envision Lucille Ball in Sophia Loren’s body, but this one didn’t hold a candle to the first story, and it was just a light and engaging read. I paired it with a delicious bottle of red wine from Etna and it made for a relaxing read. A good pick when you need something light in between heavy reads.

Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna is the fourth entry in what I find to be a rather quirky series. There is a lot happening in this one with exorcism, a dead nun and an extraordinarily attractive priest. Then, of course, there is Poldi, actually not Italian but Bavarian. Readers of the series know that she is very busy in Sicily though.

Fans of Poldi will welcome this book with its humor and action. It is not for everyone though in my opinion. Those wanting a very traditional mystery may be disappointed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

Another outrageous story with Auntie Poldi and her unnamed nephew. This series is getting wackier and wackier - i.e., more and more fun.

Poldi is a German woman who has moved to Sicily to live out her life. She is very enamored of policemen, and usually dresses a little funny. She can be very funny. The story begins with a priest exorcising a woman. The priest calls her Rosaria and she speaks in Latin and claims to be Poldi. Poldi is about to go to Rome with Montana. She ends up going by herself in a plane. She is terrified of flying, and there are a pair of twin men seated beside her. One of them has a picture of the Black Madonna on the back of his phone.

When she arrives in Rome, she sneaks into the Vatican. She runs into the Pope, and is jailed by the Vatican police. She is a suspect since a Nun has jumped from the roof after the exorcism. Later Montana arrives. They find out that the dead Nun Poldi had dreamed about had something to do with the Black Madonna, supposedly from statues of a Black Virgin with a baby in her arms from early Christianity. Poldi and Montana see the twins from the plane who escape in a van with boxes from Russo in Sicily, as they follow the van.

When Montana and Poldi return home, they continue to look into the case of the nun and the Black Madonna. Someone is also putting graffiti on Poldi's house. Poldi also has talks with Death, who is sometimes writing up the cases of death. Poldi becomes a suspect again when she goes to visit a former acquaintance and finds her dead. As the book nears the end, Poldi and Montanna are kidnapped from their bed by the twins, her in bunny pjs, and him naked. They go up Mt. Etna, and meet a surprise relative Poldi thought was long dead, as well as solving some mysteries.

This is a fun book with zany characters and a lot of excitement.

Auntie Poldie, elderly supersleuth, has been around for a while. This is the fourth in the Auntie Poldi series. Having not read the previous three I had a bit of difficulty with the story line and sorting out all the other characters and their lives and how they tied into this mystery. This time she is searching for the Black Madonna. When Poldi is faced with a new mystery to solve, she calls on many of these people. Some are a help, some are a hindrance. Poldi is always in love with someone or several someones, all at the same time. Everyone rocks along with each other. This story was set in Italy, and Poldi spends some time at the Vatican, even getting close to the Pope.

A pleasant read, fun, light, and not particularly memorable. Sometimes we need these books in our lives.

3 stars!!

As a fourth installment in the Auntie Poldi series, this book was an okay read. The mystery was lost on me as I haven't followed this series in the past. I had only read the first novel in this series, so at times I could not figure out who the other characters were and what there significance was. All I know is that they had major parts to play in this book, and sometimes they were overshadowing the mystery itself. The story was difficult to follow as well.

It was because of Auntie Poldi, our main character, that I wanted to keep reading. She's a fun character to read about! I think I need to catch up on reading the previous books in this series. Looking forward to reading the next Installment!

Many thanks to the publisher for providing me a review copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This is the fourth in the Auntie Poldi series, and that led to issues for me in trying to engage in the story. There was a great deal of backstory, and many recurring characters—Poldi’s family, friends, and multiple romantic relationships, both past and present. All of this plays a major part in the narrative and I found myself lost at times trying to follow it all. Auntie Poldi, with her unconventional style, is a fun character. Unfortunately, the mystery was often overshadowed by the character and her antics. All in all, an okay read.

Definatley think I need to pick up the past three books and maybe give this a re read

Love this series, and this book did not disappoint. Auntie Poldi is as clever, funny and adventurous as ever. A truly laugh out loud cozy mystery with enjoyable characters and entertaining plot. Hooked me from page one and I couldn't' put it down.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Everone should have an Auntie Poldi in their family! A laugh out loud who done it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thanks #netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If this one title is any indication, the Auntie Poldi series are a rollicking, funny, laugh out loud, very welcome addition to the mystery shelf. Auntie Poldi is a 60-year-old Bavarian woman living in Italy. She drinks (a lot), she loves (a lot), she hates to fly (a lot), and she finds herself in seemingly inescapable scrapes from which she extricates herself and those she loves with panache and moxie. The book starts with an exorcism, proceeds through sitar music, smoothies, menacing twin hoodlums, a lovesick nephew, and Poldi swearing off booze and sex while she tries to solve a mystery for the pope. Yes, the pope is a character in this book and I think the real pope wold enjoy this fictional version of himself. There is a hint of paranormal in the books, and really, that was the one thing I didn't really care for, but Giordano did make Death a funny cast member whose relationship with Poldi is grudgingly respectful, on both sides. I won't even bother trying to summarize this book, but if you are looking for a funny, well-written book for your staycation (or if you're brave enough to take a real vacation somewhere while a pandemic engulfs the world), Auntie Poldi and her nephew are great companions to take with you