The Enemy You Gnocchi

By: Catherine Bruns

Poisoned Pen Press

General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller

Publish Date 26 October 2021

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read and review this book. Sorry it took me a year to do so.

Good Reads Synopsis:

It’s the deadliest thyme of the year…

With snow dusting the ground and sauce sizzling on the stove, local chef Tessa Esposito is ready to serve up some holiday cheer. And with the annual Festival of Lights underway, it seems nothing can dim her spirits. Not even Mario Russo, the newest scrooge in town whose espresso bar has been quickly disrupting businesses and stealing customers from Harvest Park’s favorite coffeehouse.

But when Mario is discovered at the festival’s opening, face down in a Santa suit, Tessa realizes the bah humbug runs deeper than she could have imagined. And when one of her dearest friends is implicated in the crime, she must make a list of Mario’s enemies, check them twice, and discover the cold-blooded killer. Especially before they can sleigh again.

Book Review:

I gave this book 4 stars. It is the third book in the Italian Chef Mysteries. You can read this as a standalone, but you miss out on the back story. I was a little lost by not knowing what happen in the first two books. The author tried really hard to give clues so you would be able to follow. The good reads synopsis gives you a good view on what happens in the book. What I like about the book is the friendships of the small town and the family units. Tessa is the cousin of the main police detective, and he knows how she thinks and works. He knows that telling her to stay out of the investigation is almost point less but he keeps trying. Tessa finds herself realizing that she has feelings for her late husband’s best friend, and she is trying to come to term with it. This book takes place 14 months after the first book where her husband is killed.

I am finding myself wanting to get her other books so I can read them to get the full picture and then reread this one. It is a fast read and you will tear up in parts of the book.

Love any and all of the books by this author. This is book three in the Italian Chef mysteries but could be read as a standalone if needed. With the holidays right around the corner chef Tessa Esposito is ready to serve up all her delectable treats. Tessa refuses to even let Mario Russo, who is stealing away her business at an alarming rate to worry her this holiday season. Things take a horrible turn for the worse when her rival Mario turns up dead at the beginning of the festival. Tessa realizes she has to jump into action when her best friend is implicated in the crime. More determined than ever Tessa sets out to solve the mystery to save not only her friend but the Christmas holiday also.

The Enemy You Gnocchi, the third book in Catherine Bruns’s Italian Chef mystery series is another strong entry in this formidable collection. It tugs at your heartstrings more than most cozy mysteries and packs a powerful emotional punch. Yet we never lose sight of the mystery.

Tessa Esposito and her Anything’s Pastable crew are serving Italian delectables at the Festival of Lights, a local holiday gathering in Harvest Park. However, a damper descends on the festivities when Mario Russo, the man playing Santa, is found dead just outside the celebration. Who would want Mario dead? Apparently, there are plenty of suspects, including Java Time’s owner, Archie Fenton. Mario, the proprietor of a new coffee house, The Espresso Lane, is an obnoxious man who has angered many of Harvest Park’s citizens. Archie is fed up with the way Mario has lowered his prices to lure patrons out of Java Time and into The Espresso Lane. Unfortunately, this keen competition for customers leads police to focus on Archie as their prime suspect. Tessa knows that the kind-hearted Archie could not have committed murder, so she steps in to help solve the case.

Yes, this is a really good book, with a compelling mystery, with several twists and turns of fast-paced drama. But the murder mystery is not the only thing that keeps the reader flying through the pages. Although she had been widowed a year ago, Tessa is still struggling with her husband’s death and her new-found feelings for his best friend, Justin, with whom she has bonded following Dylan’s untimely demise. This makes for several poignant and heart-felt moments, leaving Tessa with an important decision to make. The emotional ups and downs she experiences ring true. The supporting cast is fantastic. Gabby is the quintessential best friend, on hand to dispense timely and wise advice just when Tessa needs it. Cousin Gino, a detective with the police, walks the line between adherence to rules and a desire to include Tessa in the investigation. And Justin is kind and heroic, sharing the loss of Dylan with Tessa and hoping for more. Their blossoming relationship becomes an integral part of the novel.

This series just gets better and better. The Enemy You Gnocchi, with its excellent combination of emotion and suspense, is a book you can’t put down. And its characters will find a way into your heart, and I am looking forward to seeing what happens to Tessa next.

Note: I received an ARC of The Enemy You Gnocchi from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. The above is my honest review.

This is an engrossing cozy mystery with a side of romance that rounded out the story nicely. I hadn't read the earlier books in the series, but I still enjoyed this one and found it interesting. The characters had more depth than I've seen in other cozies, and I think the dialogue was genuine. This would be a great fireside read or beach read.

The Enemy You Gnocchi is the 3rd in the An Italian Chef Mystery Series by Catherine Burns where the annual Festival of Lights are underway. Tessa is in full swing getting read for the Santa Breakfast, if only she could find someone to play Santa since Justin is working. Mario Russo who owns the new coffee shop in town is really stirring up trouble in the small community and he's set his eyes on Tessa. Tessa isn't impressed! When Mario is found dead in his Santa Suit, Tessa feels she needs to find out who killed him since her cousin brought Archie in for questioning! I really enjoyed this book with lots of twist and turn in this mystery. Catherine Burns is a wonderful writer!
Thank you to NetGallery for my ARC!

Seasonal Fatality…
The third in the Italian Chef mystery series and Christmas has arrived in Harvest Park with local chef Tessa ready to serve up the best of the season. With the annual Festival of Lights well underway what could possibly mar the perfect ambiance? A body, that’s what. Can Tessa make a list of all of the dead Mario’s many enemies to find a killer? Entertaining, enjoyable and seasonal with a well crafted cast and a fun storyline. A worthy addition to the series.

The Enemy you Gnocchi, 3rd book in the Italian Chef mystery series, finds Tess Esposito preparing for the holidays. The Tess we've grown to love is busy in the kitchen at her restaurant Anything's Pastable preparing for a special children's event and is baking up a ton of cookies for the town's annual Festival of Lights. Unfortunately a newcomer to town, Mario Russo, is murdered and there is no shortage of suspects, as Mario has managed to make many enemies during his short residence in town. Tess's cousins are ever present - Gabby is her partner-in-crime trying to solve the murder before the wrong person is accused, while Gabby's brother Gino, local law enforcement, tries unsuccessfully to keep both of them out of the case. In the midst of all of this Tess is still trying to come to terms with her growing feelings for her dead husband's best friend Justin.

The story draws you in and has you investigating with Tess and Gabby, routing for Tess and Justin to get together, worrying about what will happen to Tess's friend accused of the murder - basically engaging the reader in every aspect of the story. The description of Mario is such that you immediately find him an unlikable character and of course discern that he must be the one to get murdered. While this may seem obvious, there are many avenues that send you down the wrong path, making it very difficult to determine who committed the crime. The story is so well written that the reader is totally surprised when the culprit is finally revealed.

Even in the midst of the murder and budding romance, the author placed you firmly in the midst of Christmas preparations, making you wish you could sample some of those many cookies that Tess bakes throughout the book (recipes are included in the back of the book!)

This is a very enjoyable series and The Enemy You Gnocchi is a great addition. I will look forward to reading many more in the series!

The Enemy You Gnocchi by Catherine Bruns is the third book in the Italian Chef Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone. I love this series.
There are plenty of suspects, relatable characters, plot twists, family, and a hint of romance.
There are recipes included in this easy-to-read Cozy.
I'm already wanting the next book in the series.
I was given an ARC from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐

This book is a little hard for me to rate. It was very well written. Held up well as a standalone. The plot was engaging. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and the characters were likable (although I found Tessa annoying at times).

The main issue I had with this book is that I loathe romantic angst in my cozy mysteries. If I want to read that type of thing, I would have picked up a romance. A genre which at the moment I have ZERO interest in. Half this book seemed to be Tessa lamenting about her dead husband and/or her feelings for his best friend. Every time it was brought up, I wanted to stab myself in the eye with a red hot poker. 😂

So yeah, if you don't mind romance in your cozies, then I'd definitely recommend this one. If you are like me and don't want a bunch of romantic angst wedged in with your mystery, I would probably give this one a pass.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

This is my favorite of the series so far. Tessa's character grows so much in this one, learning to open up to possibilities in her personal life as well as her professional life. The mystery was interesting and had me guessing the whole time, with plenty of suspects and a potential mafia connection. The characters were interesting and I felt the sense of community the author was trying to build. Can't wait to try a few of the recipes from the back of the book.

This is an amazing and clever book. I was hooked in the first chapter. She is still trying to get over the murder of her husband a year ago. She owns a restaurant and one of her stalkers comes in every day. Mario insists she is his girl. One night he is murdered. She sticks her nose in the murder business instead of letting her cousin gino the cop find the killer. This book is adorable and alot of fun to read. The characters are very engaging. The story is well written with plenty of clues to chase down the murderer. I thought this book was brilliant.

The plot of the book was such a great page turner. The plot of the book was very well written. I truly cannot wait to read another wonderful book from this new to me author. This was a truly great book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the review copy of The Enemy You Gnocchi by Catherine Bruns. This is the third installment of the Italian Chef Mysteries and takes place during the Christmas season. Entrepreneur and amateur sleuth, Tessa, becomes embroiled in a mystery to clear the name of the local shop owners in the murder of the new trouble making coffee shop owner, Mario Russo.

The mystery is very intriguing as we learn more about the Mario Russo, his past, and his motivations in Harvest Park.

I really enjoyed this story and the characters get more developed as the series progresses. The family unity and support is beautiful! The added bonus of Christmas and a touch of romance for Tessa is wonderful!

I have read all of the books in this series, but this book could be read as a standalone. Not only did I enjoy the mystery, but I also enjoyed reading about Tessa trying to open up her heart again to love.Simply fabulous ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love holiday themed cozy mysteries and will read them any time I get a chance. The covers are so darn appealing and the cozy mysteries inside are so hard to pass up.
This one, The Enemy You Gnocchi is the third in the Italian Chef Mystery series.
I loved the opening talking about Italian food reminiscent of what her Grandma used to make, the sauce with garlic,herbs and tomatoes. You can just smell it and it makes you hungry for a hearty dish of pasta.
Chef Tessa Esposito is busy stirring the sauce her grandmother used to make in her own Italian restaurant in Harvest Park called Anything's Pastable but that's not all she's doing. When something needs done she's your woman ,so she's also baking dozens and dozens of cookies for a town commitment while putting in twelve hour days at her restaurant.
Newcomer in town Mario has opened up a coffee shop and he's hurting the town's business by undercutting them.
Many are mad at him for doing so plus he flirts with many of the women in town. Is this a reason for him to turn up dead though?
This is a fast paced and exciting mystery. The plot is great and will keep you guessing.

Pub Date: 26 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Tessa is being stalked by an unpleasant lecherous customer when the book opens. He truly is a slime bucket who has managed to tick off almost everyone in town. He has really been trying to undermine Archie who runs Java Time so when his body is discovered that night with Archie’s knife embedded in his chest, Tessa’s cousin Gino must follow the evidence. But Tessa is convinced Archie is innocent. That means she and her cousin Gabby will be joining the investigation in an unofficial way. Gino has a quandary with Tessa. He does not want her involved but he cannot deny she has a talent for solving murders, including the one of her own husband.

Things get a bit dicey and confused as two hoods think she knows the whereabouts of money owed them by the deceased. She thinks they are good for the murder especially after they try and kidnap her. But they are in jail when a second body is found so either they have accomplices or there is someone else involved. Tessa thinks she know why but she cannot figure out the who. Clearly it is someone hiding in plain sight. I do confess I twigged to the killer before Tessa but I was not certain until the end. It did not detract at all from the story.

These are likeable characters and the strong connections between them invest the reader in the book. There is a secondary plot going on where Tessa has to confront her feelings for Justin, her best friend and the best friend of her deceased husband. There is a lot going on and it takes a major event to bring it all to a head. I know the way I was rooting… and so was Luigi, Tess’ cat. Five purrs and two paws up.

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters!

I'm loving this series and this is a good and entertaining adddition.
I was glad to catch up with the characters, the solid mystery kept me guessing.
I had a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I adore Tessa. I love her strong family ties and her love of cooking and baking. I loved this story. I kind of thought I knew who might have done it, but I was surprised by the reveal and the ending was fantastic. So excited to see what's next for Tessa!

What do cozy mysteries, holidays, and Italian food have in common? This book!

This third in the Italian chef series from Catherine Bruns will have cozy fans curled up and guessing.

If you haven’t read the rest of the series, I highly recommend doing so.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.