This book is such a gem! It's a heartwarming tale that will make you wish you have a Nonna Maria in your life. It’s the ideal read for anyone looking for a captivating story, lovable characters, and a chill/cozy vibe.

Nona Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride by Lorenzo Carcaterra is a cozy mystery about Nona Maria, a smart Italian grandmother. The story takes place in a small Italian village where Nona Maria tries to solve the mystery of a missing bride. As she investigates, she uncovers hidden secrets. With a good mix of suspense, humor, and family themes, this book is an enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries.

Not a cozy, not a thriller, but somewhere in between. Nonna Maria's detecive skills could be compared to many of Agatha Christie's better known characters. She's a mix of your grandmother, mother and 5th grade school teacher, each of whom know exactly what's going on without actively looking. Did I forget to say I love her? This is my first title in Lorenzo Carcaterra's library and I'm not sure why no one has recommended his books to me before this.
Nonna Maria moves through her neighborhood, speaking and listening to any and all along the way. Her door is always open and her shoulders are wide. If you need help, you ask Nonna, who always helps. Two main story lines center THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE. Nonna has hidden a young woman from her fiance as she looks into the woman's fears. He's new to the island and not who he portrays himself to be. The island has also lost a friend in a fishing boat captain whose death looks to be accidental, but Nonna doesn't believe it. The stories move at their own pace as readers see the same things Nonna does, but she adds them all up to reach a startling conclusion.
If you've never read Carcaterra's books, don't wait any longer. His back library contains many titles that I have added to me TBR list. I bet you could find some to add to yours, including this one.

Enjoyed this one very much, another great cozy suspense from author Lorenzo Carcaterra. Never disappoints, highly recommend!

Nonna Maria as the protagonist solving the mystery fits well as she is one of those elderly ladies who seems to know everyone, and everything going on in town. The beautiful descriptions of the town and the Island help to take you there. A cute quick mystery set in an intriguing location.

Love Nonna Maria as an amateur sleuth. So charming, calm, and wise. This was a great addition to the series.

Reading Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride by Lorenzo Carcaterra is a little like reading an Italian Miss Marple. I like the characters, setting, and plot, but found some of the backstory to be tedious. I don't mind knowing a character's past, but prefer it in drips and drabs rather than taking several pages in the middle of a chapter. Just my preference. Even with that drawback, I found the story delightful and the ending satisfactory. I will be reading future titles in this series as they come out. Thanks to Netgalley and/or the publisher for the chance to read this title in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for allowing me to read this book and give my honest opinion. This book reminds me of a sleep town mystery of who dun it? Nonna Maria, a widow known for always wearing black, helps a recently engaged woman disappear after she confesses her fear for her fiancé, who is new to the area. Nonna Maria decides to research a murder that has gone unsolved.

I love Lorenzo Carcaterra! He presents a great storyline and Nonna is not a mystery sleuth she just helps friend and family with their problems.

This is the first book in the Nonna Maria series and it was very well done! I enjoyed reading about this elderly woman in town, who seems to know everyone, and even is friends with some dangerous characters.
Anna comes to Nonna Maria scared. She is now engaged to a man that she thought she loved, but realizes he is very dangerous, and may wish to harm her once they are married. Nonna Maria encourages Anna to disappear while she investigates what is happening.
Nonna relies on her wits and her friendships to save Anna.
Very enjoyable. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

I tired several times to read this but I could never get hooked. I never finished it. Not my cup of tea.

Absolutely charming. I loved this little cozy mystery set on an island in southern Italy. The setting was both wonderfully atmospheric and warm, like a place you’d have friends living in. You could smell the sea and taste the wine.

Each character added a little something extra to the story but of course Nonna Maria stole the show. Often in cozies I read it’s a bit strange how people open up to the often-newcomer protagonist but Nonna Maria has history here and I was sold on how she interacted with others.

Though there was a point here and there that it dragged a little bit for me, it was a delightful read and I look forward to reading more featuring Nonna Maria in the future.


Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I have to say, I absolutely LOVED Nonna Maria. Who wouldn't love a little old Italian grandma who solves mysteries and knows how to get everything done in her little island??

This was a great little mystery story with both a "stranger" to uncover and a murder in the midst. There were twists and turns that I definitely did not expect. I hope to be able to read more books featuring Nonna Maria!

A sweet, fairly predictable mystery set on the Italian island of Ischia and featuring an elderly Italian woman (Nonna Maria) who solves problems for the island residents. This time she tries to save a young girl from making a terrible mistake, solves the mystery surrounding the death of an old friend, and helps a young man get out of a sticky situation involving gambling and drugs.

This is a pleasant book, but not very challenging. The "mysteries" are easily solved, so don't expect any surprises. The real star is the island itself. The author spends an inordinate amount of pages describing the terrain, the flora, the customs, and the food. So, if you're looking for a pleasant, easy read that will take you away to a beautiful setting, this may be the book for you. If you're looking for a taut, suspenseful, surprising mystery, look elsewhere. Luckily there are all kinds of readers, so this book will likely find an audience. It wasn't really my cup of tea, but it was a nice virtual trip to Ischia.

Nonna Maria is an old woman who has lived her whole life on Ischia, an island off the coast of Italy. She has been a widow for many years and now enjoys the company of her children, many grandchildren, extended family, and numerous friends. Nonna Maria is also the one who people in her village turn to when they need advice or a friendly ear. Anna is one such person. She’s engaged to a man she barely knows and fears that it’s a trap. Nonna Maria suspects the same thing and sets out to help the young woman and her family.

Nonna Maria is somewhat of an Italian Miss Marple but in a bit gentler way. She doesn’t inject herself into situations but rather she usually tries to help only when she is asked. Lorenzo Carcaterra has written an entertaining cozy-type mystery that has the added bonus of taking the reader to a small Italian village, complete with a variety of characters and wonderful descriptions.

All in all, it was a treat to spend time with Nonna Maria and I’m looking forward to more of her adventures.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

This is a wonderful cosy mystery to read. Characters likable and I could relate. The plot kept me interested. I highly recommend.

Nonna Maria always has excellent adventures. This is fun read that requires nothing more than a relaxing spot to escape for a short time. Love all these stories.

This was a fun romp featuring an adorable lady who solves crimes thru no fault of her own. Loved the cast of characters as well as the setting and very well written!

This novel was a very short but thrilling read. I love the main character, Nonna Maria. She is not the typical female sleuth. She is older and widow. She has a very loving heart. I also liked her intelligence. The mystery is very compelling, and I found it to be a very clever case. Thus, this was a light and cozy mystery. I love all the characters. The novel is well- written and is very fast-paced. I also love the setting of Naples. Thus, I look forward to reading more!

Nonna Maria is a great-grandmother who has spent her entire life on Ischia. Everyone on the island knows to go to Maria if they have a problem. One day a young woman appears at Maria's door about to marry a man that she does not remember knowing. This is not the first time Maria has heard this story but it is the first time before the wedding has occurred so Maria is going to help this young woman. With the help of the local carabinieri, even though the other locals will not go to him, the neighborhood priest, and several locals of dubious backgrounds, Maria will stop this wedding, capture the young man trying to force the marriage, as well as solve some other happenings going on.

This is a fun novel that intertwines local culture with a great cozy mystery. It made me want to take a trip to Ischia and become one of the tourists described in the book that sustains the island during the summer months. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out.