Murder in an Italian Piazza is the third book in the Bria Bartolucci series by Michael Falco.

I did not enjoy the third book quite as much as the first two. I loved the Italian setting, and the author appears to have spent a lot of time in Italy and Positano. The main cast of characters includes characters of a wide range of ages and two Segugio Italiano dogs. There are many references to Italian food (and, weirdly, many references to espadrille shoes – beloved, dependable, favored espadrilles - we get it, they are ideal for walking around hilly Positano).

This entry in the series had some manufactured drama between Bria and her police chief boyfriend and a murder (and murderer reveal) that was pretty gruesome for a cozy mystery. As in previous entries, Bria can see the slightest small clue and suddenly Know All. There are some Big Reveals that are not big at all (like the reason local Mimi dislikes the visiting opera singer, which was obvious from the beginning).

Still, I will read book four if there is one. I recommend reading this cozy series for the charming Italian setting, not the solving of the mysteries.

I read an advance reader copy of Murder in an Italian Piazza from Netgalley.

I didn’t realize this was a series, but it reads like one, so I’ll upload the other books now.
This is a story about a well known opera singer coming to visit where it all started. Bria is a B&B owner and a bit of a sleuth. She happens to be saying the chief of police too. When a murder happens on the piazza Bria makes it her mission to solve the murder first.
Good story & interesting twist.
I would recommend.

This is my first read by this author and the series, and I am glad I selected it. A small (Italian) town cozy mystery with lightness and humor interspersed. I loved the characters, could picture them all immediately, and I felt the vibrancy of the Italian community come through. The author made you want to be a part of this community, as well as find a shrimp purse.

Having not read the first two books, there were places throughout where an additional sentence or two of backstory would have been helpful. But that didn’t take away from this book, and I felt it worked as a stand-alone.

I am looking forward to reading the first books in the series, and any others that come in the future. A light read, even with murder and mayhem.

What happens when a retired opera diva, her mousey daughter, a retired soccer player/billionaire, and his ne'er do well son come to Positano? Mayhem and murder. The village expects Bria to find the murderer as she sorts out her feelings about the chief of police, Luca. And then she catches Luca in a lie. . . This is the village to live in for excitement and gossip!

My first book in this series by this author makes an interesting prologue. Characters are so well developed as to have great chemistry and inspire a sense of camaraderie that the reader wants to become immersed. AND the storyline itself impels you to read the previous adventures in order to know their history and understand the nuances of the relationships. Because, while the crime is the key, the relationships between Falco's characters are the glue that binds this small town and keeps the reader invested.

I'm going to enjoy reading the first two instalments and will look forward to further developments as well.

I really enjoy this series. First you have the amazingly beautiful setting on the Italian coast that the author totally does justice to, then there is the lovely Bella Bella Inn, and finally we have a wonderful warm but still intriguing cast of characters. A possible suggestion to the author is to add a list of the cast of characters to the beginning of each book as we have a large family, wonderful friends and townspeople/business owners and that is added to in each book with guests at the Inn. In this book, Bria is hosting a famous opera star returning to Positano and her humble roots to perform, as a refresher out of retirement, before a performance at her daughter's wedding. With her daughter marrying the son of a famous, incredibly wealthy retired soccer star, there is much attention to the event. When the Diva's piano player is found murdered in the Piazza hours after the performance, who could have wished him dead? Was this a case of mistaken identity? Did someone have an old score to settle? This was a very twisty mystery with a very surprising but satisfying solution! Come along for a great trip to the Italian coast! A big thanks to #Netgally, #KensingtonCozies, and the author for an opportunity to read. #MurderinanItalianPiazza #ABriaBertolucciMystery #MichaelFalco #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

Unfortunately I have decided to DNF this one, it wasn't for me.
I will continue to check for future books from this author as I like to give author's a second chance and I won't be put off from DNF this one for my future reads.

Murder in an Italian Piazza is the third book in Michael Falco’s cozy mystery series featuring Bria Bartolucci, a young widow who runs a Bed and Breakfast in picture-postcard Positano, on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. She has a precocious eight-year-old son, Marco; a very smart dog, Bravo; a big, loving but opinionated, typical Italian family; and a growing circle of loyal friends. In the earlier books, we saw a romantic spark between Bria and Luca, Positano’s police chief and brother of her best friend, Rosalie. Now they are officially a couple.

When the story opens, the whole village is excited that Carlotta Incantaro, a famous opera singer, is coming out of retirement to make one last public appearance in Positano, the town where she got her start. Well, almost the whole village is excited about the upcoming performance. Several of Bria’s friends, including her mother-in-law, Imperia, can’t stand Carlotta.

Carlotta and her faithful piano player, Fiorello, are staying at Bella Bella, Bria’s B&B. For privacy, Fiorello made the booking under a fake name. Carlotta’s daughter, Ombra, and her fiancé, Armando, the playboy son of a billionaire businessman, are staying at the swankiest hotel in town. Carlotta makes it clear that she chose Bella Bella not for its great reviews, but for the anonymity it would provide. Bria gets to observe firsthand what an obnoxious diva Carlotta can be as she struggles to please her celebrity guest.

Despite a few early hiccups, which are quickly resolved, the concert goes off beautifully, and the citizens of Positano are mesmerized by Carlotta’s voice. But then, as Bria is walking home afterward through the piazza, she discovers… a dead body.

There’s a brief mix-up with identification at first, but it turns out that the victim is Fiorello, Carlotta’s trusted friend and piano player, and he’s been strangled with a piano wire. The suspect pool is small, as few people even knew him. Who would have a motive? The fact that Fiorello used a fake name turns out to be a clue.

As usual, Bria investigates. After all, she found the body; the victim and his grieving employer were guests at her B&B. No longer the newcomer, she has built relationships with the townspeople and has a way of encouraging them to talk. She gets much more respect from the police now that she’s dating the chief, plus, her track record shows that she’s a good listener and very talented at putting seemingly random bits of information together to solve a puzzle. In fact, her fellow villagers expect her to figure out whodunnit, a la Jessica Fletcher or Miss Marple.

Although Luca is on the right track, it takes Bria’s creativity and clever sleuthing skills to gather the proof needed to reconstruct Fiorello’s murder, figure out the motive, and bring the guilty to justice.

Like the other books in the series, this one provided another great glimpse into life in Positano, and it was so much fun spending time with this lovable cast of characters.

this was a strong third entry in the Bria Bartolucci Mystery series, it had that element that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening. It continued the story perfectly and the characters continued to feel like they belonged in this universe. The concept was so well done and worked as a mystery, I enjoyed going on this journey and left me guessing until the end. Michael Falco has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a new author to me
Absolutely loved this
A great summer read

I love this series, and this latest book is a great addition. The characters are all unique with some quirky personalities that all blend together to make the best cast. This particular mystery was predictable, yet did not take away from the story and enjoyment of reading it. Truly can be read as a stand alone book, but reading the series gives some background on the relationships of the characters
Great book and already looking forward to the next in the series
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Murder in an Italian Palazzo delivers everything I love in a cozy mystery—an atmospheric setting, a touch of romance, and a twisty whodunit. Set against the backdrop of a picturesque Italian town, the book captures both the charm of the location and the intrigue of a well-paced murder mystery.

The protagonist is smart and likable, and the clues unfold at a satisfying pace without ever feeling too obvious. I especially enjoyed the mix of travel, culture, and light suspense. It’s the kind of mystery that makes you want to curl up with a cappuccino and keep reading late into the night.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Murder in an Italian Piazza by Michael Falco is a riotous and entertaining cozy mystery, set in the scenic Italian seaside setting of Positano. Bria Bartolucci is the main character in this whodunit, she is a B&B owner and an amateur sleuth in the pretty town. The story encompasses melodrama, secrets and long standing vendettas. We are introduced to local police officials, eccentric and unconventional locals and plenty of prima donnas!

Michael has written a well-composed and sharp novel. The book is the third in a series. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story, however there are many characters in the book that have been replicated from the earlier stories, this could be confusing for first time readers of the series as the characters are introduced with little background and also are sometimes referred to by alternate nicknames.
The characters in the book are fun and have very strong individual personalities. The dialogue between the various characters is amusing and relevant to their quirky dispositions.

I enjoyed the story. The book will appeal to readers who enjoy the cozy mystery genre, crime stories and road trip aficionados. I rated this book 4 stars out of 5, I would have rated the book higher if I had read the earlier books and understood the relationships between the characters. Overall it is an enjoyable and fun story that kept my interest to the last page, I would recommend it as an excellent holiday read.

A known opera diva, Carlotta, has come home to Positano for an unannounced concert. She wants to practice for her daughter’s upcoming wedding to a billionaire. She is staying at Bella Bella, the B & B run by the young widow, Bria. Bria is known in the coastal town for her ability to solve murders. Carlotta is not welcomed by everybody due to her past behavior. When her pianist is found murdered, Bria is determined to investigate. She is assisting her boyfriend, who happens to be the chief of police. The investigation uncovers a web of deep-seated family secrets, some that have been hidden for years.

This is the third installment in the Bria Bartolucci mystery series. While it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, it would be beneficial to have read at least one of the previous books to fully appreciate the recurring cast of colorful characters.

I enjoy cozy mysteries set in Italy. Unlike the UK version, where tea and biscuits are the norm, Italian mysteries offer a blend of strong coffee and delectable pastries. The characters here are quirky yet charming, adding to the appeal of the story. I like the use of Italian phrases, most of which are translated.

The plot is filled with twists, turns, and red herrings. While the writing can be a bit slow and wordy at times, it is an entertaining read overall.

Set in Positano, Italy, Bria, who owns a B &B, needs to solve another mystery. A singer comes to town to sing in the piazza with her pianist. After her performance her pianist is found dead in the piazza. These are fun, well written mysteries!

Bria is a fairly recent widow with an eight-year-old son, a dog, lots of family and friends, a romance with detective Luca, a B&B, and the dead body of a guest/opera diva on the piazza. Not a grim procedural but a fun cozy that serves up quirky characters as easily as a caprese salad. Lots of fun, mistakes, red herrings, and plot twists. Loved it and plan to get more as they are published.
I requested and received an uncorrected digital proof from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Pub Date Sep 30, 2025 ***** review #goodreads #bookbub #librarything #storygraph
#MurderinanItalianPiazza by Michael Falco #BriaBartolucciMysteriesBk3 @kensingtonbooks
#culturaldifferences #culturalexploration #italy #italiancustoms #bedandbreakfast #petdog
#localcops #Amalficoast #cozymystery #smalltowngossip #friendship #amateursleuth #humor #romantic #murderinvestigation #operasinger #familydrama #foodie

I had fun and enjoyed it. A good mystery set in Italya, a bit fantasy-like, i'm Italian born and bread, and full of surprising twists.
I'm not a fan of Costiera during tourist season (only between October and May) but made me wish i could travel to Positano
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A carefree novel set in idyllic Positano, this book is the third in a cozy mystery series (it can be read as a stand alone, but is best if read in order). With easygoing characters and a beautiful seaside Italian setting, this work is a breezy, jolly mystery with shocking twists. Readers can imagine scenes from some of the most popular Italian/Italian American films while following the MC and her close knit group of locals on their quest for the culprit. A fun summer read that's perfect for the beach.

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Somehow I missed book two in this Brian Bartolucci series which is regrettable. I was not entirely sold on the debut, but this one really hit the right spot.

Bria's bed & breakfast is now open and her romance with detective Luca is going well. The whole town is abuzz with the news that famous opera singer, Carlotta, is returning to do a free concert--but not everyone is happy. Carlotta stepped on a few toes on her way to the top and when it turns out Carlotta and her accompanist are staying at Bria's B & B, she sees firsthand what a diva Carlotta can be. At the same time, Carlotta is planning the wedding of her plain, dull daughter to billionaire soccer player.

When a dead body is found on the piazza immediately after the concert, the victim is not who everyone expected. And it soon turns out the victim was living a double life.

Bria, her friends, and family are enjoyable companions and of course, the Amalfi coast setting is delectable. #MurderinanItalianPiazza #NetGalley

Murder in an Italian Piazza by Michael Falco is such a fun and cozy mystery! Bria Bartolucci is a charming B&B owner in Positano, and somehow keeps stumbling into murder. There’s drama, secrets, and of course, a body! I loved the small town gossip and delicious food descriptions. If you’re into murder mysteries sprinkled with sass, this one should be right up your alley!