Long Island Iced Tina (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico
About Long Island Iced Tina
Long Island Iced Tina (A Catering Hall Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Publisher: Kensington (February 23, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1496725352 ISBN-13: 978-1496725356
Digital ASIN: B089NCJ9NS
Mia Carina is back in the borough of Queens—in charge of the family catering hall, Belle View Banquet Manor, and keeping her nonna company. But some events—like murder—are not the kind you can schedule . . .
Mia’s newly pregnant friend Nicole plans to hold a shower at Belle View—but Nicole also has to attend one that her competitive (and mysteriously rich) stepmother, Tina, is throwing at the fanciest place in Queens. It’s a good chance for Mia to snoop on a competitor, especially since doing a search for “how to run a catering hall” can get you only so far.
Mia tags along at the lavish party, but the ambience suffers at Nicole’s Belle View shower when a fight breaks out—and then, oddly, a long-missing and valuable stolen painting is unwrapped by the mom-to-be. Tina is clearly shocked to see it. But not as shocked as Mia is when, soon afterward, she spots the lifeless body of a party guest floating in the marina .
Italian recipes included!
My Review
Mia Carina is doing well as she continues to manage her family’s catering hall, Belle View Banquet Manor. She’s thrilled her best friend, Nicole, is having her baby shower at Belle View. However, it’s not the only baby shower her friend is having. Belle View’s competitor is the host for a very fancy baby shower for Nicole hosted by the mother-to-be’s step-mother, Tina.
When one of the baby gifts turns out to be a valuable stolen painting, Tina is stunned. After the party, Mia stumbles upon a dead body. Nicole’s family is under suspicion which is causing Nicole to have problems with her unborn baby. Mia vows to protect Nicole, her child and her family by finding out who the killer is.
This is a fun and exciting series. Mia is such a lovable and sweet character in a family filled with people that are not exactly law abiding. The Carina family and their friends gave me hours of laughter and crazy antics mixed in with a mystery that kept me thinking.
The finale was an adventure that took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting that ending. The author has a wonderful knack for writing cozy mysteries and keeping readers at the edge of their seat. I’m so looking forward to another visit to Queens, New York. As a native New Yorker, I always love a good story centered in my home state.
For reading challenges:
Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge 2021
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2021
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2021
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
About Maria DiRico
Maria DiRico is the pseudonym for Ellen Byron, author of the award winning, USA Today bestselling Cajun Country Mysteries. Born in Queens, New York, she is first-generation Italian-American on her mother's side and the granddaughter of a low-level Jewish mobster on her father's side. She grew up visiting the Astoria Manor and Grand Bay Marina catering halls, which were run by her Italian mother's family in Queens and have become the inspiration for her Catering Hall Mystery Series. DiRico has been a writer-producer for hit television series like Wings and Just Shoot Me, and her first play, Graceland, appears in the Best Short Plays collection. She's a freelance journalist, with over 200 articles published in national magazines, and previously worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing. A native New Yorker who attended Tulane University, Ellen lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.
Website – https://www.ellenbyron.com/catering-hall-mysteries
Thank you for the wonderful review - from one native New Yorker to another!
ReplyDeleteThat looks good. I am from Massachusetts, but I love NY. :) XO
ReplyDelete