Murder in Chianti - (A Tuscan Mystery) by Camilla Trinchieri (Paperback)

About the Book

"Mourning the loss of his wife, Rita, former NYPD homicide detective Nico Doyle moves to her hometown of Gravigna in the wine-soaked region of Chianti. Half-Italian and half-Irish, Nico finds himself able to get by in the region with the help of Rita's relatives, but he still feels alone and out of place. He isn't sure if it's peace he's seeking, but it isn't what he finds. Early one morning, he hears a gunshot near his cabin and walks out to discover a dead body in the woods, flashily dressed in gold tennis shoes. A small white dog at the scene won't leave Nico alone, so he lies to the police and claims to be its owner. Salvatore Perillo, the local maresciallo, enlists Nico's help with the murder case. It turns out more than one person in this idyllic corner of Italy knew the victim, and with a very small pool of suspects, including his own in-laws, Nico must dig up Gravigna's every last painful secret to get to the truth"--

Book Synopsis

Set in the heart of Tuscan wine country, Camilla Trinchieri's new mystery introduces Nico Doyle, a former NYPD homicide detective who's just looking for space to grieve when he finds himself pulled into a local murder investigation.

Mourning the loss of his wife, Rita, former NYPD homicide detective Nico Doyle moves to her hometown of Gravigna in the winesoaked region of Chianti. Half Italian and half Irish, Nico finds himself able to get by in the region with the help of Rita's relatives, but he still feels alone and out of place. He isn't sure if it's peace he's seeking, but it isn't what he finds. Early one morning, he hears a gunshot and a dog's cries near his new home and walks out to discover a dead body in the woods, flashily dressed in gold tennis shoes. When the police arrive, Nico hastily adopts the fluffy white dog as his own and wants nothing more to do with the murder.

But Salvatore Perillo, the local maresciallo, discovers Nico's professional background and enlists him to help with the case. It turns out more than one person in this idyllic corner of Italy knew the victim, and with a very small pool of suspects, including his own in-laws, Nico must dig up Gravigna's every last painful secret to get to the truth.

Review Quotes

An Apple Books Best of July 2020 Pick
An Amazon Best of the Month Pick for July 2020

Praise for Murder in Chianti

"A Tuscan feast of old lusts and new loves, meals and murder in Chianti country with an ex-NYPD cop and a dog."
--Martin Walker, author of the internationally bestselling Bruno, Chief of Police series

"Engaging characters, a wonderful Tuscan setting, and a tightly plotted mystery. Like a good wine, Nico's story starts out delicious and is sure to reveal even more complexity and nuance over time."
--SJ Rozan, bestselling author of Paper Son

"A fine series debut! Retired detective Nico Doyle immerses himself in small-town Italian culture while helping solve a murder. Enriched with bounteous descriptions of the delectable flavors of Tuscan food and wine."
--Terry Shames, Macavity Award-winning author of the Samuel Craddock mysteries

"[A] vibrant mystery . . . Enticing descriptions of food and wines, an introspective protagonist with an unusual background, and an intricate plot that weaves its way amid past peccadillos combine to make this a winner. Readers will eagerly await Trinchieri's next."
--Publishers Weekly

"A page-turning mystery with dark corners and complex, heartwarming relationships."
--Booklist

"An engaging procedural that introduces a delightful cast readers will want to spend more time with . . . The solution Trinchieri provides will surprise and satisfy."
--Kirkus Reviews

"In this small village, secrets that have been kept for decades are about to be explosively revealed . . . Trinchieri has incorporated all the elements mystery fans could want in this Italy-set whodunit: eccentric villagers who quote Dante, delectable descriptions of Italian cuisine, endless glasses of wine, and a thoroughly gripping mystery."
--Library Journal

"Lush with descriptions of wine country and filled with fascinating details of life in Italy, Murder in Chianti is the perfect read for all seeking an outdoors escape through fiction."
--CrimeReads

"A puzzling mystery to solve . . . You're going to love Tuscany, love the food, love the characters, and love solving this mystery."
--Kittling Books

"This . . . gently beautiful novel set in gorgeous Tuscany could not be more delectable . . . You may also be craving a glass of Chianti to accompany your reading journey. This is a wonderful bit of armchair travel."
--Aunt Agatha's Books

"Well plotted, descriptive, and filled with unique characters."
--AudioFile Magazine

Praise for Camilla Trinchieri

"A suspenseful and moving family drama that will leave you wondering where the truth lies."
--Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of The Woods

"[Trinchieri] shrewdly mixes . . . forward-moving court scenes with flashbacks, showing how seemingly simple decisions go terribly awry."
--The Baltimore Sun

"A chilling and memorable tale of hearts in turmoil, rendered with grace and intensity by an author who understands secrets and the devastation they can wreak."
--Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Poignant, evocative, brilliant: The Trouble with Going Home probes the steel-strong, yet tenuous ties of family in a stunning mystery."
--Carolyn G. Hart, author of Death on Demand series

"Camilla T. Crespi gives us a triple whammy of reading pleasure: a neatly plotted mystery, an insider's view of Rome, and a loving evocation of an affectionate--if volatile--extended Italian family. Bravissima!"
--Margaret Maron, author of Bootlegger's Daughter

"I love Crespi's Simona Griffò! At last, a heroine who's tough enough to solve a mystery and savvy enough to realize low-fat mozzarella really is tasteless. Pick up The Trouble with a Bad Fit--you won't put it down until the last bite."
--Lisa Scottline, New York Times bestselling author of Dirty Blonde

About the Author

Camilla Trinchieri worked for many years dubbing films in Rome with directors including Federico Fellini, Pietro Germi, Franco Rosi, Lina Wertmüller and Luchino Visconti. She immigrated to the US in 1980 and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University. Under the pseudonym Camilla Crespi, she has published eight mysteries. As Camilla Trinchieri, she has published The Price of Silence; Seeking Alice, a fictionalized account of her mother's life in Europe during WWII; and The Bitter Taste of Murder, the second Tuscan mystery.