Penne Dreadful

by Catherine Bruns Narrated by Celeste Ciulla

Overview

Tomato sauce isn't the only thing that runs red... Local chef Tessa Esposito is struggling to get back on her feet following her husband's fatal accident. And when the police knock on Tessa's door, things just get worse. They've discovered Dylan's death wasn't an accident after all, and they need Tessa to start filling in the blanks. Who would want her beloved husband dead, and why? With the investigation running cold, Tessa decides it's time to save her sanity by reconnecting with her first love-cooking. And maybe the best way back into the kitchen is to infiltrate Dylan's favorite local pizza parlor, which also happens to be the last place he was seen before he died. But the anchovies aren't the only thing that stink inside the small family business, and with suspects around every corner, Tessa finds that her husband's many secrets might land her in hot water.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Catherine Bruns creates characters that feel like family and touch your heart. Anyone who is a fan of her Cookies & Chance Mysteries should definitely pick up this new series, as Catherine always cooks up a delightful mystery!" — Gemma Halliday, #1 Amazon and New York Times bestselling mystery author

"A solid read with a strong plot, a visually descriptive narrative, engaging dialogue and a small-town setting that added to how well this story was being told." — Dru’s Books Musings

"A must read for fans of culinary mysteries. Catherine Bruns serves up a tasty tale full of engaging characters, intriguing clues, and yummy food. Chef Tessa Esposito is a likable sleuth equally skilled at cooking and detection." — Denise Swanson, New York Times bestselling author of the Scumble River mystery series

"A cozy mystery unlike any other I have ever read...Penne Dreadful was an intriguing mystery with more twists than corkscrew pasta. With each new chapter came jaw dropping revelations that made this story so much more than it originally seemed." — Lisa K’s Book Reviews

"Tessa’s tight-knit extended family and kind small-business owners in Harvest Park provide warmth in this small-town cozy full of twists and red herrings and lots and lots of pasta." — Booklist

"A delectable combination of character, setup, and plot...There’s a neat stepping-off point for the next book in the series at the end, and if it’s anything like this one, I’m certainly looking forward to devouring it." — Mystery Scene Magazine

"Cozy readers will fall in love with Tessa Esposito, a heroine with a heart of gold and a killer red sauce. Penne Dreadful is as twisty as fusilli with an ending more satisfying and sweet than tiramisu." — Julie Mulhern, USA Today bestselling author of the Country Club Murders mysteries

"Bruns captures the readers attention instantly and keeps the reader engrossed in the story throughout. You will love Tessa's love for her husband and will feel her pain as she comes to terms with all the secrets that he had and you will be on the rollercoaster of your life trying to work through everything with Tessa." — Cozy Mystery Blog Review

Kirkus Reviews

2019-05-13
A talented amateur chef turns pro in an attempt to solve her husband's murder.

Opening her own restaurant had always been Tessa Esposito's dream—a dream she shared with her husband, Dylan, whose accounting expertise would have put him in the office while she was behind the stove. Before Dylan's sudden death in an auto accident, Tessa's only experience cooking for the public was a couple of months at Sunnyside Up, a local breakfast place. But she's reeling from losing her young husband, so when Tessa's police-detective cousin, Gino Mancusi, tries to interest her in a job at Slice, Anthony Falducci's pizzeria, she's pretty underwhelmed. At least, until Gino reveals that Dylan's death was not an accident and that before his crash, he was spending an awful lot of time with Anthony and his brother, Vince. Approximately one minute later, Tessa's out the door to grab a job application. Anthony snaps her up on the spot, and next thing you know, Tessa's stretching dough, cooking up her signature sauce (based on her grandmother's secret recipe), and even whipping up a stromboli or two, hoping to expand Anthony's meager menu. But stripped-down as the food offerings may be, there are clues aplenty at Slice: weird phone messages, sketchy delivery drivers, bags of white powder stashed in the walk-in, and endless mixed messages about whether Dylan was hitting on Anthony's daughter, Isabella, or Izzy was chasing Dylan. By the time Tessa sorts out what's what, she may have made herself her husband's killer's next target.

Bruns, author of the Cindy York, Carrie Jorgenson, and Cookies and Chance mysteries, must have the stamina of a short order cook. Her new heroine's sauce may be spicy, but her plotting needs a bit more polish to break away from the crowded culinary cozy pack.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169332155
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	07/30/2019
Series:	Italian Chef Mysteries , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos