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Mozzarella Most Murderous    by Nancy Fairbanks Amazon.com order for
Mozzarella Most Murderous
by Nancy Fairbanks
Order:  USA  Can
Berkley, 2005 (2005)
Paperback
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Carolyn Blue is a forty-something housewife who decides to head her life in a new direction. She gives up the title of housewife for the more lucrative and interesting career of food writer.

As such, she accompanies her scientist husband, Jason, to Sorrento, Italy. She plans to sample foods and their backgrounds while Jason attends a scientific conference. As is her natural bent, Carolyn finds a dead body at the bottom of the hotel pool. This leads in turn to conflicts with the local police, the state police, the hotel manager, and Jason. On the plus side, she gets to eat some wonderful food (recipes included in the book), and to meet a lovely man who is available to partner her in sightseeing while his wife attends the conference. She also meets nine months pregnant Bianca - they pal around together and each suspects the other of murder even though they enjoy the company.

This cozy mystery lends itself to the reader's solving the murder. I picked the correct person and loved being proven right. The story moves along at a good clip, and the foods portrayed sound luscious. Various interesting personages occupy the pages and supply diversion. A black standard poodle named Charles de Gaulle holds a prominent and funny place. There is a prolonged scene where Carolyn and Bianca accompany Hal on a supposed trip to the Isle of Capri. I won't give any of it away for it must be read and envisioned by the reader for a full impact. Take it from me, it's fun and had me laughing, even through the serious parts.

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