Murder in an Italian Piazza

Set in beautiful Positano, Italy, the latest in Michael Falco’s transporting and hilarious series featuring widowed American B&B owner Bria Bartolucci is perfect for fans of Mario Giordano, Donna Leon, Lorenzo Carcaterra, and Jean-Luc Bannalec.

The sea, sunshine, and sleuthing have given Bria Bartolucci a new lease on life since her husband’s passing, and her southern Italian B and B is running as smoothly as her love life. But, just like the Amalfi Coast, some relationships can be rocky--and some can be downright deadly . . .

After solving a couple of murders, Bria is now known in the village as the ＂Italian Miss Marple,＂ which could cause problems in her budding romance with the local police chief. But for now, all of Positano is abuzz with the homecoming of a star now that Carlotta Incantaro, a famous opera diva, is coming out of retirement to make one last public appearance.

Not all the locals are happy about Carlotta’s return and Bria soon begins to hear stories about the singer’s petty past. She destroyed one woman’s music career and tried to sabotage her rival’s chances in a beauty pageant. With Carlotta staying at her bed-and-breakfast, Bria learns firsthand just how high-maintenance and demanding the woman can be. Even though Carlotta’s loyal pianist tries his best to smooth things over by blaming her nerves on her daughter’s upcoming wedding to a former soccer player, Bria senses something is terribly wrong.

And once again, Bria’s right. Carlotta’s swan song is just the beginning of the drama--after the performance, a dead body is found in the piazza. Bria is quickly drawn into a tragedy worthy of any opera, uncovering a family’s darkest secrets and deadly passions . . .

Michael Falco is a graduate of New York University and has studied at Playwrights Horizons and Gotham Writers Workshop. He currently lives in Secaucus, NJ, where he is working on the next Bria Bartolucci Mystery.