The first three mysteries in the USA Today bestselling Franki Amato series: Limoncello Yellow, Prosecco Pink, and Amaretto AmberWhen Franki Amato leaves her cheating ex and erratic job as a rookie cop in Austin, Texas, she hopes for a quieter existence at her best friend Veronica’s New Orleans PI firm, Private Chicks. But life in The Big Easy is anything but quiet. Or easy. Her furnished … anything but quiet. Or easy. Her furnished apartment resembles an old French brothel, and her aging ex-stripper landlady has some rather odd policies. Meanwhile, Franki is hired to investigate a series of bizarre murders in a luxury boutique, a haunted plantation, and a Bourbon Street strip club, and her work puts her in contact with colorful local characters, like voodoo mambos, drag queens, and wealthy socialites, not to mention killers. While she’s on the case, her meddlesome Sicilian nonna tries to crack an ongoing mystery—how to get her married, and pronto—and she might just be Franki’s biggest nemesis.
Other Franki Amato Mysteries:
Rosolio Red (holiday short story)
Fragolino Fuchsia (Rome short story)
Prugnolino Purple (spring short story)
Campari Crimson (book #4)
Cannellino Caramel (holiday short story)
What Amazon readers are saying:
“Quick, clever, & edgy; oddball characters; & uproariously funny situations!”
“Andrighetti’s Franki Amato series gets crisper, smarter and wittier with each installment. Her storytelling skills are superior, her characters are so vivaciously sketched they jump off the page.”
“This is the funniest series ever.”
“Laugh-out-loud humor mixed with danger and intrigue with a splash of loving but dysfunctional family thrown in for a great read and a good time – a fun series not to be missed.”
“Love Franki Amato and her craziness… Great series!!”
“I laughed over and over!”
“I LOVE this series! Ms. Andrighetti has mastered the difficult task of combining priceless comedy with chilling intrigue.”
“This is a fun series and I love Franki’s grandma!”
“Voodoo, witches, the ‘family’ and New Orleans…add twists, turns, and laugh out loud funny.”
“Andrighetti is clearly a talented author. She has me wondering if she’s also a comedian.”
“I love Franki who seems to not be able to keep out of trouble. Her stripper landlady, Glenda, is a hoot.”
“The books in this series are hilarious and a joy to read! The main character is fantastic, and the secondary characters are perfect in bringing out Franki’s talents! You never know what to expect, but you’ll love the crooked pathways that get you there!”
“Any writer who can make you laugh like this deserves to be read.”
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This review is for the audio book.
I really enjoyed this book, the cast and setting was just so colourful and I had no problem imagining the scenes unfold as I was swept on the roller coaster ride that is Franki’s life. Often had me laughing out loud and defiantly a book to add to any cozy mystery collection. Each book is great and you can buy them individually but why would you because once you have heard book one you will have to get the others in the series. The characters are so varied from little old grandmas to strippers to drag queens to priest but everyone is so much fun that you can’t help but like them. It kind of makes me think of a a New Orleans version of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series but as I enjoyed this more I think Traci might be stealing some of Janet’s fans.
Book 1 Limoncello yellow
You would think being a policewoman was hard work but that is a piece of cake compared to being a Pi, dealing with family, cheating boy friends, voodoo priestess, ex strippers for landlords and sea food. When a high end boutique owner is killed Franki starts to investigate but with plenty of suspects she might have her work cut out for her but then again growing up in an Italian family she is tougher than she looks.
Book 2 Prosecco pink
A CEO of a cosmetic company is found dead laying out on a bed where a previous death had occurred and Franki is hired to find out if it was suicide or murder. The historic plantation mansion has a checked past but could that have played a part in the death, especially as a pink diamond was supposed to have been hidden on the property. Then one of the maids is killed and Franki finds herself turning to a psychic for help and Franki’s boyfriend Bradley turning to his secretary for support. Can Franki solve the case before there is another death or before she loses her boyfriend for good? Only if she can stay one step ahead of a crocodile, a ghost and a killer.
Book 3 Amaretto Amber
Turning 30 is bad enough but when you are the only daughter in an Italian family then you had better watch out, especially if you don’t have a ring on your finger. Franki wishes that hiding out from her Grandmother and her friends in her apartment was the least of her worries but at the same time as dodging flying lemons she also has to go under cover and investigate a murder in a strip club. One of the girls has been murdered and Franki must tackle hexes, witches, snakes and policemen and a stolen necklace all while keeping her clothes on because someone is reporting her every move to the clients of her boyfriend and solving this case might just cost him his job.
I really like the narrator for this series and think she is part of the reason the characters are so colourful.
When Franki Amado is on the tail of a suspect, nothing stops her… short of her Italian Nonna. As Franki maneuvers around the French Quarter, she is always one step away from disaster or comedic success. Romance seems to be her downfall if her history with her cheating ex or her failure-to-commit current banker guy are any indication. With the help of a retired senior-citizen stripper, a few lovable drag queens, reported voodoo priestess, a southern belle psychic, and a cadre of amateur sleuths with senior Catholic grandma backups, there’s either mayhem or madness to follow. And it all includes a side of slapstick comedy.
What can I say about the Franki Amato box set….in single words…great, funny, smart, etc. Franki Amato is just like most girls, running away from her past, trying to make the most of her present, all while trying to figure out her future. When her past (her ex boyfriend) comes to a screeching halt, she makes her way to New Orleans to joins her best friend as a P.I. The cast of characters- Franki, Veronica (best friend), Glenda (ex-stripper Land Lady), Franki’s Nonna (grandmother), her Mamma, Dad, brother, and the rest of the characters, are extremely well written and multi layered. You can’t go wrong with Franki Amato mysteries, especially with New Orleans as the backdrop to the mayhem that ensues in all the books. This is the female version of MacGyver meets Raymond (From Everybody Loves Raymond). If you want a laugh-out-loud cozy mystery…this is your book!!
I am hooked on the Frankie Amato Mysteries, the stories are so well written, entertaining and the mysteries keep you guessing till the very end. Each book just got better and better and kept me wanting more. I had the audio book version of the first 3 books in this series and once I started listening I didn’t want to stop. The narrator did a fantastic job of portraying each character and in making the story come to life. I really enjoyed listening to each book. I am definitely a fan and will be reading all the books in this series.
What a delightful series! Come join PI Franki Amato as she investigates crime in New Orleans. As expected of this author, the writing is top-notch, the plot is tight and multi-layered, and the characters are often hilarious. I received these books free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
You don’t have to be Italian to love these books but it doesn’t hurt. Yes, we Italians have some strange superstitions but if you’re a working P.I. it can be very difficult to separate home from work. Especially when your landlady is a former stripper. It all comes together in a fun, fast delightful read. Once you read one, you’ll want them all.