Mia Carina is back in the borough of Queens—in charge of the family catering hall, Belle View Banquet Manor, and keeping her nonna company. But some events—like murder—are not the kind you can schedule . . . Mia’s newly pregnant friend Nicole plans to hold a shower at Belle View—but Nicole also has to attend one that her competitive (and mysteriously rich) stepmother, Tina, is throwing at the … stepmother, Tina, is throwing at the fanciest place in Queens. It’s a good chance for Mia to snoop on a competitor, especially since doing a search for “how to run a catering hall” can get you only so far.
Mia tags along at the lavish party, but the ambience suffers at Nicole’s Belle View shower when a fight breaks out—and then, oddly, a long-missing and valuable stolen painting is unwrapped by the mom-to-be. Tina is clearly shocked to see it. But not as shocked as Mia is when, soon afterward, she spots the lifeless body of a party guest floating in the marina . . .
Italian recipes included!
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Mia runs the Belle View Banquet Manor in Queens, New York. Her main goal in life right now, as she recovers from a nasty marriage, is to do all she can to keep her dad from returning to the Big House for another stretch. You see, Dad is mobbed up and the Belle View operation is just about the only legit business going for The Family. It helps them with their bookkeeping, so to speak. Cammie is an employee in very flexible terms – she loves her job because she rarely is expected to actually work. Bottom line? Mia is doing it all, from start to finish, set up to clean up and with the help of the rest of the staff, well, she gets the job done. So far her Dad is still a free man……unlike her brother.
Nicole is Mia’s best friend and pregnant with her first child. Baby showers are happening and there are more than a few fireworks due to Nicole’s Stepmonster, Tina. A real piece of work is Tina. Disliked by most, she is the evil second wife and she is bound and determined to steal the spotlight every chance she gets. For example, she hosts a fancy baby shower shindig at a posh venue and sends out invitations that dictate that it’s formal attire and all of the women must wear black. Why? All the better to act as a canvas for her grand entrance….wearing a ruby red dress and a collection of rainbow gem bracelets. Needless to say, she’s as welcome as a case of food poisoning.
Things get really complicated when one of the gifts, a painting, turns out to be hot, having been stolen. Then a killer strikes and Mia not only finds herself juggling the Belle View business but trying to catch a killer. How are the stolen painting and the corpse tied to Tina?
So far there are only two books in this delightful series with the third, It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Murder, coming out October 26, 2021. Each is a five star read full of humor, Italian style and a great cast of characters….and a very well crafted mystery to solve. The fact that the author (Ellen Byron) grew up in Queens and the family businesses were catering halls, these mysteries have that something extra special.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
LONG ISLAND ICED TINA is the second book in the CATERING HALL MYSTERY series. I was swept into it immediately even though I haven’t read the first book, HERE COMES THE BODY, yet. Growing up in Queens and having relatives in Long Island I could picture the locations. Being part of a big Italian family (not Family) it was was fun to hear the Italian being spoken and an explanation of the phrases in English as I was reading. At times I felt like I was home! There were also Greek words sprinkled throughout since Mia’s best friend is half Italian and half Greek and much of the story revolves around her since she’s pregnant and her baby showers are front and center.
A cozy mystery, the story has a lot of action and storylines along with an amateur sleuth, Mia. She runs the catering hall with her dad and many of the scenes take place there. She has a nose for trouble and is good at piecing things together sometimes with a little help from her friends or family. The story has a nice flow and was a quick read with lots of clues throughout. There is the tight-knit community of Astoria as well as family ties and competing catering halls. It was fun getting to know the good guy characters, even if some were part of the Family, and see their interactions. There is nice closure especially since the mystery gets solved and loose ends are tied up. The ending hints of what may be coming in the third book in the series, IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE MURDER. The book has a pretty cover and it was easy to be drawn into it.
Ms. DiRico is the pen name of author Ellen Byron. Both are new to me authors. I look forward to reading more in this series as well as some of the books written by Ms. Byron.
LONG ISLAND ICED TINA by Maria DiRico
The Second Catering Hall Mystery
Mia Carina is thrilled when her friend, Nicole, decides to host her baby shower at Belle View. However, there’s family drama in the form of Tina, the step mom…or step monster according to Nicole’s grandmother. Tina tries to outshine everyone, but when an infamous stolen painting is unwrapped at the shower no one is more shocked than Tina. The next day Mia finds a body floating in the marina behind Belle View. A body with a very recognizable bracelet. Mia will use her own street smarts along with Family connections to look into the murder. But will Mia be able to prove Nicole’s family innocent before the baby arrives?
Like its predecessor, the second book in the Catering Hall Mystery series had me laughing out loud. The antics of Mia’s nonna, in particular, still have me chuckling. From getting shoes to a dead man to Mia learning to drive to her new employee who is either incredibly inept or a plant from another crime family, LONG ISLAND ICED TINA had me smiling and laughing.
There’s more to LONG ISLAND ICED TINA than just comedy. There are heartfelt moments and realizations about family, and relationships, and purpose in life. There’s also a finely crafted mystery that kept me puzzling through the clues along with Mia.
LONG ISLAND ICED TINA is a thoroughly enjoyable laugh out loud mystery that kept me engaged from start to finish. I eagerly await the next installment not only to check in on Mia, but see what her nonna gets up to and see what develops with Mia’s newest employee.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Love it! Love it! This series is one of my favorites! The quirky characters, the catering hall, and all things New York make this a such a fun read! Can’t wait for the next one!
I had so much fun reading this book! The characters are delightful and the story line was engaging. Mia is a wonderful main character and her view of life as a mob princess, an Italian, and an amateur sleuth have you laughing. She is surrounded by quirky family members and complicated relationships. I am anxiously waiting for the next book in this series. I am definitely a fan and look forward to what happens next at the Bell View Banquet Manor.
Kudos to the author for entertaining us with a complicated mystery, edge of your seat drama, and hysterics that will have you chuckling.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Company for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
We are back with Mia and her Nonna in Queens. This time Mia is working and attending her BFF’s baby shower but instead of opening cute little baby rompers her BFF opens a priceless stolen painting. As she unwraps the painting the stepmother of the BFF faints and is later found floating in the marina attached to Belle View. Can Mia find out why the stepmother was killed and the connection to the painting before a new little sleuth joins “the family?”
This series is a fun series to read. I find myself reading with what I envision is an Italian Queens accent. Mia is an amateur sleuth that you feel is your friend. You cannot help but want to rush through the book to find out what is next. Nonna is a dream Italian grandma. No matter what ails you food is the cure! You will laugh your socks off when you get to the part regarding a funeral and shoes. That is all the clue I am going to give. Read the book to find out.
The recipes included are mouthwatering. I really want to try and make the cannoli cake.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Long Island Iced Tina by Maria DiRico is the second in the Catering Hall Mystery series. This is becoming one of my favorite series.
Mia has been hired for a baby shower for her best friend by Nicole’s mother, Linda, This is one of two showers taking place. The second has been planned by the step mother and is going to take place at a high end reception hall. Everyone knows it’s going to be over the top since Tina is all about show boating.
When Tina is found floating in the marina by Belle View catering hall by Mia, all the evidence points towards Linda. Mia knows Linda couldn’t have done it and sets out to find the real killer.
This well written, easy to read Cozy. has plenty of plot twists, likeable characters, humor, and yummy sounding recipes. I didn’t want to put it down.
I was given an ARC by Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.
This is a series that I am enjoying with the Queens setting and likable, somewhat funny characters and a great mystery to solve. Mia Carina and dad, Ravello, Mob lieutenant, on a straight path, are working hard to make the Family owned catering hall, Bell View Banquet Manor, a success. Mia lives with her Nonna Elisabetta, after a failed marriage. Elisabetta’s answer to all problems is food, yummy sounding Italian food. Her brother Posi is serving a prison sentence and her mom is not in the picture. Mia’s friend Nicole is pregnant and Bell View hosts one of the showers where her stepmonster mother gives a gift that she really did not give, a stolen painting, but it is apparently some sort of warning that only she understands. When her body is later found behind Bell View, Nicole’s mom is a prime suspect having been seen arguing with the deceased. Mia sets out once more to solve a murder mystery where someone close to her is a suspect. This is a complicated mystery to unravel as it appears to be possibly linked to an old crime. This series is funny with the Italian seniors and their quirky antics that keep it light while the Italian Mob Family keeps it interesting. There are some new and recurring wacky employees at the hall and an irritating reporter that add side issues as does an old friendship that Mia has to figure out if she wants it to be more. I highly recommend it for a good cozy read.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
What a fun story line! Between the mob family and the Italian family, especially Elisabetta, I was totally entertained. Some of the characters in this story are absolute trips. Who wouldn’t want a job like Cammie? Come join Mia and Ravello as they build their honest business, Belle View and help Mia’s best friend Nicole and her family. Awesome story and fun characters. Hope I can hang with them again sometime soon. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Long Island Iced Tina is the second book from the series A Catering Hall Mystery by Maria DiRico.
This book can be read as a stand-alone but you will want to read the first book. You will not be disappointed.
All the characters in this book are so lifelike. If you have Italian friends, you will understand. The Queens setting was likeable.
I found myself guessing and second-guessing throughout the whole book. This was one I didn’t want to end.
Once you start reading, you will be introduced to Mia’s Nonna. I loved her. What a character and such a hoot!
I found myself not wanting to put this book down and highly recommend this.
I requested and received an advance copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mia Carina was born into a New York mob family; however, her father Ravello, has opened Belle View Banquet Manor as a legit business to separate him from mob dealings. Mia’s close friend, Nicole, is pregnant and plans to soon marry the baby’s father, Ian. Nicole’s father, Ron, is divorced from her mother, Linda, and his current wife, Tina, is a terror. Tina gets into a yelling match with Nicole’s beloved grandmother, Minnie, in the bathroom at Belle View which makes Linda furious. A mysterious shower gift adds to the growing tension at the baby shower. Readers will know what direction this altercation is headed for and, sure enough, a body is found floating in the bay soon after.
Great, interesting characters headline this story and they’re pure gold entertainment! I chuckled throughout the story! There are actually several small mysteries besides the main murder—all excellent! The author provides ample suspects and clues to the murder mystery. Recipes included. I loved the story! I highly recommend this cozy series.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.