Description

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First book in a new series from USA Today bestselling author Catherin Bruns! Penne Dreadful, the first in the Italian Chef Mystery books, finds Tessa Esposito embroiled in a hot investigation.

Tomato sauce isn't the only thing that runs red...

A delicious new cozy mystery that is:

• For fans of Joanne Fluke and Susan Furlong
• For readers of cozy mysteries and food mysteries
• Includes delicious recipes

Local Italian 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. Tessa has never been a fan of detective novels, but even she can see that 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.

About the Author

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USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns lives in Upstate New York with an all-male household that consists of her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a B.A. in both English and Performing Arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. In her spare time, she loves to bake, read, and attend live theater performances. Over the past five years, she’s written fifteen mystery novels plus several novellas and has many more stories waiting to be told. Readers are invited to visit her website at www.catherinebruns.net

Praise For…

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"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