Smitten by Books

Victoria Rienzi came home to the Jersey Shore to write a new book, learn the family restaurant business, and practice the fine art of Italian cooking. But when delicious dishes are paired with murder, Vic has a little too much on her plate…

When Vic asked her nonna for more responsibility in the kitchen, she didn’t mean forming a thousand tiny meatballs by hand for the family’s famous wedding soup. The dish is to be served at the reception for a close family friend at the exclusive Belmont Country Club. And once there Vic has to deal with a demanding bridezilla and clashes in the kitchen—between the staff and servers, between two egocentric head chefs, and between the country club president and…well…everyone.

The wedding comes off without a hitch—until the body of the club’s president is found on the beach below a high seawall. Now Vic will need to use her noodle to find out who pushed whom too far…before she’s the one who lands in the soup!

INCLUDES RECIPES

Victoria “Vic” Rienzi is learning all about her family’s restaurant business, from the ground up. No task is too tedious for her grandmother to assign to her and Vic longs to be given more responsibility. For now, she is given the job of hand-forming one thousand meatballs for a wedding soup for a family friend’s swanky wedding reception. While taking part in the catering at the exclusive Belmont Beach Country club, Vic learns many people have tangled with the president of the club, Elizabeth Merriman. When Elizabeth’s body is found on the beach near the club, Dr. Charles Natale, the father of the bride and one of Vic’s father Frank’s best friends, is the main suspect. This isn’t the first time Vic has been involved in a murder investigation. The last time was a disaster and Vic is determined to stay out of this one. However, she can’t turn her father down when he begs Vic to help so against her better judgment, she and her sister-in-law Sofia are once again on the case.

The Wedding Soup Murder is Rosie Genova’s follow-up to Murder and Marinara. It is centered around a family-run Italian restaurant on the Jersey Shore. Vic is a popular mystery writer, but comes home to Oceanside Park, New Jersey to learn the family business and do research for a new book. She doesn’t count on having to do such menial tasks for the restaurant or having to take orders from her ex-boyfriend Tim Trouvare. The tension between Vic and Tim makes the kitchen scenes interesting. She is also attracted to the sexy and mysterious Cal Lockhart. I missed the first book in the series, so I’m a little lost on some of the backstory and discussions between Vic and the men in her life. This took away from my enjoyment because I couldn’t always relate to Vic’s insistence on moving on from Tim, who was the love of her life, to Cal.

The mystery is a good one and Vic and Sofia work well together trying to solve the crime, while staying out of danger, and keeping their escapades a secret from Vic’s brother. There are enough red herrings and exciting situations to keep the reader’s interest through to the end of the book. The joy in this mystery, however, is the characters. Genova is spot-on in her portrayal of the dynamics of an Italian-American family. All of the characters are likeable and have a great sense of humor, except for the formidable Nonna, but even Vic’s often dour grandmother has her vulnerable moments. Humor is a big part of the book and the situations in which Vic finds herself as well as the dialogue is very entertaining. Vic’s ex, Tim, seems to have moved on with a young, beautiful woman named Lacey. At one point in the story, Vic witnesses Tim making a special meal for Lacey and can’t help feeling jealous.

“Lacey was seated like a queen at the center table…She giggled, and I cleared my throat. Or perhaps gagged.”

Besides making me laugh out loud, scenes like that make me wonder if Vic really has moved on from Tim as she claims. A third book is already being promoted, so time will tell! The book ends with a few authentic Italian recipes, including one for Italian Wedding Soup from the author’s own family. Readers who enjoy mysteries by Leslie Budewitz or Lisa Scottoline’s Rosato & DiNunzio novels will enjoy this funny culinary cozy by Rosie Genova.

Reviewed by Christine