The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kjelu1022's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Catherine Burns for providing an ARC of “The Enemy You Gnocchi. This is the first book I have read in the cozy mystery series. I really enjoyed the main character, Tessa Esposito, along with her cousins, Gino and Gabby. The crime solving trio are working on a case regarding the death of “Santa”, a new resident of the town whom no one seems to like. I did not guess the killer so it was a surprise ending for me. I can not wait to return to this small town to see what happens next.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
3.0
⭐⭐⭐
This book is a little hard for me to rate. It was very well written. Held up well as a standalone. The plot was engaging. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and the characters were likable (although I found Tessa annoying at times).
The main issue I had with this book is that I loathe romantic angst in my cozy mysteries. If I want to read that type of thing, I would have picked up a romance. A genre which at the moment I have ZERO interest in. Half this book seemed to be Tessa lamenting about her dead husband and/or her feelings for his best friend. Every time it was brought up, I wanted to stab myself in the eye with a red hot poker.
peggyemi's review against another edition
4.0
Author Catherine Bruns delivers a delightful holiday whodunit with The Enemy You Gnocchi, the third installment of the Italian Chef Mysteries. This series was my first introduction to Ms. Bruns and I have been delighted by each new book in the series. I adore Tessa Esposito. She is a terrific main character with genuine qualities that make readers want to come back for more. I think the author has done a fantastic job with the character growth and development in this book. Tessa is ready to move on after the death of her husband but the author didn't rush it along. The secondary cast of characters includes her cousins Gabby and Gino who I also adore. One loves to be Bess to Tessa's Nancy Drew, while the other is a cop trying to keep her nose out of murder investigations. I love the real sense of family that is always present in each book.
The mystery was very well done. It's the holidays and a new shopkeeper in town, who has basically made an enemy of everyone, is found murdered at the town festival. Because the victim has so many enemies and was so unlikable, the author allowed herself to have room for multiple suspects. She laid out her clues well, dusting them with some twists and turns and topping them with a few red herrings. The reader (or at least this one) had to pay close attention because I followed each clue down every rabbit hole and still came up with the wrong killer in the end. The killer was revealed in a great climactic fashion, and Tessa once again helps her cousin bring a killer to justice.
This is such a terrific series and fans will not want to miss this holiday treat. I will definitely be back for future books in this series. I think the author has so much more in store for these characters and her readers. I don't want to miss out on any of it.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy that was provided to me by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The mystery was very well done. It's the holidays and a new shopkeeper in town, who has basically made an enemy of everyone, is found murdered at the town festival. Because the victim has so many enemies and was so unlikable, the author allowed herself to have room for multiple suspects. She laid out her clues well, dusting them with some twists and turns and topping them with a few red herrings. The reader (or at least this one) had to pay close attention because I followed each clue down every rabbit hole and still came up with the wrong killer in the end. The killer was revealed in a great climactic fashion, and Tessa once again helps her cousin bring a killer to justice.
This is such a terrific series and fans will not want to miss this holiday treat. I will definitely be back for future books in this series. I think the author has so much more in store for these characters and her readers. I don't want to miss out on any of it.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy that was provided to me by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
kristins911's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annarella's review
5.0
I'm loving this series and this is a good and entertaining adddition.
I was glad to catch up with the characters, the solid mystery kept me guessing.
I had a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I was glad to catch up with the characters, the solid mystery kept me guessing.
I had a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
tamsterdam_reads's review
5.0
I’m sometimes hesitant to start a series in the middle of it, but the synopsis of The Enemy You Gnocchi was just too good (and who can resist an adorable cat thrown in the mix?) that I kept an open mind and dived in.
Tessa, restaurant owner and head chef specializing in Italian food and pastries was a formidable character. She didn’t embody a nosy busy body that can be typical in many cozies, but instead she played an amazing amateur sleuth that did her sleuthing in scenarios that were more realistic than others.
The author had me going down routes to figure out who the killer was, but the red herrings she placed in my way were so well developed that I guessed wrong right up until the grand reveal.
And of course, I especially loved the possible love interest triangle that was introduced to me and had me sighing with content on how this part of the story concluded.
Overall, this was a wonderful holiday cozy mystery and I look forward to reading about where Tessa’s story will lead to next.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the arc. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Tessa, restaurant owner and head chef specializing in Italian food and pastries was a formidable character. She didn’t embody a nosy busy body that can be typical in many cozies, but instead she played an amazing amateur sleuth that did her sleuthing in scenarios that were more realistic than others.
The author had me going down routes to figure out who the killer was, but the red herrings she placed in my way were so well developed that I guessed wrong right up until the grand reveal.
And of course, I especially loved the possible love interest triangle that was introduced to me and had me sighing with content on how this part of the story concluded.
Overall, this was a wonderful holiday cozy mystery and I look forward to reading about where Tessa’s story will lead to next.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the arc. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
suerae's review
5.0
The Enemy You Gnocchi is the 3rd in the An Italian Chef Mystery Series by Catherine Burns where the annual Festival of Lights are underway. Tessa is in full swing getting read for the Santa Breakfast, if only she could find someone to play Santa since Justin is working. Mario Russo who owns the new coffee shop in town is really stirring up trouble in the small community and he's set his eyes on Tessa. Tessa isn't impressed! When Mario is found dead in his Santa Suit, Tessa feels she needs to find out who killed him since her cousin brought Archie in for questioning! I really enjoyed this book with lots of twist and turn in this mystery. Catherine Burns is a wonderful writer!
tiredmomliving's review
3.0
Another fun mystery with Tess Esposito. I don’t know if I really should call a murder mystery fun, but there you have it. More food making my mouth water, more happy endings. I was happy with it.
thesassybookworm's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book is a little hard for me to rate. It was very well written. Held up well as a standalone. The plot was engaging. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and the characters were likable (although I found Tessa annoying at times).
The main issue I had with this book is that I loathe romantic angst in my cozy mysteries. If I want to read that type of thing, I would have picked up a romance. A genre which at the moment I have ZERO interest in. Half this book seemed to be Tessa lamenting about her dead husband and/or her feelings for his best friend. Every time it was brought up, I wanted to stab myself in the eye with a red hot poker. 😂
So yeah, if you don't mind romance in your cozies, then I'd definitely recommend this one. If you are like me and don't want a bunch of romantic angst wedged in with your mystery, I would probably give this one a pass.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
The main issue I had with this book is that I loathe romantic angst in my cozy mysteries. If I want to read that type of thing, I would have picked up a romance. A genre which at the moment I have ZERO interest in. Half this book seemed to be Tessa lamenting about her dead husband and/or her feelings for his best friend. Every time it was brought up, I wanted to stab myself in the eye with a red hot poker. 😂
So yeah, if you don't mind romance in your cozies, then I'd definitely recommend this one. If you are like me and don't want a bunch of romantic angst wedged in with your mystery, I would probably give this one a pass.
**ARC Via NetGalley**