Valpolicella Violet (Franki Amato #7) by Traci Andrighetti Narrator: Madeline Mrozek
Series: Franki Amato Mysteries #7
Published by Selfpublished on 12-22-21
Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
Format: Audiobook
Source: Narrator
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Overal Rating:
Franki Amato's Venice vacation makes New Orleans seem like Disneyland...
Franki Amato is in Venice to celebrate her best friend’s Christmas Eve nuptials. She’s looking forward to a relaxing break from the PI grind and a romantic gondola ride with her Casanova. But when a chef goes belly up after making violet risotto for the reception, her holiday plans start sinking like La Serenissima. Dead set on finding the killer and saving her BFF’s wedding, Franki navigates the city’s streets and canals that are darker and more twisted than catacomb tunnels, and all while ghosts of past and present are quite literally haunting her. She has to figure out what grave robberies and an eighteenth-century nun have to do with the murder and decipher a string of clues as murky as the Venetian lagoon—a candlelit coffin, a jeweled cross necklace, and a bottle of Valpolicella. Will Franki get her gondola ride? Or will she too become a phantom of Venice?
Franki’s friend Veronica is getting married in Venice, as had already been announced in the previous book. Franki and her family and friends travel to Italy for the occasion, but things can never be normal around Franki, and she will be involved again in a murder investigation.
In this book, we get a break from New Orleans, and Traci Andrighetti transports us to the streets of Venice. I especially liked the descriptions of the several places and mentions to legends and the past of the city. It’s clear Andrighetti knows the place well. I’ve been once to Venice, more than twenty years ago, but the mention of Saint Mark’s square of the Bridge of Sighs, and pieces of historical knowledge, made me travel again to the past and the humid Venice streets.
The mystery was intriguing, but I think what I liked the most were the historical information and atmosphere. Franki was entertaining, as usual, with some light humor and her family members’ quirks. This made the book light and funny but I also had to listen carefully to all the pieces of information that were revealed along the way. Andrighetti’s mysteries are never straightforward, and her stories could be convoluted sometimes. I would also like to mention that this book is part of a series, and there are many characters and details from previous books, so I’d strongly recommend starting from the beginning to get acquainted with Franki’s world.
Madeline Mrozek delivered a delightful narration, expressive characters’ interpretations, and multiple voices and styles. I really like Franki’s stories but my favorite part will always be Mrozek’s narration. She can make a good story shine. I especially enjoy how well she transmits the humor the author poured into the writing. It’s just impossible not to have a good time and laugh with Madeline! The bloopers and the end of the book were fantastic!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.| Story (Plot) |
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My name is Elena. Since I was a little child I loved science fiction and fantasy, and I can’t resist a good novel. In 2015, while wait I started to listen to audiobooks and I discovered the pleasure in being able to read while doing my daily tasks, so there’s always an audiobook playing on my phone. If you see me with my Bluetooth headphones on, please be gentle, I get easily startled.
I live with my boyfriend, which I met during my six-year stay in Belgium, four cockatiels, eight lovebirds, and a hamster in Madrid, Spain; and I like to spend my free time knitting and sewing while listening to audiobooks.
