Author: Maria DiRico
Genre: Mystery
Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:`9781496739704
Kensington Cozies
304 Pages
$8.99; $6.99 Amazon
March 28, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The June events scheduled at Belle View is busting out all over -- proms, graduations, and of course, weddings. There are unexpected bookings too, including a casting call for the pilot of Dons of Ditmars Boulevard. But soon, Mia's fears about the cheesy reality show are confirmed...
Belle View quickly becomes the site of a sea of wanna-be goombahs and phony girlfriends, and some of Mia's friends insist on getting in on the action. The production company owner and his executive producer ex-wife -- who's also very minor British royalty -- have assembled a motley crew that does as much infighting and backstabbing as the on-screen "talent." Even so, it's a shock when a dead body is found in the pool house of a local mansion rented by the show...
Murder might boost the ratings. But Mia intends to make sure the killer gets jail time, not airtime...
✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽
Mia Carina and her father Ravello run Belle View, an events center that is run as a legitimate business by the Boldano family. She wants to keep her father from falling back into the mob, so she works hard at it. But there are problems. Donny Baldano's son Jamie is getting married, which makes his elder brother Donny Jr. lamenting his own life. So Sr. asks Mia to give Jr. a job, which she does. He doesn't seem too happy about it until he sets his eyes on Ariadne St. James, ex-wife and partner to Giles St. James. They're filming a reality show, Dons of Ditmars Boulevard, and suddenly Donny brightens up. Now Mia has a request by Donny Sr. to keep his son out of trouble.
Which doesn't help when Mia is drafted into another uncomfortable position, giving her two problems to solve. Or maybe three -- but she's not trying to think about that. With watching over Donny, trying to plan a wedding, and keep everything else running smoothly, she thinks it's going to be fine. Until she finds a dead body that starts the wheels turning, and finding herself in the middle of yet another murder investigation -- one that she'll have to really keep her ears and eyes open if she's going to keep everything smooth sailing...
This is the fourth book in the series and I have read and loved them all. I love all the characters in this series, and would have a hard time choosing a favorite. There are some very funny scenes involving Mia's nonna and bags of yarn that make it hard not to want to give the woman a hug; and Mia's assistant Cammie and her over-the-top latest adventure (she seems to have a different one every book).
The murder however, isn't that easy to solve. With a roomful of wanna-be dons and donettes, it makes for a confusing situation. Not to mention the entire crew who is shooting the show -- everywhere they can. I can say in total honesty that I have never watched a reality show in my life, which makes this all the more interesting to me. My sister, who is a reality show junkie, would love this book just as well.
When Mia does the only thing she can -- ask questions -- she wonders if she's getting closer or if people are just lying. It's enjoyable to try and figure out who is telling the truth and who is not. In between it all, she has to make sure the wedding is going well, even if it kills her. Let's not forget the major surprise that just might turn everything around, and unexpected help that will steer her in the right directions.
It's a fun lark that takes us on an unusual journey in the land of reality shows, offbeat contestants, and Mia's own brand of figuring out who a murderer is. When the ending comes, the motive for the murder is rather strange, but it fits right in with the rest of the book. I loved it and hope that others will also. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Maria DiRico's Books:https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/maria-dirico/
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