I do know that the common saying is “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” However, in David P. Wagner’s latest Rick Montoya Italian mystery, as in the other books in the series, so much of the emphasis is on food that the title and jacket cover imply food. In fact, although the solution to the mystery was appropriate, I read Best Served Cold as much for the setting, the restaurants, and the food as for the story itself.
Rick Montoya is an American interpreter/translator who works in Italy. As the story opens, he’s in a secret location in Palermo translating from a taped interview. That job will come back to bite him, but he took it because the police needed a translator they could trust. Rick’s uncle in Commissario Piero Fontana, stationed in Rome.
Montoya’s next job should be much easier. An old college friend, Zeke Campbell, wants him to visit while he’s leading a religious tour group in Assisi. But, it becomes more serious when Zeke asks Rick to help. The tour guide has disappeared, and Zeke could use an interpreter. When the tour guide’s body is found, the local police recruit Rick’s help as an interpreter. Suddenly, he’s quite popular in Assisi.
As Rick’s interpreting help turns into assistance with a murder investigation, he has less time with the tour group and more time with the attractive police inspector. But, there’s always time for delicious meals, a priority in Italy.
As I said, the mystery is slight; the solution appropriate. But, foodies and tourists will appreciate the author’s notes about “Food and Wine” and travel in the northern part of Italy, in Umbria. Honestly? Those are the best reasons to read this series.
David P. Wagner’s website is https://davidpwagnerauthor.com/
Best Served Cold by David P. Wagner. Poisoned Pen Press, 2023. ISBN 9781728271019 (paperback), 256p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley from NetGalley to review for a journal.
