Adriana Licio

Most cozy readers know that there's a bit of formula to this niche of mysteries. One of the "rules" seems to be that the amateur sleuth tends to live in a small town and all the murdering and sleuthing happens there. Then I stumbled across Adriana Licio's first Homeswapper mystery, The Watchman of Rothenburg Dies, in which two retired teachers solve a crime while on vacation in Germany. That really piqued my interest because not only would a series like this solve the age-old problem of "Cabot Cove Syndrome," it would give me a chance to learn about other places, and that would certainly please my inner armchair traveling sleuth.

Dora and Etta are two recent retirees who have little money yet a great desire to travel and see the world. Dora, the empathetic and intuitive one, learns about homeswapping and persuades Etta, the extremely judgmental one, into participating. It's perfect for their needs. They save money yet get to stay in a nice home for an extended period of time which lets them really explore an area.

This first book in the Homeswapper series kept my interest throughout, and I enjoyed following the two as they roamed the medieval streets of Rothenburg. I learned about several things, like shame masks, and I was perversely delighted to watch Etta (who tended to rub my fur the wrong way) have to put up with the addition of Leon the Basset Hound to their merry little band.

I'm definitely going to be taking a look at the other books in this series to see where Etta and Dora continue their travels.… (más)

Castelmezzano, The Witch is Dead by Adriana Licio is the prequel for The Homeswappers. Dora and Etta are newly retired teachers who each learned that their pensions are less than expected. They both had plans to travel, but now they will barely be able to make ends meet. The two women go for a walk and encounter each other. They discover a naked dead woman who happens to be the local witch. They cannot help but do a little investigating. Castelmezzano introduces to new lively characters who live in Italy. These two women taught for many years looking forward to the day they retired and could see a little of the world. They knew each other when teaching, but they were not close friends. Now Dora and Etta find themselves involved in a murder investigation. Humor ensues as they investigate the victim and search for the killer. I thought Castelmezzano was well-written with steady pacing. I enjoyed the mystery. Dora and Etta are entertaining sleuths. I enjoyed watching Dora and Etta go from acquaintances to friends. They are different from each other, so they balance each other out. Things are never dull when they are together. Castelmezzano is a lively start to The Homeswappers series.… (más)

Peril at the Pellicano Hotel by Adriana Licio has Gio Brando attending a writer’s conference being held in Maratea, Italy. The group is enjoying dinner when they are interrupted by Margherita Durante. Margherita used to belong to the group, but she was asked to leave because of her unpleasant attitude. No one is happy to see her. The next morning, Margherita is found dead in the dining room. With the author’s under suspicion, Gio starts nosing around for clues that will reveal the killer’s identity. Peril at the Pellicano Hotel is the 4th book in An Italian Village Mystery series. This story can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Gio Brando is a travel writer who returned home to Maratea after the end of a relationship. She writes travel guides and is working on a book based on her travels in Scotland. I enjoyed the setting of the Pellicano Hotel for this mystery. Adriana Licio takes readers to Italy with her vivid descriptions. The rainy atmosphere was perfect for a murder. The mystery was planned out with several suspects who had good motives for killing the unwelcome intruder. Margherita was the perfect victim with her spiteful attitude. There are good clues to aid readers in solving the crime before the carabinieri and Gio. I liked the side story involving Gio’s sister and two customers at her perfume shop. It added humor and lightness to the story. Peril at the Pellicano Hotel is an entertaining cozy mystery with a party pooper, a curious killing, a vengeful victim, several suspicious suspects, and one snoopy amateur sleuth searching for the solution.… (más)