Penne Dreadful

· Italian Chef Mysteries Book 1 · Gemma Halliday Publishing
Ebook
250
Pages
Tools
Eligible
This book will become available on November 3, 2026. You will not be charged until it is released.

About this ebook

From USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns, comes a new series that blends delicious Italian food, laughter, and romance, all wrapped up in a twisty mystery that will leave you guessing...

Tomato sauce isn't the only thing that runs red...

Chef Tessa Esposito is struggling to get back on her feet following the passing of her husband, Dylan. But when the police knock on Tessa's door and say they don't think his fatal car crash was an accident after all, Tessa suddenly finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation. Who would want her beloved husband dead, and why?

With the police looking in all the wrong places, Tessa takes matters into her own hands. She goes undercover, taking a position in a local pizza parlor that her husband frequented to try to discover the truth about what happened to him. However the more she digs, the more it becomes clear that the anchovies aren't the only things that stink inside the small family business. And with suspects around every corner, Tessa finds that her husband had more secrets than she knew about. Can she find his killer before she lands herself in some serious hot water?

Recipes Included!


What critics are saying:

"Tessa’s tight-knit extended family and kind small-business owners in Harvest Park provide warmth in this small-town cozy full of twists and red herrings and lots and lots of pasta."

~ Booklist

 

"A delectable combination of character, setup, and plot...There’s a neat stepping-off point for the next book in the series at the end, and if it’s anything like this one, I’m certainly looking forward to devouring it."

~ Mystery Scene Magazine

 

"Cozy readers will fall in love with Tessa Esposito, a heroine with a heart of gold and a killer red sauce. Penne Dreadful is as twisty as fusilli with an ending more satisfying and sweet than tiramisu."

~ Julie Mulhern, USA Today bestselling author of the Country Club Murders mysteries



From USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns, comes a new series that blends delicious Italian food, laughter, and romance, all wrapped up in a twisty mystery that will leave you guessing... Tomato sauce isn't the only thing that runs red... Chef Tessa Esposito is struggling to get back on h...

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About the author

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns lives in an all-male household that consists of her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a BA in both English and performing arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Best Mainstream Mystery/Suspense. She's written over 35 novels and has many more stories waiting to be told.

 

To learn more about Catherine Bruns, visit her online at: www.catherinebruns.net



USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns lives in an all-male household that consists of her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a BA in both English and performing arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. Her book, For Sale by Ki...

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