To Catch a Cook - Angie Amalfi, Bk 8 Author:Joanne Pence Between her latest "sure-fire" foray into the food industry--video restaurant reviews and her concern over boyfriend Homicide Detective Paavo Smith's depressed state, Angie Amalfi's plate is full to overflowing. Paavo has never come to terms with the fact that his mother abandoned him when he was four, leaving behind only an antique brooch to re... more »member her by. But when the bauble vanishes, the jeweler who was repairing it is murdered, and Paavo's surrogate father is critically wounded by a would-be burglar, Paavo decides it's time to discover the truth about his errant parent's life and mysterious disappearance.
Gourmet chef and eager sleuth Angie Smells a tasty mystery cooking. But what's bubbling in this pot is a lethal goulash of intrigues, betrayals, FBI deceptions, and murderous Russian mafia mayhem--an old family recipe for disaster for Angie and her policeman beau.« less
This is a fun series, and I really like the combination of Angie and Paavo. Angie continues her search for a meaningful occupation because she wants to not rely on her family's money. Paavo is drawn into a search for his mother, who abandoned him when he was just four years old. He swears he doesn't want to know anything about the woman who gave him away, but he can't not look into it because the situation is coming full circle and inolving Angie. Good giva and take between the two characters and you can always see how much they care for each other and bring out the best in each other. Angie may be a wee touch high-strung, but not nearly as bad as many other cozy mystery heroines. The writing style is a little .. I don't know ... basic? Not destined for literary greatness, but enjoyable to read and written with a lot of heart.