Red Hot Murder: An Angie Amalfi Mystery (Angie Amalfi Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joanne Pence (Author)

Book Description

Series: Angie Amalfi Mysteries | Publication Date: January 31, 2006

Dilettante chef Angie Amalfi doubts if she'll actually survive her engagement to San Francisco homicide detective Paavo Smith, what with her meddling mom micromanaging the whole affair. So Angie leaps at the chance to spend some time away with her fiancÉ in the sun–drenched Arizona desert town where he'd spent time as a boy –– and maybe explore the possibility of a Southwestern–themed wedding feast.

But her groom–to–be is going back there to help a friend investigate the murder of a wealthy local –– and it seems this tiny desert community is a hotbed of deadly secrets. And when a second course of murder is served up, suddenly Angie's tasty getaway with her lover is starting to look more and more like her final meal.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of Pence's amusing 13th Angie Amalfi mystery, the sometime chef and her San Francisco homicide detective fiancé, Paavo Smith, are off to reconnect with childhood friends of Paavo's in Jackpot, Ariz., where they'll be staying at the Ghost Hollow Guest Ranch (ostriches, not cattle). On arrival in town, Paavo's old chum, Ned Paulson, fails to meet them as planned. Unfortunately, while off looking for a long-missing stagecoach containing a famous chef from the Waldorf and a pile of money, Ned has been bashed in the head and left in a desert cave. Somehow, during a cook-off for the annual ranch picnic against a local diner owner—who garnishes her rabbit stew with horned toad—Angie manages to figure out the complex inner workings of a very small town (pop. 917) and find the reality behind the polite faces. Good repartee between the lovers, funny (think amorous ostrich) situations, a secret marriage, a surprising dénouement and a great recipe for bourbon pecan pie make this the perfect vacation read. (Feb.)
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Review

“[T]he perfect vacation read.” (Publishers Weekly )

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Avon (January 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060758058
• ISBN-13: 978-0060758059
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,043,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fine investigative tale, February 1, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Hot Murder: An Angie Amalfi Mystery (Angie Amalfi Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

After Paavo Smith's dad died and his mother abandoned him, Aulis Kokkonen raised the preadolescent child and took him on three memorable occasions to visit Dr. Loomis Griggs at his Jackpot, Arizona ranch. Recently Loomis told Aulis about the suspicious death of a septuagenarian. In turn Aulis mentioned it to Paavo, now a San Francisco Homicide Detective. Paavo decides to investigate because he knows the doctor is not one to imagine things. The cop asks his fiancée chef Angie Amalfie if she wants to accompany him to Jackpot. Knowing very little about the childhood of her taciturn fiancé, Angie leaps at the chance to spend time in a place he still treasures.

Angie realizes right away several things about Jackpot, population 912. First she does not quite fit in; second Dr, Griggs is like a terrific grandfather truly welcoming her and Paavo with love; and finally she wants to hold her wedding here though she knows her upper crust mom will have cardiac arrest several times a day when she comes for the nuptials. That aside, Paavo believes the death of Hal Edwards is suspicious enough for him to make inquiries. However, he has more to be concerned with than a homicide as he thinks someone wants Doc dead and as always Angie joins the murderous mix that could prove COOKING MOST DEADLY as she tries to the CATCH A COOK.

The thirteenth cooking with murder is a fine investigative tale that will elate long term fans more than newcomers due to welcome insights into the "private" childhood of reticent Paavo. The audience will enjoy the "vacation" to the isolated Arizona ranch more for the time with Doc then trying to solve the well written murder mystery. Angie (and us) learns more about Paavo's past inside a fine investigation.

Harriet Klausner

4.0 out of 5 stars Angie, where have you gone?, July 2, 2010

By 

Mary M. Hamilton "Mary H." (San Francisco, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Red Hot Murder: An Angie Amalfi Mystery (Angie Amalfi Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Joanne Pence's Angie Amalfi is such a sweet young woman that I, as an older woman, would like very much to have around. She is so clueless and optimistic. I enjoyed all of the Pence's Amalfi series and only regret that there has been no new books in a while. I hope there will be more

5.0 out of 5 stars A missing friend and murder in Arizona, April 25, 2006

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Hot Murder: An Angie Amalfi Mystery (Angie Amalfi Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Angie and her fianc? Paavo head to the Arizona desert to help out Paavo's friends. Angie thinks it could be a great setting for their upcoming nuptials and Paavo is concerned because he knows that Dr. Griggs wouldn't be imagining things.

When they arrive, Ned does not come to meet them. This is not like him. Paavo and Angie are staying at a local ranch. They find out that the owner, Hal Edwards, was found dead in a cave not long before. Turns out Dr. Griggs is the executor of Hal's estate. Contrary to what others think, Dr. Griggs does not believe Hal's dead was an accident. He and Paavo, a San Francisco homicide inspector, begin to investigate.

The local sheriff, Merry Belle, likes her nice quiet town. She doesn't want anything to upset that.

Hal's ex-wife and son are in town awaiting distribution of his assets. But, Hal's will has not been found.

Angie gets pulled into the investigation against Paavo's best judgement. Can they find Hal's killer and find out what is really going on without putting anyone else in danger?

I really enjoy this series. This was one of the best books in the series in my opinion. I liked the setting a lot. Arizona and the wild west feel of the setting really added to the story. The characters are wonderful. Angie and Paavo and the many local characters fit together very well.

I highly recommend this book and series.

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