Case of the Bayfront Murder is a 2024 book release from S.K. Dervan, an author of four books who resides with her husband in Southern California. S.K. Derban has always remained passionate about writing and is thrilled to finally share her work with others. Her personal travel and missionary adventures also help to transport readers virtually across the globe.
Little Italy in San Diego, once a thriving fishing community, has blossomed into a prominent tourist destination. Nestled in the heart of this vibrant neighbourhood, both travellers and residents find the Tiepolo Mercato a favourite spot to stop and shop. Ezio and Benedette Tiepolo are the proprietors of the Mercato, while their daughter owns Macaroni on Wheels, the catering company located directly next door.
There’s more than pasta cooking in the Macaroni on Wheels kitchen. Meet Terza Tiepolo, a feisty Italian caterer who fills her free time solving crime. She belongs to a local murder mystery book club and leads the other participants in their monthly whodunnit contest. Terza also works diligently to grow her catering business.
But when a prominent doctor hires Terza’s company to cater a dinner party, she never expects murder to be on the menu. The prestigious bayfront event should enhance the Macaroni on Wheels portfolio, and Terza anticipates meeting many potential new clients. On the day of the party, Terza arrives early to prepare, only to discover her grand expectations are as dead as the body on the kitchen floor.
Seeing as Terza and her best friend are part of a murder mystery book club, they feel compelled to help solve the murder of the doctor. As Terza digs deep into investigating, she enlists the help of two handsome men. While her heart begins to swell with stirrings of longing for both men, she is set on solving the murder. Terra’s special relationship she holds with her family takes centre stage as she tries to balance her work life with her private investigation endeavours. The fun never stops when her animated relatives join together each Sunday for dinner, and Terza must keep her investigation a secret!
Case of the Bayfront Murder by S.K. Derban is a charming cozy, slow-burn mystery and the first book in the Macaroni on Wheels series. The story also includes a romantic side story between protagonist Terza and her two love interests who are actively involved in the murder investigation.
The story is full of vibrant, relatable characters—none more so than protagonist Terza Tiepolo, owner of the catering company, Macaroni on Wheels. Her catering business is next door to her parents’ market, Tiepolo Mercato, in Little Italy, San Diego. From the onset, readers can sense the close relationship Terza and her family have. Their dialogue is loving, hilarious, and sometimes over-the-top, as you’d expect from an Italian family. The author also does a wonderful job bringing the Little Italy area and San Diego streets to life. There are many descriptive scenes where Terza is walking in the area or to her condo that will delight readers. Derban gives the vibe of an old Little Italy with Sundays at the local Catholic Church and residents playing bocce ball at the local park with family and paesanos. Anyone who has been raised in a traditional Italian family or had close Italian friends growing up will relate to all of this and feel heartfelt nostalgia.
It should be noted that the story does include several mentions of religion and bible studies, mostly coming from Terza’s father. The last chapter of the story, in particular, with its religious sentiments, felt a little out of place for the conclusion of a murder mystery story. Fortunately, it doesn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.
There are several clues presented throughout the story that assist in solving the mystery. If you pay close attention, most of the twists are somewhat predictable, but they still remain entertaining and satisfying. Even though this is a murder mystery, there are no gory details of the murder scene. Just enough imagery is given to depict the murder, and then the story quickly moves forward into the investigation! It definitely gives the feel of a family-friendly cozy mystery, perfectly aligning with the characters and setting.
Narrator Mallory Fuccella does a fantastic job narrating this audiobook. She brings all the characters to life with unique voices and personalities, making the story very compelling and easy to listen to. Her narration is also very well paced, and her dramatic effect, whether it be at the initial murder scene or in Terza’s later encounters with the suspects, is very well placed and captivating!
If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries with well-developed characters, vibrant settings, and a dose of romance, then you’ll definitely enjoy this book. The overall charm of this book and its characters are memorable and will have you eagerly anticipating future books in the series!
