"An armchair travelers delight"-Publishers Weekly One dead art collector and a gallery of suspects. This romantic weekend just turned deadly... Translator Rick Montoya is looking forward to a quiet weekend away with his girlfriend, Betta, an art fraud investigator for the Italian Culture Ministry. Their destination: the beautiful village of Urbino, home to Renaissance masters Rafael and the lesser-known Piero della Francesca. While Betta does have official business to attend to-namely, collecting a priceless Piero drawing from a wealthy Spanish collector on the ministry's behalf-she asks Rick to join her "in case she needs an interpreter," but with other, less-official intentions in mind. When the Spaniard is found murdered and the drawing stolen, Betta must shift back into art cop mode, and Rick's official services are required after all. As they set out to discover the identity of the killer and the whereabouts of the stolen sketch, they are drawn from Urbino's cobbled streets to eastern Tuscany and back as the list of suspects grows longer-and more dangerous. Will this lovers' getaway literally be to die for? This captivating crime fiction novel is perfect for armchair travel, transporting you right to Italy with vivid descriptions of the scenery, food, and wine. To Die in Tuscany is sure to delight those interested in international crime mysteries, police procedurals, and fans of art and the Renaissance period will appreciate learning more about Raphael and Piero della Francesca. Also in the Rick Montoya Italian Mysteries: Cold Tuscan Stone Death in the Dolomites Murder Most Unfortunate Return to Umbria A Funeral in Mantova Roman Count Down

"This is a book for armchair travelers as much as it is for mystery lovers."-Publishers Weekly Next in David Wagner's acclaimed Italian mysteries comes A Funeral in Mantova, which finds American translator Rick Montoya going undercover to dive into a local family's dangerous secrets... Lombardy was once hotly fought over by the cities of Venice and Milan, though today it is famed for its food rather than war. But the murder of an elderly fisherman, Roberto Rondini, reveals the battles that still rage within the region. Rick Montoya, an American self-employed as a translator in Italy, soon receives a call from the States. The US Embassy in Rome has recommended his services to the Rondini funeral party, some of whose members have been living in the states and need a bit of help with their Italian. While Rick hires on as interpreter, he soon receives another assignment-a local cop, Inspector Crespi, leads the murder investigation and asks Rick to observe and report. So Rick once again finds himself throwing off the mantle of travel translator to solve yet another murder in Italy. The murder victim owned a parcel of land, and Rick soon learns that the land's use was a violent point of contention to the Rondinis. Is the murderer a part of the funeral party? Despite the joys and distractions of the city and its watery setting, its glorious art and architecture, and the temptations of the local cuisine, the investigation must probe the life of Roberto and the history of the Rondinis, as well as the rivalries of the locals. David Wagner's Rick Montoya Mysteries will appeal to readers of Michael Dibdin, Donna Leon, and Martin Walker. And in the newest addition to the series, Rick Montoya becomes entrenched in a conflict with a local family-can a resolution be reached, or will things end in blood? Other books in the Rick Montoya Italian Mysteries: Cold Tuscan Stone Death in the Dolomites Murder Most Unfortunate Return to Umbria A Funeral in Mantova

"Like Cold Tuscan Stone, the novel is light on its feet, with a protagonist who will strike readers as a good guy to hang around with."-Booklist Perfect for readers of Donna Leon and Martin Walker, this thrilling addition to David Wagner's Italian mysteries immerses us in the sights, smells and tastes of Italy, this time in a picture-perfect Alpine town with a surprising dark side Rick Montoya is looking forward to a break from his translation business in Rome-a week of skiing in the Italian Alps with old college buddy Flavio. But Rick's success helping the Italian police with a murder in Tuscany sends the Campiglio cops his way. An American banker working in Milano is missing. The man's sister, an attractive and spoiled divorcee, has no idea where he could be, nor do the locals who saw him on his way to the slopes. With the discovery of a body, Rick and Inspector Albani widen their list of suspects. Picturesque resort Campiglio harbors old rivalries, citizens on the make, and a cut-throat political campaign. Why would these local issues connect to the missing banker? The investigation doesn't keep Rick and Flavio from enjoying perfect ski conditions in the Dolomites and glorious after-ski wines and bowls of fresh pasta. As for women-Rick has to wonder if the banker's sister is just hitting him up for information. The action heats up, testing laid-back Rick whose uncle, a Roman cop, keeps urging him to make the police his career. A murder in the Alps makes short work of translator Rick Montoya's vacation, and he soon finds himself entrenched in the investigation. But there's more to this picturesque community than meets the eye, and it'll take a thrilling chase to solve the case before anyone else gets hurt. Other books in the Rick Montoya Italian Mysteries: Cold Tuscan Stone Death in the Dolomites Murder Most Unfortunate Return to Umbria A Funeral in Mantova

Revenge is a dish best served cold When an old college friend leading a religious tour in Assisi asks interpreter Rick Montoya to fill in for their guide who's gone missing, Rick is happy to oblige. He's looking forward to seeing his old friend, and the food and wine of Umbria sound like the perfect reward for a tense translation job he's just completed for the police in Palermo involving witness testimony against the mafia. But when the shady tour guide is found dead the next morning under suspicious circumstances, Rick's relaxing gig turns into an unofficial job assisting the local police inspector with her interviews of the tour group members. Could one of the pious pilgrims be a cold-blooded killer? Or has one of the victim's many shady dealings finally caught up with him? For fans of Martin Walker and Donna Leon, BEST SERVED COLD takes readers on a delicious excursion through the Umbrian hills as Rick leads his tour-and the police investigation-to a killer conclusion.