Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions (An Auntie Poldi Adventure)

Auntie Poldi. She’s a man-loving - especially Inspector Vito Montana-loving - German Miss Marples. She’s a terrier on the trail of murder in sensuous, warm Sicily. She’s as tasty as Sicily itself. She begins her days with a ‘revivifying Prosecco’, and often continues them with other stronger refreshments. Except when she’s on the case - except for another prosecco or two, because prosecco really isn’t a ‘drink’. I cannot think of another such amusing protagonist in the field of whodunits.
The writing matches Auntie Poldi - generous, warm, bold, amusing. Sicilian Lions is apparently the first in a series. I’ll be frequently checking the Bitter Lemon website for more Poldi, crime, amusement, and Sicilian recipes.

3.5 - A cute little murder mystery starring an eccentric older-ish German woman retires to Sicily to peacefully drink herself to death. Her sisters devise a plan to move her nephew (an aspiring writer) in with her periodically. He serves as somewhat of a narrator throughout the book, adding in silly excerpts from his own novel that tie in parts of his Aunt Poldi's story. During her downward spiral, a young man that runs errands for her disappears, and she discovers his body on a beach a few days later. A long story of possible mafia ties, decades old love triangles, strange love of awful German poetry, and a sad, tragic love affair with a Sicilian detective make this a cozy little murder mystery.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for providing an e-galley of Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano in exchange for an honest review. This mystery is narrated by the nephew of Auntie Poldi, a sixty-year-old retiree from Munich who has decided that Sicily will be ideal for her quiet, alcohol-imbued retirement. However, life changes unexpectedly when her handyman is murdered and our heroine becomes an amateur sleuth. Her meddling ways cause problems for the police officer charged with the investigation. And she also makes a nuisance of herself with the individuals that she suspects of the murder. This mystery flows well and is often quite amusing. A most enjoyable read.

Auntie Poldi retires from her job as a costume designer in Munich and moves to Sicily. You'll never see her without her wig and almost always with a drink in her hand. I wish she wouldn't drink that much.... Otherwise she is a pretty fun and eccentric character.

This older lady that never beats around the bush and the sun and warmth of Sicily make this mystery a unique experience. She does a good job of investigating and discovers a bunch of criminal activities in the little town. Lots of humour and a little bit of romance make for an entertaining read.

I requested this book from NetGalley and am thankful that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and the author provided me with a copy.

Auntie Poldie lives in Sicily and tells the story to the narrator of how she managed to solve a crime that involved, among other things, lion statues. The narrator is his nephew, that goes to live with her to work on a book. I really enjoyed the adventures that Auntie Poldi went through - it is fun and entertaining. It is not a book that will make you laugh all the time, but it will certainly make you smile - and look forward to the second book on the series. I felt the middle of the book was a bit slow, but then things really started to happen more towards the end, and the story gets more exciting. I received an advanced copy in exchange of my honest review.

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions is told to Poldi's nephew who comes to visit each month from Germany. His aunt is a force of nature, and he is often appalled at some of her antics.

Already familiar with Sicily from Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano mysteries, I enjoyed reading a mystery set on the opposite side of the island where the shadow of the Etna volcano looms over all.

Giordano's setting is good, so is the mystery, and the food is mouthwatering. There are flashes of humor throughout the book, especially where they concern the mishaps Poldi has with her wig.

This first book in a series is good but for me, the story didn't really shine. I don't know if this is due to the translation or awkwardness because the nephew tells us the story secondhand. What I do know is that I'll be reading the next book in the series to see what happens next.

So this needed a bit more mystery - you know, for a mystery novel. It takes quite a while before we get to the mystery of it.

But, oh, I loved Sicily in this book. The author is obviously familiar with my favorite island and everything from the food to the people rang true.

Poldi herself was quirky and a bit funny, but maybe a tiny bit irritating. I will say that she grew on me as the book continued, though.

I would read the author again. I would just like a little more mystery and a little less travelogue (though I now want to go back to Sicily immediately).

Aunt Poldi is a firecracker! Old, but not too old, witty, sharp, spicy, sensual, vivacious - she is everything I hope to be when I retire. This book reads as part Tall Tale, part whodunnit. We experience the story through Aunt Poldi's nephew's narration, as he recalls the story being told to him by Aunt Poldi herself. The storytelling aspect of the narration really lent itself well to the bigness of Aunt Poldi's character and is one thing I appreciated about the book. While I truly enjoyed living in Aunt Poldi's world for a while the actual mystery plot of this book fell flat and I found I really didn't care how the story turned out. I'd still love to visit Aunt Poldi again some time, preferably while on vacation with a drink in hand.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but I feel it needed more work and refinement.

A location novel without recipes! Giordano brings up a very sad point about littering on the Sicilian beaches...Lovely cover and typography.

Spoiler alert: I was ultimately disappointed that Montano was not more developed and I could not believe that Poldi allowed him to literally have his way with her that she accepted his rejection and continued an intimate affair with him. She weakened.

I do not like how the book ended somewhat on a farcical note and the ending seemed forced.

I actually returned this book with half of it left unread.

After reading reviews comparing Auntie Poldi to Mma Romatswe of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, I couldn't wait to read it.

It was awkward and difficult to follow. Poldi is not an endearing character. I couldn't make myself care about her, even if Ringo Starr appears like magic, purporting to be her friend.

To make the book even more unbelievable, Poldi relates her entire story to her nephew, including her detailed randy thoughts and experiences. Um, no. That doesn't happen. Perhaps it is intended to be humorous, but it just doesn't work.

There are plenty of cozy fictions out there... skip this one.

This book is a welcomed change from the traditional and quite boring female detective story. It paints our heroine, Poldi, as a strong and independent woman fully in charge of her life despite the tragedies that she's endured. The way the author brings the beautiful Sicilian coast to life through the story make me want to move there myself. The other characters are vividly portrayed, and bring the story fully to life. But it is Poldi who remains the sole center and heart of this mystery she sets to solve for better or worse. I enjoyed the book and its many twist and surprises very much, I laughed and cried, and cannot wait to read more from the author. Many thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishing and the author Mario Giordano for my advance copy.

This book is about one fiery woman's involvement in a Sicilian mystery.

When Auntie Poldi turns sixty, she moves to Sicily to begin the next chapter of her life. Her plan is to spend her remaining days with good wine, and beautiful views. However, when her handyman goes missing - and is discovered murdered - she can't help but get involved. Auntie Poldi finds herself caught up in the middle of the investigation and in a romantic liaison with the police inspector leading it.

This book was a fun mysterious ride following Auntie Poldi on her Sicilian adventures. It was lovely meeting such interesting characters and being immersed in such a beautiful setting.

As the book was translated, some of the passages were a bit oddly worded. I also wish the story was narrated by only one person, as I felt the inclusion of Auntie Poldi's nephew was not quite necessary.

Overall, though, this book was fun and engaging. I enjoyed seeing an older protagonist who gets into the same mischief as someone much younger.

*Thank you to HMH Books and Bookish First for providing me with the free copy to read and review.*

A murder mystery that is a cross between Beautiful Ruins and the cozy mystery genre.

It's throughly a murder mystery but I wouldn't put it in the subgenre of cozy mystery.

I've really been enjoying the books being published this year that feature older characters who prove that they may be old but they are far from dead or useless.

Auntie Poldi isn't actually that old. Only 60. Feisty enough to be a big nuisance to the local detective unlucky enough to catch the case.

A distinct personality and a force of will to go with it. Auntie Poldi will not bore you.

The choice of narrator was an interesting one. The nephew tells the tale as presumably told to him by his aunt. He's a wannabe writer who can't get started with his first project. This gives him interesting qualification as the narrator.

What's funny about it is that he isn't afraid to go places in his imagining of the scenes that make up the story. Including ones where things get a wee bit racy.

Enjoyable. Excellent if you want a crime novel with a bit less gore and depravity. Sometimes you need a break and a palate cleanser.

Recommended for fans of crime novels. The setting was a bonus perk for me.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Fans of Andrea Camilleri and Donna Leon may well enjoy this mystery featuring a woman of a "certain age" who moves to Sicily. Enjoy the setting, the views and watch what happens to Auntie Poldi as she gets involved in solving a mystery. The book is narrated by Poldi's nephew who is an aspiring author. Each chapter begins with an italicized summary.
This book was not compelling but was a fine read.

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions is complex. Poldi's aspiring author nephew is telling the story. He tells the story to us as Poldi told it to him. (I forget what point of view this is called). Unfortunately, at times this point of view makes the story confusing. Sometimes I did not know who was speaking or when the story was taking place. Perhaps this is because this book was translated from another language? Poldi reminds me a bit of Ove from the book A Man Called Ove in that she is older (over 60), eccentric, and is a bit suicidal at times. Otherwise, this book did not remind me of Ove. It took me longer than usual to get through this book than other books perhaps because the story ebbed and flowed as Poldi discovered evidence in the case. All in all, it was an okay read.

I like mysteries and I also like to travel vicariously in my reading. This book blends both in a delightful mix. There is lots of humor, all within a well-written tale. Perhaps it is because this book is written by an Italian but the writing seemed less predictable than many American books treating similar themes. This is the first I have read in this series and I hope there are many more.

Reading it was like taking a vacation to Sicily, and Poldi is one of the zaniest characters I've ever met in fiction--smart, sexy, funny, and determined to figure out what happened to her handyman. The writing is witty and warm. Loved it.

The writer/narrator keeps trying to convince us that Auntie Poldie is fascinating but the sad, drunken old fat lady he descrbes only comes across as pathetic. The writing is so bad I couldn’t make is past chapter two. According to the book jacket, Giordano is an experienced writer with thrillers and screenplays to his credit. This is his first novel translated into English. Maybe a new translator? Very disappointing. I really wanted to like it.

Interesting new series of a dispsomaniac German woman in Sicily as told by her nephew an aspiring writer. There are many humorous moments and a few awkward ones that may be due to the translation or editorial pruning that needs to be done.

Auntie Poldi is exactly the story of casual mystery I’m looking for when I need to read a book and unwind. It’s about a stubborn middle aged Bavarian woman who refuses to let anybody scare her away from finding the truth. It actually reminds me quite a lot of the sort of TV series I used to watch with my mom when I was growing up, so it’s really no surprise that I wanted to give this series a try.

First things first, the writing style for Auntie Poldi is a bit on the odd side. It is being written as if it was being penned by Poldi’s nephew (hence the title). It can be a little off-putting at times, and it frequently breaks the immersion. However, it does fight with the lighter fluffier tone of the series, and helps to separate the readers from the tragedy that occurs (this is a murder mystery, after all).
Aunt Poldi is a woman with spunk and tenacity, and her character does wonders to show that there are multiple levels of depression a person can face. Months ago Poldi had been content to slowly drink herself to death (after the loss of her husband), but now that she’s got a task to keep her mind going, she’s suddenly got something to live for. Like a dog with a bone, she won’t give up the chase, even when it calls for her to give up alcohol (well, mostly, and only so she can think clearly during ‘her case’). The fact that the murder caused an attractive hulk of a police officer to pay attention to her probably didn’t hurt either.
This story has a lot of quirks and personality to it. In a way it’s more of a character study than a murder mystery. It frequently takes a long time to get to the point, and it is very fond of excessive details and character back-stories and interactions. Still, it was a relaxing read, which is exactly what I was hoping to find in it.
As for the mystery itself, it’s a relatively predictable story, the final twists and turns being more or less what one would expect. In a way I was actually okay with that, since it allowed me to continue relaxing while I was reading.
This isn’t a groundbreaking story by any means, but it is perfect for a casual or comforting read. If you’re looking for a beach read full of personality, then I’d suggest taking a look at this one. It may just be worth your time.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for providing an e-galley of Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano in exchange for an honest review. This mystery is narrated by the nephew of Auntie Poldi, a sixty-year-old retiree from Munich who has decided that Sicily will be ideal for her quiet, alcohol-imbued retirement. However, life changes unexpectedly when her handyman is murdered and our heroine becomes an amateur sleuth. Her meddling ways cause problems for the police officer charged with the investigation. And she also makes a nuisance of herself with the individuals that she suspects of the murder. This mystery flows well and is often quite amusing. A most enjoyable read.

I actually returned this book with half of it left unread.

After reading reviews comparing Auntie Poldi to Mma Romatswe of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, I couldn't wait to read it.

It was awkward and difficult to follow. Poldi is not an endearing character. I couldn't make myself care about her, even if Ringo Starr appears like magic, purporting to be her friend.

To make the book even more unbelievable, Poldi relates her entire story to her nephew, including her detailed randy thoughts and experiences. Um, no. That doesn't happen. Perhaps it is intended to be humorous, but it just doesn't work.

There are plenty of cozy fictions out there... skip this one.

Translated by John Bownjohn. Obviously the first in what is to be a series, Poldi is a 60-year-old widow who has retired to Sicily from her native Munich. She is a bit overweight, drinks too much, is never seen without her extravagant wig, is irrepressible and sometimes depressed. She is loud, unstoppable, and can't resist a sexy young man (or a handsome man of any age). She is surrounded in her new home by her young nephew, who stays with her periodically to write his novel, and various other aunts. The nephew narrates the story as told to him by Poldi. Poldi is concerned when her handsome young handyman goes missing, and starts asking questions--questions that strangely, no one wants to answer. When she finds his body on the beach, she promises him that she will find his murderer.

The best part of this is the Italian setting, which for me came through very well. I do think a glossary should have been included, as there were so many foreign words to stumble through. It really would have been helpful, as I felt a bit lost at times. The pace is a bit slow, and there is a romantic interest as Poldi falls for the police inspector, which somewhat helps her investigation along, as he helps her out at times, as do her Italian relatives. The synopsis of the book makes it sound like a "madcap" type of book, which it really isn't, although it certainly has its humorous moments.

This is the story of Auntie Poldie, a quirky costume designer who moves to Sicily after retirement on her 60th birthday intending to while away the rest of her days with good wine, a view of the sea, and few visitors.
However the murder of her handyman put a dent in those plans and we now have a murder mystery on our hands which revolves around the characters and the place.
Although a murder mystery the story was a light-hearted comical tale that will have you interested to learn more.
The main characters although eccentric was head-strong and feisty and turns out to be quite a thorn in the side of the detective who got the case. We are introduced to a host of other characters throughout the story and learn quite a bit about the Sicilian culture food and landscape.
I enjoyed this novel.