An Angie & Friends Food & Spirits Mystery (The Angie & Friends Food & Spirits Mysteries Book 1)

Angie is planning her wedding to Paavo's; she is distracted by where they live after the wedding. She finds a house they can afford. There are some insurances that indicated the house might haunted. Angie sets out to find the answer. Paavo's has murders to solve.

I really enjoy all the Angie Amalfi stories in the series and it is so interesting to read about a city that I am very familiar with. I am still hoping to see the 13 Santas made into a TV drama some Christmas in the future,

Throughly enjoyed this book. I read it in one day of travel - nice story, light reading, easy to pick up and put down without losing the story line. I recommend for anyone who enjoys cooking and a light read!

San Francisco, CA. Angie Amalfi (top notch Culinary chef) was ranting/raving to Stanfield Bonnette (30, neighbor) about her wedding plans not going the way she wanted.
DI Paavo Smith’s (SFPD homicide, Angie’s fiancé) partner DI Matt Kowalski (partner, SFPD homicide) had been killed line of duty.
Paavo kept his eye on Katie Kowalski (widow), & Mickey (son).
Katie had kind of moved on & met Daniel.

DI Smith, & DI Toshiro Yoshiwara (partner, Japanese-American, SFPD homicide) were in an alley in the Financial District. A scavenger had found a decomposed body in a dumpster.
Angie was with Caterina “Cat” Amalfi Swenson (2nd. older sister, real estate magnate) looking to maybe buy a house. 51 Clover Lane (China Beach, Pacific Ocean).
There other family members are: Salvatore Amalfi (dad), Serefina Teresa Maria Giuseppina Amalfi (Italian, mother), & sisters: Bianca Amalfi, Maria, Dominic Klee (Maria’s husband, jazz trumpet player), Francesca “Frannie”, Seth (Frannie’s husband), & Angelina (Rome, Italy).
Evelyn Ramirez (ME) called Detective Smith that she had some evidence for him.
Detective Smith & Detective Yoshiwara were running down leads & doing more investigating.
Diane LaGrande (wedding planner) was meeting with Angie.
Taylor Bedford (40, husband, Zygog Software; SF, CA. top salesmen) was the deceased.
Larina Bedford (wife) was notified.
Officer Murphy, secured the next crime scene.

Gaia Wyndom (43, Zygog Software Records division) lay in her bathtub full of water, a note close by in the other room.
Gaia was in cold water & full of sleeping pills.
Taylor had been stabbed with a long-curved knife.
Nancy Blum (wedding planner) next met with Angie.
Lara, & Kara, later arrived from Bride’s Little Helpers.
DI Smith & DI Yoshiwara went to tell Urda Lee Wyndom (twin sister, aka Marilee Wisdom, Paranormal romance writer) the bad news.
Gillian (50+) from Wedding Vows came also.
What did DI Smith go see Thomas Greenburg (Zygog Software founder, ($300,000) about?
Father John from St. Peter & Paul’s Church (North Beach, CA.) came to talk with the couple: Angie &
Paavo about their pre-marital classes &marriage.

Would the 2 of them finally get married?
Will the murder mysteries get solved & someone brought to justice?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written who-dun-it murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment.
There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great who-dun-it murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Quail Hill Publishing; bookfunnel; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

Cooking Spirits is the latest, or perhaps the last, book in the Angie Amalfi Mystery Series; it is not clear which. Because the story seemed to be making a happy end of many long running threads in the series, such as Angie's search for a career and for married love, I assumed it was a late addition to the series, six years after the previous book, to give the fans an ending for their beloved character. But then the closure didn't arrive.

Spoiled, Italian-American Angie Amalfi has 14 books in which she tries and fails in a career, struggles to find a secure mate but seems to fail, gets involved in a mystery and with much help solves it. For fans of cozy mysteries featuring an Italian-American amateur detective, that's a lot of books of fun, relaxing reading to look forward to!

Angie lives very comfortably in San Francisco, supported by her wealthy property tycoon father. For most of the books, Angie's love interest is San Francisco Homicide Detective Paavo, and yes, that is his first name. True to a seemingly universal cozy rule, both Angie and Paavo are drop-dead-gorgeous. Angie is also a clothes horse.

Cooking Spirits is actually two books wrapped around each other: Paavo's police procedural case of double homicide, and Angie's house-hunting and wedding problems. Angie's part of the story involves a paranormal storyline.

There is a strong sense of place in the book, with lots of mentioning of streets, buildings, districts and places. Many of the characters from the previous books are included in the story. There are three recipes at the end of the book. And we are treated to the menu of all of Angie's main meals.

This is a leisurely paced book, probably of most interest to Angie and Paavo fans. There is an exciting finish, but not a lot of resolution at the end of the book for Angie and Paavo. It feels like the author may be planning on continuing the series for a few books more.

Please visit my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews.

This is my first Angie Amalfi mystery, but I can say with certainty that it won't be my last. Even though I had not read the previous books in this series, I felt a deep connection to the protagonist (Angie) and had a firm understanding of her backstory. The author, Joanne Pence, did a phenomenal job with immediately drawing me into the story and I literally could not put it down. What's not to love? Angie loves to cook, she's feisty, she loves fashion and she's attempting to find a wedding planner. In the meantime, she is also trying to solve a murder from the past while her detective fiance' works on solving a new case with an interesting twist. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pacing was great, the characters were fun, and the story was highly entertaining. If you are looking for a great book to cozy up to, this is the book for you!

In this story, Angie's cooking/food preoccupation is set aside to plan her wedding to her long-time love, cop Paavo Smith. She is hampered by wedding planners with their own bizarre agendas, interfering opinions from friends and family, and settling the question of where she and Paavo will live after the wedding.
Adding house hunting to the tangle of wedding planners and family members, she finds the perfect house, only to discover it appears to be inhabited by poltergeists. Undaunted, Angie decides the key to exorcising the house is to solve the unexplained murders of the previous owners, which will allow her and Paavo to live there happily ever after.
As you can imagine, the dichotomy of an "Italian princess" hooking up with a homicide cop produces fun edges and a great cast of characters. Add in her stereo-typical crazy Italian family and Paavo's poor communication skills and you have a recipe for disaster or laughter.
Idaho author, Joanne Pence writes my favorite genre: romantic mysteries. Cooking Spirits is number 14 in the Angie Amalfi series, but the first one I've read. Pence's writing style is strong and clear and her characters are believable and likeable. If you are blessed with a bossy older sister, you will definitely relate to Angie's reactions to older sister Cat. I can see why, after a hiatus of several years, Joanne Pence gave in to fans' pleadings and released another in the series.
If you, too, are new to the series, you will have no problem following the storyline. The author deftly inserts the character backgrounds into the story, almost without breaking stride in her current tale, and her tongue-in-cheek humor is delightful.

A woman is trying to find a marriage planner and locate a house that she & her husband-to-be can buy. She finds the perfect house at a very cheap price so the issue becomes what is wrong with it? It may be haunted by the ghost of a couple who were renting it & were murdered there. So she sets forth to find the murderers so the house won't be haunted. Her husband who is working on a police case has his own murders to solve. Life can be complicated. I received this book free for a review. It was a short easy fun read.

COOKING.SPIRITS by Joanne.Pence, a delightful story. Included a wedding to plan, finding a house, but maybe this one has ghosts. Angie and Paava have their work cut out for them, trying to juggle it all, and will they want the house, if it is haunted. First I have read by her, and looking forward to more.Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Two mysteries in the same story, one for Paavo to solve and one for Angie to solve, the latter of which involves the house they will eventually live in if the marriage ever comes together. Joanne does a good job of juggling the mysteries while moving the personal stories along with a little magic thrown in to spice up the dish.

I have enjoyed this book so much. It holds your attention until the very end and is written in above average way. By this, I mean it was entertaing and also made you pay attention to all the nuances. I was hooked to keep reading the rest of the of the series.

San Francisco, CA. Angie Amalfi (top notch Culinary chef) was ranting/raving to Stanfield Bonnette (30, neighbor) about her wedding plans not going the way she wanted.
DI Paavo Smith’s (SFPD homicide, Angie’s fiancé) partner DI Matt Kowalski (partner, SFPD homicide) had been killed line of duty.
Paavo kept his eye on Katie Kowalski (widow), & Mickey (son).
Katie had kind of moved on & met Daniel.

DI Smith, & DI Toshiro Yoshiwara (partner, Japanese-American, SFPD homicide) were in an alley in the Financial District. A scavenger had found a decomposed body in a dumpster.
Angie was with Caterina “Cat” Amalfi Swenson (2nd. older sister, real estate magnate) looking to maybe buy a house. 51 Clover Lane (China Beach, Pacific Ocean).
There other family members are: Salvatore Amalfi (dad), Serefina Teresa Maria Giuseppina Amalfi (Italian, mother), & sisters: Bianca Amalfi, Maria, Dominic Klee (Maria’s husband, jazz trumpet player), Francesca “Frannie”, Seth (Frannie’s husband), & Angelina (Rome, Italy).
Evelyn Ramirez (ME) called Detective Smith that she had some evidence for him.
Detective Smith & Detective Yoshiwara were running down leads & doing more investigating.
Diane LaGrande (wedding planner) was meeting with Angie.
Taylor Bedford (40, husband, Zygog Software; SF, CA. top salesmen) was the deceased.
Larina Bedford (wife) was notified.
Officer Murphy, secured the next crime scene.

Gaia Wyndom (43, Zygog Software Records division) lay in her bathtub full of water, a note close by in the other room.
Gaia was in cold water & full of sleeping pills.
Taylor had been stabbed with a long-curved knife.
Nancy Blum (wedding planner) next met with Angie.
Lara, & Kara, later arrived from Bride’s Little Helpers.
DI Smith & DI Yoshiwara went to tell Urda Lee Wyndom (twin sister, aka Marilee Wisdom, Paranormal romance writer) the bad news.
Gillian (50+) from Wedding Vows came also.
What did DI Smith go see Thomas Greenburg (Zygog Software founder, ($300,000) about?
Father John from St. Peter & Paul’s Church (North Beach, CA.) came to talk with the couple: Angie &
Paavo about their pre-marital classes &marriage.

Would the 2 of them finally get married?
Will the murder mysteries get solved & someone brought to justice?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written who-dun-it murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment.
There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great who-dun-it murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Quail Hill Publishing; bookfunnel; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

Terrific. Her upcoming wedding has her looking at a new place to live. She's found the house she wants but there is one small problem - the former couple are haunting it. Can she solve this mystery, plan a wedding whilst also helping her partner solve another case. Great characters and a nice plot that has you going into the past whilst dealing with the present. Not a deep read but a entertaining one.
I received a free copy for a honest review.

Cooking Spirits is the latest, or perhaps the last, book in the Angie Amalfi Mystery Series; it is not clear which. Because the story seemed to be making a happy end of many long running threads in the series, such as Angie's search for a career and for married love, I assumed it was a late addition to the series, six years after the previous book, to give the fans an ending for their beloved character. But then the closure didn't arrive.

Spoiled, Italian-American Angie Amalfi has 14 books in which she tries and fails in a career, struggles to find a secure mate but seems to fail, gets involved in a mystery and with much help solves it. For fans of cozy mysteries featuring an Italian-American amateur detective, that's a lot of books of fun, relaxing reading to look forward to!

Angie lives very comfortably in San Francisco, supported by her wealthy property tycoon father. For most of the books, Angie's love interest is San Francisco Homicide Detective Paavo, and yes, that is his first name. True to a seemingly universal cozy rule, both Angie and Paavo are drop-dead-gorgeous. Angie is also a clothes horse.

Cooking Spirits is actually two books wrapped around each other: Paavo's police procedural case of double homicide, and Angie's house-hunting and wedding problems. Angie's part of the story involves a paranormal storyline.

There is a strong sense of place in the book, with lots of mentioning of streets, buildings, districts and places. Many of the characters from the previous books are included in the story. There are three recipes at the end of the book. And we are treated to the menu of all of Angie's main meals.

This is a leisurely paced book, probably of most interest to Angie and Paavo fans. There is an exciting finish, but not a lot of resolution at the end of the book for Angie and Paavo. It feels like the author may be planning on continuing the series for a few books more.

Please visit my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews.

Interesting book. I thought I had already reviewed it....but maybe I didn't. Angie is a busy young lady. She's trying to plan a wedding, and a neighbor (who is in love with her and has ambivalence regarding her getting married and remaining in her plush apartment with her husband) mentions maybe she should look for another place for them, especially since her father owns the building she's in. So now she's looking for a house they can afford to buy on top of everything else. The house she likes may be haunted. She doesn't like any of the wedding planners she has interviewed, has no dress picked for herself or the bridesmaids etc. too much going on to state here....read it yourself!

This is my first Angie Amalfi mystery, but I can say with certainty that it won't be my last. Even though I had not read the previous books in this series, I felt a deep connection to the protagonist (Angie) and had a firm understanding of her backstory. The author, Joanne Pence, did a phenomenal job with immediately drawing me into the story and I literally could not put it down. What's not to love? Angie loves to cook, she's feisty, she loves fashion and she's attempting to find a wedding planner. In the meantime, she is also trying to solve a murder from the past while her detective fiance' works on solving a new case with an interesting twist. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pacing was great, the characters were fun, and the story was highly entertaining. If you are looking for a great book to cozy up to, this is the book for you!

In this story, Angie's cooking/food preoccupation is set aside to plan her wedding to her long-time love, cop Paavo Smith. She is hampered by wedding planners with their own bizarre agendas, interfering opinions from friends and family, and settling the question of where she and Paavo will live after the wedding.
Adding house hunting to the tangle of wedding planners and family members, she finds the perfect house, only to discover it appears to be inhabited by poltergeists. Undaunted, Angie decides the key to exorcising the house is to solve the unexplained murders of the previous owners, which will allow her and Paavo to live there happily ever after.
As you can imagine, the dichotomy of an "Italian princess" hooking up with a homicide cop produces fun edges and a great cast of characters. Add in her stereo-typical crazy Italian family and Paavo's poor communication skills and you have a recipe for disaster or laughter.
Idaho author, Joanne Pence writes my favorite genre: romantic mysteries. Cooking Spirits is number 14 in the Angie Amalfi series, but the first one I've read. Pence's writing style is strong and clear and her characters are believable and likeable. If you are blessed with a bossy older sister, you will definitely relate to Angie's reactions to older sister Cat. I can see why, after a hiatus of several years, Joanne Pence gave in to fans' pleadings and released another in the series.
If you, too, are new to the series, you will have no problem following the storyline. The author deftly inserts the character backgrounds into the story, almost without breaking stride in her current tale, and her tongue-in-cheek humor is delightful.

A woman is trying to find a marriage planner and locate a house that she & her husband-to-be can buy. She finds the perfect house at a very cheap price so the issue becomes what is wrong with it? It may be haunted by the ghost of a couple who were renting it & were murdered there. So she sets forth to find the murderers so the house won't be haunted. Her husband who is working on a police case has his own murders to solve. Life can be complicated. I received this book free for a review. It was a short easy fun read.

COOKING.SPIRITS by Joanne.Pence, a delightful story. Included a wedding to plan, finding a house, but maybe this one has ghosts. Angie and Paava have their work cut out for them, trying to juggle it all, and will they want the house, if it is haunted. First I have read by her, and looking forward to more.Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Two mysteries in the same story, one for Paavo to solve and one for Angie to solve, the latter of which involves the house they will eventually live in if the marriage ever comes together. Joanne does a good job of juggling the mysteries while moving the personal stories along with a little magic thrown in to spice up the dish.

I enjoyed this book. It kept me entertained which lately I find many stories don't. It had enough suspense to keep me turning pages, and although I figured out the who done it, it was still worth the read. I have purchased the next in the series.

This was a really good book. I have not read any of the other books in this series,but I will definitely be now. I love Angie, she is just too fun! The rest of the characters are great and the mysteries were good.