Book review Here Comes The Body by Maria DiRico

I received a digital advanced reader’s copy of Here Comes The Body from NetGalley. This review may contain minor spoilers.

Here Comes The Body is the 1st book in a new cozy in a series by Maria DiRico. The series is A Catering Hall Mystery and will follow Mia Carina. Mia has just returned to Astoria after her husband's death/disappearance to live with her Grandmother. What sets this series apart is the fact Mia’s father used to be in the mob. How unique is that? 

If you like mobster movies you will like this. Think of this book as the friendlier and way less violent version of Goodfellas as a cozy with a strong female lead. Mia is not in the mob but the plot involves the mob which makes it even more interesting and helps the plot move along. I loved this book and loved everything about it. 

The protagonist Mia returns home to help her father run Belle View catering hall. His new business since he has gone legit. When someone turns up dead at Belle View, the police suspect Mia’s Dad Ravello Carina. Mia’s determination to clear her father's name and make their new business work is the heart of the story.

Mia the protagonist was smart, fun and caring. She was responsible and never put herself in danger on purpose. Which is what a lot of cozy characters seem to do in every single book.

The supporting characters including the Grandmother and neighbors were enjoyable. The backstory of Mia’s neighborhood was rich with detail. Many families were Greek or Italian and learning more about how the two cultures blended was wonderful. It felt authentic to the area. I loved that the neighbors cared for and looked after one another.

The subplot with the catering hall and its employees enriched the book. Cammie especially she was quite the character. The clients were all entertaining and helped further the plot. 

Overall, the book moved along quickly. There was no filler, and the book was a refreshing a delightful change from themed cozies. It could have been just a catering theme but with the mob twist it just sent it over the top. In a good way, the mob aspect added some pizzazz that many cozies seem to lack. 

When is the next book coming out? Because I want to read it. I rated Here Comes The Body five stars on Goodreads. Which I rarely do. I loved this fast and fun read and highly recommend you read it too. 

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