Review: Dark Secrets and a Mysterious Death
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 21, 2013
"Death In Bagheria" is the third book in the captivating Serafina Florio series by Susan Russo Andersen. Set in a financially troubled 1870's Italy with businesses closing resulting in large numbers of families immigrating to the New World, Serafina (Fina) Florio is commissioned by Sister Genoveffa to investigate her mother's suspicious death. Needing the money to support her family of seven and intrigued by the mystery surrounding the death of the baroness she readily takes on the assignment. With her friend,Rosa, the shrewd and witty former brothel owner, her innocent daughter Renata, an aspiring pastry chef, Fina travels to a palatial villa in Bagheria where she uncovers dark secrets, a murder, and illegal opium shipments.Like Sherlock Holmes Seraphina has been gifted with keen observation and reasoning skills which she uses when clues are few, and a murderer threatens not only the Baron's household but her own life.In this story the passionate affair between Fina and Dr. Loffredo heats up as he's drawn into the investigation, but the question, although unspoken, remains; how long will their love last.This murder-mystery is riveting with its cast of realistic, colorful and conniving characters, and its blend of secrecy, deceit, betrayal, friendship and love. It's a book worth reading. I highly recommend it and can't wait for the next in the series