Here Comes the Body

Written by Maria DiRico

Narrated by Devon Sorvari

After her philandering husband's boat went down, newly single Mia Carina went back to Astoria, the bustling Queens neighborhood of her youth. Living with her nonna and her oversized cat, Doorstop, she's got a whole new life-including some amateur sleuthing . . .

Mia is starting work at Belle View, her father's catering hall, a popular spot for weddings, office parties, and more-despite the planes that occasionally roar overhead on their way to LaGuardia and rattle the crystal chandelier. Soon she's planning a bachelor party for a less-than-gentlemanly groom. But it goes awry when the gigantic cake is wheeled in and a deadly surprise is revealed . . .

Since some of her family's associates are on the shady side, the NYPD wastes no time in casting suspicion on Mia's father. Now, Mia's going to have to use all her street smarts to keep him out of Rikers Island . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Feb 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781541435056

Reviews for Here Comes the Body

[joannefm2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mia Carina has just gone through a horrible ordeal in Florida when her husband's boat was found with his dead mistress aboard, but no husband. After finally being cleared of any wrongdoing, she's found herself back home in Astoria, with her new job as Assistant Manager of Belle View, her father's catering hall. She's also found herself inheriting clients who are constantly arguing, a groom who practically hits on her, and a groom's mother who turns out to be a 'zilla' in her own right.But Mia's homecoming isn't pleasant when a dead body shows up at the bachelor party, and the dead woman once had an altercation with Mia's father, Ravello. Now, the police are looking at him to be the main suspect, and Mia needs to step up her game to find a killer. Just when she thinks he's in the clear, more trouble arises around the corner, and with the help of her friend Cammie, she's on the right path. But trouble isn't done following her, and it just might be fatal...This is the first in a new series and I found it completely refreshing. I have to say that I certainly didn't expect this book to be as fun as it was. There was no detective love interest, no love triangle, no evil nemesis, etc. Mia is intelligent, family-oriented, business-savvy, and able to think on her feet. When trouble arises, she can usually think quickly to find a solution.The mystery was intriguing, and we also had Mia involved in trying to help her nonna solve her own problems with the neighborhood. It shows a love of family. and I do like her nonna, who has her own wits about her. When each thread of the story seems to lead back to a common one, we watch Mia pull them all together and figure it out. The climax is fun indeed, and it leaves us wanting more. I am glad that I finally picked this book up and can't wait to read the next in the series.

[fernemysteryreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mia Carina has returned to her hometown of Queens, New York, and is working with her father Ravello at Belle View Banquet Manor, a catering hall with some scenic views of the Flushing Bay Marina but also in the landing pattern for LaGuardia Airport. It's an opportunity for a fresh start for father and daughter as the father is ready to run a legitimate business and his daughter needs a fresh start too after life in Florida was anything but "happily ever after."This was a fun opening to a new series as there are a wealth of secondary characters that add unique flavor and delights to almost very scene. I can't think of one that I wouldn't enjoy spending more time with as I've no doubt there are more events for Mia's party planning talents and her father's oversight and there's never a dull moment in the neighborhood at home with Mia's grandmother Elisabetta and her "Army."I really enjoyed the setting of Queens, New York as most New York City settings take place in the borough of Manhattan. There are some trips into Manhattan as the storyline unfolds but not as the primary setting for the cozy. I also liked the mentions of the different modes of travel Mia used throughout the story as this is a realistic portrayal of the choices and flexibility used when living in New York.The cozy is written by Maria DiRico (pseudonym of author Ellen Byron) and in reading Ellen's background she may have incorporated a few of her own family and "Family" stories in this series as well. Only the author knows where her creative expression adds or subtracts and from this reader's view that makes it even better. I look forward to reading more of this series!

[cyderry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So much fun!Coming from an Italian family and having a Nonna nothing like the main character, Mia Carina, I laughed at many of the exploits of her Nonna (grandmother) and the rest of the family (part of the mob). Mia's father, Ravello, is the manager of the Belle View Catering Hall, which he is trying to run as a legitimate business (he wants to stay out of prison). He has Mia return to Astoria to be the event planner and her first one is deadly. A bachelor party with a stripper to pop out of a cake, turns into a murder investigation when no one pops out and instead a stabbed body is found within. Since Ravello had an argument with the victim previously, he's heading the list of suspects. Mia is determined not to need to visit the prison for her father (she already visits her brother - auto theft) and along with her Nonna works to find the killer.loved it!

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico has Mia Carina returning to Queens for a fresh start. She is thankful to no longer be under suspicion for her husband’s disappearance. Mia will be working for her father as assistant manager at Belle View Catering Hall. Ravello Carina, Mia’s father, is taking a stab at running a legit business which pleases Mia. Mia’s first event is a bachelor party with a woman popping out of a cake. Things go sideways when they find a woman who threatened Ravello a few days earlier inside the cake with a knife sticking out of her chest. With Ravello as the police’s prime suspect, Mia begins searching for the real culprit. Here Comes the Body is the exciting debut of A Catering Hall Mystery series. Mia Carina has had a rough time recently with her husband disappearing and the police accusing her of offing him (her family has a reputation). She is glad to be back in Astoria with her family. Mia can visit her brother, Posi during visiting hours at Triborough Correctional Facility where the guards know the family by name. Mia will be working at Belle View Catering Hall which a man gave up to cover his gambling debts. Ravello, Mia’s father, is the manager and Mia will be handling events. Belle View is run down and needs a facelift (get rid of the 80s vibe). Mia has not been home a week when a body if found inside a cake. Someone is framing Ravello and Mia does not appreciate it. She begins questioning attendees of the bachelor party in hopes of narrowing in on the killer. The mystery had several viable suspects. I had a good time following Mia on her quest to clear her father’s name. I thought Here Comes the Body contained good writing, interesting characters and humor. I laughed several times while reading. I loved Mia’s grandmother, Elisabetta Carina. She is an Italian grandmother who makes mouthwatering dishes. The ladies on her block compete to have the best decorations for each holiday (and other things as well). There are a couple of side stories as well. A greedy realtor is trying to get senior citizens to sell their homes and move into an assisted living facility. 46th Place is the new hot area where people want to take the homes, gut them and modernize them. Something is going on with Evans, the sous chef, as well. Cozy mystery readers will be delighted with Here Comes the Body which is written by Ellen Byron under the pen name Maria DiRico. Here Comes the Body is a humorous & intriguing cozy mystery with a murdered moll, a vanished feathered friend, transportation troubles, frightful free furniture, a relentless reporter, and a matchmaking mobster.