Return to Umbria

Description

Orvieto - its very name brings to mind priceless art, colorful ceramics, and straw-colored wine. And the most famous cathedral facade in Italy, a structure of gothic spires, arches, statues, and mosaics. But as Rick Montoya discovers, this jewel of Umbria can have an ugly side as well. When Rick Montoya moved to his mother's Italy from his fathe

David P. Wagner is a retired foreign service officer who spent nine years in Italy, learning to love things Italian. Other diplomatic assignments included Brazil, Ecuador, and Uruguay, as well as two hardship postings to Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Mary, live in Pueblo, Colorado.

"With taut pacing and enough credible suspects to keep the reader guessing until the end, Return to Umbria makes for an engaging read."--David Martin "Shelf Awareness " "Wagner skillfully inserts nuggets of local culture without slowing down the narrative pace, and perhaps even more importantly, he gets Italy right. He understands the nuances of Italian manners and mentality as well as the glorious national preoccupation with food."--Peter Cannon "Publishers Weekly " "Translator Rick Montoya (Murder Most Unfortunate) is in Orvieto to persuade his cousin to return home to Rome when he gets drawn into investigating the murder of American Rhonda Van Fleet. Did Rhonda's past in Orvieto, studying ceramics, lead to her death? The setting almost overwhelms the plot, but Rick is a charming and appealing amateur sleuth."--Library Journal "The series is clearly aimed at armchair travelers, and I enjoyed the virtual visit to beautiful Italy in Return to Umbria. The author includes lots of cultural information and many delicious Italian meals while the protagonist works to solve a mystery or two."--Candida Martinelli "Italophile Book Reviews " "I can also heartily recommend reading Return to Umbria by David P. Wagner. You will find a wonderful tour guide extolling the virtues of this lovely city, as well as a murder mystery entangled with the guide. You can take a ride on a funicular while pondering why a murder happened at all."--Mary Ann Smyth "Bookloons " "Return to Umbria is a tidy mystery of meticulous writing intertwined with a fascinating tour of off-the-path regions of Italy and the author's favorite restaurants and meals. A clever piece of work from a number of angles, Return to Umbria is a surprising treat..."--Jeffery Mannix "Durango Telegraph " "...be prepared for a grand tour of Orvieto and some of its surroundings, stopping at all the right times to indulge in some delectable Italian food, naturally washed down with the region's fine wine. RETURN TO UMBRIA moves along at a pleasant pace and keeps its readers guessing right up until the end. David P. Wagner has created a fun series, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment."--Kate Ayers "Bookreporter "