Novice Mystery: Italy by Donna Rewolinski – Review

Retired police detective Dan Novice and his wife Karen, a retired social worker, arrive in Venice to start a three-month Italian vacation. The trip commences with a stop in Venice to join in the annual celebration of Carnival. The city is crowded with masked and costumed participants. Dan and Karen find themselves in the middle of a sinister spot when on their first day they’re at the scene of a murder. Dan’s past police experience becomes known to Inspector Caputo, who may or may not welcome Dan’s role in the investigation. Dan and Karen soon learn that several of the locals they’re in contact with have intertwining relationships and secrets. Who’s hiding in plain sight? Danger arises when a previous nemesis, Dr. Virk, reveals his presence and serious threats to Dan and Karen. Can they find the killer or killers before they become victims?

Purchase Link: Novice Mystery Italy

I chose this book because the author found me through my blog and reached out to ask if I would review it, which I always appreciate.

This book is part of the Novice Mystery series and, while it can be read as a standalone, it does reference characters and events from earlier books. I do think having that background would have added a bit more context and made some of the connections feel richer, but it is still accessible on its own.

My reading experience was mixed, mostly because this book leans heavily into a pure mystery and police procedural format. The story focuses on clues, suspects, interviews, and unraveling how everyone is connected. While it was definitely a page turner in that sense, I personally tend to look for mysteries that also include strong emotional arcs, character depth, and relationship development. This one stayed very plot driven, which made it harder for me to form an emotional attachment to the characters.

That said, this is not a flaw in the book. It is simply a matter of reading taste. Readers who enjoy straightforward mysteries without a lot of emotional or character focused “fluff” will likely appreciate this series.

The mystery itself has multiple layers, several suspects, and plenty of questions to keep the pages turning. The stakes felt relatively low key overall, but there was still a steady sense of movement as pieces slowly came together.

The story is set in Italy, and the setting is clearly meant to be a highlight as the travel-forward atmosphere was consistent throughout, almost as though the culture was a character itself.

Overall, Novice Mystery: Italy is best suited for readers who enjoy classic, clue driven mysteries and are less concerned with deep emotional or character exploration. If you love following trails, uncovering secrets, and solving puzzles alongside the characters, this series may be right up your alley.

Thank you, Donna Rewolinski , for trusting me to read and review your book!