{"product_id":"cold-tuscan-stone-9781464214646","title":"Cold Tuscan Stone","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe first Tuscan book in David P. Wagner's Italian mysteries introduces us to Rick Montoya, an American translator who agrees to help catch art smugglers--and soon finds himself in over his head.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePerfect for readers who enjoy a complex puzzle, a bit of humor, and a fairly gentle procedural. Don't miss this one.--\u003cem\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/em\u003e, STARRED review\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen Rick Montoya moves to Italy to work as a translator, he doesn't expect to get involved in an investigation. But with one favor spiraling out of control, he soon finds himself fighting for his life.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRick Montoya has moved from New Mexico to Rome, embracing the life of a translator. He's settling in to la dolce vita when a school friend who is now senior in the Italian Art Squad recruits Rick for an unofficial undercover role. Armed with a list of galleries, suspects, and an expense account, Rick arrives in Tuscany posing as a buyer for a gallery, ready to spend his days sipping wine and examining Roman artifacts to flush out burial urn traffickers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut before sunset on Rick's first day in Volterra, a gallery employee dies in a brutal fall from a high cliff.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe local Commissario and his team consider Rick an amateur, and worse, a foreigner. And now they suspect him in the dead man's murder. While the Volterra squad pursues its leads, Rick continues to meeting his own suspects: a museum director, a top gallery owner, a low-profile import\/export businessman and his enterprising color-coordinated assistant, and a sensuous heiress with a private art specialty and clientele.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the murder mystery and the art trafficking heat up, has Rick's role made him the target of both cops and criminals?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis special first-in-series edition includes an introduction by the author, discussion guide, author interview, and excerpt from the second book in the series.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eCold Tuscan Stone\u003c\/em\u003e: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a wonderful start to a series, which should have immediate legs, and surely will thrill everyone who has lived in Italy, been to Italy, or would like to visit. As a boy I lived in both Firenze and Napoli, and reading Wagner takes me back deeply and instantly.\u003cbr\u003e--\u003cstrong\u003eJoseph Heywood, author of The Woods Cop Mysteries, \u003cem\u003eThe Snowfly\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eThe Berkut\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you are interested in Italian art and artifacts, Italian history and culture, Italian food and wine, or even just good storytelling, then \u003cem\u003eCold Tuscan Stone\u003c\/em\u003e will be right up your cobblestone alleyway... Simply put, this exciting, intriguing, well-written mystery extends an offer no reader should refuse.\u003cbr\u003e--\u003cstrong\u003eAmanda Matetsky, author of The Paige Turner Mysteries\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe intriguing art milieu, mouthwatering cuisine, and the team of the ironic Conti and the bemused but agile Montoya are bound to attract fans. \u003cbr\u003e--\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOther books in the Rick Montoya Italian Mysteries: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eDeath in the Dolomites\u003cbr\u003eMurder Most Unfortunate\u003cbr\u003eReturn to Umbria\u003cbr\u003eA Funeral in Mantova\u003cbr\u003eRoman Count Down\u003cbr\u003eTo Die In Tuscany\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=AUTH-9492193\"\u003eDavid Wagner\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Poisoned Pen Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/26\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.66lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781464214646\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1464214646\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC Categories:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-FIC\"\u003eFiction\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-FIC022020\"\u003eMystery \u0026amp; Detective | Police Procedural\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-FIC\"\u003eFiction\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-FIC022100\"\u003eMystery \u0026amp; Detective | Amateur Sleuth\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-FIC\"\u003eFiction\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-FIC022080\"\u003eMystery \u0026amp; Detective | International Crime \u0026amp; Mystery\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Poisoned Pen Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42679446601965,"sku":"9781464214646","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8097\/6621\/products\/img_9e32656f-f04c-4a8d-9ee4-e33d4b9708fe.jpg?v=1649683757","url":"https:\/\/sureshotbooks.com\/products\/cold-tuscan-stone-9781464214646","provider":"SureShot Books Publishing LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}