Reviews for Intrigue in Italics

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Two for One, April 13, 2007
Review: Alexis E. Christoper “Lexa” (Boston, MA)

Just finished this book and enjoyed it immensely. Not only is there a mystery or two, the reader is introduced to the northern hill towns of Italy. Having visited there a couple of years ago, Gayle Wigglesworth brought back good memories of the people, countryside and the food - such wonderful food.

Gayle has a way with words: her characters are believable and she uses both description and dialog well to introduce the readers to each new character and move the storyline along.

I have read all three of the books in this series and look forward to the fourth. I highly recommend the series to mystery readers of the cozy variety. Gayle will become a must read on your list of authors.

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I like the Cinque Terre cliff-side nail-biter part especially. I see Alfred Hitchcock (or his look-alike) huffing past right after Mafia thug "Brown Shoes" goes over the edge with his unlucky buddy. Venice scenes come out persuasively other-worldly. Florence I know little about except from my own successful dealing with a 3-team of pickpockets.

The scenes in this novel are merry and at unexpected moments, explosive... like my real-life highly skilled but ultimately unrewarded thieves.  The story-line of INTRIGUE IN ITALICS jumps to rocket speed between interludes of detailed calm foreshadowing (like my pick-pocketeers) I got my money's worth.  Love, Al

--Al Ujcic
San Francisco, CA

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Wigglesworth has created a thoroughly delightful franchise, February 3, 2007
Reviewer:  Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI, USA)

Gayle Coates Wigglesworth is both a creative and business whiz. She moved to San Francisco and developed her life there, combining skills to become a Senior Vice President in the banking industry, while at the same time becoming a potter; a wonderful cook; and a writer. She and her husband eventually moved to Houston for another position. She has written three Claire Gulliver mysteries and is currently at work on her fourth, titled CRUISIN' FOR A BRUISIN'.

Claire Gulliver is a librarian who retired when her uncle died and left her a book store in San Francisco. Claire updates the store and calls it "Gulliver's Travels," and specializes in all things travel. She naturally gets pulled into travel herself, and it seems that everywhere she goes she gets into a scrape. Her current escapade involves travel to Florence, where her mother, Millie,is involved in a prestigious cooking school. Claire is shocked when she recognizes a friend she thought was dead...she had gone to her funeral...riding by on a bike. She returns to the spot where she saw her, and her friend Kristen admits that she is in hiding after witnessing a brutal murder by a mobster she had dated. While her mother Millie deals with some odd happenings at the cooking school, Claire takes off with her friend to protect her from the bad guys:

"'I'm leaving town. I've got to get out of here right away. That time someone bombed the Uffizi, they closed the city down. None of the buses, trains or even cars could get in or out. I need to get out now before that happens.' 'But where will you go? How will you be sure you're safe?' Kristen shrugged. 'I can't be sure, but I have some disguises and I'll try to find somewhere to light until I can connect up with my controller.' Claire nodded, then making up her mind she said, 'I'm going with you.'"

Wigglesworth has created a thoroughly delightful franchise with the Claire Gulliver mysteries. Claire is a somewhat over-protected thirty-something who has more guts than she realizes. She is observant and brave, and is a loyal friend who knows right from wrong. She has made a valuable friend in Jack, a C.I.A. agent who manages to turn up in the nick of time when Claireis in trouble. Their relationship develops over the three novels, but Wigglesworth cleverly stops short of a full-blown romance. INTRIGUE IN ITALICS also includes Italian cooking at its best.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

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Posted:  DOROTHYL Official Homepage http://www.dorothyl.com
Date:    Fri, 8 Dec 2006 07:55:58 -0600
From:    Nehring
Subject: A wonderful trip!

 The Arkansas Ozarks have been suffering ice, snow, and single-digit temperatures for over a week now, but I've been traveling in sunny, warm, Italy.

Tour guide:  Gayle Wigglesworth
Transportation:  INTRIGUE IN ITALICS, A Claire Gulliver Mystery

   Claire decides to visit Florence and the surrounding area while her mother and a friend are attending a cooking school in Tuscany.   It's hot, sunny, and delightful there, a big contrast to what I see outside my window.
   Once settled in, Claire thinks she sees a friend whose funeral she attended back in California.  While trying to find out if the woman is really her "dead" friend, Claire herself is attacked.  And then there's the bombing....
   Meanwhile, at the cooking school, odd accidents are happening and Claire's mom, always over-protective when it comes to Claire, is finding it isn't always so easy to stay away from danger.
   Part of the joy of this series is that I LIKE Claire.  She's basically sensible and bright (just like me of course) but then, puzzles do happen, and, because she's bright, she wants to get to the bottom of those.   Ah, the mysteries that come from such situations.
   INTRIGUE IN ITALICS  (as is true in all of the Claire Gulliver mysteries) does have darkness hidden inside--Mafia killers in this case--but that couldn't chill me as I roamed the sunny Italian hills watching Claire try to escape danger.

Radine Trees Nehring
http://www.RadinesBooks.com
The SOMETHING TO DIE FOR mystery series
including the latest, A WEDDING TO DIE FOR.
DEAR EARTH:  A Love Letter from Spring Hollow
all from St Kitts Press