Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries Box Set: Books 1-3

Angelina Bonaparte Crime Thrillers

By: Nanci Rathbun

Narrated by: Kieren Calland Metts

Length: 25 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

A divorcee in search of justice. A detective stuck in his old ways. Can an unlikely partnership survive a criminal conspiracy?

Three suspenseful mystery novels. Over 25 hours of justice served with a side of sass.

After her messy divorce, Angelina Bonaparte refuses to let any man hold her back. She’s even opened a private eye practice to help other victims of relationships gone sour. So when she crosses paths with a detective who believes a crime scene is no place for a woman, she sets out to change his mind. 

On the trail of a cheating mobster, her sharp wit provides the perfect counter-balance to Detective Ted Wukowski’s shoot-first attitude. And before long, the reluctant partners find themselves sharing clues to help sort through a murdered mistress’ long list of enemies. When the mysterious case of a multi-million dollar inheritance turns deadly, Angelina calls on Ted to help expose an underworld of greedy collectors willing to kill for their crown jewel. And they’ll have to put their heads together to read between the lines of a missing father’s faked obituary. 

With each new assignment, Angelina and Ted’s mutual respect grows…along with their budding attraction. But when danger lurks around every corner, can Angelina count on him to have her back when the bullets start to fly?

Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries Box Set contains the first three books in a sassy, suspenseful mysteries series. If you like tenacious heroines, snarky humor, and twists and turns you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Nanci Rathbun’s high-spirited private eye collection.

Buy Angelina Bonaparte to get on the case with a fiery, freewheeling detective today!

©2019 Nancianne Rathbun (P)2019 Nancianne Rathbun

Disappointing

I don't know what all the good reviews are about. Am I reading the same book?! Its all about Angelina. What she wears, how hot she is, all the men who want her, etc etc. Stupid story. No mystery. I had the killer pegged after 2nd chapter. My advice is don't waste your time because I'm not going to waste mine with any sequels.

Fabulous!

I love Angelina! How can you not love her? Fifty-something divorcée, with grown-up children and grandchildren, she decided that, no matter what her title says, she won't be a librarian, but a private eye. And boy! is she good!

Angelina is a wonderful character, smart, sensible (until she isn't :P) and determined. A strong woman rebuilding a life of her own, with no time to feel sorry for herself and determinate to look fabulous in the meanwhile.

One of the things I really enjoy in these stories is the diversity in the characters, in every sense of the word. All interesting, all humans and three-dimensional: no cartoonish villains nor perfect heroes.

And the writing is delightful, funny and enticing. These books are simply a joy to read/listen.

Kieren Calland Metts does a superb job narrating, each character unique and identifiable. And let me tell you this: with so many characters that's not an easy task.

I need book four right now! *laughs*

Smart Fun Mysteries

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

This set consists of Books 1 - 3 of the series. Each is a standalone book with no cliffhanger endings. However, each book in the series does reference events and characters from prior books. Additionally, the MC Angelina does grow and develops relationships throughout the series so it's good to start from the first book to completely understand her growth and relationships. Although the author does provide quick summaries of past events and characters.

In Book 1, Angelina is tasked with helping to prove a mobster's infidelity when his mistress winds up dead and he is accused of her murder. But he claims innocence.

In Book 2, Angelina is tasked to determine where a hefty inheritance came from after the deceased couple leaving the inheritance to their daughter did not appear to have the means to leave so much money.

In Book 3, Angelina has been working on finding a missing spouse for several years when all of a sudden his obituary shows up in the news. Angelina is then tasked to find out why he left his family and where he has been for all those years but it's not quite what she was expecting.

I liked that the MC was a smart feisty 50ish woman who is starting a new career after a long miserable marriage. She is assertive yet she is rediscovering herself, her sexuality and her desire for a new romance. This makes her completely relatable and personable. 

The mysteries are well plotted and move along at a good pace. I enjoyed the various characters with whom Angelina interacted and the well-researched plot points.

The narrator does a wonderful job. Her voice is bright and mature - as I would imagine Angelina. She used distinctive voices for the different characters - including some great accents. Additionally, she was able to pronounce various foreign languages with aplomb.

If Spenser for Hire & Miss Marple had a love-child

I'm writing this review after having finished listening to book one and have gotten midway or more through book two. I'd spend a credit to get just the one book, but I've got three! The tale is personable and warm with a steady plot and engaging characters, and thoughtfully literate. There were few off notes for me in book one, but the moments that felt off were probably more about my biases than Rathbun's writing. In book two they haven't crept in again, and I'm enjoying the mystery more.

The audiobook narrator seems very well cast. The audio quality is solid, but I might recommend listening at 1.25 speed.

If you're looking for a fun summer read/listen, you could do a lot worse than this set.

I was given this free review-copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Feisty PI mysteries

Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries is a series of books by Nanci Rathbun who is a new to me author. I really enjoyed listening to this set of books. Mystery always has been a favorite genre for me to read and these stories did not disappoint. The books center on an older divorcee and former librarian who has started life over with her own private investigation company. I loved how she seems fearless, just marches in to situations and does what has to be done. Great characters (Mafia, librarians, lawyers, police detectives) and stories (cheating husbands, dead mistresses, missing husbands, million dollar heiresses) that keeps you hooked until the last page. Each of the stories focuses on a different investigation so there are a few new characters introduced but there are a number of characters that carry through the stories. And I like that as it is interesting to see where the author takes them (or as some authors say, where the characters take the author!). Readers who like a good mystery, with an ongoing romance throughout (some closed door bedroom scenes) will not want to miss the Angelina Bonaparte mystery series. Kieren Calland Metts does a great job narrating the books which made for an enjoyable listening experience.
I was gifted a complimentary copy of the audiobook and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

Intelligent, fun and fascinating PI stories

Angela Bonaparte is an experienced PI who has a bit of an ax to grind with men. After her experiencing a cheating husband and divorce, she gives up the boring life of a librarian to become a PI and get the dirt of other cheating husbands, among other things. She is savvy, smart and professional. But the job sometimes branches off into more dangerous and serious investigations of murder, which put her is the cross-hairs of some bad people. Fortunately for her, her father has a shady history with the mafia in Milwaukee and wise people know to leave her alone. There is a lot of fun Italian culture and fallen-away-Catholic pathos here as well. I love that Angela is middle-aged and trying to sort of the dating scene for mothers with grown children and women who have been burned by men in the past. She finds herself increasingly attracted to a tough and grouchy police detective who has issues of his own. The books are full of great characters who are well fleshed out and interesting. The narrator is perfect - cool and sophisticated and she sounds like Angela should. My only criticism is that the author spends too much time on describing all of Angela's and other character's clothes. make-up. jewelry and interior design. After all, Angela is a PI not a fashionista!

An entertaining detective series

The Angelina Bonaparte box set includes three entertaining mysteries staring an interesting middle aged, female private eye with mob ties. There are some slow moments in the books, and at times Angelina is a bit too concerned about fashion and lingerie for my taste, but overall these are good books, and I look forward to reading more from the author. I hope a fourth book in the series comes out soon.

The narrator of the audiobook does a good job bringing the stories to life and fits the books well.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.

AB Detective Agency

Fifty-something grandmother, fashionista, divorcee Angelina is private detective who falls into murder cases. Simple cases of search and find turn into murder. A fancy car and a killer wardrobe - what's not to like. Likeable characters with flaws make this a great series. I was gifted this from the author.

Great Series

Enjoyed this series. It’s got your normal cozy mystery combined with mafioso. Would definitely recommend

Very Entertaining!

As a listener that drives for a living, I need enough action, humor, adventure and connection with the story and characters to keep me from falling asleep. And Nanci’s books hit all those spots for me.

Lasagne, lawyers, and lingerie

Angelina is a sassy signorina and a breath of fresh air. If you read a lot of crime books that veer toward the dark side content-wise and usually revolve around a damaged main character then take a break every now and then for something like this. Although these stories do involve some unpleasant crimes the tone never becomes bleak, plus Angie is a well-adjusted, well-loved lady. The plots are interesting and Nanci Rathbun has populated Angelina's world with likeable, engaging regular characters. I particularly enjoyed meeting smoke-wreathed lawyer Bart and Papa Pasquale.

These books are pleasantly easy to listen to; due to both the light style of the prose and the very good narrator. It is especially refreshing to find a fifty-something woman being presented in this way; naturally confident in her appearance and professional abilities with a positive outlook on life.

Exciting

This book involves a lady who is a private detective. She really gets involved in the cases and the clients lives.

I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book

The narrator did an excellent job.

This book was provided free of charge and this review was freely given.

A brilliant collection that will have you gripped

This is the first time I have come across the author Nanci Rathbun and I sincerely hope that it wont be the last. First of all I would like to say that although the books can be read / listened to as stand alone novels I cannot emphasise enough that the reader should aim for getting the collection. it is great value for money for near enough 26 hours of listening time. You will not be disappointed for investing your time.
The books are gripping and definitely page turners. Before starting the series I thought that the private investigator mysteries have been overdone time and time again whether this is through books or TV series... but i have to confess that this series stands out from them all . The main character is feisty and strongwilled and has a strong opinion about everything She is a breath of fresh air and I only hope that I have the same sense of adventure and spirit at her age. I was given this book by the author/narrator in return for an honest and unbiased review

A book apart from the rest

I really enjoyed this book. I think any fan of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone or Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski will enjoy this book as Angie made me think of both of those characters. It is a must for any mystery fan that like there lady detective to be strong, clever and not afraid to fight and I love her side kick and inter fearing family.

Book one -Truth kills -four stars.
This is sees Angie hired by a pregnant lady who thinks her husband is cheating on her. When the husbands mistress turns up dead she then gets hired by the husband lawyer to prove him innocent. The victim wasn't well liked and it soon becalmed apparent that there were plenty of people who wanted her dead but is her new client one of them?

Book two- Cash kills- five stars.
When Angie's office room mate asks her to help her new client track down where her mysterious inherence came for nobody could guess what she would spark off. The case soon delevelops into more than just looking into a trail of money and Angie and her new partner need to add to the team, a bodyguard, a computer specialist, an ex FBI agent and an librarian.

Book three- Honour kills - five stars.
Angie's routine search for a missing father turns up an obituary notice in the newspaper but as she and her probie partner investigate it turns up to be anything but ordinary. Following a trail of clues turns up lots of twists, turns and secrets. One that might just lead back to Angie and her own connections to the Mob. But what will this case end up costing her? Her family, her boyfriend or even her life?
This was a great collection of stories and I will definitely be looking out for more in this series.
The narrator was very good and I think she did a great job with all the different voices.

Box Set

This series has a very interesting plot in the story and 3 books are included using one audible credit.

Very Enjoyable

I enjoyed these stories of Angie and her friends and the strange and interesting characters they interact with. Unlike in so many of this type of story Angie is a feisty older lady who doesn't flinch away from awkward situations. She is also assured of her sexuality and not afraid to use it to advantage. Great stories with good characters and snarky dialogue.The narrator does an excellent job of bringing it all to life.

Gave up after book 2

Found it a bit too heavy going, enjoyed book 1 but gave up midway through book 2.

GOOD STORYS BUT.........

The 1-3 Box Set and Book 4 are not stand alone novels therefore, it stands to reason that the author does not need repetition but, she repeats, repeats, repeats. From book 2 on, rather than a quick reference when necessary, she regularly goes in detail about what has happened before as if we do not already know, which is tiresome and tedious. Through out the four books, she unnecessarily goes on about the Bonaparte's height, age, attire, lingerie, cleansing routine Italian food etc. And yet, the author's writing does not give me any real sense of how Bonaparte looks in clothes (with the exception of a fifty something wearing a "thong"!). The lingerie routine gets boring and the food is bland. Her writing does not evoke the senses.

There are a few stand out errors e.g. age differences of Bonaparte when her mother died and so on which, is entirely the editor's fault.

Overall, the storylines are good and interesting with some gripping scenes. Bonaparte is a strong and likeable character, in fact all the characters hold their own however, for me the books are spoilt by repetition, repetition, repetition.

What a wonderful breath of fresh air!!!!

At last, a heroine who is in her 50s!
The murder mysteries are easy to follow (and I mean this the best possible way) and therefore very pleasant on Audible, particularly since Kieren does a wonderful job of narrating it.
The character development is also very enjoyable.
I have listened to over 300 books and this series is much recommended. Very good use of a credit, what a bargain!
Keep them coming Nanci, we need talented authors like you to keep us through these dark depressing COVID times!

I loved Angelina

Angelina is a fabulous character, a strong, clever, kind woman in her 50s full of love. The plots are complicated enough to keep me guessing, but not so much that I had to rewind or felt out of the picture. I really enjoyed the romance in these books and getting to know the other characters. Beautifully read.