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Nikki Hunter #9

Murder Al Dente

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“An intuitive detective, a kidnapped child, and an assassin with a heart of gold …” In Murder Al Dente, PI Nicoli “Nikki” Hunter once again gets herself in hot water when she’s hired by a multimillionaire boat owner, (and sex toy manufacturer,) to find out who’s trying to kill him. Nikki has barely begun her investigation when he’s found dead aboard his mega yacht. The cause of death appears to be suicide, but Nikki knows better and believes it’s up to her to bring his killer to justice. As she’s delving into her deceased client’s background, a woman calls asking for help. Her four-year-old daughter has been abducted and the police have no leads. Realizing that time may be running out for the little girl, Nikki agrees to take her case as well and embarks on what turns out to be a truly labyrinthine journey to save a child’s life. Murder Al Dente is the 9th novel in award winning author, Nancy Skopin’s, Nikki Hunter mystery series.

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2019

303 people are currently reading
282 people want to read

About the author

Nancy Skopin

9 books63 followers
Award winning author, Nancy Skopin, is a native of California who currently lives on the Oregon coast with her husband, Max Ferry, and their dog, Turq. An avid student of human nature, Nancy is happiest spending her days imagining the best, and the worst, that we are capable of, and translating those ideas into her Nikki Hunter mystery novels.
As does her central character, Nikki, Nancy lived aboard a yacht in the San
Francisco Bay Area for thirteen years, though she has recently settled on solid ground.
While researching her quirky serial killer mystery series she worked for two years with a private investigator, learning the intricacies of the business and, specifically, the art of bar and restaurant “mystery shopping.”

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5 stars
422 (63%)
4 stars
174 (26%)
3 stars
56 (8%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
Profile Image for S.A. Krishnan.
Author 31 books234 followers
July 7, 2020
The book has everything. Action, a little bit of romance and a few moments which are just enjoyable. Nicky and Bill together are beautiful.
But the mystery was really good as Nicky was trying to find the missing child before the killer strikes again.
The story moves at a breakneck speed and I really enjoyed all parts of it.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
1,101 reviews27 followers
April 14, 2020
This is a review of the entire series of 9 books. I certainly there is a 10th book and many more because I truly enjoy reading this author's books.

I was fortunate to collect all 9 books either for free or a small cost. However, I would buy them, no doubt. The reason why I loved them and read them one after the other is:

1) I liked the characters. The author spent only a short time giving descriptions and added elements as the books went on.
2) The plot MOVED! Many books spend an exhorbitant amount of time describing everything. I've read a lot of those. In a mystery, I want action.
3) Action! I was always looking forward to the next adventure or plot twist!

Cudos to the author Nancy Skopin! She delivered each and every challenge and I couldn't stop reading!

I highly recommend this series! I'm ready for more!
836 reviews10 followers
January 20, 2019
Impossible to Put Down!

This is another wonderful Nikki Hunter mystery! I love the characters & found the plot quite intriguing as Nikki races the clock to rescue a kidnapped child, & unmask a killer before she herself becomes a victim. Romantic interludes are provided by Elizabeth & Jack’s wedding, & the ever growing relationship between Nikki & Bill. I found myself hooked from beginning to end! Wish I could give this 10 stars!
490 reviews9 followers
April 8, 2019
Being very fond of Nikki Hunter and her series, it pains me to only give this book 4 stars (if I didn't like this series so much I would only have given it 3 stars)
First - the thing I have always liked about Ms. Skopin's books was that they are feasible, true to life, and actually could happen.
Having said this, reading the story about Sky really crushed me. Humans are not capable of self-fertilizing. The best that could be done is by cloning, where a cell from a woman's body (could even be a skin cell) is joined to an egg cell of the woman, after first removing the nucleus from said egg. About 5 or 6 days after the joining, the result is placed in the uterus of the woman. The resulting embryo would be the identical twin of the woman. So, basically, at the present time, neither scenario is feasible. There is no way you are going to make me believe that Sky is the "Second Coming". So, now the book delves into fantasyland. I am soooo disappointed.
And, another thing that I found annoying. I hate books where someone speaks in a foreign language and it is not translated, although Nikki did translate the instances when they appeared, BUT the other thing that annoys me is when the first consonant in each word is used to describe something. It happens every day in the newspapers and annoys me no end. And, in that vein, what the hell is a FMP?
Additionally, I found a few scattered spelling/grammatical errors, such as "glass pain in the door" or "a screaming still Vanessa's hands" to mention a few.
But all in all, despite the above, it was a good story and I look forward to more of this series (hopefully sans the above).
Profile Image for Kat Lebo.
855 reviews15 followers
February 23, 2019
Murder al Dente: The 9th Nikki Hunter mystery
by Nancy Skopin

Okay, people who follow my reviews will be very surprised that I gave this book 5 stars when I found a proofing error in it. Yes, probably unfair to other authors who I come down on hard for proofing errors that any reasonable proofreader should see, but I think this is the first one I've found in 9 books, and it happened very early in the book, so I'm willing to give it a pass. There was also one scene (portion of a scene, really) at about the same location, where the author has Nikki throwing perfectly good recyclable trash in a trash container, rather than recycling it. I find it hard to believe the character, a thoroughly California girl -- and one that lives on the water, no less -- would do that. (Shrug).

But otherwise, it was a perfect read. Great plotting and pacing. Two disparate but equally interesting mysteries. Lots of action and danger. And, for the first time, we see Nikki and Nina working together willingly. The characters are believable and relatable, as fully fleshed out, consistently drawn while still leaving plenty of room for personal growth. The author uses a good amount of humor, interjects a reasonable amount of personal information, and ties everything up nicely in the end. No cliffhanger endings. Skopin sometimes has Nikki reading, and she always uses the name of actual authors and their characters. This time it was another series that I also follow: Jinx Schwartz's Hetta Coffey series. Another pop culture reference that made me smile was the mention of Nikki purchasing a coffee mug with the image of Richard Boone on it. His Paladin series, "Have Gun Will Travel," was a favorite of mine when I was a kid.

So, I believe this book is the last in the series so far. I've binge-read the last 4 books in the series. Now I have to wait until book 10 comes out maybe later this year or early 2020. Sigh.

2,538 reviews
January 3, 2022
free ebook
i like this series, like sue grafton

she is a investigator in the bay area, she goes to restaurants and sees if the workers are doing a good job. she has a dog and lives on a boat. her boyfriend is a cop

a man that has a boat nearby came to tell her someone is trying to kill him and she took his case. advised him to change his life insurance and move the boat off shore. he was found dead with his gun in his hand, only he was left handed

a woman came in and hired her to find her 4 yr old missing daughter

her friend is getting married and turned into bridezilla

she found the kidnapped girl and with some help rescued her

she figured out who killed the man on the boat, it was his x wife. she tried to kill her in the womens restroom before her best friends wedding but was wounded and arrested. she even got to the wedding on time and the dog was the ring bearer

her boyfriend gave her a real pretty ring , but said he wasnt asking to get married cause he knew she didnt want to. he put it on her right hand.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
7,767 reviews50 followers
May 11, 2019
Chet comes to .Nicole saying he thinks someone is trying to kill him. You would think when someone drills a hole in your brake line, it would be more of. a positive thought. He hasn’t changed his will, insurance since the divorce, a son who doesn’t work he has cut him off, plus a few others might want him dead.. First thing get the will, and insurance up to date and let the ex wife know she is cut off, that might stop the threat. He was murdered, and then she gets another call of a four year old girl that was taken from the school yard, and wanted her to find the girl. Then her best friend Elizabeth was getting married and was turning into a bridezilla over it. This was a pack full of cases Nicole is working on. Very well done, and another one to enjoy in this series.
Profile Image for Charlene Davis.
1,143 reviews5 followers
February 3, 2020
Excellent

Fantastic Storytelling Sometimes I fall asleep to them but I always go back to the spot where I fell asleep because they're so good And then I finish the book Because it's hard to put down.Yes I'm 1 of those people that shouldn't never listen to a book while driving because If it's bad book I sent or fall asleep if it's a good book I said wait. If it's a good book, sometimes I still fall asleep but I always go back and listen to it again Because it's well worth listening to Parts even if I fall asleep during that part and can't remember where I left off this is that kind of book And Definitely pick it back up and listen to it again. My eyes it too tired reading. That's fine I love the whispersync that kindle has set up it make such a difference and our lives
Profile Image for KELA Goodridge .
109 reviews6 followers
February 22, 2022
Fast Paced and Loaded with Surprises

Ms Skopin has done another wonderful job with this series. I'm so invested in the characters that I'm afraid I'll see that I've come to the end of Nikki's adventures. This author was recommended in a book by Jinx Schwartz, the writer of the Hetta Coffey series. It's nice that Nancy Skopin returned the favor. I'm also highly excited about another book recommended by Ms Skopin, the title of which, I've forgotten at the moment, but is sitting in my Kindle library waiting.
Just a side note to Nancy... the luscious food you eat after dinner is spelled Dessert. The trick to remembering this is that you want two scoops 😋
121 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2023
This series of books are very precise. This one tells me about what supermarket she went to and why. It tells me lots of details about things which are normal daily life. I find myself getting scunnered with the trivia and skip reading so I just get plot and relationships and not the dross. For instance why do I need to know all about the waiters she's checking. Too much non-plot... however the plots are good - though this felt like it's setting the scene for a more significant plot in another book, with a side order of 'oh, this need its own plot too, I'll knock up a quick killing to bulk it out'. Odd. Great dog though.
Profile Image for Karen.
189 reviews6 followers
April 9, 2019
Another terrific read

Nikki Hunter continues to evolve in this, her ninth outing. All the favorite characters are present, and a couple that have been less than full-fledged are more developed in an interesting way. Hooray! More to look forward to in the next book!

Skopin presents us with her usual multiple plotlines and does justice to them all. I can't say more for fear of giving anything away, but I will say that this is a book (and a series) you don't want to miss. Perfect blend of mystery, romance, and animals!
864 reviews4 followers
May 7, 2019
Wow! Wonderful! Awesome! Fantastic! Fun, entertaining, exciting, unpredictable twists and turns, unexpected adventures, great food, the characters are bigger than life! Don’t forget the pets, Buddy and KC. Awe!! As usual there is lots of drama, danger, mystery, evil, misadventures, mayhem, kidnapping and murder! At least Nikki survived, solved the kidnapping, the murder, the elopement and marriage of her BFF, fixed Lilly and Michael up, and (Awe). Bill comes through with the right surprise! Wish I could give it ten stars ! Best one yet! Loved it!
14 reviews
January 29, 2020
Sassy but succinct!

I love the style and presentation of this self-assured private eye,Nikki Hunter. It is a first intro for me of a thoroughly likeable, smart, sassy and fun woman. She is a true friend to friends. And she loves deeply both her dog and her man
The stories in this tale are well paced, intriguing and kept me turning page after page until finished...and wanting more! Nancy Skopin has a new devotee...and i will be on the look for the 8 books written prior to this one and any that follow! Well done!
1,769 reviews24 followers
February 10, 2020
A Kidnapping with Murder on the Side

A writer of high caliber Nancy Skopin has written an amazing storey for any cozey or murder mystery reader full of intreage and humor as well as the dog as a significant other , even before the heroines live in guy .the caracters are vibrant and into all kinds of mayhem and madness. Time for you to aquier a copy and start enjoying " Murder Al Dente" as much as I have. 😮🤔🙄☺Kat
890 reviews6 followers
July 19, 2021
Love this book and the series, characters are well developed and the story has so many twists and turns that you can't confirm until the very end who the killer really is and while you might suspect who it is you're not really certain until the end. Also love the food survey's this PI does and love all the foodie details, just one more delightful aspect to the whole book. Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.
Profile Image for Ronald Enos.
45 reviews
July 17, 2025
Two mysteries in one book

This is the ninth book in the series, but it is enjoyable despite having read none of the previous books. The protagonist is a tough, no nonsense woman, and the prose fits that well. The story moves right along, with logical reasoning for giving the focus on the kidnapping first.
I would not call this a mysteried series, but more a procedural but with a morally ambiguous cast of characters.
2 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2025
Awesome series

The Nikki Hunter series is a great read. Each story keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story lines have depth, not mindless, totally predictable plots. Each character is well written, and you feel like you really
know them. The food descriptions are a foody's dream. I love the setting of the marina; it made me want to research the yatch style, and I learned some much. Can't wait for the next book! And yes, I did binge read them all.
3 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2019
The plot was killer!


The plot of this book was so great that I read it in one day and resented that a friend took me to dinner. At the restaurant, I was explaining the plot to her and told her that I needed to get home soon to see what was happening with Nikki and company. Then I came home and finished the book. It is excellent. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Jana Gundy.
1,919 reviews17 followers
February 22, 2019
Always an excellent murder mystery

I truly enjoy this series and love Nikki, her dog Buddy, and all of her friends and acquaintances. Once again, Nikki is caught up in a murder and the author does such a great job of writing it. There is a great balance of the entire world and it’s never boring.
180 reviews
February 23, 2019
Enjoyable good book

Good book, well-written, keeps your interest. Nice light read with well-developed characters. Some humor included, making it an enjoyable read. The restaurant surveys are fascinating. If you're an animal lover, the inclusion of the dogs plus an occasional cat story are bonuses.
Profile Image for John Colone.
26 reviews1 follower
April 15, 2019
Excellent

I have read 5 of the 9 Nikki Hunter books and need to pace myself so I don't binge read the rest. They are so addicting that I will be in withdrawal when I finish all of them. Nikki is the kind of strong independent character I love. She is smart, lives her dog and her guy, and maintains her career integrity. Wish Nancy could write faster.
Profile Image for Wendy H..
Author 46 books66 followers
November 27, 2019
This is a good book, with characters which zing and a plot that kept me reading. The only reason I have given it 4 rather than five stars was that, for me, I felt there was just a bit too much description of how the main character felt when eating food. This is a personal thing and other readers may feel differently. Otherwise, an enjoyable read which I recommend
135 reviews3 followers
November 8, 2021
Very good story

I enjoyed the scenery as well as a nicely layed out plot. The relationship between Nikki, Buddy and Bill is just awesome and their opposing positions of their jobs does not cause relationship issues. I did think descriptions were very over used at times, even though food is a very huge part of Nikki's job. Just for me though it was a bit much
116 reviews
January 30, 2022
Enjoyable continuation of the series.

Nikki has 2 cases going and she is determined to solve both. I enjoy Nikki being a strong capable PI. My disappointment was that I thought that this story would be a continuation from book 8. The mystery at the end of book 8 is resolved with just 1 line.
Profile Image for Madeleine Booth-Smits.
872 reviews15 followers
January 16, 2024
Just wow

So much happens in this book! I adore the trips taken by all and loved all the drama and intrigue. I'm super sad this is the last Nikki Hunter book as I have loved each and every one. I really really hope there will be more one day as I can never have too much Nikki, Elizabeth, Lily and Buddy. A truly wonderful PI series. I was completely hooked from book one to nine.
Profile Image for Diane Burton.
Author 16 books249 followers
January 29, 2019
Another fascinating Nikki Hunter mystery. The food descriptions are so good I get hungry reading them. I was drawn into the story from the beginning, even though I thought the 2 cases were wrapped up too easily. Loved the wedding.
Profile Image for Mel Bonthuys.
Author 2 books5 followers
April 16, 2019
Like all the Nikki Hunter books, this one is a great addition to your bookshelf.
The lead character is a strong female lead, and the book is easy to follow.
Just a great old murder mystery which makes for great reading!
42 reviews2 followers
July 22, 2019
Love the Nikki Hunter series

This is such a good book! Great plot with multiple story lines, super character development, excellent resolution, and plenty of edge of your seat excitement. I am looking forward to Ms. Skopin's next book.
Profile Image for L Kate.
1,275 reviews6 followers
July 30, 2019
Great mysteries

Nikki has her hands full with a kidnapped four-year-old girl and an acquaintance’s request that she find out who is trying to kill him ... oh, and her best friend’s wedding. Great mysteries. As this is my first Nikki Hunter book, I have some catching up to do!
Author 1 book
August 23, 2019
Life or death?

Enjoyable characters and marvelous menus. I get hungry reading these books. The marina is always bringing folks together or sometimes not. A child in trouble always takes top billing and care. Way to go Nikki.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews

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