Under the Tuscan Gun

by Tess Rafferty

"Tess Rafferty weaves a suspenseful, intriguing tale that's also a great escape -- wonderfully atmospheric, expertly paced and very, very funny. I'd follow her characters anywhere -- especially to Tuscany!" -- Alison Gaylin (Edgar Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author) “I never thought solving murders could make me want to book a Tuscan vacation but Tess’ description of the people, places, wine and, in particular- the food- is enough for the Italian tourist board to add Under the Tuscan Gun to their recommended travel guides. The humor is weaved in effortlessly & I want to spend time breaking bread & gossiping with all the characters. This book was a fun ride and an even better promotion for your next European vacation . . . without the murders." -- Retta, actress & author (Good Girls, Parks & Recreation) “I’ve always been a fan of Tess’s ability to write strong, outspoken female characters whose pursuit of justice is always done with humor and compassion. Under the Tuscan Gun’s “Kat” and “Sunny” continue in this spirit, showing us the strength of female friendship as they navigate the conflicts all women face while allowing us to virtually escape into some delicious Italian travel, too!” -- Yvette Nicole Brown, Actress/Host (Crossing Swords, The Big Fib, Community) There are worse things than to drown in Tuscany. You could be murdered there… Fleeing Los Angeles like fugitives (if fugitives used Amex miles to fly business class) TV writer Kat Kelly and her husband Mike are trying to escape both personal and professional conflicts when they accept their friend Sunny’s invitation to stay in a posh Tuscan villa on the sea. Only the couple and their friend soon find themselves wrapped up in a murder, with a pool of colorful, International suspects reminiscent of Agatha Christie or Knives Out. Needing a distraction from her own troubles, Kat- along with Sunny- plays amateur detective, while doing a face plant in troughs of pasta and wine, and being dressed to kill while someone around them is actually killing.

275 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2020

About the author

Most recently, Tess wrote Halfway House, an original half hour pilot at Warner Brothers TV. She has written for numerous television shows, including Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Party Challenge, @Midnight, The Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne and she spent over 7 years on The Soup, as both a writer and a supervising producer. As an author, Tess made her debut with her memoir Recipes for Disaster. Under the Tuscan Gun is her first novel.

The creator of 2017’s Take Back the Workplace March Against Sexual Harassment, Tess is a featured blogger for Dame and Ms. Magazine and also writes the cooking/political blog, Recipes for Resistance. Her essay, “The Revolution Will Be Catered” was featured in Rage Baking: A Collection of Recipes and Conversations for Our Time (Simon & Schuster.)

Tess’s video Aftermath, shot in the days following the 2016 election has received over 50 million hits on Occupy Democrats.

Reviews

[Yourfiendmrjones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it was because I was reading this while freaking out about the election but it was like a great glass of white wine for me- Cool, crisp with a tartness that offsets the sweetness of the grape.

Here’s what was so great: it just pops along catching you up in the Adventures of Kat, Mike and their friend Sunny as they get pulled into a murder mystery involving former models, kidnapping communists, wine tastings, local Italian cuisine and bratty kids. Rafferty writes with the expertise of one who has been to Italy (which she has, several times) combined with the breezy insouciance of the ace comedian that she is as well. But what I hadn’t anticipated was how well the suspense would be executed- there is literally a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter- or how she’d subtly be able to work in Kat’s past trauma without diluting the fun of a witty couple and their friend solving a whodunit.

Reading this works best while listening to Nino Rota‘s scores for Fellini films. Like those wonderful musical carnivals, the reader is taken in a colorful ride through a genre story that is uniquely told.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love murder mysteries, Italy, Italian food, strong female protagonists, travel porn -- this book is for you! Under the Tuscan Gun is a juicy murder mystery wrapped up in the sumptuous escapism of an Italian vacation. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read -- suspenseful, engaging, funny, with dynamic characters -- that will have you longing for a trip to Italy (minus the murder). Highly recommend!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this mystery and read it much more slowly than I usually would because I adored it so much and wanted to be sure that I got everything out of it. And yet, I found myself speeding through it, desperate to find out what was happening with the characters that I loved. I thought that I had figured out whodunit, but oh no, Tess had crafted such a fine mystery that I had not done so. So so SO good. Read it and let yourself slip into Tess's fabulous world, where there are friends who care and will make sure you get all the wine and all the food--and all the love you need. Completely glorious. BUY IT. You will not regret the purchase. Fantastic read! I hope that Tess writes more, does not have to be like this, but WOW, she is a wonderful writer.

[Chris Shipley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! So funny and clever! Definitely recommend!

[Michael Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tess Rafferty's Under the Tuscan Gun is a terrific read that I devoured in two sittings. A foodie comedic murder mystery set in Tuscany? A bit reductive, but this novel hits many of my interests. Rafferty is obviously well traveled in Italy, and her heroine, Kat, brings a cultured sensibility to the tale, which involves a Hollywood writer who encounters family intrigue and murder while living as a guest in a Tuscan compound.

The book is laden with so many food-porn descriptions of meals and wines, with truffles, oysters, pecorino, roasted potatoes, gelato, and wine for every hour of the day, that I wanted to book a one-way ticket to Florence. In fact, while reading it, I thought, "this would be a great travel cookbook." (The appendix in fact has a recipe.) I suppose I am a fellow traveler of The Husband, Kat's life partner who constantly checks his watch to make sure the couple will not miss lunch, which apparently can be elusive outside of tourist traps in Italy.

Without revealing spoilers, the plot is well-executed, with more than a few red herrings, at least one poisoning, a hit man, gratuitous gunplay, a sardonic Italian police inspector, a family fist fight, a suspicious car crash, a kidnapping from the Red Brigades era, a gun-toting elderly Italian aunt, and much more local color. Many chapters end in compelling teasers: "I drifted off to sleep thinking of something other than murder...Unfortunately, when I woke, murder was the only thing on everyone's lips."

This is a very funny book, with more than a few jabs at Hollywood culture, American parenting, male cluelessness, and female fashion-consciousness. The dialogue is literate and unpretentious, and the characters are quirky and real. Most of all, the witty, intelligent voice of Kat, the narrator, carries us through the adventure. As a big fan of another L.A. author, Michael Connelly, I recommend you try another, Tess Rafferty, who brings a playful humor to the genre.
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[Colleen Werthmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super-fun read! If you like juicy character-y mysteries AND travelogues AND vacation drama AND food porn all wrapped up together, this book is for you. The world of this whodunit gives you a peek behind the lush vineyards and quaint cobblestone streets of Tuscany, into the crazed nuances of Italian estate law and finance. Our funny protagonist and her dashing-yet-doofy husband have their own personal mysteries to figure out, and there are a host of intriguing supporting characters with distinct voices and perspectives, including a couple ancient Italian black-clad sisters. Like a chestnut-tree-surrounded villa in the hills, UNDER THE TUSCAN GUN's vibe is glamorous and shady. If you've ever been to Italy, this book will make you sigh with nostalgia. If you haven't, you'll find yourself craving pappardelle al cinghiale and checking Momondo for cheap flights. I devoured this whole novel in a day -- it clips along at a delightful pace. It's a total pleasure. Highly recommended!

[Maureen Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to rebound from personal tragedy, Kat Kelly and her husband Mike think their luck is finally picking up when they accept an offer of a free stay at an Italian villa. While it starts great with gorgeous views, delicious food and lots of wine, things go downhill quickly when they find a dead body. Kat and her husband soon find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery with no shortage of suspects. As Kat tries to solve the mystery, she finds her vacation has become anything but peaceful.

Tess Rafferty paints a vivid picture of the sights and tastes of Italy, so much so that I found myself wanting to book a ticket to Tuscany. The story is extremely well written and laugh out loud funny. It's like your funniest friend telling you a story over drinks. I highly recommend it and look forward to her next book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Between stress over the election, isolation fatigue and starting a new job that required the dusting off of math skills I had gleefully told my high school teachers that I would never need, I needed some serious escapism. I wanted to be somewhere else, at least for a little while each day, and what better place to escape than Italy? Under the Tuscan Gun whisks you away on an Italian adventure. The food descriptions are incredibly vivid (this book will give you cravings), the heroine is funny and endearing and there is a female friendship at the center that is really satisfying and true. All that and a mystery, too. It was exactly what I needed during a blue time.

[Sunflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was entertaining, but way too much emphasis on food. A light "who done it." I enjoyed it, but the character development was not up to level I would expect a writer to produce. However, I might try another one of her books in the future.

[Thomas Timlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

More wine please!

Wow! How the characters never had a hangover is beyond me, anyway, forget Agatha Christie, Rafferty leaves her in the dust with a blizzard of intrigue which has left me completely afraid to ever visit Italy, with or without a GoPro.

[megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book to read during quarantine when we’re all wishing for an Italian getaway! Even if there’s murder involved...I’ll take it! Pour yourself a glass (or just grab the bottle) & escape to Tuscany

[Tinnean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say I did not see that coming!

This started off slow, but once it hit its stride--it really moved. Excellent storytelling!

As a matter of fact, I'd like to see what happens when Kit and Mike get back to the States. :-)

[Rosemary]

Hope Tests writes another novel soon!

What a fabulous book! The characters were well drawn. It was funny and you really felt you were in Italy with them.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Read for those you like to travel with a murder mystery

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read my review on GBC's review page: https://thegirlybookclub.com/under-th...