Camilla Trinchieri Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Camilla Trinchieri

For most readers, the best starting point is Murder in Chianti (2020), the first book in her highly acclaimed Tuscan Mystery series. Written under her real name, this series showcases Trinchieri's strengths: atmospheric descriptions of the Italian countryside, mouthwatering culinary details, and a deeply sympathetic protagonist in Nico Doyle, a grieving ex-NYPD detective. It represents her most popular and current body of work.

If you prefer classic, lighthearted cozy mysteries set in the United States, you should start with The Trouble with a Small Raise (1991). Originally published under the pseudonym Trella Crespi, this kicks off the Simona Griffo series, featuring a nosy Italian immigrant in Manhattan who solves crimes while preparing delicious Italian meals.

The Tuscan Mystery Series (Nico Doyle)

This series is best read in publication order. While each mystery is resolved within its respective book, Nico Doyle's personal journey—dealing with the loss of his wife, finding a new home in the close-knit community of Gravigna, and building relationships with the local carabinieri and townspeople—develops sequentially across the novels.

1. Murder in Chianti (2020) – Nico Doyle relocates from New York to his late wife's hometown of Gravigna. His quiet retirement is shattered when a local is found dead in a vineyard wearing gold tennis shoes, forcing Nico to assist the local marshal, Salvatore Perillo.
2. The Bitter Taste of Murder (2021) – Nico is settling into Gravigna when a despised wine critic is found dead inside a fermentation vat. The investigation takes Nico deep into the rivalries of local vineyards.
3. Murder on the Vine (2022) – The local bartender, an ally of Nico, goes missing, and a body is soon discovered in a shallow grave near a prominent wine estate.
4. The Road to Murder (2024) – An elderly woman is killed in what looks like a tragic hit-and-run, but Nico's instincts tell him there is more to the story, leading him to uncover long-buried local secrets.
5. Murder in Pitigliano (2025) – Nico travels away from Gravigna to the historic town of Pitigliano, where he is pulled into a private investigation to clear the name of a young girl's father accused of killing his business partner.
6. Murder Comes to Gravigna (Expected December 2026) – Announced as the concluding chapter of the Tuscan Mystery series, this book centers on the murder of the local butcher, Sergio Macchi, hitting incredibly close to home for Nico and the community.

The Simona Griffo Mystery Series (as Camilla T. Crespi)

Before writing under her own name, Trinchieri wrote the Simona Griffo mysteries under the pseudonyms Trella Crespi and Camilla T. Crespi. Simona is an advertising executive and Italian immigrant in New York who cannot help but meddle in police investigations. These books are delight for fans of culinary cozies and should be read in order of release:

1. The Trouble with a Small Raise (1991) – Simona's boss is murdered, and she becomes the prime suspect, prompting her to find the real killer to clear her name.
2. The Trouble with Moonlighting (1991) – Simona gets caught up in a deadly mystery involving New York's art gallery scene.
3. The Trouble with Too Much Sun (1992) – A vacation to a seaside resort turns into a crime scene, proving Simona cannot escape trouble even outside Manhattan.
4. The Trouble with Thin Ice (1993) – A winter weekend getaway in Connecticut turns icy when a local socialite is murdered.
5. The Trouble with Going Home (1995) – Simona returns to Rome, Italy, where she must navigate complicated family dynamics and a murder investigation.
6. The Trouble with a Bad Fit (1996) – Simona dives into the cutthroat world of the New York fashion industry to solve a designer's murder.
7. The Trouble with a Hot Summer (1997) – Simona tackles a sweltering summer mystery in Greenwich Village involving local neighborhood secrets.

Standalone Novels & Anthologies

Trinchieri has also written standalone books that vary in genre, showcasing her range beyond cozy police procedurals:

• The Price of Silence (2007) – Published under her own name, this is a psychological suspense novel that delves into family grief, secrets, and the aftermath of a tragic crime.
• The Breakfast Club Murder (2014) – Published under the name Camilla T. Crespi, this standalone cozy mystery is set in a suburban high school where a food services director is murdered.
• Seeking Alice (2016) – A deeply personal historical novel based on the life of Trinchieri's American mother during World War II. The story follows a diplomat's wife navigating survival, love, and espionage in Prague and Rome.
• Malice Domestic 3 (1994) – An anthology featuring a short mystery story by Trinchieri (writing as Camilla T. Crespi).

What to Know Before You Start

The transition between the Simona Griffo series and the Tuscan Mystery series represents a shift in tone. While both series share a love of food and Italian culture, the Simona Griffo books are fast-paced Manhattan cozies firmly rooted in the 1990s. In contrast, the Nico Doyle books are gentler, more atmospheric, and deeply reflective, capturing the slow rhythm of life in Tuscany alongside the investigative work. Reading the series in order is highly recommended to fully appreciate the character development and the rich descriptions of seasonal Italian dishes that double as comfort food for the protagonists.