In the peaceful Umbrian village of Paradiso, the shocking murder and mutilation of an elderly German woman is barely credible.  That is, until

                         Commissario Alessandro Cenni of the State Police discovers that this retired cultural attaché was not just a blackmailer but also a bisexual swinger with an African lover recently in residence.  The dead woman grew up in occupied Venice during World War II, and some of her secrets may have been acquired that long ago.  And bucolic Paradiso is not that innocent.  It was the site of a scandalous murder thirty years earlier.

Cenni's boss wants a scapegoat, and the young African lesbian is the obvious target, but Cenni cannot bring himself to close a case without solving the crime and bringing the perpetrator to justice.

PRAISE  FOR "A DEADLY PARADISE"

"Brophy not only has found in Umbria a fresh setting for Italian crime fiction, but she has also created a character in Cenni who combines the beguiling personal flaws, slumbering sex appeal, and mysterious detachment of David Hewson’s Leo Falcone and Nic Costa.  Readers bitten by the Italian crime bug are sure to succumb to Cenni’s charms."           —Booklist

"Brophy has a fine budding series here, with winning characters and settings that include Venice and Murano as well as Umbria, and the ongoing Chiara subplot will have readers anticipating the next installment"  —Library Journal  

"The author feeds readers just enough information through the twists and turns of the plot to keep them on their toes. . . . delightful, action-packed whodunit with some Italian travel and culture thrown in for good measure."                                                            —School Library Journal 

 "In Cenni’s second appearance . . .  Brophy adds new texture to her crisp narrative through the perspectives of several suspects alternating with the Inspector’s clear-eyed analysis."                          —Kirkus Reviews  

"The Commissario follows the trail of the victim's visitors and lover to Venice, where his own past and demons get a good stirring-up too. The lives and secrets reveal in a smooth, compulsive and faultless fashion and later there's another visit to Venice, and cats prove crucial.   I loved this book."                 —Fictionalcities.com 

"The latest Cenni Italian police procedural . . . is an engaging case with an incredible setup. Cenni is at his best as he struggles with diplomatic immunity intruding on the crime scene . . . . fans will appreciate Grace Brophy’s entertaining whodunit."                                                            —The Mystery Gazette  

Consistently intriguing and thoroughly appealing, Commissario Alessandro Cenni is an absolute winner among contemporary protagonists in police procedural mysteries. Compelling characterizations, carefully crafted plotting, and finely rendered Italian settings are the perfectly blended ingredients that make A Deadly Paradise a terrific mystery. Don't miss it!            —Bookloons  

[O]utstanding new series featuring handsome Commissario Alessandro Cenni of the state police.                                                                 —Denver Post