Bastian Richter

What if the person you love suddenly stops smiling—and no one will tell you why?

Marine biologist Messalina Bonetti cuts off contact with her partner. Soon afterward, she disappears. What has she discovered? Why won’t she talk about it? And why has she left the person closest to her in the dark?

Mafalda Cinquetti is determined to find answers. With her friends and Commissario Pietro, she follows a trail through Venice’s narrow streets, across the Lido, and into a past some would rather leave buried. Untangling old secrets, hurt feelings, and unexpected connections will take more than persistence. It will take Mafalda’s gift for understanding people.

Meanwhile, Venetian life carries on. In the neighborhood cafés and along Via Garibaldi, gossip flows, laughter rings out, and little escapes notice. With dry humor and a stubborn refusal to give up, Mafalda searches for the truth—and the missing smile.

A cozy mystery without murder, full of Venetian atmosphere, warmth, humor, and memorable characters. Perfect for readers who love Italy, enjoy unraveling secrets, and appreciate a mystery with heart.

Enjoy this Mafalda Cinquetti mystery as a standalone. No need to have read the other books in the series.

Get your copy now on Amazon.com!

Experienced housewife, passionate cook, faithful widow and devoted grandmother. Distinctively Venetian. Step into Mafalda’s world.

A fresh start—with a few surprises, lots of pasta, and a whole lot of Italian sunshine!

Mafalda Cinquetti never thought she’d leave her beloved Murano. But when life takes an unexpected turn, she finds herself living in a crumbling palazzo in Venice’s Castello district—alongside her two dearest friends, a stubborn turtle or two… and a growing mystery.

Her best friend Lucia promises the move will be a dream: charming neighbors, the best cafés in town, and the buzz of Via Garibaldi just outside their windows. Alma is seeking distance from a late-in-life romance, and Mafalda—well, maybe it’s time she opened the door to something new, too.

With mornings spent sipping espresso in the sun and evenings filled with hearty meals and laughter, life seems nearly perfect. Until Mafalda notices something strange: the turtles in the courtyard fountain are vanishing, one by one—and nobody else seems to care. Except for one other person. And what they uncover together may shake the quiet canals of Venice more than anyone could have imagined.

Friendship, food, and a mystery that bubbles just beneath the surface—this is Venice like you’ve never read it before.

Join Mafalda and her chosen Italian family—including Alma, Lucia, charming Pietro, and his witty husband Angelo—as they unravel a delightfully twisty puzzle at the heart of their neighborhood. Warm, whimsical, and full of heart, this cozy mystery skips the blood and bullets and dives straight into the dolce vita. One chapter in, and you’ll wish you lived on Via Garibaldi too.

Whether you’ve known Mafalda for years or are meeting her for the first time, this chapter welcomes you with the scent of roasted vegetables from the kitchen, the clinking of glasses at a waterside table, and the unmistakable rhythm of life in Venice. It’s a story about resilience, friendship, and the small moments that shape us.

Writing Mafalda has always been a joy. She is as flawed as she is fierce, as stubborn as she is kind. And while she may not see herself as brave, she continues to do what all great protagonists do: step forward, no matter the odds.

Pull up a chair. Pour yourself a glass of prosecco. The next chapter is about to begin.

PAPERBACK

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About me

After years of living and writing across Europe—from lively university towns to Berlin and a chapter in Switzerland—I eventually dropped anchor in the Netherlands. Here, in a restored village bakery that has become my creative retreat, I write books and spend my free time exploring the waterways aboard my vintage barge.

I also lived in Italy for many years, and the country continues to inspire my work—especially Venice, where the spirited amateur sleuth Mafalda Cinquetti first stepped into my imagination.

Vita – Contakt