Mafalda and the Lost Turtles of Venice

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.