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Joanne Guidoccio
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A Season for Killing Blondes Kindle Edition

by Joanne Guidoccio (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 36 ratings
Hours before the opening of her career counseling practice, Gilda Greco discovers the body of golden girl, Carrie Ann Godfrey, neatly arranged in the dumpster outside Gilda’s office. Gilda’s life and budding career are stalled as Detective Carlo Fantin, her former high school crush, conducts the investigation. When three more dead blondes turn up, all brutally strangled and deposited near Gilda’s favorite haunts, she is pegged as a prime suspect for the murders.

Frustrated by Carlo’s chilly detective persona and the mean girl antics of Carrie Ann’s meddling relatives, Gilda decides to launch her own investigation. She discovers a gaggle of suspects, among them a yoga instructor in need of anger management training, a lecherous photographer, and fourteen ex-boyfriends.

As the puzzle pieces fall into place, shocking revelations emerge, forcing Gilda to confront the envy and deceit she has long overlooked.
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  1. Print length
    284 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    June 12, 2015
  5. File size
    604 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Character-driven and suspenseful enough to keep readers on the edge of their seats without an undue gore factor, this read is well-thought out and delightfully conceived." InD'Tale Magazine

"Reading about how involved Gilda's rather pushy Italian family is in her new office was one of my favorite things about A Season for Killing Blondes." Jane Reads

"The cast of characters includes a series of suspects you love to hate. And the bodies keep coming." Susan Berger

"A Season for Killing Blondes would be a perfect book to have out by the pool or relaxing in a hammock. The characters are lively, the mystery is intriguing, and the pacing is flying. I zipped through the first half in one sitting and was entertained the whole time." Katherine E. Pitts

"Guelph author Joanne Guidoccio's newest novel, A Season for Killing Blondes, has everything a mystery lover could want: a heroine in distress, an old flame from her past, vexing villains and, of course, a series of gristly murders." Guelph Public Library

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00XCZ5EE2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Wild Rose Press, Inc
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 12, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 604 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509201747
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 36 ratings

About the author

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Joanne Guidoccio

Joanne Guidoccio

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A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Women's Fiction Writers Association, Joanne writes paranormal romances, cozy mysteries, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
36 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the book's suspense level, with one describing it as a fun romp of a story with gentle humor lacing every page. The book is character-driven.

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Suspense levelCharacter driven
6 customers mention "Suspense level"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the suspense level of the book, with one customer describing it as a fun romp of a story with gentle humor lacing every page.

"...The names and behaviors add depth, texture, and suspects to the story...." Read more

"...The writing is tight and well paced. Guidoccio's gentle humor laces every page. &#..." Read more

"I liked this book . Liked the plot and carracters." Read more

"...driven with a splash of Italian that will capture you and keep you reading. It’s a cozy that got me from page one." Read more

5 customers mention "Character driven"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character-driven nature of the book.

"...Season for Killing Blondes" is well crafted with solid character and setting descriptions that do not get in the way of pacing...." Read more

"It's a warm, sweet cozy with a distinct Italian and foodie flavor. Vivid characters immediately make you not only like them, but feel like you've..." Read more

"...This story is character driven with a splash of Italian that will capture you and keep you reading. It’s a cozy that got me from page one." Read more

"...and gore, just enough suspense to keep me interested, but totally character driven. I felt like I knew this family...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Chanticleer Book Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars With friends & relatives like these trying to help, who needs enemies? Guidoccio's Italianflavored humorous whodunnit entertains
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Gilda has been absent from her hometown for 30 years, and when she returns with a pocket full of cash (19 million from a lottery win), she opens up a business. Everything is ready for the opening night - except the dead blonde in the dumpster out back wasn't part of the plan. What's worse, that dead blonde was Gilda's first client! This is just the start - dead blondes seem to drop everywhere Gilda goes!

    "In A Season for Killing Blondes," author Joanne Guidoccio introduces a bevy of Italian friends and relatives who are loving, clever, talented, overbearing, overprotective, erratic, abusive, etc., and who try to “help” Gilda manage her life, whether she wants their input or not. Some of the characters have double names—think of "The Waltons" 2.0—that in combination with some cousins, a few Aunts, and an Uncle, may initially seem confusing, but the author handles it with a deft touch. The names and behaviors add depth, texture, and suspects to the story.

    When lead detective, Carlo Fantin, comes onto the scene with a lot of pressure from the city to solve the crimes, he's all business until he realizes that he knows Gilda from high school...30 years ago. On the plus side, she accepts his dinner invitation to reconnect. On the negative, she’s a prime suspect who has a huge problem with alibis.

    But honestly, who wouldn’t love a relative willing to create a handy alibi on the fly?

    “Relax, Gilda. You’re not going to jail. I provided you with an alibi for last night. All those times that Roberto and I rehearsed worked.” Sofia (her mother) glanced over at me. “Aren’t you pleased? You’ve said very little since we left the station.”

    or how about this:

    “I called Detective Fantin and left a message on his machine,” Uncle Paolo said. “When he calls back, I’ll make sure that he knows you and Sofia were with us Saturday night.”

    Talk about a support network.

    "A Season for Killing Blondes" is well crafted with solid character and setting descriptions that do not get in the way of pacing. For those readers who enjoy a good humorous mystery whodunit, along with Italian food, Guidoccio's cozy does not disappoint. Clues, hints, and some foreshadowing are mixed in with a few curve balls (and meatballs) that keep you guessing until the end.
    Helpful
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  • Jo-Ann Carson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Sweet Cozy with a Distinct Italian and Foodie Flavor
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It's a warm, sweet cozy with a distinct Italian and foodie flavor. Vivid characters immediately make you not only like them, but feel like you've known them all your life. The writing is tight and well paced. Guidoccio's gentle humor laces every page.

    "When I agreed to import the pastries, I had no idea I would be subsidizing the failing Italian economy and helping Silvio Berlusconi stay in power for a few weeks longer."

    The book made me hungry. Good Italian food is always on the table,"...amaretto cookies, stuffed figs, biscotti... capicola, mortadella, prosciutto, provalone..." Need I say more?

    And then there's the suspense. As the body count rises, the list of suspects grows and terror festers. It has to be someone she knows. But who?

    If you like books by Cleo Coyle and Diane Mott Davidson, you'll love Joanne Guidoccio's, A Season for Killing Blondes.

    My Favorite Line:

    "Even with a dead body in the Dumpster, thousands of euros of pastries wasting away, and policemen swarming about, my mother and aunt could still indulge in their favorite hobby - trying to find me another husband."
    One person found this helpful
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  • Millie Unger
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I liked this book . Liked the plot and carracters.
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  • Brenda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cozy Italian
    Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Gilda has started her own business after winning the lottery. But before her Grand opening is kicked off, a dead blonde is found on the premises. This is only one of several. Besides being a suspect, her old love from thirty years ago is the detective in charge.

    This story is character driven with a splash of Italian that will capture you and keep you reading. It’s a cozy that got me from page one.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jessica F.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Characters shine in this mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I loved this book! LOVED IT! This is my type of mystery - not a lot of blood and gore, just enough suspense to keep me interested, but totally character driven. I felt like I knew this family. Ms. Guidoccio excels at painting a portrait of a family and by the end of the book, I felt as if I was joining them at the dinner table. Gilda was terrific as a leading lady and I love how Ms. Guidoccio creates really wonderful women in her books. I can't wait to read more mysteries from this author.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ashantay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Win a personal lottery with this book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Older heroines call to me, and Gilda answered. Ms. Guidoccio has written a fun romp of a story that is not only well-plotted, it has wonderful - and believable - characters. Reading this book is almost better than eating a homemade cannoli. Almost. I'm looking forward to the next Gilda adventure!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Carol Balawyder
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Dialogue
    Reviewed in Canada on November 28, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A Season for Killing Blondes is the kind of quick paced light mystery novel that you want to pack with you to read on your holidays.
    The main character, Gilda, in her early fifties, is a delightful character. Not only does the author, Joanne Guidoccio, provide the reader with an intriguing mystery to solve but she throws in an entertaining romance between Gilda and Detective Carlo Fantin, a man whom years ago she'd spent fantasizing over.
    The intergenerational interaction between the characters, especially Gilda's busybody Italian family members adds spark to the novel. Here, and throughout the novel, the author shines in her ability to use dialogue.
    I did find that I had difficulty keeping track of the numerous characters especially towards the end where the murders are explained but so many characters also increased the possibility of so many suspects to consider.
    One of the intriguing parts of the novel was how the murderer got caught.
    Because of the culinary connection at the beginning of the novel, the author ends with a half dozen dessert recipes. The pineapple cheesecake sounds really yummy!

    CAFE PARADISE: Suzy's last chance at fulfilling a lifelong dream
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  • BooksandDogs
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, family, and food
    Reviewed in Canada on July 12, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Sink your teeth into this delicious mystery by Joanne Guidoccio if you're like me and sometimes wish you had an Italian family who loves to cook--although the dead bodies might keep you hopping. Of course family can stir up trouble as well, and I did find myself gnashing my teeth at their meddling. Buon Appetito!
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  • Mahrie
    5.0 out of 5 stars ...and blonds solve the case
    Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a fast paced, logical mystery with compelling characters and wonderful food. I read it in one sitting and recommend it to traditional, classical mystery readers everywhere. Well done Joanne!
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  • ppsphil
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Fun Light Murder Mystery Read and a Good Start to a Series
    Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I took a little break from my Xmas reading list and read this 1st book in this series by Joanne Guidoccio, a Canadian author who is new to me, and I really liked this story. I thought this was a well written and fairly character driven mystery with Gilda and Carlo being pretty good and definitely likeable characters and Gilda’s close and extended family all a bit quirky. There’s lots of murders and lot’s of suspects and, with the Italian connection, of course lot’s of good food especially those Sicilian pastries! This story has a bit of a unique take on the amateur sleuth angle in that Gilda doesn’t run an investigation avoiding the police and jumping into all sorts of dangerous scenarios where she needs a rescue but just kind of asks the normal kind of curiousity questions and hires, or at least tries to hire, a PI to do the heavy lifting. There is also a fairly elaborate plan leading to the arrest of the culprit that actually works! At first I was slightly reminded of Melodie Campbell’s Gina Gallo Goddaughter series but the only thing these series have in common is the Italian connection as this story is actually a mainly serious murder mystery and Melodie Campbell’s series is a hilarious parody of the Godfather stories. Anyway I enjoyed this read and I’ll sure read the rest in the series.
    Oh, BTW, I do have one comment on a slight disagreement I had with this story and here is a quote -
    “Uncle Paolo who is still complaining about the ten cents he has to pay for a shopping bag at No Frills.”
    I have never paid more than 5 cents for a plastic bag at No Frills!
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  • misslill
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read!!
    Reviewed in Canada on July 1, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This story grabbed me from the very start, I literally could not put it down. It is to be devoured like a decadent dessert and finished with a strong espresso!!
    Report

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