Book Review of 'Case of the Curved Staircase' by S.K. Derban

Happy Monday Bookworms!

I am relatively new to cozy mysteries but I am quickly becoming a fan. I love how you have to suspend reality while also helping sleuth a crime. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on the Cozy Mystery I am featuring today and let me know in the comments if you are also a fan of this genre.

Welcome to the Reviewer Tour for Case of the Curved Staircase by S.K. Derban, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Case of the Curved Staircase

Series: Macaroni on Wheels Mystery #2

Author: S.K. Derban

Publisher: S.K. Derbin Publishing

Release Date: September 12, 2025

Genre: Cozy Mystery

The Little Italy entertainment continues in this second book of the Macaroni on Wheels series. Case of the Curved Staircase has more twists and turns than Terza can handle. And, Detective Nicholas Garza is not on the case. Say it isn't so, Nico!

Staircases can be fatal, especially on Halloween. After catering a surprise birthday party on the evening of October 30th, Terza returns to the scene of the celebration on the following morning. Instead of being greeted by the happy, party hosts, Terza discovers a dead body at the bottom of the curved staircase. Not again! And this time, Terza's amateur detective skills are landing her directly into personal danger. She would rather be using her chef's knife than having one pointed at her face!

As the feisty Italian caterer continues to fill her free time solving crime, she runs head first into a new detective. Unlike Nicholas Garza, the detective now in charge considers Terza a hinderance instead of a help. Fortunately, Jacob Radovan, the medical examiner, continues to be Terza's ally.

There is also an unexpected wedding in Case of the Curved Staircase. Readers of Uneven Exchange just might cheer out loud. The almost perfect weather in San Diego allows the bride and groom to take a carriage ride from the wedding venue to the reception ballroom. It's a fairytale come true.

Fans of cozy mysteries will revel in solving another murder along with Terza, and will continue to appreciate her zest for life. Readers will be spending more time with the animated Tiepolo family, and especially Terza's father. Ezio's Halloween costume is a moo-ving choice! The Tiepolo's celebrate their loving, family bond as they join together each Sunday. Food, family, and fun! Once again, you may consider this your personal invitation...

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

My Review

Tenacious Terza Tiepolo is back and quickly finds herself embroiled in yet another murder mystery, and I couldn’t wait to see where this investigation would take us. There is a quirky lightheartedness that I found refreshing, and the camaraderie between Terza and those she interacts with feels breezy even when the situation is on the heavier side. I particularly adore Terza’s relationship with the local medical examiner. While it’s insane that this kind of interaction would ever happen in real life, I love the relationship that’s blossomed between the two.

While overall this is a charming book, I didn’t care for it as much as the first book in the Macaroni on Wheels series. There was no plot twist whatsoever, which was disappointing, and the guilty party was obvious from the beginning. I also felt like there was too much fluff and not enough substance. I get that this is a cozy mystery and that the investigation comes second to the catering company, but this whole story line felt flimsy at best. While delicious to read, I felt like there was more focus on the delectable catering dishes than on the mysterious death of one of their clients.

I did, however, appreciate the touch of romance and look forward to seeing how that plot line all plays out in the final book in the series. Despite my qualms, I did enjoy my time with Terza and her gang, their interactions brightly shining through the pages. I look forward to the next mystery in the series.

My Rating: ★★★★

Other Books in the Series

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Be sure to check out my review of Case of the Bayfront Murder

About the Author

S.K. Derban resides with her husband in Southern California. Although born in the United States she moved to London within the first three months, and remained in England until the age of five. Her father, an American citizen, was a decorated veteran of the Second World War. Her British mother was involved with the London Royal Ballet Company, and a great fan of the arts. After returning to the United States, Derban’s life remained filled with a love of the theatre, and a passion for British murder mysteries.

S.K. Derban’s personal travel and missionary escapades are readily apparent as they shine through into her characters. Readers are often transported virtually across the globe. She has traveled to Hong Kong on five separate occasions to smuggle Bibles into China, and has been to Israel on seven missionary trips. Derban’s other adventures include visits to Bangkok, Greece, Egypt, Italy, and the Caribbean.

Beginning with her faith in the Lord, S.K. Derban relies on all aspects of her life when writing.

She hopes her books will allow readers to go on holiday without having to pack!

Connect with S.K. at childofthecarpenter.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.