Case of the Curved Staircase: A Macaroni on Wheels Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Little Italy, San Diego and San Diego Bay
Publisher ‏ : ‎ S.K. Derban
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 27, 2025

Synopsis

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…

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Guest Post

It’s All About the Cozy

Home at last! And it’s a cozy home indeed. My first three novels were stand-alone mysteries. I had fun writing them, and fortunately readers seemed to enjoy my books too.

My debut novel, For No Apparent Reason featured Madison Rae Leigh, a North Carolina law student. She is caught in a maze of money laundering and murder.

Uneven Exchange was my second novel, and celebrated the many facets of a woman. When Alexandra’s life was in danger, it was faith that provided the strength to fight for her survival.

My third novel, Circumvent is a story about two people who seem to have the perfect life. Perfection quickly mutates to panic in this International thriller.

The love of writing, and my true home is now found in my Macaroni on Wheels series. I adored writing every single page of books one and two; Case of the Bayfront Murder, and Case of the Curved Staircase. The characters and setting all seem like part of the family, and a place to enjoy. I am currently in the editing phase of the third book, Case of the Paella Party. It has been such a fun journey. I hope readers will experience the same joy while reading as I did while writing!

Excerpt

Ellington finally resumed. “Let’s move on to the crime scene. Detective Garza may have appreciated your help, but I don’t need it.”

Terza shot him a death stare. “I wasn’t offering.”

“I understand you have a video.”

Terza quickly decided against denying it. “I do. It’s on my phone.”

“That was wrong of you,” Ellington scolded. “Please hand me your phone.”

Terza unlocked her phone and slid it slowly across the table. Without asking permission, Ellington scrolled through her videos, apparently searching for the correct date. He turned the screen. “Is this it?”

She leaned in. “Yes, that’s the one.”

“Did you take any other videos?”

“No, just photos.”

“We’ll get to those next.” Ellington used Terza’s phone to email her video to him, and then he pushed the play button. “Why did you shoot a close up of the carpet?”

“I thought you didn’t want my help.”

His brows lifted. “Curiosity.”

Killed the cat. “Okay.” Terza launched into her theory. Ellington listened, and Terza suspected it was more intently than he wanted her to know.

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!

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