Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #4
Publication Date: 01st August 2023
3.8 Stars
One Liner: Great setting and food; okayish mystery
Dam Armstrong and Oliver are back in action, this time, with Anna, Dan’s girlfriend, to add to the team. Dan and Anna (with Virgilio and his wife Lina) plan a trip to Tuscany for a weekend after the successful launch of his first book (in the UK). The historic city of Siena promises relaxation and fun. However, a mutilated body is discovered in the hotel gardens, and Dan and Virgilio get involved in the investigation.
With rumors about wolves in the region, Dan realizes that the killer is clever enough to divert the blame (if they are indeed human). This puts Oliver at greater risk, and Dan needs to step in and solve the case before things get out of hand.
The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This is the fourth installment in the series and pretty much as enjoyable as the previous ones. Though it works as a standalone, the subplots are integral to the central mystery and will be enhanced if you know the entire backstory. That said, there is enough information to fill the blanks.
The setting is a treat to read (which is the specialty of this series). This time, we explore Siena and the nearby historical structures in Tuscany. The hotel, the ruins, the streets, hills, farms, etc., come alive on the pages. However, it never gets boring or too much.
Food is another highlight of the series. There are many lunch and dinner scenes with the menu listed in detail. Dan enjoys talking about (Italian) food.
The mystery starts well, and despite the endless list of suspects, it’s easy enough to track who is who. Dan’s method of tagging and categorizing suspects simplifies things, even if it doesn’t always sound good. The case drags in the middle and picks up toward the last quarter. However, the solution makes sense (got to pay attention to the bits scattered around). The elements may be convoluted, but the actual mystery is simple.
As always, Oscar is more than Dan’s cute Labrador. He finds clues and helps with the investigation even without meaning to. And Oscar is so adorable that no one can resist his charm!
We also see some extreme reactions to wolves from different people. They range from one end to another, and surprisingly someone with strong options display a balanced perspective. While this is well done, I’m a little disappointed that Reiner’s track doesn’t exactly add to the plot. This hasn’t happened before in the series. I hope it will continue in the next book (there’s a lead, so maybe…).
Now that Dan and Anna are going strong, we see how Chief Inspector Virgilio and his wife handle their marriage. Can Dan help them, given he was in the same position a few years ago?
There is quite a bit of repetition in this copy (ARC). I hope it will be edited out before the release.
To summarize, Murder in Siena is a good continuation of the series and presents a delightful combination of food, virtual sightseeing, mystery, and wolves.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #MurderinSiena
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