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Sunday, April 28, 2024

Murder on the Italian Riviera by T. A. Williams - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #7 

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/italianrivierasocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204738476-murder-on-the-italian-riviera

Publication Date: 02nd May 2024

Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery, Italy 

4 Stars 

One Link: Summer, food, and dead bodies! 

Book Blurb

A brand-new cozy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany...It's murder in paradise!

An ex-con…

Private investigator Dan Armstrong is no stranger to working with criminals, but when he’s approached for help by Bianca Moretti, he’s on high alert. Bianca is intelligent and beautiful, and Dan likes her, but he also once sent her to prison…

A suspicious death…

Bianca explains that a guest has been found dead at her father’s luxurious and private retreat on the beautiful Italian Riviera. The police are sure the death is accidental, but Bianca is convinced the man’s been murdered. Dan’s sure he can get to the bottom of things…as long as Bianca is telling him the whole truth.

A very revealing case!

But when Dan arrives at the resort, he's in for a shock. He finds that the place is a naturist retreat, and everybody is walking around stark naked! Dan is determined to discover the truth, but this is going to mean revealing a whole lot more of himself than he expected.

Can Dan sniff out the truth about this case before Oscar's cold wet nose causes havoc?

My Thoughts: 

The story comes in Dan’s third-person POV. 

Well, what can I say? This is one of my top cozy mystery series. It has a beautiful Italian setting, many descriptions of good food, and a super adorable lab, Oscar. 

The book should work as a standalone since the personal track is limited to a couple of chapters, and Anna doesn’t have any role in the investigation. Reading one of two previous books will work even better. 

The mystery is well done, as always. This time, Dan has to do something he never did – be in his birthday suit when solving a crime! It sure results in a lot of laughs and some awkward situations. 

It is fun seeing Dan being a gentleman and keeping his eyes away from where they shouldn’t linger. Also, he has to make sure Oscar doesn’t end up poking his excited nose where he shouldn’t! 

The details are revealed in stages, giving us enough time to come up with our own guesses. The information is not deliberately withheld, which is always a plus. Moreover, the inspector on the case is a good guy and happy to work with Dan. I like it when this happens. It shows them as sensible investigators. 

Of course, there is good food and yummy gelato in various flavors. Some for Oscar, too! I don’t usually read summer books in summer (why go through with it twice?), but this year, it seems I have to bear summer in real life and in books. Sigh! At least, ice creams are common on both. 

To summarize, Murder on the Italian Riviera is a solid addition to the series. The pacing is steady and keeps the narrative flowing. Let’s get ready for the next book! 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

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The Author, T.A. Williams Says

I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book, one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn't possibly comment. Ask my wife...

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing romance and whodunits. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. Murder mystery is all very well, but it needs to put a smile on your face, so that's why I like to inject some humor. I'm having a lot of fun writing the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series set in sunny Italy. They are all standalone books but if you really want to do it properly, start with the first one in the series, Murder in Tuscany. If my books can whisk you away to gorgeous locations, put a smile on your face, and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.

I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in southwest England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in many of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.

I've been writing since I was 14 and that is well over half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she's right.

Find the Author On – 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrevorWilliamsBooks/

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/TAWilliamsNews

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This has been a stop on the #MurderOnTheItalianRiviera blog tour conducted by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by!


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