I was looking for a book set in Italy and found Murder in Tuscany. It was fun and I ended up listening to the first four in the series, one right after the other, from the library.
Murder in Tuscany by T.A. Williams Narrator: Simon Mattacks
Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #1
Published by Boldwood Books on October 18, 2022
Source: Library
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 7 hrs 16 mins
Pages: 264
Format: Audiobook
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A remote retreat…
Nestled high in the Tuscan hills lies Villa Volpone, home to renowned crime writer Jonah Moore and his creative writing course. It’s also the last place retired DCI Dan Armstrong expected to spend his retirement! Dan’s no writer, but maybe this break will help him to think about the next chapter in his own life story?
A gruesome murder…
But only days into the course, Jonah Moore is found stabbed to death with his award-winning silver dagger! And Dan finds himself pulled out of retirement with a killer to catch.
Eleven possible suspects.
The other guests all seem shocked by Jonah’s death, but Dan knows that one of them must be lying. And as he and Italian Commissario Virgilio Pisano begin to investigate it quickly becomes clear that everyone at Villa Volpone has secrets to hide…
But can Dan discover who the murderer is before they strike again?
Retired DCI Dan Armstrong is a fish out of water at a writing retreat in Tuscany. Yes, he’s an aspiring writer, but definitely not of erotica. Then someone is killed and he’s helping the local police solve the crime between writing classes and sight-seeing. I loved the setting, a large villa in the Italian hills. We have a closed circle of suspects, several of whom are hiding secrets. Dan is a bit sexist and a bit mopey, but it’s a quick read and the dead guy was not a good person, by any stretch of the imagination.
Murder in Chianti by T.A. Williams Narrator: Simon Mattacks
Published by Boldwood Books on January 27, 2023
Source: Library
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 6 hrs 44 mins
Pages: 250
Format: Audiobook
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A brand new cozy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany...It's murder in paradise!
Murder in broad daylight…
When millionaire magnate, Rex Hunter is found with his head bashed in on the eighth hole of his prestigious golf and country club in beautiful Chianti, it’s a clear case of murder. Hunter was rich and successful and the envy of many, so retired DCI Dan Armstrong thinks the case will be a hole in one to solve….
A despised victim…
But as Dan and his trusty sidekick Oscar begin to dig deeper into Hunter’s lifestyle, they discover a man despised by many. A renowned womaniser, ruthless boss and heartless family man, it seems no one is particularly sorry to see Hunter dead. And the list of possible suspects is endless…
A murderer covering their tracks.
Dan is determined to catch this clever killer, but it seems every new lead brings another dead end. Will this be one case Dan and his canine companion won’t solve?
Dan is staying in Tuscany, has a house and a dog and everything. He agrees to help the local chief and his friend Virgilio catch the killer, with the excuse that his English will be useful. I liked how the clues were put together in this one. The solution was surprising.
Murder in Florence by T.A. Williams Narrator: Simon Mattacks
Published by Boldwood Books on April 7, 2023
Source: Library
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 6 hrs 42 mins
Pages: 267
Format: Audiobook
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A glamourous film star…
Life as a private investigator in the suburbs of Florence isn’t always as glamourous as Dan Armstrong imagined it to be, until he is asked to investigate a recent spate of violent attacks on a Hollywood movie set in Florence. The star of the show, movie-star royalty Selena Gardner, fears her life is in imminent danger…
Foul play on set…
As Dan investigates, he discovers secrets and scandals are rife within the cast and crew. But with no actual murder, Dan believes these attacks could simply be warnings to someone…until the first body is found.
A dangerous killer on the loose.
Now Dan and his trusty sidekick Oscar are in a race against time to catch the murderer. But the more Dan uncovers, the more the killer strikes and Dan finds himself caught in the line of fire too! Is this one case Dan and Oscar will regret?
Dan is establishing a private detective agency in Italy and has been hired to get to the bottom of threatening messages delivered by arrow onto a Hollywood film shooting in Florence. And then someone is killed. The cast and crew are all suspects. We have plenty of Oscar here, and Dan meets a potential love interest. This time around we get a bit of history thrown in. And the setting is fabulous as always.
Murder in Siena by T.A. Williams Narrator: Simon Mattacks
Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #4
Published by Boldwood Books on August 1, 2023
Source: Library
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 6 hrs 9 mins
Pages: 232
Format: Audiobook
Purchase at Bookshop.org or Libro.fm
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A lazy weekend in the country… Dan Armstrong and the new love of his life, Anna, are heading to a hotel deep in the gorgeous Tuscan countryside for a long weekend, looking forward to some time away from the stresses of their day jobs. With the beautiful and historic city of Siena just around the corner, it promises to be relaxing and enjoyable. What could possibly go wrong? A mutilated body… But when a mutilated body is discovered in the hotel grounds Dan is called in to help with the investigation. But who or what could have been responsible for such a vicious attack? Was it the work of wild animals, or is there a brutal murderer at large? A killer who cried wolf? Dan knows he is dealing with a clever killer – whether two- or four-legged! And as he sets out to solve the case he begins to worry about his own loyal canine companion. Could Oscar be in more danger than any of the other hotel guests or is a murderer trying to cover their tracks? It's another case for Dan and Oscar to solve!
A man is killed but this time around the case doesn’t fall to Dan or Virgilio, but they get pulled into it nonetheless – perhaps not a great idea when they’re on a short vacation. I didn’t love this one. The idea of murder at a conference was good, but the whole thing seemed a bit far fetched and I wished other motives might have at least been considered.
About T.A. Williams
T.A Williams live in Devon with his Italian wife. He was born in England of a Scottish mother and Welsh father. After a degree in modern languages at Nottingham University, he lived and worked in Switzerland, France and Italy, before returning to run one of the best-known language schools in the UK. He has taught Arab princes, Brazilian beauty queens and Italian billionaires. He speaks a number of languages and have travelled extensively. He has eaten snake, still-alive fish, and alligator. A Spanish dog, a Russian bug and a Korean parasite have done their best to eat him in return. His hobby is long-distance cycling, but his passion is writing.
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