The Attic at Wilton Place by C.E. Rose

 

"In comparison with the rest of the refurbished house, this room felt so eerie, so out of place. What was it for? Did anyone use it? And what did the clear distinction between the two mattresses mean?"

The Attic at Wilton Place by C.E.Rose is a compulsive and suspenseful domestic noir, with Gothic undertones.

Blurb:

The perfect life. The perfect home. But at what price?

Introspective Ruth Parker is desperate for love and attention. Overlooked as a child by her cold and critical mother, her pain manifests in loneliness and a crippling lack of self-esteem. When glamorous actress "Aunt" Vanessa, her mother's childhood friend, shows an interest in her, Ruth basks in the blinding light of her attention.

Once Ruth escapes to university in London, Aunt Vanessa invites her to Wilton Place, her stunning Belgravia residence. As she blossoms under Vanessa's guidance, Ruth finds herself torn between student life and the hypnotic, luxurious confines of Wilton Place. Belgarvia wins out, but when Ruth explores the gloomy attic of her new home and finds a hidden, locked door, she discovers that Vanessa is hiding the darkest secrets from her childhood, secrets that threaten everything Ruth knew about her own mother.

How far will Ruth go to find the truth - and how much does she really want to know?

"...the Parker family didn't ever discuss feelings and now wasn't the time to start".

Ruth's family is not what you would call a loving environment. Her elder brother is a golden child, the parents seem to care about each other, while Ruth is an ugly duckling of the family, unloved and criticised, mainly about her looks and achievements. 

Joy, Ruth' mother, has a knack for making her feel unattractive, unloved and rejected.

Her father Clive is a total pushover, who while acknowledging his wife's shortcomings, seems to be dismissive of her damaging parenting. 

No wonder Ruth struggles with self-esteem. She craves love and attention, even in sporadic doses, as rationed by Joy's "sophisticated, exotic and attractive" friend Vanessa. Unlike cold Joy, she is affectionate, generous and pretty amazing, according to young Ruth. "You're good, very good. Vanessa had noticed me! She's seen something in a solitary, introverted and invisible ten-year-old that no one else had, even if it was only my average talent for art".

Vanessa is a movie star, beautiful, smart and impressive. Ruth admires her "aunt". She had "touched me like no one else had; she'd noticed me and made me feel special..."

When Ruth arrives to London, the lack of social skills and low self-esteem ensure that she doesn't acquire any new friends. 

That's where Vanessa steps in, beguiling Ruth with her luxurious lifestyle and expensive house in Belgravia. There is a butler who is ready to obey your every whim, who cooks restaurant-style meals and drives Ruth and Vanessa in a gleaming black Bentley.

The house reflects the personalities of its owners, it is chic, stylish and sophisticated. One day Ruth discovers a hidden door in the attic. Why is it always locked? And why are Vanessa and the butler evasive, when asked about it? What do they have to hide?

Sergio, Vanessa's Italian "toyboy" husband might be a talented artist. He is also quite uncivilised, bordering on rude, grumpy and ill-mannered. And very handsome too.

Vanessa flitters in and out of Ruth's life, showering her with expensive presents and warmth one day, then disappearing for long periods of time without any notice. Even loyal Ruth acknowledges that being picked up and made feel special whenever it suited her, and the discarding at the other times, is not on. She is not a toy to be played with.

Ruth is a talented musician, and appreciates Sergio's obsessive ways with his artistic aspirations. 

As the story progresses, Ruth sheds her dowdy persona, and acquires confidence. She is set on finding out the secrets behind the closed door in the attic.

Will the truth help her understand her own family's skeletons in the closet? Is it worth pursuing the secrets of the past?

This is a character-driven story.

I have sympathised with Ruth up to a certain point. I felt sorry for her, who wouldn't, but she is too needy, insecure and desperate, and that doesn't make her an appealing character. At some point in our lives we need to begin being responsible for our own destiny, and not rely on the handouts from the others, be it expensive gifts or affection.

The Attic at Wilton Place is a compelling and menacing tale, ripe with all the twists and turns. It explores the emotional damage and the co-dependency of abused and traumatised vulnerable children. It is also about power and control, and dark, complex motivations. 

Author's Bio and Social Links:

CWA Dagger shortlisted Caroline England is known as the ‘Duchess of dark domestic noir’. Her psychological suspense thrillers are BENEATH THE SKIN, the top ten ebook bestseller MY HUSBAND'S LIES, BETRAY HER, TRUTH GAMES and THE SINNER. THE STRANGER BESIDE ME will be published on the 3rd August 2023.

Caroline also pens gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose. Stand alone THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN SECRETS was followed by THE HOUSE ON THE WATER'S EDGE and THE SHADOWS OF RUTHERFORD HOUSE. THE ATTIC AT WILTON PLACE will be published on 30th March 2023.

Both CE and Caroline write multi-layered, dark and edgy ‘domestic suspense’ stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area.

Drawing on her days as a divorce and professional indemnity lawyer, she loves to create ordinary, relatable characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, pressures, dilemmas or crime. She admits to a slight obsession with the human psyche, what goes on behind closed doors and beneath people’s façades. She also enjoys performing a literary sleight of hand in her novels and hopefully surprising her readers!

WATCHING HORSEPATS FEED THE ROSES and HANGED BY THE NECK are her dark, twisty short story collections.

Website: https://carolineenglandauthor.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CazEngland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CazEngland1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cazengland1/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cazengland1

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-england-35888064/

AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B009UQC1YS

Musée Carnavalet, Paris

If someone told me just a few weeks ago that I would be staying in Paris soon, I'd have burst into laughter. Yet in the second week of the Easter holidays I found myself wandering the streets of Paris and exploring two of its numerous museums.

The trip itself wasn't a walk in the park, as everything has to be planned, taking into consideration Sasha's needs. His autism means hightened anxiety, even with medication and behavioural techniques for managing stress. 

After a long discussion with my husband, we thought it might be a good idea to expose Sasha to some new experiences and sights, since we tend to do the same things, and visit the same places with him.

Overall, it was a positive experience for him, though I was always on edge, not able to relax for a minute, concerned how our boy will feel and behave.

Eddie and I visited two wonderful museums, Petit Palais and Musée Carnavalet. My husband was a real trooper. While we explored the museums, he took Sasha to cafes and accompanied him on long walks. 

It's been thirty years since I first arrived to Paris, wide-eyed and elated. A total innocent abroad. I loved visiting Le Louvre, Musée de Cluny and Notre-Dame then. I will always cherish the memories of those distant days, when I was young and carefree, and seeing everything through rose-coloured glasses.

Before our trip, we were searching online for smaller museums, that would have a cafe, possibly a garden or park nearby, where Sasha could escape if he found it too much of a sensory overload being in the museums.

Petit Palais and Musée Carnavalet suited our plans perfectly. Both happened to be great choices, and I cannot say which one Eddie and I enjoyed more. They are both splendid, both worth visiting, and I'm so glad I had a chance to see their collections.

 Musée Carnavalet is a museum of history of Paris. Spreading over two town buildings - Hôtel Carnavalet and Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau - it houses an amazing collection of artefacts reflecting the history of Paris, from prehistory to modern day. 

The collection consists of nearly 625,000 works: paintings, sculpture, drawings, models, photos, furniture and more.

It's wonderful that at least 10% of the works are displayed at children's eye level, so that they can enjoy the intricate models and displays.

As you enter the museum, the first rooms show an array of shop signs to reflect the city's heritage.

As Sasha wasn't that interested in the museum, we searched for the museum cafe first, going across the inner courtyard. It was a bit chilly but at least it didn't rain. We found a couple of tables in the corner, away from the other people. 

The choices are quite limited, if you only want a drink and a little bite. Prices are like this: cafe creme - 5 euros, tea - 6, diet coke - 5.50, juice - 6.50, Le Big Cookie - 5 euros (and that is just one cookie). 

We left Sash and my husband to enjoy a bit of sunshine, and began the tour of the museum.

The basement rooms are dedicated to prehistory, antiquity and the period from the Middle Ages to the mid-16th C.

It's impossible to cover everything in a short blog post, so I will highlight a few of our personal favourites, and those historical artefacts that we found fascinating.

I've always found the story of Hėloϊse and Abelard's doomed love affair captivating. At the museum you can see the heads and hands of the effigies of the tragic lovers.

Où est la très sage Heloïs,

Pour qui fut chastré et puis moyne

Pierre Esbaillart à Sainct-Denys?

Pour son amour eut cest essoyne.

This is a fragment of a big mural as you climb the stairs. The murals by Paolo Antonio Brunetti used to belong to the Duc de Luynes' townhouse, which was demolished in 1900. The frescoes were saved and re-assembled in the Musée Carnavalet in 1909-11. 

Portrait of Francis I, who loved arts and fashion, and who invited Leonardo da Vinci to his court. Leonardo brought Mona Lisa with him, which the king has acquired, and this iconic artwork can now be seen in the Louvre.

There are big rooms, showing the interiors of the Parisian homes of the nobility, with the exquisite woodwork and rich silks.

I loved seeing the portrait of Madame Recamier by François Gérard in the 19C rooms. I've seen her portrait many times in art history books, and was thrilled to see the painting in real life. She is absolutely stunning. You can almost see her lips moving mischievously.

Juliette Recamier was a Parisian socialite, who was married at the age of 15 to someone thirty years older than her. She was intelligent, quick-witted, and her beauty inspired many artists of her day.

The French Revolution takes a central stage in the museum. Carnavalet has the world's largest collection of artefacts and objects dating between 1789-1799. It covers a vast selection of historical posters, pamphlets, paintings, sculpted busts, flags, furniture, weapons, models of The Bastille and guillotine, medals etc.

It is sobering to walk from portrait to portrait and read the short biographies, learning that this person was executed, and that one, and that one. Terribles times, tragic deaths, rivers of blood. All in the name of freedom and equality.

The furniture below belonged to Marie Antoinette, when she was a prisoner at the Tour du Temple. The bed looks quite petite. I even checked how tall Marie Antoinette was (168cm, if you're curious). I'm the same height, and I would find the bed short.

This faience ecritoire (writing case with the ink stand) with a motto "Vivre Libre ou Mourire (live free or die)" circa 1791 caught my eye. 

The bust of Napoleon by Charles-Louis Corbet.

The room with this beautiful window is dedicated to the years 1830-50. There is a superb portrait of Franz Liszt on display, and other romantic artwork.

George Fouquet asked the famous artist Alphonse Mucha to design the interior for his boutique at 6 Rue Royale, and what a splendid piece of art is this shopfront! So flamboyant and extravagant.

We loved Marcel Proust's re-created bedroom, with its simple bed and comfy armchair. You can sit on a bench next to it and listen to the extracts from his famous novel, In Search of Lost Time.

Crib of the Imperial Prince Louis-Napoleon. It is very grand, but doesn't look particularly comfy for a baby.

A pretty fan with giraffes.

In a hurry, I didn't take a snap of the name of this portrait of a mime artist. The reverse search of the image doesn't bring any results. If you do know the name of the artist and the mime, please let me know.

Commedia dell'Arte was very popular in Paris from the late 16th C. These are painted wooden sculptures from Dominique Séraphin's theatre. The painting in the background shows the main characters of the Commedia dell'Arte: Harlequine, Colombina, Pulcinella, etc.

By this point of the tour we were hastening our pace, as my husband texted me, asking how long we were planning to explore. I wish we had more time.

This striking portrait of Juliette Gréco, French singer and actress, renown for her bohemian lifestyle, and being an inspiration of the song Michelle by the Beatles.

If you find yourself in Paris and want to escape the crowds of Le Louvre, Musée Carnavalet is worth visiting. 

It is free, and you don't have to book in advance. I hope to explore it in-depth one day, and let's not wait another thirty years until I visit Paris again.

End Game by Liz Mistry

 

"Nikki's throat clogged up with unshed tears as she read more and more flower names. Never again would she be able to appreciate flowers in the same way. Flowers should be free - in gardens, in forests, in the wild. Not viciously plucked from the hearts of their families and trapped in a life of hell."

End Game by Liz Mistry is a compelling and heart-wrenching crime novel.

This is the latest book in the DS Nikki Parekh series. It reads as a standalone, but you would understand the dynamics in the police unit and Nikki's family better, if you've read some of the previous books.

Blurb:

Four dead bodies. One missing person. Let the game begin.

When an anonymous tip-off leads Detective Nikki Parekh and DS Sajid Malik to the sprawling Salinger estate, Nikki's senses are on high alert. The brutal murder of all four members of the Salinger family has shocked the sleepy Bradford village to the core.

A mother, father, daughter, and son... all killed in exactly the same way - whilst sat around the coffee table, playing a game of monopoly. 

But Nikki notices that there are five pieces on the board. One of the players is missing... Did they manage to escape the killer, or was the killer part of the game?

When DI Nikki Parekh arrives at the crime scene in the rural Bradford village, she is warned that it is not one of the easiest scenes to view. Victims are the Salinger family: mother, father and two children. The whole family is annihilated in their own home. The idea seems inconceivable.

"However, Nikki had seen so many soul-destroying things during murder investigations that she realised that sometimes the inconceivable became a harsh reality".

The victims are left sitting around the coffee table with the Monopoly board, set for five players. There are four bodies, and no sight of the weapon.

"A fifth person had been in this room at the time of the attack on the Salingers, which made that person either a killer or a witness. Who was this mysterious person?"

The Salingers must have had their share of secrets, and some of them might hold a clue as to who and why had committed this atrocity.

This is Nikki's first official case as detective inspector and senior investigating officer, and she has no intention of messing it up.

As the investigation progresses slowly, Nikki's nemesis, journalist Lisa Kane publishes a slanderous and provocative article in the local paper, accusing the police, and Nikki's team in particular, in incompetence. The attacks on the police are personal and vicious.

Along the murder investigation plotline, we follow a first person narrative by a young girl Marnie, who's been kidnapped from her garden several years previously. To cope with the trauma of her life in captivity, Marnie chooses to stay silent. Being silent is the only power she can wield. It is her way of protesting against her abusers, and also a coping mechanism to escape the darkest reality.

Marnie's narrative is poignant and affecting. Your heart will ache for her and the other victims. For Nikki and her team the abduction and abuse of children will prove to be the toughest challenge yet.

Nikki is an appealing lead character. She is strong and vulnerable at the same time, and very likeable. Her team also make a terrific supporting cast of characters.

Like the other books in the series, End Game is a dark thriller, with a strong police procedural element. The storylines are typically gritty and tense. I found this book (and Broken Silence) very grim and sinister, to the point that I had to give myself some mental breaks and read it in instalments. It's not an easy read.

The narrative is split into different voices, including that of the voiceless victim. There is also a point of view of the ghastly perpetrator, which I struggled with as it felt too voyeuristic.

So a trigger warning is only fair. The themes of child abuse and murder could be very triggering.

Tense, twisty and poignant, End Game is utterly engrossing. The narrative is powerful and gripping, with superb characterisation, and a kick-ass good detective.

This post is part of the blog tour for End Game.

Many thanks to Liz Mistry and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/End-Game-absolutely-procedural-Detective-ebook/dp/B0BSWNHX66/

US - https://www.amazon.com/End-Game-absolutely-procedural-Detective-ebook/dp/B0BSWNHX66/

Author Bio –

Born in Scotland made in Bradford sums up LIZ MISTRY’s life. Over thirty-five years ago she moved from a small village in West Lothian to Yorkshire to get her teaching degree. Once here, Liz fell in love with three things: curries, the rich cultural diversity of the city… and her Indian husband (not necessarily in this order). Now thirty years, three children, Scumpy, the cat, and a huge extended family later, Liz uses her experiences of living and working in the inner city to flavour her writing. Her gritty crime fiction police procedural novels set in Bradford embrace the city she describes as ‘Warm, Rich and Fearless’, whilst exploring the darkness that lurks beneath.

 

Having struggled with severe clinical depression and anxiety for many years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. She credits the MA in Creative Writing she took at Leeds Trinity University with helping her find a way of using her writing to navigate her ongoing mental health struggles. Liz’s PhD research contributes significantly to debates concerning issues of inclusion and diversity of representation within the most socially engaged genre of contemporary crime fiction Being a debut novelist in her fifties was something Liz had only dreamed of and she counts herself lucky, whilst pinching herself regularly to make sure it’s all real.

 

You can contact Liz via her website https://www.lizmistry.com/

 

 

Social Media Links –

Twitter @LizMistryAuthor https://twitter.com/LizMistryAuthor

Facebook @LizMistrybooks https://www.facebook.com/LizMistrybooks  

Website https://www.lizmistry.com/

Have you seen the reviews of the previous books in the Nikki Parekh series?

Broken Silence  (Book no.2)

Dark Memories (3)

Blood Games (4)

Promises of the Runes by Christina Courtenay (book extract)

 

Promises Of The Runes

He travelled through time to capture her heart.

 

The amulet was still in the palm of his hand. Was it some sort of conduit to the past? The image of the anguished woman in his vision was seared into his mind. Perhaps it could help him find her?

 

Ivar Thoresson is desperate for adventure. As an archaeologist specialising in Viking times, he wants nothing more than to travel back to the ninth century as his loved ones have done, to learn everything he can about the era which fascinates him. And whilst his adopted family have always made him feel loved, the chance to meet a true ancestor, the warrior Thorald, is a temptation he cannot resist.

 

But while Ivar is preparing to go, he uncovers an amulet which shows him a vision of an arresting woman with red-gold hair. Clearly in distress, she is pleading for help. Convinced of the power of the charm and its message, Ivar’s journey takes on a new purpose. He steps back in time determined to follow his destiny – and find the woman who has called to his heart.

 

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Promises-Runes-enthralling-timeslip-beloved-ebook/dp/B0B63MPC24/

https://www.amazon.com/Promises-Runes-enthralling-timeslip-beloved-ebook/dp/B0B63MPC24/

Author Bio –

Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a former chairman of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014) and the RNA Fantasy Romantic Novel of the year 2021 with Echoes of the Runes.  Promises of the Runes (time travel romance published by Headline Review 13th April 2023) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).

Social Media Links –

http://www.christinacourtenay.com

https://www.facebook.com/christinacourtenayauthor?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/PiaCCourtenay

https://www.instagram.com/ChristinaCourtenayAuthor/

 

PROMISES OF THE RUNES – book extract

 

 (This scene takes place the morning after Ivar offers Ellisif protection in his tent for the night)

 

Ivar knew he should move. Go and find Álrik to try and persuade him to lend Ellisif some of his clothes. But he was very comfortable, with a warm, pliant woman snuggled up against him. He was happy to do nothing more than hold her for now. Last night she’d seemed frightened when he’d told her he wanted her to stay. He didn’t want her to be scared of him; he wanted to win her over.

 

That thought brought him up short. Win her over? As in courting her, as the Vikings would say? That was ridiculous. He hardly knew anything about her. Besides, this was the ninth century. You couldn’t just have a casual relationship with a woman without marriage being involved. Not unless she was a whore, and he was quite sure Ellisif was far from that. It was obvious that she was high-born, if she was an heiress. Did he really want to start something with a woman like that? It would be madness, and yet . . .

 

No, he absolutely shouldn’t.

 

She stirred, breaking into his thoughts. As she became aware of her surroundings and exactly where she was – no doubt registering every inch of him pressed up against her – her whole body went rigid. As his hand was near her ribcage, the sudden fluttering of her heart was very noticeable, and her chest rose and fell with an indrawn breath.

 

‘Shh, it’s only me, Ivar,’ he whispered, keeping very still so as not to frighten her. ‘You’re safe for now. Remember?’

 

She turned within his arms and glanced up at him, her eyes large and luminous in the half-gloom, squinting slightly. ‘I remember.’

 

They studied each other wordlessly. It was her! There was no mistaking it. Ivar’s gaze travelled over the heart-shaped face he’d seen in his visions. It was still pale and drawn, but starkly beautiful to him in that fey way he’d glimpsed before. In the morning light, her eyes were the green of a mossy forest pool, surrounded by long dark-brown lashes and topped with bird’s-wing eyebrows. Her nose and mouth weren’t perfect, but they were eminently attractive nonetheless; the nose dotted with a few freckles and the mouth luscious with a pronounced Cupid’s bow. The freckles continued across her cheeks and he found them enticing. But this was not the time to think about that.

 

‘I should go.’ She made a move as if to rise, but she was still trapped by his arm and didn’t get anywhere.

 

‘Please don’t. I want to help you.’ He waited for her reaction and watched her eyebrows lowering.

 

‘You’ve already done enough. I must fend for myself now.’

 

‘Ellisif.’ He whispered her name and liked the feel of it on his tongue. It was a beautiful name and suited its owner. ‘I’m offering you assistance. Refusing would be churlish, don’t you think?’

 

‘Are you sure about this?’ she asked quietly, her eyes not leaving his, as if she was trying to discern what manner of man he was. She looked to be having trouble focusing, but he figured she was probably exhausted from everything that had happened.

 

He nodded. ‘I am. Do you trust me to get you away from here?’

 

She didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes. I do.’

 

For some reason, he felt as though her words held a deeper meaning. There was a definite connection between them – chemistry unlike anything he’d ever experienced before – but it could wait. There would be time enough later to pursue that thought; for now, he needed to ensure her safety.

 

‘Good. Then please stay here while I go in search of a disguise for you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ With that, he reluctantly disentangled himself from her and ducked out of the tent. He was very much hoping he’d be allowed to wake up next to Ellisif again in the near future.

The Collaborator's Daughter by Eva Glyn

 

The Collaborator’s Daughter

In 1944 in war-torn Dubrovnik Branko Milisic holds his newborn daughter Safranka and wishes her a better future. But while the Nazis are finally retreating, the arrival of the partisans brings new dangers for Branko, his wife Dragica and their baby…

As older sister to two half-siblings, Fran has always known she has to fit in. But now, at sixty-five years old and finally free of caring responsibilities, for the first time in her life Fran is facing questions about who she is and where she comes from.

All Fran knows about her real father is that he was a hero, and her mother had to flee Dubrovnik after the war. But when she travels to the city of her birth to uncover the truth, she is devastated to discover her father was executed by the partisans in 1944, accused of being a collaborator. But the past isn’t always what it seems… And neither is the future.

Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/CollaboratorsDaughter

For Amazon it's https://mybook.to/CollaboratorsDaughter

And for all other retailers it's https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-collaborators-daughter-eva-glyn

Author Bio –

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Her last holiday before lockdown was a trip to Croatia, and the country’s haunting histories and gorgeous scenery have proved fertile ground, driven by her friendship with a tour guide she met there. His wartime story provided the inspiration for The Olive Grove and his help in creating a realistic portrayal of Croatian life has proved invaluable. Her second novel set in the country, An Island of Secrets is a dual timeline looking back to World War 2, and although a contemporary romance featuring mature main characters her third, The Collaborator’s Daughter, has its roots in that conflict too.

Eva lives in Cornwall, although she considers herself Welsh, and has been lucky enough to have been married to the love of her life for more than twenty-five years. She also writes as Jane Cable.

Social Media Links –
Twitter @JaneCable
Instagram @evaglynauthor
Bookbub @EvaGlyn  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eva-glyn
Facebook @EvaGlynAuthor https://www.facebook.com/EvaGlynAuthor

 

Murder in Florence by T.A. Williams

 

"Not for the first time, I envied the sleuths of the black and white crime noir movies their broad-brimmed hats. I'm sure Philip Marlowe never had water soaking his underpants".

Murder in Florence by T.A. Williams is the third instalment of the entertaining Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries series set in Tuscany. I have read all three, and this is my favourite book so far. 

Murder in Florence reads as a standalone, but do treat yourself and read all three books, if you haven't started this series yet.

Blurb:

Murder in Florence

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

A glamorous film star...

Life as a private investigator in the suburbs ofFlorence isn't always as glamorous 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 belives 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 killer strikes and Dan finds himself caught in the line of fire too! Is this one case Dan and Oscar will regret?

A gripping new murder mystery series by bestselling author T.A. Williams, perfect for fans of Lee Strauss and Beth Byers.

It's been three months since Dan Armstring started his new career in Florence as a Private Investigator. His new job is far from glamorous, "it isn't all beautiful heiresses, diamond necklaces and bottles of bourbon". As it happens, the jobs are very mundane: unfaithful spouses, pilfering home helps, nasty neighbours and missing persons.

Dan is excited to hear from his friend Virgilio Pisano of the Florence Murder Squad, who calls to tell him of a business sent his way. Not just any old job, but one that involves the movie royalty, Selena Gardner. The film star is in Florence with the film crew, and they've been getting death threats.

The movie they are making is set in the Medici times. As if staying in character, the mysterious hostile messenger is sending threatening notes, attached to an arrow.

Dan and Oscar arrive on the set, and begin asking questions. Is someone from the crew involved? The questioning indicates there's a lot of tension between the senior members of the crew.

"Whatever the full truth of it, it was clear that there was a lot bubbling away in the background to the set of Lust for Power. The thing I couldn't get my head around was why any of these internal feuds could have escalated to murder threats and expressed themselves in such a primitive, if cinematographic, way".

At first it appears as if it could be a nasty game of threats and warnings, but when a murder is committed, the sinister game moves onto the next, evil level. "I no longer had any doubts as to whether or not this whole bow-and-arrow story was a hoax. Whoever had done this had intended to kill".

The film producers are reluctant to stop filming and go back to Hollywood, and every day brings a new danger. Even Dan and Oscar could become potential targets if they stay on the set.

Apart from the escalating danger at the film production, the police is looking into an abduction of a young woman. 

It is a race against time to apprehend the ruthless killer who is taunting the film crew with the arrow-delivered messages, and rescue the missing woman.

The plot throbs with passions, rivalries and suspicions. The story is well-written and absorbs you completely.

There is a lot of mild humour, provided by the hapless hoover of a dog, Oscar, who loves food and ladies. Oscar is a lovely companion, though not exactly a guard dog. "The doorbell rang and Oscar opened one eye. He wasn't a natural guard dog, and he didn't bother getting up from his bed by the window".

Dan's musings are often self-deprecating. 

There is a great cast of characters, some have already made their appearance in the previous books, some are completely new. And there is a new romantic interest in Dan's life, who will hopefully move into the further books in the series.

The locations chosen for the film production make you want pack your suitcase and jump on the plane to Tuscany. It's been many years since I visited Florence, but reading this book brought back some lovely memories. I dug out the old photo album (remember those?), and showed some of the pictures to my younger son. 

I enjoyed reading all the historical facts, especially the references to the Pazzi conspiracy, that are presented in an entertaining and informative way, which adds to the plot rather than distracts from it.

My only, very mild, niggle is related to the mention of the mafia.

"The Mafia?... The fact that we were in Florence, which is almost a thousand kilometres from the Mafia heartland of Sicily, made this unlikely but it had to be borne in mind." While true about the Sicilian mafia, there could have been a much closer organised crime group involved, Ndrangheta. Based in Calabria, they have moved up North. There was recently the biggest mafia trial in decades in Emilia Romagna. They are also present in Liguria (Imperia Ventimiglia). Mafia is not just in Sicily, and the Italian police would have known that, while not based in Florence, there could have been a possibility of money laundering or some other organised crime, so potentially it is not too far fetched to consider it.

Murder in Florence is a deeply satisfying cozy mystery. It is soaked in the Tuscan atmosphere, its magnificent sights and sounds. Dan and Oscar are a team made in heaven. 

This book review is part of the blog tour for Murder in Florence.

Many thanks to T.A. Williams, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - 

https://amzn.to/3YyhANi

Author Bio – 

T A Williams is the author of over twenty bestselling romances for HQ and Canelo and is now turning his hand to cosy crime, set in his beloved Italy, for Boldwood. The series will introduce us to retired DCI Armstrong and his labrador Oscar and the first book, entitled Murder in Tuscany, will be published in October 2022. Trevor lives in Devon with his Italian wife.

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