Murder at the Matterhorn by T.A. Williams

 

"We're all on edge. After all, we may be closer now to discovering proof of alien life than ever before and the last thing we need is a bunch of police officers tramping about the place, disturbing everything".

"Being involved in a real police murder investigation was meat and drink to me".

Murder at the Matterhorn by T.A. Williams  is a delightful and highly entertaining murder mystery set in Italy.

This is the 5th book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries series. It reads as a standalone, but it might help understand the dynamics between the main characters, as well as their back story, if you've read some or all of the previous books in the series.

Blurb:

An old friend in need...

Despited being retired from the police, Dan Armstrong is always on hand to help with solving a crime. So, when he's contacted by an old colleague in need of help, Dan readily agrees. The only problem Dan can see is the location - an isolated mountain-top campsite of UFO enthusiasts.

An unexplained death...

But these are no ordinary star watchers, and when Dan arrives one member of the group is already dead. Some of the group suspect alien abduction, but Dan is sure the killer is much closer to home.

An out of this world case?

Dan doesn't believe in aliens, but faced with a black hole of secrecy from the group of suspects, he and Oscar have their work cut out to catch the murderer... before they strike again.

It's another case for Dan and Oscar to solve!

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

Dan Armstrong and his sidekick Oscar the labrador are back in action. Dan works as a private detective in Tuscany. He is also a published author, with a bestselling book. As a retired Met DCI, he cannot resist a good mystery, so when his ex-colleague Paul Wilson calls from London, hoping he could help him, Dan's curiosity if piqued. Paul's sister Sandra is currently in Italy with a bunch of UFO hunters, and one of the group's been killed.

According to Sandra, "it's a weird set up and she doesn't trust any of them very much. Some of them appear to be very tight-lipped about what happened. She says it's almost as if there's a conspiracy of silence".

The UFO aficionados are camping in the Aosta Valley in the Alps. Though it's quite away from Tuscany, where Dan is based, he promises Paul to pop up there and have a look, to reassure his friend.

Dan is sceptical about the aliens, but for the sake of disguise he pretends to be one of the UFO enthusiasts. He feels pretty sure that the killer has to be one of the group, rather than some random person. It is quite a big pool of suspects to choose from. Dan and Oscar need to work fast to uncover the killer before s/he strikes again.

The character of Dan is well portrayed, he is likeable, affable, and a total slave to his dog. Oscar is ready to eat all the time, makes friends easily, and provides a guaranteed laugh in the narrative. 

There is a vibrant spectrum of supporting characters, from the local Inspector Costey, to the UFO group members (like the Pirates of the Caribbean in their silver spacesuits).

Like all the books in the series, Italy provides a fabulous rich setting, with spectacular landscapes and glorious food. Reading these books is akin to having a gastronomical tour across Italy.

"Somehow, I managed to find room after all the polenta and beef for an exceptional panna cotta with flambéed fruits of the forest in syrup that probably added another thousand calories to the meal, but I was past caring".

Murder at Matterhorn gives a lovely blend of a good story told against a picturesque background of Italy, a likeable protagonist with an adorable sidekick, and a compelling murder mystery. A five-star page-turner from the first pages.

Now that Dan and Oscar venture further from Tuscany, I hope they will travel more across Italy in the further books in the series. 

This review is part of the blog tour for Murder at the Matterhorn.

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

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/matterhornsocial

 

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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