"Not for the first time, I felt a twinge of foreboding. Hopefully, tonight's murder mystery wouldn't turn out to be a disaster - or worse".
"What is it about you, Dan? Everywhere you go, murder seems to follow you. So who's the murderer this time? Don't tell me you haven't solved the case by now?"
After reading several bleak and dark Icelandic Noir books and some slightly tedious non-fiction, I fancied something lighter and more entertaining to read.
Murder in Venice by T.A. Williams is just what I needed.
A brand new instalment in the irresistible Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series, it is great fun. This page-turning series features a retired DCI Dan Armstrong and his loyal companion, labrador Oscar.
Private investigator Dan Armstrong can't believe his luck when he's been invited to the luxury villa of Alice Graceland, a British superstar of the cinema, now residing in Venice of all places.
A movie legend and queen of the silver screen's invitation makes Dan a tad loopy, as he tries to imagine the true reasons of meeting Alice. Could it be his big break, a chance of schmoozing with the Hollywood legends and maybe even pitching his own murder mystery series?
"Alice Graceland is a big, huge star, just about as big as it gets, cinema and TV royalty, maybe even bigger than Selena. If she wants to see me, might this mean she's read my books? Could this be the start of something amazing?"
Dan is already imagining red carpets and a golden Oscar, in the meantime his own Oscar is always by his side, with a cheeky grin and big appetite.
"Was this the start of something big? I did my best to temper my expectations, but I was in a state of considerable anticipation by the time I got to Venice".
Once Dan arrives at Alice's residence, things start to look far from magical. Alice has no inclination to promote Dan's ambitions, she wants him to play host at the murder mystery evening with a glamorous collection of Hollywood royalty. Talk about a letdown.
As Alice explains, "I give my guests a good dinner and in the course of it, I present them with murder - naturally, a fictitious murder - and they have to sniff out the culprit or culprits".
Alice has written the script for the murder mystery herself and plans "on showing some of these big-noise directors and producers, not only that I'm the best actor they've ever worked with, but that I can do their own jobs better than they can, too". The hostess clearly doesn't lack in self-assurance. False modesty is not for the likes of her.
Champagne, candelight, flamboyant costumes aplenty, it does not appear to be a meeting of old chums. It is quite the opposite, as a wave of grudges seems to engulf the event.
When the murder mystery evening takes a sinister turn, it's Dan and Oscar who find themseleves submerged in the murky waters of the Venetian canals.
The atmospheric setting, mouth-watering descriptions of food, an endearing side kick, all these elements turn this story into another success.
Murder in Venice is an unputdownable murder mystery, witty and delightful.
Many thanks to T.A. Williams and Netgalley for my free e-copy of the book!
Author Bio –
T. A. Williams is the bestselling author of the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series. Trevor studied languages at University and lived and worked in Italy for eight years, returning to England with his wife in 1972. Trevor and his wife now live in Devon.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: @TrevorWilliamsBooks
Twitter: @TAWilliamsBooks
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