Book Review: Murder in Chianti

By Sara Steven

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? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

This is the next book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries series, and I can honestly say this one is my favorite so far. Williams has a great way of beginning his stories with an explosive inciting incident, like when Rex Hunter has been found bludgeoned to death by a golf club. It can’t get more explosive than that. 

I really enjoyed the difficulty in finding the murderer. Hunter isn’t well-liked. In fact, there are many characters, including his own family who would attest to wanting him dead. With a case like that, it’s hard to determine who might be the culprit, and as the list of suspects grows, so did my want in trying to determine who it might be. Dan took it all in stride, which was fun to see, considering there is a subplot involving his own familial workings that could potentially sidetrack him from the case. 

It was also interesting to see a few twists that were not murder-related. Hunter’s life and the people within it aren’t as they seem, with one twist completely surprising me and throwing me off guard. You never really know who to trust, other than Dan and those who are helping him in determining who killed Hunter, like his trusty sidekick, Oscar. Seriously, Murder in Chianti and any other book that Williams has written wouldn’t be complete without one of the characters being canine, and Oscar is the perfect canine companion for Dan.

I thought for sure I knew how things would end and who would ultimately be the murderer, but I felt like I was thrown for a loop! That makes for the best kind of mystery, and Williams does well at keeping the reader guessing. And, as always, the backdrop is just as much an important character as the characters themselves. Any book of his makes me want to travel to far off exotic locations, with Tuscany becoming a prime spot for me as a bucket list vacation spot. Murder in Chianti was well-written, suspenseful, and had me guessing throughout its pages. A definite five-star experience!

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

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.

Visit T.A. Williams online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter

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