Book Review: Murder in Florence

By Sara Steven

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? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

So far, this is my favorite in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery Series! Everything was laid out perfectly, creating a wonderful mystery from start to finish. The movie set angle was amazing! I loved the premise behind it, along with the unique way that the culprit leaves behind their calling card through archery. It really felt as though Dan was in his element, along with Oscar, his trusty canine sidekick. There were touches of humor spread throughout as well, particularly when Dan has to dress up like the rest of the cast and crew, in what I imagine to be like what I’d see when I go to my local Renaissance Faire.

I loved the build-up. With the first attack, it posed a threat–until the next attack, where someone ends up dead. From there, the stack kept building with intensity and intrigue, and I wasn’t sure what would happen next, or who would be the next target. Dan approaches it with methodical and analytical measure, allowing me my own checklist right along with him, keeping tabs on potential suspects. I love puzzles, and Murder in Florence felt like one gigantic puzzle the reader gets to solve, without giving anything away until the precise moment. 

One particular scene with Dan and Oscar in the woods proved to be pretty epic. Has Dan been the target all along, or is someone else at risk? How close is he to breaking the case? And at what cost to those he cares for? 

As always, a T.A. Williams story wouldn’t be complete without fantastic scenery, which often becomes another character. Dan and Oscar could have solved this mystery anywhere, but it wouldn’t feel right if it hadn’t been in Florence. A friend of mine is an avid reader of T.A. Williams and we both commiserate on how much we’d love to visit Tuscany someday, fueled on by the beautiful backdrop and the delicious food that Williams provides within his books. It’s so nice to have that experience, along with helping Dan solve murder mysteries along the way. This was 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 introduces us to retired DCI Armstrong and his labrador Oscar and the first book, entitled Murder in Tuscany, was published in October 2022. Trevor lives in Devon with his Italian wife.

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