One murder never comes alone…

Synopsis

The BRAND NEW instalment in the bestselling, beloved Armstrong & Oscar Cozy Mystery series! 

A road leading to Rome

Former DCI Dan Armstrong has been living and working in Florence for nearly three years—yet somehow, Rome has always eluded him. That is, until glamorous TV celebrity Tamsin Goodfaithturns up with a request he can’t refuse: investigate her uncle’s suspicious death in the Eternal City.

Murder at the castle

Philip Hastings was a billionaire financier, found dead at his magnificent—if slightly spooky—medieval castle in the Roman hills. Dan and his faithful canine companion, Oscar, soon find themselves surrounded by luxury, secrets and more suspects than sightseeing opportunities.

This time it’s personal

But when a second murder follows close behind, the case turns dangerously personal. With whispers of ghosts and crumbling alibis, Dan and Oscar must sniff out the truth before he becomes the next victim. Harder to crack than castle walls—and harder still than stopping Oscar from stealing snacks—this Roman holiday is anything but relaxing. 

My review

Dan Armstrong feels like he has found his second life. Living for several years now in Florence, he has started his own private investigation business, has found love again with Anna and has the most loyal companion with Oscar. His investigations have brought him to several places in Italy, but somehow he managed to stay away from Rome. Until glamourous TV celebrity Tamsin Goodfaith needs his help, to investigate if her uncle’s death is truly as innocent as it may seem. Because according to Tamsin, there is something suspicious about the passing. So Dan heads off to Rome with Oscar to the medieval castle in the Roman hills, where Tamsin’s relatives are staying, and why not, even all the suspects. But things take a turn for the worse when another death is taking place, an obvious murder this time. Dan and Oscar are now helping the local forces with the investigations, trying to decipher who is lying, has motive, and meanwhile also trying to stay rationale about suspects and not believing the local gossip of ghosts… It is a race against time, hoping to catch the killer before another victim falls into the murderous hands…

How can I possible refuse another chapter in the lovely series that has brought Dan and especially Oscar in my life? And this time, the setting is wonderful Rome!

I was  a bit afraid at the start of the book (yes, I am the kind of person that doesn’t read the blurb if it’s a book from an author that I already know 😊), as Rome is a city that never sleeps, hectic, tourists everywhere. So I was happy that the setting was a castle in the Roman hills, away from all that chaos that Rome is.

Of course I was happy to see how things have evolved throughout the whole series for Dan. And as an Italian, I absolutely loved it to see how Dan is in fact a real Italian now 😊.

Now, a new book means also a new cozy mystery and also a new murder (or two…).

Initially, I was a bit wary of Tamsin. Not that I didn’t trust her, but isn’t it a fact that when a loved one dies, unexpectedly, we never want to accept it that perhaps it was intended by the deceased person? So I always kept in mind that perhaps a murder did not actually take place in this book. Because with this author, anything is possible, right?

Anything is possible, even another murder taking place, even with when Dan and Oscar are already investigating the first death. And yes, that changes all the cards, doesn’t it? Especially as the family, each and every member, would have a motive and could be in fact a suspect…

It may seem a very dark story, especially with a spooky castle as a setting. But keep in mind that this is an Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery, and thus there are several moments that will put a smile on your face, and you will find yourself investigating along with Dan and Oscar, eager to find who the culprit (or culprits) is (or are).

This author has the wonderful ability to keep you questioning everything and everyone in the book, but also gives you a great enjoyable time while investigating. And as a loyal reader of the series (and the author in general 😊) I knew somehow how to look at each character, putting the right questions marks, suspecting even perhaps the right person right away! I felt like the female Dan in this book! 😊

Saying that I was swept away by this book, somehow sounds wrong. But as I was so intrigued by the story, the characters and just love being around Dan and Oscar again, I found it impossible to put this book away for even just an instance.

I need to say, that with each book I also fall more and more in love Oscar! He is not just a dog with remarkable investigating skills, but also a great judge of character. And just adorable! 😊

After finishing the book, I was thinking by myself: wouldn’t it be time that Dan and Oscar would go even more south in Italy, perhaps around Naples. And yes, I actually screamed at loud (poor neighbours 😊) learning that the next instalment would be about a murder in Pompeii! I think that T.A. Williams and I are now very in sync with each other! 😊