Years ago, Dan Armstrong was involved in a case that saw Bianca Moretti jailed. Now she turns to him when a murder takes place on her father’s retreat. Dan is surprised but accepts the case. Will he agree with local police that the death was an accident or with Bianca who is convinced it was murder…?
Murder on the Italian Riviera is the 7th book to feature private detective Dan Armstrong and his labrador Oscar as they investigate crime in Italy.
Bianca is certain that a death on her father’s property was murder but the local police have dismissed it as a tragic accident. Dan agrees to help her as he feels some regret about his part in her being imprisoned in the past. There is plenty of humour and self conscious detail for Dan as he discovers the Moretti’s retreat is for naturists. To fit in and investigate he needs to strip off!
I really like Dan’s character. He is written very naturally and I could identify with him as he second guesses himself, makes a mess with his girlfriend, and attempts to rein in Oscar’s exuberance. Dan has to rely on his own investigative skills now that he does not have an official police role and resources to support him. The Italian setting beyond the nudist location is brought to life with descriptions of places and food.
Murder on the Italian Riviera is an enjoyable crime and private detective novel and I loved the humour that came from the reaction to the naturist retreat.
Murder on the Italian Riviera
A brand-new cozy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany…It’s murder in paradise!
An ex-con…
Private investigator Dan Armstrong is no stranger to working with criminals, but when he’s approached for help by Bianca Moretti, he’s on high alert. Bianca is intelligent and beautiful, and Dan likes her, but he also once sent her to prison…
A suspicious death…
Bianca explains that a guest has been found dead at her father’s luxurious and private retreat on the beautiful Italian Riviera. The police are sure the death is accidental, but Bianca is convinced the man’s been murdered. Dan’s sure he can get to the bottom of things…as long as Bianca is telling him the whole truth.
A very revealing case!
But when Dan arrives at the resort, he’s in for a shock. He finds that the place is a naturist retreat, and everybody is walking around stark naked! Dan is determined to discover the truth, but this is going to mean revealing a whole lot more of himself than he expected.
Can Dan sniff out the truth about this case before Oscar’s cold wet nose causes havoc?
I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn’t possibly comment. Ask my wife…
I’ve written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I’m enjoying myself hugely writing romance and whodunnits. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. Murder mystery is all very well, but it needs to put a smile on your face, so that’s why I like to inject some humour. I’m having a lot of fun writing the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series set in sunny Italy. They are all standalone books but if you really want to do it properly, start with the first one in the series, Murder in Tuscany. If my books can whisk you away to gorgeous locations, put a smile on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.
I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in south west England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in many of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.
I’ve been writing since I was 14 and that is well over half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she’s right.
