Vivian Conroy’s A Fatal Encounter in Tuscany is a delightful cozy mystery set against the dreamy Italian countryside. When a charming (yet murder-prone!) village hosts an unexpected death, amateur sleuths are on the case, navigating twists, turns, and plenty of local flair.

Conroy’s descriptions of Tuscany are enchanting, and the mystery keeps you guessing without getting too dark. It’s the kind of light, satisfying whodunit you can devour in one sitting. Four stars for a charming escape into murder and mayhem, Italian style! Perfect for fans of travel and cozy mysteries.

Love it! Very solid crime novel. I really like Vivian's writing style. Main characters and plot are great. Totally enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley, One More Chapter, and Vivian Conroy for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I love the cover of this one and it’s a super entertaining read. It’s a historical cozy mystery, which is a genre I’m not very familiar with. However, it was paced well with a great setting, interesting mysteries, and fascinating characters. Be sure to check this one out!

A Fatal Encounter in Tuscany is the third historical cozy mystery by Vivian Conroy to feature amateur high society discreet inquiry agent Miss Atalanta Ashford. Released 13th April 2023 by HarperCollins on their One More Chapter imprint, it's 369 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written destination mystery very much in the style of the Golden Age; more Marsh/Sayers than Christie. It's full of well-heeled high society characters, moderately witty repartee, and gentility. The plot is straightforward with a satisfying denouement and resolution. Although it's the 3rd book in the series, it is self contained and works well as a standalone.

With four books extant in the series, it would make a good choice for a long weekend binge or buddy read. The language is clean and the crimes are cozy acceptable and not bloody.

Four stars. Well written and engaging.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

An entertaining whodunnit and a new case for Atalanta and Raoul who are as enjoyable as ever in their second outing. Wonderfully constructed with a vivid sense of place, the story keeps the reader hooked from the off. This is such an enjoyable series and I look forward to the next instalment.

One of the best things about inheriting a fortune and a client list filled with the world’s elite is that Atalanta can afford to travel the world while waiting for her next case. It’s such an interesting premise and allows the series to deliver fresh new additions with each book. As the reader, we get to travel to exotic locations – the first book was in Provence, the second was in Santorini, and now, Atalanta’s third adventure as her setting off to Tuscany on the famous Orient Express.

One of the constant themes that I found running through the series, aside from the murder and beautiful scenery, is the large families that Atalanta finds herself working for. It’s such a contrast to her own background – she’s an orphan with very few friends and no family. But the clients she seems to attract all have large families and all the family dramas that go along with them.

I think the family dynamics and subsequent secrets and squabbles allows for a lot of red herrings and suspects to be thrown into Atalanta and Raoul’s lap. Raoul himself still continues to be an enigma, and adds to the tension as Atalanta is always trying to consider whether to fully trust him or not.

Atalanta herself is one of my favourite cozy mystery sleuths. She’s still finding her way as a ‘detective for hire’ and often gets guidance from her deceased grandfather (in the form of letters where he offers her the knowledge he learned as a detective) and from her butler, Renard, who usually assists her from her home base in Paris. I love that she has a blossoming confidence in her abilities but is still wary enough to sometimes overthink the situation and stay suspicious of everyone around her, including Raoul.

Raoul is also an incredibly interesting character as he strikes the perfect balance between friend, potential love interest, and mysterious stranger. I don’t doubt that he’s protective of Atalanta, but often his motives aren’t quite clear. Three books into the series and I’m still not annoyed at how little we know of him.

The fast paced murder, the interesting characters, and of course, the lovely Tuscan setting, make this the perfect vacation cozy to curl up with.

* Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

As always, Atalanta and Raoul are such a fun pair to follow. I really enjoy Atalanta’s independent, curious and determined spirit.

The storyline was also interesting. It involves greedy heirs, affairs, family mysteries, and plenty of other dramas.

Can’t wait for the next in the series to see what Atalanta gets up to next!

Thanks to #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a fun whodunit with plenty of suspects to choose from. A great installment to the series.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Until I was gifted a copy of this novel, I had not been aware of the ‘Miss Ashford investigates’ series, of which this is the third instalment, but I may well seek out the other tomes now as I enjoyed this cosy crime mystery. Accompanied by her butler and her racing driver friend Raoul, this novel finds Atalanta Ashford board the Orient Express en route to a holiday in Tuscany. On this luxury train, Atalanta strikes up a conversation with Italian heiress Catarina, who invites Atalanta and Raoul to join her at a forthcoming sixtieth birthday party. But the beautiful Italian palazzo where this party is hosted tragically becomes the scene of the unexplained death of its owner. When Catarina is framed as the murderess by a local police force keen to close the case, Atalanta and Raoul decide to intervene, lifting the lid on a whole host of secrets that the illustrious Italian society people gathered at the party would sooner keep covered up ...

Hugely enjoyable, I recommend this novel to all fellow lovers of the cosy crime genre. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the free ARC that allowed me to get to know this entertaining literary character devised by Vivian Conroy and to produce this unbiased review.

This murder mystery has a large number of suspects and a beautiful setting. Readers will travel from a ride on the renowned Orient Express to a stunning Tuscan vineyard in true Agatha Christie fashion. Atalanta, the main character, is perceptive and intelligent until she unknowingly becomes involved in a murder at a party. A work that guarantees readers the best escapism to a setting (Tuscany) and era (the 1930s) where aficionados of cosy mysteries will undoubtedly feel at home. Beautiful, comfortable crime novel with stunning Tuscany scenery and lighting. Her buddy Raoul extends an invitation for her to go to Italy with him, but she isn't entirely sure if he is sincere. How is she supposed to resist, especially since he has tickets on the incomparably magnificent Orient Express. They encounter the mysterious Catharina Lanetti while travelling. Atalanta wonders a lot about Catharina, including whether she is who she claims to be, whether Raoul genuinely knows her, and whether this meeting is staged. Regardless, she and Raoul accept a party invitation to her family's villa during her father's belated birthday.

#BookReview #NetGalley

A Fatal Encounter in Tuscany is part of the cosy murder mystery series from Vivian Conroy. A promise of an easy and entertaining read full of adventure, fun and loads of family drama. There are many suspects in this murder mystery all set against a wonderful backdrop. In true Agatha Christie style, readers will venture from a trip on the famous Orient Express to a beautiful vineyard in Tuscany. The lead character, Atalanta is intelligent and observant when she unwittingly finds herself swept up in a murder at a party. A book that promises readers escapism of the highest quality to a place (Tuscany) and a time (1930s) where fans of cosy crimes are sure to be in their element.

“I’m working on a few theories. But I need more information to put everything together.” Her heart skipped a beat again at the idea of taking on Foselli. It was a recipe for disaster. If only she hadn’t accepted Catharina’s invitation … But it was too late for such regrets now.”

Number three book in the four series of Miss Ashford investigates. A lovely cosy crime story set in Tuscany - all gorgeous landscapes and beautiful light. Her friend Raoul, who she rather fancies but isn't at all sure if he is serious, invites her to travel to Italy with him. How can she resist especially as he has booked tickets on the utterly sublime Orient Express. On the way they meet an enigmatic woman Catharina Lanetti. Many things go through Atalanta's mind about Catharina - is she really who she says she is, does Raoul actually know her?, is this meeting actually contrived. Anyway she and Raoul accept an invitation to her family villa for a party for her estranged father..... perhaps not a good decision but Atalanta yet again works out the murdered father's killer and why. Such a good read.

I have read a previous novel with Atalanta Ashford and was intrigued to find out what she would be doing in this one. The book is set in the 1930s and it really is a joy to read. I absolutely loved it. The descriptions are excellent, Vivian really knows how to set a scene. I thought the story flowed well and it had a great ending. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a cosy mystery. Thank you #netgalley

I hadn't read the first two books in this series and I regret that. While Conroy is an adept writer and put some information in to catch us up on characters without info dumping, I really wish I had known more about Atalanta Ashford and her sleuthing abilities.

But we meet her in this book as she is solving the mystery of a missing ring. Having read Sherlock Holmes, she is very easily able to find where the ring went, riling Inspector Deriot who seems to be a rival of sorts. Or maybe she is more accurately a thorn in his side.
But she won't be a thorn for long as her friend (?) Raoul is "abducting" her for a grand adventure, a ride on the Orient Express. It is there that she and Raoul meet Catharina Lanetti who is going back to Italy to celebrate her father's birthday. Her family is... interesting, to say the least. The patriarch worships the Machiavellis and his schemes are no less convoluted. Catharina invites Atalanta and Raoul to join the celebration. While Atalanta wonders whether this is a set up, she is still drawn to the Lanettie compound where, as predicted, Catharina's father is killed. She, as the person who has come back the most recently is blamed. But is she really the killer?
There is a LOT of drama and untold secrets in this book. I think, having read the first two books, I might be more invested in the story but I do feel like Conroy is setting up Atalanta and Raoul to be more than friends but the chemistry isn't there yet.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out April 13, 2023
Follows Last Seen in Santorini
Followed by Last Dance in Salzburg
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter
Opinions are my own

Previously reviewed on <a href="http://goodbadandunread.com/2023/05/05/ready-review-a-fatal-encounter-in-tuscany-by-vivian-conroy-13-04-2023/">The Good, The Bad, and The Unread</a>:

It seems that Atalanta Ashford is another of those protagonists who can’t go anywhere without someone finding a dead body immediately after her arrival. Even popping out for afternoon tea close to home leads to her being asked to solve smaller mysteries. So it’s a mixed blessing when her racing driver friend Raoul Lemont conspires with her faithful butler (inherited along with her newfound fortune from her long-lost grandfather) to take her on holiday to Tuscany. The pair board the <i>Orient Express</i> together and are soon accosted by an Italian heiress cum adventuress, who is returning home for her estranged father’s 60th birthday party. Raoul is aware of Catharina Lanetti and her wealthy, dysfunctional family and tries to warn Atalanta off Catharina’s invitation for them to join her at the party. Atalanta is intrigued, however, and so Raoul reluctantly agrees to accompany her to the Lanetti palazzo and vineyards.

Over dinner on the <i>Orient Express</i>, Catharina fills them in on her family history, which does little to assuage Raoul’s concerns. These are then exacerbated by a set-to between Catharina and her half-brother, who also happens to be on the train. Nonetheless, our protagonists collect another of Raoul’s cars in Milan and head to the palazzo. They receive a relatively warm welcome but are taken aback by Catharina’s unconventional birthday gift for her father, with connections to the infamous Medici family. More scandals unfold as the evening progresses, and then Catharina’s father is found dead in circumstances that seem to implicate Catharina as his killer.

The investigation is immediately seized by the local retired police chief, raising Atalanta’s suspicions, especially when Catharina is arrested with little in the way of evidence beyond the circumstantial. Atalanta and Raoul decide to conduct their own investigation to try to exonerate Catharina and discover that every family member and most of the other guests had a motive for killing their host. They also learn several guests are not who they claim to be, although the one supposed imposter may, in fact, be telling the truth about his identity. The reading of their host’s will makes matters no clearer, and Atalanta gets only a little inspiration from her grandfather’s letters, but eventually the pair are able to solve the crime, along with another that occurred many years earlier.

I enjoyed this adventure and managed to figure out one part of the linked whodunits, if not all of them. I also liked following Atalanta’s methods for working out what happened in each mystery. I could maybe have done with a little more delving into the letters from Atalanta’s grandfather and some more development of the relationship between Atalanta and Raoul, but hopefully both of these will be satisfied in the next book.

I enjoyed reading a previous book in the Atlanta Ashford series, which is the main reason I was interested in this.

I warmed to Atlanta as a protagonist in the previous book I read, so it was nice to read about her again. There is a reference to the Orient Express in this one, which was something else that I appreciated, as an Agatha Christie fan. I have also noticed that Atlanta travels to a different location in each story, which is quite entertaining. I enjoyed this one as much as the previous one that I read. It filled my craving for a cosy mystery and provided the escape I was hoping for.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Loved this quick, cozy mystery. The two main characters were very likeable and I read this in a day. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is a fast, easy read full of adventure, family drama, and hidden secrets. I love Atalanta’s character. She is intelligent, observant, amiable, and can solve a mystery like Sherlock Holmes. I also appreciate how her butler always adds a letter from her deceased grandfather that helps her solve the mystery or in this case, four mysteries. There were so many suspects with the perfect motive it was hard to narrow it down to one person. This made it a great read for me because it challenged my brain to solve the puzzle.

Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

A great mystery and fast read! I really liked the setting and characters! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good cozy mystery.

One of the few cosy mystery and period series that I enjoy. It's so good to meet with Atalanta and Raoul once more. Raoul whisks Atalanta away on the Orient Express for a holiday in Tuscany. Still as friends - will we ever see a romance? Of course their plans are thwarted by a murder investigation. Meeting a random female on the train they are invited to her wealthy father's 60th birthday party where tragedy strikes. Atalanta and Raoul have their work cut out to prove that main suspect, Catharina is not guilty. A really enjoyable, easy read. #netgalley #AFatalEncounterInTuscany