The gift of tickets to the opera in Verona doesn’t exactly fill Dan with joy and anticipation – it might be girlfriend Anna’s cup of tea, but it’s not really his. But chance brings another reason to be in the area – a commission from elderly Bugatti driver Violetta Argento to investigate the death of her opera singer son Rodolfo in a freak driving accident. The police seem satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances – although there might be the possibility of suicide – but Violetta is convinced it was murder, and is quite certain it was the work of his gold-digger wife. The family are extremely wealthy – Rodolfo founded an Opera Academy near Verona, where Dan and Anna (and Oscar – dogs welcome!) have been invited to stay, and there’s also a nearby family business he ran together with two cousins.

When there’s an unexpected death, it makes sense to follow the money – but his widow is already independently wealthy, and his cousins didn’t benefit from his death although might have expected to do so. But there was an unexpected windfall for his agent – and, during Dan’s investigations, an estranged sister is found who will inherit everything should Violetta meet a similar fate. The relationship between Violetta and her son was an interesting one too – although elderly, she was very much his business partner and devoted supporter, refusing to believe the stories about his womanising or that he was capable of putting a foot wrong.

It soon becomes plain his car crash was no accident – and, as always, there are multiple suspects who might have had good reason to want him dead. As ever, Dan meticulously sifts through the evidence, wanting to reach his own conclusions – with the support, for once, of the local police – while Oscar, with a nod here and there or a paw on a lap, assists his deliberations. The Academy’s quite a setting, with opera singers in the making delivering impromptu concerts over sumptuous dinners – but Oscar only wants to join in if it’s a soprano, so he’s not too embarrassing. And he is just a little distracted – there’s a female Labrador in residence, a companion for their walks, and he’s rather keen on her.

As ever, the many suspects move into and out of the frame – although Dan’s fairly soon convinced that Violetta’s wrong about it being his wife. And there’s a particularly interesting concert at the Academy later in the book that finds all the suspects brought together for the occasion – a bit of a gift for a detective wanting to observe their interactions. And no, of course I didn’t unmask the guilty party before Dan and Oscar – but, as always, I had great fun trying.

The many touches of humour in the book are as perfectly judged as ever – Dan’s wry observations, Oscar’s often timely interventions – as well as the most wonderfully drawn characters and the vividly drawn setting, and a central mystery with all the complexity a seasoned crime reader would thoroughly appreciate. Sheer entertainment from beginning to end, so very cleverly constructed, and the most fantastic addition to this enjoyable series that always has me eagerly awaiting Dan and Oscar’s next adventure… I really loved it.

I always enjoy this series and this book number 9 is no exception. I always the love the descriptions of the Italian places and food which again is on point here. The story is fast paced. but a little shorter however the mystery was still attention grabbing and kept me guessing to the end. It was lovely to catch up with Dan and Oscar again. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I always jump at the chance to read a new instalment in the Dan and Oscar mystery series. Murder In Verona is another fast-paced and entertaining read from TA Williams. Full of great characters and an intriguing case to try and solve.
Dan and Oscar are brilliant companions to entertain as they strive to solve the mystery - this time of the death of the famous opera singer, Rodolfo Argento.
As always the investigative skills of Dan are helped with the intuition of Oscar, and feuding family members and money are reasons enough for suspicions to grow.
Italy, in particular, Verona is beautifully described- the countryside, culture and food vividly captured.

In this the 9th instalment in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries series we find Private investigator Dan Armstrong and his black Labrador Oscar in the beautiful city of Verona. Dan has been asked to look into the death of a young Opera singer, Rodolfo Argento, who was recently killed in a car crash. With the police considering it to be an accident or suicide his extremely wealthy mother calls in Dan as she believes her son may have been murdered. As usual reads well as a stand-alone but all the other books are equally entertaining so worth catching up with them.

Briefly, initially Dan finds himself flummoxed by firstly trying to work out if Rodolfo’s death was suicide or murder and secondly if murder by whom as there appears to be quite a few potential suspects. It seems our opera singer had a bit of a reputation for leaving a string of broken hearts in his wake…

Dan, Oscar and his girlfriend Anna are wined and dined in a luxurious villa whilst events are played out and Oscar even gets to meet another black lab Elektra and I love how he joins in with all the opera singers! As always there are stunning descriptions of the scenery and the local food and great characters. Pacy mystery with lots of operatic information - entertaining and enjoyable. Great fun.

Verona Bound..
The ninth outing in the Armstrong and Oscar series of mysteries and, this time, the death of the greatest opera singer in Italy takes the sleuthing pair to Verona to investigate. With police convinced of an accident and the singers mother firmly of the belief that the death was suspicious, Dan and his trusty sidekick have their work cut out. Another wholly enjoyable and entertaining instalment to this now long running series with a delicious backdrop, a well crafted and likeable cast, a pacy, well written narrative and a solid mystery at its heart.

In the charming setting of Tuscany, the latest installment of the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series reveals a shocking crime that disrupts the tranquility. When renowned opera singer Rodolfo Argento dies in a mysterious car accident, the police quickly label it as either a tragic accident or suicide. However, his mother, Violetta, refuses to accept this explanation and turns to Private Investigator Dan Armstrong to uncover the truth.
Having received this book through the ARC program and am sharing my honest opinion. Having read all eight previous books in the series, I can say each one stands alone well, delivering suspense that keeps you hooked. The author has a knack for keeping you guessing until the very last page, and there’s never a boring moment. Dan's faithful dog, Oscar, is one of my favorite characters—his sweetness and loyalty make him the perfect companion. All the characters are well-developed and interesting, adding depth to the story. With vivid descriptions that capture the cozy allure of Italy, this series is ideal for mystery lovers looking for their next great read.

Murder in Verona is the ninth Armstrong and Oscar cozy destination mystery by T.A. Williams. Due out 3rd Nov 2024 from Boldwood books, it's 200 pages and will be available in hardcover, 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.

This is a beautifully descriptive and well written destination mystery set in Tuscany. Expat former policeman Dan Armstrong and his trusty canine sidekick Oscar are sought out by the mother of a famous opera singer after a tragic accident cuts his life short. Dan's insights are valuable and he is dogged and adept at getting to the bottom of the lies and obfuscation to the truth.

The plotting is solid and the dialogue and characterizations are well written and believable. The mystery, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this volume, so it works well enough as a standalone, but the writing and mystery are so well planned and executed, that it would make an excellent long binge or buddy read (especially since they're all available on KU).

It's not derivative at all, but it reminded me in a lot of good ways of Leon's exceptional Brunetti books as well as Walker's lovely Bruno, chief of police books. Fans of those authors will find a lot to enjoy here. There are also happy parallels to Rosenfelt's excellent Andy Carpenter series (though less sarcastic humor), with canine characters being given a significant role in the story.

Four and a half stars. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Thank you to @rachelsrandpmresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another fab instalment of this great series featuring Oscar the dog, oh and Dan 🤭

This time they’re in Verona at an opera academy investigating the death of the owner. There’s loads of opera references throughout that went right over my head but have made me want to listen to more. There’s, as usual, loads of amazing food mentioned too and great scenery.

This is such a great cosy mystery series, and that well written that I’ve never worked out who it was until the big reveal - this book being no exception. Looking forward to the next one already.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Fun!

Rodolfo Argento, Italy’s greatest opera singer had died in a terrible car accident. Except that his mother doesn’t think it was an accident or a suicide. She knows it was murder and wants Dan to investigate the case. Rodolfo may be kind, generous, and a natural treasure. However, he was also a womanizer who liked women a little too much. Though, he was happily married for a year, there’s no saying who might have wanted him dead. Was it a revenge murder or a crime committed for money?
Dan and Oscar need to solve the case but they first need some solid clues! Dan also needs to prevent Oscar from joining the singers with his heartfelt howling.
The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
The ninth book in the series works as a standalone (and so do the previous books). However, you will enjoy it more if you read at least one of the earlier books.
This time, Dan and Oscar, along with Anna, go to Verona to enjoy an opera show and solve a crime. Dan is not a fan of opera nor does he know anything about it. Will he be a convert by the end of the book?
Oscar meets another black Lab, Elektra, and falls in love. Of course, he still has his priorities right – food comes first; always!
The mystery is decent but doesn’t have the same tension as some of the previous ones. Of course, each case is different, so we can’t really compare. This one is on the slower side with a lot of questioning and trying to find the clues (makes sense since the death occurred almost a month prior).
However, it took me a while to guess the killer, so that’s good. I was weighing my options when a certain detail made me wonder and connect the dots.
As always, we get a tour of the region, though this time, it’s not much. Dan spends his time on the case, so there isn’t much left for exploring. But… there is enough food and gelato to make you happy!
A few interesting themes are addressed using the plot and the characters. While there are quite a few suspects/ characters involved, it is easy to track them. Some of them have strong personalities.
To summarize, Murder in Verona is another entertaining installment in the series and might appeal even more to opera fans (as it mentions quite a few leading singers and tracks).
Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and TA Williams for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder in Verona coming out November 3, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I need to read the other books in the series. I really love books set in Italy. It’s a beautiful place! Verona is a really cool city. I was excited to check out this book. I think it was easy to get into the story. It felt cozy but also fast paced. It’s a short book, but I really loved the mystery and the characters were great. I’d definitely read more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Italian cozy mysteries!

Dan and Anna are planning a trip to the opera in Verona. Dan's not particularly enthused but the tickets were a gift from his daughter so they're going.. Poor Anna can never enjoy time away with Dan although this time his involvement in a crime comes with perks. Dan is approached by a formidable older woman who hires him to investigate the death of her opera singer son, Rudolfo. At face value. the death appears to have been a road accident but Momma isn't convinced. Not only did the death occur in Verona, but she and her son run an operatic academy there and offer Dan, Anna, and Oscar lodging in the lovely villa filled with aspiring opera singers. Rudolfo was, in addition to being an opera star, a sports car enthusiast and a Casanova who jumped from bed to bed. His marriage appears to have put an end to that activity but Dan wonders if a broken heart could be the cause of what led to tampered brakes and Rudolfo's death. Although there are other viable suspects - cousins who stand to inherit, an estranged sister and a disgruntled agent.
This is the ninth in the Armstrong and Oscar series. I especially liked the characters in this one. They're all unique, even the secondary ones. the solution to the crime isn't easy to spot so I was kept guessing until the end. As usual there are lovely descriptions of the locale and food. I hope Dan and Oscar don't run out of Italian cities to visit anytime soon.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for the ARC.

Dan and Oscar are back – in fair Verona this time!

Dan is a retired Scotland Yard detective, now living in Italy; Oscar is his black lab. Dan retired two years earlier nominally to become an author. I believe as a retirement gift, he was given a writing seminar in Italy. He loved the country and soon moved there. His writing career has taken a bit of a back burner to his new career as a PI. And it’s in his role as a PI that he’s hired to look into the recent death of a young opera singer by his mother. He died when his classic sports car smashed into a tree near the villa which housed his opera academy. Dan agrees to look into it so off he and his girlfriend Anna go to Verona for a ‘holiday’.

I’ve read several of the books in this series, and they’re always enjoyable. The characters are likeable, there’s not a lot of negative tension, Dan (and Oscar) always get along with everyone. For me, it’s the perfect beach read (or maybe, given all the lovely the descriptions of the Italian countryside, good for reading on your lunch break on a rainy day?). This one is no exception. There’s lots about Verona (the setting of Romeo and Juliet), architecture, and opera.

Highly recommended. I received a copy of this from NetGallley.com that I voluntarily reviewed.

I love an Armstrong and Oscar contemporary mystery, and Murder in Verona is a fabulous read stuffed with operatic references. It is a pity that Dan gets to avoid wearing tights in this one (but does stay fully clothed). As always, the mystery seems unsolvable until something clicks, aided by the fabulous Oscar. A great read.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book.

It was lovely to read, a mystery that also incorporates the history of the city and loved reading about the delicious food.

There was quite a few people that were all suspected of the murder as they all had a reason to kill.

I recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley.co.uk for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I love this writer. Each of his books that I have read so far are presented with an insight into Italian life, and this one is no different.
Verona is described in beautiful detail. The author is a master at presenting a romantic setting, which is brought to life by his words.
This mystery reintroduced me to the charming character of retired detective Dan Armstrong, and I was pleased to learn that he is in a loving relationship with Anna. What also pleased me was that the obligatory Labrador (a character that this author is well known for) made its appearance in the shape of Oscar.
As a cosy mystery, this story is appealing, with each chapter pointing the reader towards the culprit. There were a few 'red herrings' and the questions that the private detective asked himself all aided in pointing the reader in the right direction.
A lovely light, entertaining mystery story in the same vein as the 'Father Brown', 'Sister Boniface' or 'Madame Blanc' TV series.

Murder in Verona is another great murder mystery featuring ex D I Dan Armstrong and his gorgeous black labrador, Oscar. Dan is asked to look into the death of a well-known opera star which leads to him spending the week at an opera Summer school near Verona.
As always, the settings are brilliantly described and we are immersed in the beautiful Italian landscape together with some mouth-watering food descriptions. I really enjoyed the operatic setting of this book especially when Oscar joins in.
There are plenty of characters including estranged family members as well as students and teachers at the Summer school. At first nobody seems to have a motive but gradually the suspects begin to appear.
I really like Dan’s character and the way that he becomes involved with each of these investigations always seems plausible. The mystery was well-plotted and built up to an exciting conclusion. Another great instalment to this series although I think it could be easily read as a stand alone.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

PI Dan Armstrong and his faithful companion Oscar are back, and in this adventure they are in the city of Verona. The backdrop to this mystery is the world of opera, as Dan investigates the recent death of a famous opera singer—which the police have ruled an accident. Dan is hired by the singer’s mother/manager and the result is a multi-day stay at a beautiful villa that has been turned into an opera academy. There are the usual twists and turns and red herrings as Dan snoops around and questions everyone, but the real gem is the setting. Williams provides wonderful descriptions of food, wine, and culture, as always, but I really loved the way in which opera was woven into the story. From the names of characters to costumed dining (yes, really!) to Oscar’s attempts to join the sopranos, Murder in Verona is an enjoyable addition to this series, told with humor. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Three and a half stars.

The ninth outing for former Scotland Yard detective Dan Armstrong and his trusty labrador Oscar.

Dan's girlfriend Anna's daughter has gifted them tickets to the opera in Verona. It's something Anna loves but Dan doesn't know much about it and fears he may loathe it.

Whilst getting a light refreshment with Oscar in the village, Dan is introduced to one of his neighbours, an elderly lady called Violetta Argento who drives a vintage Bugatti with reckless abandon through the village. Violetta is intrigued when she discovers Dan is a private detective, her son Rudolfo, a famous opera singer died recently in a car crash. The police have concluded it was an accident or (whispers) suicide, but Violetta is convinced that it was murder and suspects his wife who she loathes.

The Argento family are extremely wealthy, and the family business is jointly owned by Rudolpho and his two cousins - could his death have been motivated by greed? Rudolpho was also notorious for his womanising - could his wife or maybe a spurned lover have tried to kill him? Was he upset in anyway to substantiate the allegation of suicide?

Dan, Anna, and Oscar travel to Verona to the Argento Opera Academy, close to the family business headquarters, which was generously founded and endowed by Rudolpho to interview Rudolpho's widow and his cousins. Dan's investigations reveal that Rudolpho was a man of contradictions, generous and friendly, but he left a trail of broken hearts behind him. Some women hint that he may have been pressing unwanted attentions on women. Did his womanising end when he married? Why does his mother hate her daughter-in-law?

This was yet another cosy mystery set in the wonderful Italian countryside. My only complaint is that I am on a diet and all the descriptions of the luscious Italian food was very distracting.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

T A Williams does a fantastic job in writing this mystery novel. The characters worked well in the world that was set and was engaged with the characters and story. It worked with the mystery element that I wanted and the plot was everything that I wanted.

Murder in Verona is part of a series yet can be read as a standalone. It follows Private Investigator Dan Armstrong and his labrador Oscar as they solve the mystery of a famous Italian opera singer. Signora Argento, of the very wealthy Argento family, is convinced someone murdered her (womanizer) son Rodolfo, despite all indications pointing to accident or suicide. Dan, his girlfriend and Oscar stay at the Argento Opera Academy while chasing all the clues. This is a quick, cozy mystery with a large cast of characters. There are wonderful descriptions of the Italian countryside and food to enjoy while reading. With thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. My opinions are my own.