This time we find Atalanta on a river cruise on the Rhine with an old school colleague. As usual she finds herself caught up in a murder and the detective on board had previously known her grandfather who via letters which he has written before his death, tries to help Atalanta. I love how she tries to be this independent woman of means however still would love to have a relationship with her friend Raoul. The story goes to and fro making the reader work to guess who the culprit is !!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

The setting and genre of this novel was what appealed to me, and it didn't disappoint. I would definitely reread this book, especially if I was going on a Rhine cruise. I liked the lead character Atalanta, and was pleased to see that this is in fact the fifth book in a series. Good plot and characters, I didn't see the plot twists at the end.

I’ve read most of the books in this series and love seeing what Miss Ashford is up to. She asks to go on a river cruise this time, she’s asked to be companion to an 11 year who might want to kill her grandmother. When the grandmothers nurse turns up dead, who’s the killer. Love this twisty mystery reads, it keeps you guessing throughout and the author keeps you engaged. A great 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I realize that this is a book in a series, so perhaps reading the previous books in the series would have given more context, but I have no interest in reading a book about a woman who tried to buy a husband, he refused, then she continues to chase him. No thanks.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Calling all mystery lovers, this one’s for you! Death on the Rhine is the kind of whodunit that’ll keep you guessing until the very last page. Atalanta Ashford, our sharp, clever sleuth, is ready for a relaxing birthday getaway on the beautiful Rhine River. But when a wealthy family’s secrets start spilling into the open, what was supposed to be a peaceful cruise turns into a full-on investigation. Cue the intrigue, the twists, and a whole lot of suspense.

A luxury cruise

Hidden family secrets

A body on board…

Pick up this novel and you will find it hard to put it down again, and when you have read it, you will find it easy to believe that you have actually been there experiencing the story yourself.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK and Net Galley for this ARC. This is a nice cozy read, a little predictable but perfect as a light read.

A charming mystery with delightful characters, but lacking the twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.
Death on the Rhine by Vivian Conroy is a cozy mystery that offers a charming setting, but unfortunately, it falls short in the plot department. If you’re a fan of the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters or The Maid by Nita Prose, this book will feel somewhat familiar, with its quirky characters and historical backdrop. While Death on the Rhine has its moments, it ultimately doesn’t offer much in terms of surprises or suspense.

The story follows Atalanta, a sharp-witted heroine, as she embarks on a journey through Germany, where she becomes entangled in a mystery involving an old friend and a plot to murder his controlling grandmother. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Atalanta and Raoul, the dashing race car driver. Their relationship added a delightful layer to the story, with banter and chemistry that kept things entertaining.

That said, the novel's biggest drawback for me was its predictability. I found myself solving the mystery almost immediately. In fact, I had figured out who the culprit was before any crime was even committed, which significantly dampened the intrigue. The lack of twists and turns made it hard to stay invested in the investigation, and by the time the reveal came, it felt almost anticlimactic.

Overall, Death on the Rhine was just fine. It has some charm and a likable lead character, but the predictable plot left me wanting more. If you’re looking for a light, easy read with some historical flair, this book might suit your tastes, but if you’re after a truly gripping mystery, it may not meet your expectations.

I adore these Golden Age mysreries and Atalanta Ashford is for me a brilliant character.

This cozy mystery is filled with drama, a lot of glamour and an intriguing thrilling mystery

I loved working out the facts, the twists and the setting..

Up on Goodreads now, live on the blog on 7 April:

Death on the Rhine is the fifth book in the Miss Ashford Investigates series, time does fly when you’re having fun! If you haven’t read the previous books, I’m sure you’ll be fine to read this one, since sufficient background information is provided. If you like your Golden Age mysteries with a spot of travel, though, you should definitely add this entire series to your TBR.

Atalanta, who came from rather modest means, has become an heiress, not only inheriting her grandfather’s fortunes but also his sleuthing business. This time around, she decides to treat herself to a little birthday trip to Bonn, Germany. But Atalanta wouldn’t be Atalanta if a mystery didn’t pop up right away, and before long, she finds herself on a river cruise trying to solve a murder.

I always look forward to the next Atalanta Ashford mystery because I know I always have such a good time with it, and Death on the Rhine was no exception. The mystery (and accompanying deaths) to solve was engrossing, the local folklore was an interesting and enriching addition, and who doesn’t love a wealthy family with secrets to unravel! Love interest Raoul is still – somewhat – on the scene, but their relationship is a bit strained at this point, and it looks like Raoul has got himself in a spot of trouble.

Death on the Rhine is a fun, well-rounded murder mystery and I would happily recommend it to fans of cosy murder mysteries. And while you catch up with Atalanta, I’ll be waiting for autumn to join her in the Alps!

Death on the Rhine is out in paperback and digital formats on 10 April.

Massive thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy this series.

Atalanta Ashford inherited her late grandfather's detective business along with his wealth.

I think this is her most difficult case yet, full of surprising twists and turns.

If you enjoy cosy historical mysteries written in a classic murder mystery style with glamorous European locations, the Atalanta Ashford cosy crime stories are perfect, really absorbing and hard to put down.

Thanks for the advanced copy! I’ve been a fan of this series and liked this next installment of it. It ends semi how one might expect but is enjoyable non the less. I would recommend to those who enjoy a murder mystery and those who enjoy this series!

race-car-driver, friends, 1930, murder-investigation, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, historical-novel, historical-research, historical-setting, secrets, lies, jealousy, suspicion, suspense, family-drama, family-dynamics, family-expectations, family-history, frustration, drama, addiction, mental-health-issues****
Once a teacher at an exclusive girls' school to pay off family debts, Atalanta Ashford became a female detective as part of a surprise inheritance in Paris. While in Bonn with the auto racer she loves (unrequited) she meets a young woman who had also been a teacher but now is simply the granddaughter of a control freak rich woman. She also meets the brother, a whole entourage including his rebellious daughter who prefers the fantasy world of Scherenschnitte, and winds up going on a Rhine River cruise with the family. Soon there is a body and a policeman assigned to accompany them. Complex and fascinating story with many things to learn along the way.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter via NetGalley. Pub Date Apr 04, 2025
#DeathOnTheRhine by Vivian Conroy #MissAshfordInvestigatesBk5 @onemorechapterhc @harpercollinsuk #NetGalley #cozymystery @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble **** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #Scherenschnitte #extortion ##historicalsoapopera #germany #murderinvestigation

Atalanta Ashford is a bundle of contradictions. Named for a Greek goddess, on the one hand, she's a calmly cool and collected investigator, working to prove her grandfather's trust in her was correct. On the other, she's a bundle of emotions, most tied to her relationship, or maybe I should say wannabe relationship with race car driver Raoul. We get insight into his thoughts this go-round which only makes the situation all the more perplexing. It's clear both have strong feelings for the other but are for various reasons stuck in neutral. Good thing her sleuthing gears are in full working order because this case is a complex one.

It starts innocently enough. On a vacation where she's joined by Raoul, Atalanta encounters an old acquaintance, the brother of a former teacher associate. Quite frankly, unhappy by Raoul's rejection once again, she enjoys the attentions of Otto Rabenhorst, someone she seems to have lots in common with. Otto invites her to a gathering that evening and Raoul tags along, giving lies to his earlier claims of no interest. Is he jealous? Maybe. He bows out quickly enough, however, when she accepts Otto's invitation to join his admittedly odd family on a cruise on the Rhine River. Like Raoul, this family seems to have many, many secrets. Initially mostly agreeing in hopes of brightening up Otto's now motherless daughter's angst over the believed harsh treatment of her grandmother, Frau Rabenhorst, Atalanta quickly finds herself embroiled in not just the workings of a dysfunctional family but a murder.

But, wait. There's more. A daughter that sees all. Shady dealings. Mysterious deaths in past, not to mention present. Arranged marriage. Blackmail. Paper cuttings? Manipulation. Lies. A missing page of a letter. Pride. Greed. Drugs. Haughtiness of wealth. Riverboat cruise. Secrets. And more secrets. And even more secrets. Who is who? Who to trust? What is Raoul hiding. Heck, what is Atalanta hiding? Death. And, oh, that's more than enough teasers. Seriously, I don't want to give away the twists and turns by being too specific. While I had an inkling of the guilty party....been reading too many cozy mysteries of late.....I definitely didn't see those last couple twists coming. Thanks #HarperCollinsUK - #OneMoreChapter for letting me have this early peek at Atalanta's, oh, so complicated life. That ending has me anxious to see where it leads us next.

Death On The Rhine is the newest book in the miss Ashford investigates historical mystery series by Vivian Conroy and in this addition we find Atalanta, touring Bon Germany, and is surprised when her special friend Raul Lamont the race car driver shows up and says he is scheduled some surprises for her. One of them is going to see Dune Beatles at a local zoo and this is where she runs in to Auto, the brother of an old friend of and fellow teacher Gertrude. Atalanta remember being intrigued with auto but thinks it is only because she was teaching at the time but when he invites her to dinner to see her old friend and meet his family she’s enchanted and since Raul doesn’t want to take their relationship, any further she feels she can do whatever she wants. so she is surprised when she tells Raul about the dinner and he invites himself as her guest. At the dinner, she meets auto and Gertrude Steely grandmother and his 11 year-old daughter. Who at the time or having an argument with the 11-year-old Lisa tells her grandmother she wish she was dead, but this is just the beginning of the surprises this dysfunctional family has in store for the amateur slueth. She is invited to go on the cruise of the Rhine with them under the guise of being a companion to Liesel, but really it’s to find out who is trying to kill the mean grandmother. sadly, the night before they leave instead of her and Raul taking their relationship to the next level he ends it telling her he could never give her what she wants and although. Atalanta is devastated she promised auto she would help. So heartbroken, She goes on the cruise. Are Raul and Atalanta’s Special friendship over if someone really trying to kill the grandmother? I know this is a horrible review but usually when the book is awesome my reviews usually come out the opposite. Just know if you love historical mysteries miss Ashford investigates or some of the best. You can read them a standalone’s, but you get a much fuller picture as it is an ongoing story and one I absolutely enjoy. I really love these mysteries and always am anxious for the next one. #NetGalley,#HarperCollinsUKOneMoreChapter, #VivianConroy, #DeathOnTheRhine,