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,