4.5 stars
This series just keeps on getting better and better. Dan and Oscar are such great company and I’ve loved being back in Tuscany with the intrepid duo.
The mystery in Murder in the Tuscan Hills was a good one. Plenty of suspects and opportunities but no apparent motive - this certainly stumped Dan and his colleagues in the police. The easy rapport Dan has with the police team in Italy is cleverly written and his involvement in the case always brings an extra twist.
As always, the side story of Dan’s life as an investigator in Tuscany adds a little more interest to the story. Seeing him meet someone from his past was a nice addition and it was good to see him and Anna moving on with their relationship too.

Ten books in to the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series and I’m as charmed as ever by the adventures of Dan and his loyal canine assistant. Williams manages to consistently strike the right note of low stakes intrigue that keeps me reading to the neat conclusion with each installment of this cozy series. I love the way the setting and local side characters are lovingly painted to situate the story within the idyllic Italian countryside, and I very much appreciate the way Oscar is consistently a part of the action and often even instrumental in solving the case.

Is the plotting highly innovative? No. Can the pacing and detective work feel a bit repetitive at times? Yes. But the lovable team of investigators doing their thing and catching the bad guys is exactly as advertised: the coziest of mysteries that it feels good to come back to after a long day in the real world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and TA Williams for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder in the Tuscan Hills coming out February 2, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve only read the book before this one and this one in this series. I really love books set in Italy. The scenery is beautiful. I love cozy mysteries. The characters are fun. I think the mystery was right up my alley. I loved it. I would definitely check out more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries!

It's a brutally hot summer in Tuscany. The vineyards are are parched due to drought. Dan is studying online and is happy to a abandon his course to assist local police with a suspicious death investigation. A body has been found in a ditch in a vineyard,apparently the result of a hit and run but further investigation shows the victim, a British journalist was strangled before being run over. Things get complicated when 2 suspicious Mafia types are found dead in the vineyard. The dead men and another member of their group were staying at the luxury hotel owned by an aging rock star who also owns the vineyard. Dan isn't convinced that the murders are connected. When his ex-wife appears during routine interviews of hotel guests, he's shocked and subsequently concerned when he meets her traveling companion. It all becomes complicated when Anna encounters the ex.
I found this 10th entry in the series a bit lacking. The two murder events didn't work for me since only the first killing had a clear motive. As usual Oscar is involved and proves to be a hero deserving of all the treats he receives. The food descriptions are great and the feeling of village life is nicely described. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, the 10th in the series but my first read of Dan and his brilliant labrador Oscar.I liked the description of the Tuscan landscape, and the story was enjoyable. I would have liked to have got to known the characters better. Maybe because I had not read the other nine books, they felt a bit flat to me. That said, the plot was well thought out and clever. I really liked finding out what had happened, so I will come back for more adventures with Dan and Oscar.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for giving me the opportunity to read Murder in the Tuscan Hills in exchange for my honest review.

Another excellent book in the series.

More mysteries for Dan and Oscar to solve. Lots of suspects, Italian food. The surprise of Dan’s ex wife is staying near the murder site. More food (just as well Dan has so many dog walks or he would be heavily overweight!). More murders. Loved how Dan helped the police, ably assisted by Oscar.

All is not as it seems. Someone has been killed and left on the roadside. Who saw what? Who knows what? Very soon there’s murder at the hotel, and mayhem. And a face from the past for Dan. Plenty of suspects. A carefully woven plot with intrigue and complicated relationships. The adorable Oscar, Dan’s four-legged faithful partner is an active member of the investigation team. Highly recommend this interesting/riveting read.

A Serene Season..?
The tenth outing in the Armstrong and Oscar series of mysteries and what should be a serene September soon turns fatal. The sleuthing pair, Dan and canine companion Oscar, are called to investigate a death at a winery in the Tuscan hills. Dan and his trusty sidekick have their work cut out with a motley crew of possible suspects and a plethora of motives. 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.

As grape harvest season rolls around, retired DCI Dan Armstrong and his beloved canine companion, Oscar, are looking forward to a nice quiet September. But when Dan is contacted about a mysterious death out in the Tuscan Hills, it seems that work must come before pleasure.Amazing story! I loved every page, so many twists and turns… Fantastic read, gripping story and so many surprises! All set in a perfect location.

The next adventure for Dan and Oscar takes place close to home in the Tuncan Hills at a Winery and the Hotel Podere Dei Santi, owned by a famous ex rock star, Digger.

After a body has been found at the winery under suspicious circumstances, Dan and Oscar are called to help. He discovers someone from his past, staying at the hotel, that could complicate matters.

Who amongst the guests is the killer? Is the maria involved or the wealthy tourists staying at the hotel?

Don't miss another great read in the Armstrong and Oscar Cosy Mystery series!

Having never read anything by T.A Williams before I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read this advance copy of Murder in the Tuscan Hills, and it did not disappoint. It had everything I as a reader enjoy; the beautiful Tuscan countryside described so well, mystery, drama, a little romance and of course the wonderful Oscar. Good storytelling and a great cast of characters. Highly recommended.

Another engaging story featuring Dan and Oscar. Captivating storyline that held my interest from beginning to end.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series goes from strength to strength. Dan is a great investigator but the star of the show has to be his Labrador, Oscar. The descriptions of Tuscany and Florence, and the local food, are also magnificent. Although part of a series this could be read as a standalone novel. I can’t wait for the next adventures of Dan and Oscar!

cozy-crime, ex-wife, ex-cop, expats, friends, friendship, interpreter, journalist, Labrador-dog, mafia, murder-investigation, murders, private-investigators, read, relationships, situational-humor, Tuscany, witty, fraud*****

Not an unbiased review as I love Oscar and the whole series. I think that this one goes a step further and is now at the top of my list.
Formerly with the Murder Squad of London's Metropolitan Police, Dan retired to Italy following the demise of his marriage and has set up as a private investigator and sometimes English/Italian consultant with the local police when there are English speakers to be questioned and deposed. Dan and Oscar have made a lot of friends in the law enforcement community with and have helped with a number of cases.
This episode involves some really odd characters, several murders, mafiosi, a winery owned by an old Rock Star, and running into his ex-wife at the very time he had planned a birthday dinner with his permanent girlfriend. Good story/investigation, character development, low key humor.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected review copy from Boldwood Books courtesy of NetGalley.
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This is the second Armstrong and Oscar book that I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This time round retired DCI Dan Armstrong and his canine sidekick Oscar are called into help after a murder is committed at the winery of famous ex-rockstar Digger. There are plenty of suspects but no obvious motive. Are the mafia involved or is the guilty party closer to home? This is easy to follow with some light hearted moments and plenty of twists and turns. A beautiful setting and brilliantly described characters this keeps you guessing right until the end. I love the interactions between Dan and Oscar, who absolutely steals the limelight! Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC

This was a strong entry in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series, it had that element that I wanted from the genre. I was invested in what was happening and thought the feel worked well overall with their story. T A Williams has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

🍇🍷Luxury setting for murder & mischief🌄

I am a committed fan of this series, first for the Italian setting, and second for the down to earth main character and his whimsical black lab "partner" Oscar. Dan Armstrong retired from the British police force and moved to Tuscany to start a new chapter, originally as a mystery writer, but he certainly is kept occupied with police business.

The writing is easy to follow and the plot had some nice twists to keep me guessing. Dan's formed a close relationship with the Florence police squad and gets right in the middle of a messy multiple murder investigation at a luxury hotel and vineyard owned by a retired rock star. And, as in the other stories in the series, his sidekick lab Oscar gets the limelight for more than just his prodigious appetite and ability to fetch sticks!

I like the author's use of multiple shady characters to keep the mystery of the murderer last long into the story. And I thought the extra p.i. investigation for his neighbor Fausto, the rumor mill fed by the local postman and the bumps in his relationship with Ana added nice touches, as did the introduction of a smart woman police officer to the investigative team.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared 1/17/25 with Waterstones, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads. To be shared with kobo and Google Play when published.

Another great escapade for Dan and Oscar. I love this series and to see what they get up to next. Plenty of twists and turns and suspense to keep me hooked. Well rounded characters. Great writing style. Eagerly awaiting the next adventure. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Another wonderful mystery starring Dan Armstrong and his black lab Oscar (who is, as always, the star of the book). Dan and Oscar find themselves at home on a very hot, late-summer day, when a neighbor asks for their help. But before they can even assist, they get called to a luxury hotel/winery nearby, where a man has been killed. Was he murdered? Dan’s involvement in this case—with familiar police officers as well as new faces—will force him to deal with an array of interesting characters, including a celebrity, whom he is eager to meet, and someone from his past, whom he is much less interested in encountering. Once again, the descriptions of food and wine (the latter being an especially important aspect of this story) and the local environment, make this a welcome installment in what is one of my favorite cozy-mystery series. Thanks to T.A. Williams, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

They say all things come full circle. The first book in this series began with Murder in Tuscany, and here we are, in the tenth installment, once again set in Tuscany.

Murder in the Tuscan Hills, the tenth installment in this series is not only my new favorite but also the new best so far. A blast from the past (Dan’s, of course), Mafia hitmen, double-crossing 'gentlemen,' a wine festival, a rock star, and—oh yes—a murder that kept me guessing until the very end.

The murder mystery itself started as something simple—if there’s even such a thing as a 'simple murder mystery.' A possible hit-and-run turns into a wine-and-Mafia-hitmen fest, with more crimes happening before Dan can say 'Chianti.'

While the murder mystery kept me guessing until the end, with plenty of suspects, red herrings, and unexpected twists, Dan’s personal life could be summed up in two words: plot twist.

Peppered with quirky and sometimes naughty humor, the story is engaging, entertaining, and completely engrossing. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment!